You forgot number 3

Seemingly the exact same movie with the predecessors, only with new songs; couple music numbers of 'Troy+Gabriella' there, one with 'Sharpay's time' here, followed with 'Troy's I'm confused' music sequence later on. Even though, compare sequence by sequence, it has evolved by large margins. Thanks to the better production and the brilliant choreography.
The laziness of the screenplay also appeared in characters' department. All characters are still poorly developed. Yet, all actors seem much more natural in their roles than they ever were (as they should). But I think that is more because they've grown so much on me.
And yes, the cheesiness can still be found here. Fortunately, compare with what I've been through, HSM3 was less cheesy than the first two by far. Largely because it was more focused on musical numbers rather than, say, movie's script. And this time, it seems like they've learned 'how much' is 'too much'.
The production, as mentioned above, expectantly gets better. Some of musical sequences actually look and feel grand. And the musical sequences were all awesomely done, a big improvement from the first two HSM films. At least, this time, they were done with some style and creativity. The director Kenny Ortega and fellow choreographers Charles Klapow and Bonnie Story have achieved an impressive work here. The songs were way better than those in HSM2 (unless you hate this kind of song by natural). I liked every single one of them, but 'Can I Have This Dance', 'A Night to Remember' and 'Boys Are Back' are the ones I was impressed the most.
Oh, fortunately, the 'Troy's I'm confused' sequence ('Scream') wasn't as bad as the last time ('Bet On It'). Actually, it was pretty good.
And seriously, harmless isn't necessary boring.

B+

I'm eagerly awaiting Mr. Pink's review of this.. Any wagers as to whether he gives the grade of this any higher than a "D"??

I know Mr Pink will give it a grade above a "D'.

Let's give credits where they're due:

- Choreography is effin' sick. "Boys are Back" (junkyard scene) is a standout. Wonderful job by the always reliable Kenny Ortega and his collaborators.
- Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale made the film.
- Set pieces are as functional as ever.

However, for such a straightforward, light story, the screenplay (and dialogue) plus editing are even lazier and more incoherent than ever. It tried to be Chicago - some musical scenes are meant to be 'fantasies', some scenes are meant to be the 'musical Senior Year,' in the end, it just didn't mesh well (I was actually confused at one point if the Senior Prom was even happening...). New supporting characters are just thrown in and make unnecessary conflict and some characters (Taylor and Chad most especially) suffered from "What do we do with these characters?" Even the whole Gabriella/Troy relationship/college dilemma was forced. But the kids ate it up and it was enjoyable to them. In my case, I was mostly perplexed. Don't get me started how Troy drove from Albuquerque to Stanford with that beat-up truck... alone and still come back alive.

Also... you're a feature-length movie now. Make the most of the latest SOUND RECORDING techniques. Seriously, Disney... the lipsyncing and the recording needed work. It really sounds as if they were mouthing lyrics coming from a two-speaker boom box.

I also got annoyed with some teenagers behind me screaming. Like really... screaming. Whenever Zac Efron thrusted, they screamed. Whenever Zac Efron picked his nose, they screamed. When Zac Efron showed his back (sorry Corpse, that was the only scene... and he wasn't even looking at the camera), they had an orgasm. When Zac Efron kissed boring Vanessa Hudgens, they screamed "OMG I WANNA KILL THAT HO!" And those were only coming from the screaming boys. The girls...

I mean, it's cute if you're 6 or 7 years old, but if you are in your late teens...
I think I came out of the theatre deaf.

Overall, fairly serviceable, family flick that delivers where it's apt (music, kiddie sensibility, I HAVE A CHOICE! message) but ultimately needed more work. Just bring broken beer bottles to bash rowdy teenagers' heads and balls.

Story/Acting/Screenplay - C
Music - B+
Choreography - A-

(I kind of want to see at least one song nominated for an Oscar, just to see how they can capitalize on it's ratings pull)

The SAME thing happened at my screening. I couldn't believe how excessive it was. It started when Efron appeared in the 17 Again trailer before the movie and just kept going and going.

What do you think of the film?

Yeah it was insanity. They didn't scream when he was on Hairspray. I wonder if they screamed also when the TV movies were on? lmao

Best of the series imo. Very incoherent and little to no plot, but fuck that I didn't care, it was so much fun. Vanessa Hudgens was crappy as always but the rest of the cast was up to par. The music was fantastic and some of the sets (i.e I Want It All) were outstanding. Choreography was crazy and it was just a good old farewell. Well done. B+

Indeed!

I smell another nudie picture leak so she'll remain "relevant."

I don't know if its her or her character but I can't stand Gabriella. Fuck, Troy could get so much action if he just ditched that annoying twat. Again though besides that, fun fun movie. Best part was when Troy 2.0 tried to hit on Sharpay.

That was hilarious I admit.

I would say both Hudgens and Gabriella bug me. Hudgens because well, she's a mini-hack. And Gabriella, wow, she just went for a two-week freshman early orientation and decides to not return to Albuquerque for the prom and graduation? Huh? You're not in college yet, cockblock.

I'm not a fan of the other two movies, so it was a pleasant surprise that I thought this one was fun and entertaining.

Some of the music numbers fall flat (I think the only one I really liked was I Want It All, hah) but it's a fitting conclusion(?) to the series.

I liked 'A Night to Remember' the most..

the weakest musical number would be 'Just Wanna be with You' and 'Walk Away'

I saw the first two over the summer and respected the aw-shucks, lets-put-on-a-show-like-Mickey-and-Judy spirit, although neither one was particularly memorable. In fact, the second one was pretty close to awful.

But I really enjoyed this. No joke. They've lost a lot of what dragged the first two down, namely all the crudely manufactured plot contrivances (although the Stanford one in here is a doozy), and replaced it with music, music, music. There didn't seem to be much talk. This seemed to have way more numbers than its predecessors and Kenny Ortega shoots the heck out of them. Seriously; there's tons of invention to the choreography and the sequences are terrifically shot and edited.

It's silly but innoffensive, and I must say, in terms of on-screen dancing HSM3 has the most exciting, smooth work I've seen in many years. Puts all recent Hollywood musical exploits to shame.

You're all dead to me.

It's not really that hyperbolic. When was the last time you saw a Hollywood musical with any 'wow' dance numbers?

Hairspray, for one example, had miserably edited dance sequences (I'll never get over Shankman's constant cutting away from You Can't Stop The Beat-the most rousing number- to show us Brittany Snow fucking around in the rafters). And other than that and one or two others Hollywood has mostly stayed away from dancing for years. Chicago has some good stuff, but it also kept getting in its own way. It had the rythms of Fosse, but not the purposeful editing. Guess that's what happens when you hire non-dancers. "Urban" films like Stomp the Yard or You Got Served have been the last outpost for inventive dancing on screen. And those generally don't have big studio pedigrees.

I've not been much for Mr. Ortega (Newsies is kinda fun, I guess, but mostly just plain goofy), but there's strong imagination at work in here. Well, not in the script.

Not just imagination, but he seems to understand how to show the stuff on screen. He pulls the camera back...we can see the dancers from head to toe! OMFG!

For me The Boys Are Back has some amazing coreography. And the final number, High School Musical. There were moments were I was really put back. Kenny Ortega really went all out with this one.

yay yoshue!

To clarify, again, I am only referring to the dancing with that last statement. I am not in any way suggesting this is better than, say, Sweeney Todd.

But it probably is. Most movies are.

I found it very, very entertaining and better than the previous two installments by a great deal. I'll post more thoughts later, but it's a blast and the best musical film of the year (miles better than Mamma Mia!) B+

Heh.


Seriously, I don't hate Sweeney Todd, but it is the worst of the many usicals released this decade. At least out of those I have seen (The Producers, Moulin Rouge, Mamma Mia; Chicago, Hairpsray...)