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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2:
EXTENDED EDITION

 ABOUT THE MOVIE

Genre: Comedy
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Mark L. Taylor, Bart Johnson, Robert Curtis Brown, Jessica Tuck
Director: Kenny Ortega
Rating: PG
Year Made: 2007

 

 


 SPECIAL FEATURES

. Exclusive Music Scene
. Sing-along Feature
. Rehersal Cam
. High School Karaoke
. Music Videos


 

 


 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Languages: English/Mandarin/Hindi
Subtitles: English/Chinese/Bahasa/Malay/
Korea/Hindi
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Presentation Size: 4x3 Widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Running Time: 1 hr 53 mins
Region Code: 3
Distributor: Scorpio East

 

 

SYNOPSIS: 

The East High Wildcats are ready to have the time of their lives. Troy is thrilled when he's offered a job in a country club but it's all part of Sharpay's plot to lure him away from Gabriella. How will it all turn out? All questions are answered on the night of the club's Talent Show.

MOVIE REVIEW:

If there’s one thing to watch out in 2008, it’s the theatrical release of High School Musical (HSM) 3. After the phenomenon that is HSM and HSM 2, one cannot underestimate the immense popularity of this teenage musical that has taken over the world by storm. Other than a certain Zac Efron charming girls everywhere with his scarily blue eyes and a certain Vanessa Hudgens pleasing boys everywhere with her infamous peek-a-boo picture that was leaked onto the worldwide web, the movie sequel has also gotten this reviewer smiling from ear to ear every time he hears songs from the 103-minute picture filled with all things fluff and fun.

Director Kenny Ortega returns to direct this merry movie that sees the original HSM gang having the time of their lives during the summer holidays. Everything takes place at a lush country club this time round, where you can expect typical romances, typical rivalries and typical friendships being formed. There will also be more dances, more songs, and, ahem, more snogs.

Compared to the first movie, this one ups the hip factor – you’ll see Efron and Hudgens (they are a couple both in reel and real life, if you don’t know already) spending lots of romantic time together, exchanging sweet nothings, sharing passionate kisses, frolicking in golf fields, and gasp, having a sneak dip in the pool at night in their swimming costumes! Before you get too worried for the young ones, don’t fret, because this is a Disney Channel production after all: things can’t get that adult.

While the couple inevitably has very sweet chemistry on screen, do watch out for other stars like the wacky Ashley Tisdale playing the resident bitch, the somewhat flamboyant Lucas Grabeel as her underappreciated brother and the amazingly fit Corbin Bleu as the all-righteous best friend. This group of youngsters exudes so much star power, there is no way you won’t notice them.

Also boasting a higher production value this time round, the music numbers are enjoyable and entertaining to watch. “What Time is It?” opens the movie with a bang, with the cast dancing with great liveliness in the school campus before leaving for their vacations. The hip-hop tune “I Don’t Dance” works as the unofficial sequel to the first movie’s “Get'cha Head in the Game”, like how the melancholic “Gotta Go My Own Way” complements “When There Was Me and You” and the big-number finale “All for One” harmonizes with “We're All in This Together”.

Like the breakout hit “Breaking Free”, this movie features an engaging and charming tune everyone will be agreeing to as well. “Everyday”, a duet performed by Efron (unlike the first movie, the Hairspray star does all the singing on his own in this sequel) and Hudgens at the talent show, will leave you all inspired to pick up crooning – it’d be a bonus if your partner is eye candy, and both of you can gyrate your hips to the music.

SPECIAL FEATURES :

This Code 3 DVD contains a fair bit of bonus features; although we suspect the money making folks at Disney will be whipping out a 2-disc version soon (probably that’s when you can learn the dance steps from the choreographer). However, that does not mean that you shouldn’t own this “Extended Edition”, because it but contains an “Exclusive Music Scene” not seen on TV. The song “HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A” is a hilarious scene where Tisdale dresses up as a Hawaiian princess, hoping to attract Efron. You can also choose the “Sing Along Feature” where karaoke lyrics will appear on screen for you to croon along. A four-minute “Bloopers” reel will make you realize how adorable the young cast is, despite forgetting their lines and breaking out into laughter during oh-so-serious moments.

There is also 36-minute “Rehearsal Cam” feature where you can see the cast during their intensive three-week rehearsal period, and there is an interesting option where you can bounce back to the actual scene in the movie while watching the rehearsals. Then there are four “Music Videos” – Following an introduction by Ortega about the worldwide phenomenon of HSM 2 in countries like Brazil, Poland, Portugal and France, you’ll get to see “Bet On It” by Taiwan’s Show Lo, “Everyday” by Hong Kong’s Justin Lo and Kary Ng, “You Are The Music In Me” by Malaysia’s Vince Chong and Jacyln Victor and “Gotta GO My Own Way” by Philippines’ Nikki Gil. These well-shot videos show the pretty street sights of the respective countries, which les us to thinking: If there is a Singapore version, will singers like Stefanie Sun and Taufik Batisah dancing to the music of “All For One” in front of the Esplanade?

There are also “Sneak Peeks” of upcoming Disney Channel shows like Phineas & Ferb (an animated series featuring Tisdale as an irritating sister) and Hannah Montana (starring Miley Cyrus who has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in the “All For One” number in the HSM 2 movie).

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The disc’s visual transfer is clear enough for you to try imitating the dance moves, while the audio track is available in Dolby Digital 5.1 English and Mandarin and Surround 2.0 Hindi.

MOVIE RATING:



DVD RATING :

Review by John Li

 
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This review is made possible with the kind support from Scorpio East

 



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