Toon Talk: High School Musical Encore Edition DVD
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(c) Disney
The highest praise I give to HSM is its unwavering sense of innocence. There’s no talk of teen sex, drug and alcohol abuse or guns in the classroom, which may sound naïve in today’s world, but that may be exactly its keys for success. Everybody needs to escape from the big bad world out there for awhile; kids in 1978 had Grease, and now today’s kids have HSM. After all, it’s right there in the title: High School Musical is a musical, and all musicals are a form of fantasy, aren’t they? And in the end, despite - or maybe because of - its squareness/corniness, HSM is an enjoyable lark, an untarnished flight of fancy that parents will have no qualms about their children’s obsessing about. And who knows? Adults may find themselves tapping their toes, humming along and reminiscing about those summer nights of ’78...
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HSM vs. GREASE Who knew that here in the ’00s we would be chaster then the “Fabulous�? - make that - the “Fabulously Frisky�? ’50s? A comparison of lyrics from the songs of these two musicals may shed some light on this quandary: |
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HSM |
GREASE |
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“Start of Something New�? “Now who’d of ever thought that�? / “We’d both be here tonight, yeah�? / “Oh yeah, the world looks so much brighter�? / “Brighter, brighter�? / “Oh, with you by my side.�? |
“Summer Nights�? “He got friendly holdin' my hand�? / “Well she got friendly down in the sand�? / “He was sweet, just turned eighteen�? / “Well she was good, you know what I mean.�? |
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“Get’cha Head in the Game�? “Why am I feeling so wrong? / My head’s in the game / But my heart’s in the song.�? |
“Greased Lightnin’�? “You know that ain't no (bleep) / We'll be gettin' lots of (bleep) / Greased Lightnin’.�? |
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“When There Was Me and You�? “But then you went and changed the words / Now my heart is empty / I’m only left with used-to-be’s.�? |
“Hopelessly Devoted to You�? “I know I'm just a fool who's willing / To sit around and wait for you / But baby can't you see, there's nothin' else for me to do...�? |
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“Bop to the Top�? “Gimme, gimme / Shimmy, shimmy / Shake your booty and turn around / Flash a smile in their direction�? / “Show some muscle�? / “Do the hustle.�? |
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do�? “I could flirt with all the guys / Smile at them and bat my eyes / Press against them when we dance / Make them think they stand a chance / And then refuse to see it through …�? |
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“Breaking Free�? “You know the world can see us / In a way that’s different than who we are�? / “Creating space between us / ’Til we’re separate hearts�? / “But your faith, it gives me strength / Strength to believe …�? |
“You’re the One That I Want�? “I better shape up, cause you need a man�? / “I need a man, who can keep me satisfied�? / “I better shape up, if I'm gonna prove�? / “You better prove / That my fate is justified.�? / “Are you sure?�? / “Yes I'm sure down deep inside.�? |
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“We’re All in This Together�? “We’re all in this together / Once we know that we are / We’re all stars and we see that / We’re all in this together / And it shows when we stand / Hand in hand / Make our dreams come true.�? |
“We Go Together�? “We're for each other like womp bop a looma a womp bam boom / Just like my brother is sha na na na na yippity dip da do / Chang chang changity chang shoo bop / We'll always be together / Wa-ooo, yeah!�? |
This “Encore Edition�? DVD comes with a handful of extras that leaves you wondering if a two-disc “Standing Ovation�? edition isn’t in the works for sometime in the near future (I’m betting on Christmastime). And don’t think it won’t happen; a two-CD “special edition�? soundtrack (with “blinged-out�? gold cover!) goes on sale today as well.
In addition to a Sing Along mode for the main feature, the Music & More section includes two Music Videos: a shortened version of the finale and a new clip for “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You�?, a bonus track on the soundtrack but not in the film itself.
Backstage Disney includes Bringing It All Together: The Making of ‘High School Musical’, a short behind-the-scenes featurette offering interviews with Ortega and his young cast (which have probably already been seen on The Disney Channel). Trivia tidbits reveal that over 600 kids auditioned for the movie, which was filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah (standing in for Albuquerque, New Mexico), and that there was two weeks of extensive rehearsals for voice, dance and … basketball. Ortega returns for a Learning the Moves segment, showing the dance steps for Sharpay and Ryan’s Latin-tinged showstopper “Bop to the Top�?. Viewers can use the “angle�? button on their DVD remote control to toggle through different views of the rehearsal and final film.
Finally, if Disney is planning a second edition of this DVD, they should remember to include separate chapter stops for each of the musical numbers, so fans can jump straight to their favorite songs.
Toon Talk Rating: B+
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In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I will briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. Sing a Song of Sondheim If you ever starred in your own high school musical, you’ll find plenty to relate to in Camp (2003, IFC Films), director Todd Graff’s loving and knowing valentine to theater geeks everywhere. Set at “Camp Ovation�?, a New York state summer camp where Sondheim reigns and sports are shunned, a group of misfit teens come together to put on a show in the best “Mickey-and-Judy�? fashion. The film features fun recreations of show tune classics from Company to Dreamgirls (“Turkey Lurkey Time�? from Promises, Promises is a highlight), as well as several catchy new and/or obscure songs, all performed by a young cast of up-and-coming talent, including Daniel Letterle, Sasha Allen and Tiffany Taylor. DVD available from MGM Home Entertainment. MPAA Rating: PG-13. |
Coming Soon in Toon Talk:
- Get your kicks on Route 66 with the newest Pixar release, Cars (June 9, Disney).
- The “Stitch Saga�? concludes with the new Disney DVD Leroy and Stitch (June 27) … wait, did you say “Leroy�??
- Yo ho, yo ho … Captain Jack is back in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (July 7, Disney).
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-- Kirby C. Holt
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Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted May 23, 2006