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The Legacy of High School Musical
High School Musical</center>
In a few months, High School Musical (which premiered on January 20th, 2006) will be 5 years old. The reception it received was unexpected. Almost a year to the day from when it premiered, on January 19th 2007, the film's soundtrack was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. From the film's opening song "Start of Something New", you know that the Troy and Gabriella are in for something new. Both of them dealing with peer pressure when expressing interests outside of their comfort zone. Do they choose to do what others expect them to do or do they follow their hearts and try "something new"? Through the film's catchy songs, we follow these characters struggle through that. By the end, their friends and family realize that there is nothing wrong with trying "something new" and that they're "all in this together". It's success was unprecedented with it's DVD becoming the fastest-selling television movie of all time. To think that it was only a Disney Channel Original Movie.
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High School Musical 2</center>
On August 17, 2007, High School Musical 2 premiered. This sequel wouldn't be immune to breaking records. At the time, it's premiere made it the most-watched basic-cable telecast in history. This time, the cast is on summer vacation but everything isn't fun and games as this is their last summer before graduation and they have very real issues on their minds. They are looking for summer jobs to earn money for college and are thinking about their futures. Most of us in that stage of our high school career that the same things going though our heads.
Of course it's not all work and no play. We know from the opening song "What Time Is It" that our characters intend to have some fun as well. During the preparations of their musical they have ups and downs and a little bit of drama mixed in with catchy music in there every step of the way. The closing song "All for One" makes note of play coming after work and there is an underlying vibe of knowing this is their last summer before they graduate and so separate ways. The lyrics make subtle hints to it. We knew the next stage for the characters was their senior year.
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High School Musical 3: Senior Year</center>
Unlike the first two films, the third film was not to be a Disney Channel Original Movie. It was to receive a theatrical release. It was released on October 24, 2008. It was #1 opening weekend and broke the record previously held by Mamma Mia! for biggest opening ever for a movie musical and made $252,909,177 worldwide surpassing Disney's own expectations.
The film is bitter-sweet for those who followed the characters in the two previous films knowing that the characters are going their separate ways and that it's the end of the road as far and their high school career is concerned. The issues dealt with in the film are very real. The characters worry about their future and others are torn between passions, friends, and family's goals and expectations for them while at the same time trying to get the most out of their senior year and quickly ending high school career. From the opening song "Now or Never" we know that the end is near beginning with the last game for the seniors on the basketball team. The songs takes us through the senior experience from the last game to getting reading for the prom through the possibility of best friends going in different directions after high school. Just like real life, we are having the time of our life senior year and then suddenly we are faced with the reality that it's ending very soon. That's what I felt when I was in high school and that's what I felt in the film when we went from the fun antics of the Senior Year Spring Musical to the graduation mix of "We're all in this Together". When that moment hits, it hits hard. You think of the care-free days of early high school days (When we first heard "We're all in this Together" in the first High School Musical). It hit me like it hit me when I graduated. It's emotional from until the film ends. Of course it didn't help that the graduation scene was a near carbon copy of mine (same colors and all). The final song "High School Musical" wraps it all up. It sums up their career in high school, moving forward to their futures, and that they'll always remember their high school years. Then it ends and I thought "Wow". What a way to end the series. To think this all started as a Disney Channel Original Movie.
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Legacy and Aftermath</center>
Now looking back I think of the impact of the films on pop culture and think back in amazement. How could a Disney Channel Original Movie make it so big? Despite it's flaws, I love the films and their respective soundtracks and love how they make me feel. I think that their appeal isn't limited to their demographic. Most of us can relate to them in one way or another. I'm not even in their demographic. I was a senior in high school when the first one premiered and I'm a male at that.
Regardless, you wonder how one would look back on the films years from now and what future impact they'll have. With High School Musical 4: East Meets West and Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure coming soon, how do you think the future will view the series? How do people view the films now that about 5 years has passed since the first film was made? What is High School Musical's legacy?
-The_Iceflash
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Definitely much better then the second film. The second film I didn't like, they changed a lot of the characters and made them unlikable. Ms. Darbus wasn't in it almost at all as well. Troy and Gabrielle were more interesting though.
). the cinematographics in hsm were awesome, the songs were great and the cast was wonderful (zac efron and vanessa hudgens are such a cute couple 
its so much mpre positiv than glee, which is really sucky coz they dont use their own songs (tho i do think that mr schu is still a real hoty! i luv it when he shakes his bootty! 
I'll change it back to Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure until the name change is confirmed.
