The Legacy of High School Musical

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What is your favorite High School Musical film?

High School Musical
5
24%
High School Musical 2
4
19%
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
8
38%
All of the above
2
10%
High School Musical & High School Musical 2
1
5%
High School Musical & High School Musical 3: Senior Year
1
5%
 
Total votes: 21

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The_Iceflash
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The Legacy of High School Musical

Post by The_Iceflash »

<center>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.

<center>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.

<center>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.

<center>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. :lol: 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
Last edited by The_Iceflash on Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:28 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Super Aurora
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Post by Super Aurora »

none of them.
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Post by Duckburger »

The only thing I enjoy about these movies, is seeing all the actors' noses get gradually smaller. I think it's some of that refined Disney Magi© I've been reading about lately.
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Post by Animalia »

The first movie was enjoyable, a lot of the characters were quirky and fun. the worst parts of the movie for me was when the main characters Troy and Gabrielle were on screen, they were very boring. :zzz: 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.

I haven't seen the third though, but the scene "I Want It All" with the kitty cats and pink everywhere scares me... :oops:
Last edited by Animalia on Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Disney's Divinity »

That's funny. I actually thought HSM2 was the best of the three. The only real flaw to that one is that Ms. Darbus wasn't in it, like you said.

But I find the first film to be extremely dull (like most other DCOMs) and the third one changed some of the characters more than I liked (though it did have some really good parts, and the music was arguably the most tolerable of the three).

Of course, none of them are brilliant or anything, but if I watched any at all, it would be the second one. It's really just the same plot repeated three times anyway.
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Post by The_Iceflash »

Disney's Divinity wrote:That's funny. I actually thought HSM2 was the best of the three. The only real flaw to that one is that Ms. Darbus wasn't in it, like you said.

But I find the first film to be extremely dull (like most other DCOMs) and the third one changed some of the characters more than I liked (though it did have some really good parts, and the music was arguably the most tolerable of the three).

Of course, none of them are brilliant or anything, but if I watched any at all, it would be the second one. It's really just the same plot repeated three times anyway.
I find HSM2 to be the most re-watchable.
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Post by blackcauldron85 »

HSM premiered in 2006...later in the paragraph it says 2007...
And isn't High Stakes just a rumor...isn't it still probably called Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure...?

Anyhoo, I voted all of the above. I love all 3 movies and their soundtracks very much. And Corbin. :ears:
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Post by The_Iceflash »

blackcauldron85 wrote:HSM premiered in 2006...later in the paragraph it says 2007...
And isn't High Stakes just a rumor...isn't it still probably called Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure...?

Anyhoo, I voted all of the above. I love all 3 movies and their soundtracks very much. And Corbin. :ears:
"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."

I probabily worded it wrong but that was the day it was certified quadruple platinum.
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Post by Wonderlicious »

dear fellow disney fanatics,

when it came out, high school musical was 4 me the best movie eva, and was perhaps until the twilight trilogy came out. but its still awesome, and one of the best movies ever made!!!!!! :D :D :D okay, movie wiv real ppl that is. i still prefered little mermaid and sleeping beauty, and the tinkerbell movies were cool too. but high school musical is the best live action film, better than even mary poppins as julie andrews was in it and shes so smug and whiggles her nose too much (yes, we know, ur a gay icon, fine :roll: ). 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 :pan: :tink: :D) and it sends out a really positive message that high school can be fun and that everyone loves one another. :!: :D :minnie: 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! :o :twisted: :D). anyway, enuf from a twisted fangirl who bums zak efron. imo, hsm2 and hsm3 werent as good, but i still luvd them. probably as good as the hannah montahna movie or the camp rock films. thank you disney channel for all these great movies and great memories. omg, im getting weepy! :cry: :oops: :p

urs sincerely,
me :!: rotfl
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Post by pap64 »

I think HSM will be fondly remembered by kids this generation when they grow up. Then one of them will become the next Nostalgia Critic and bash this movie for being very bad! :p

But in all seriousness, HSM is popular enough that people will remember it for its crazy success, stars and other things. But a legacy? Erm, no. They were fun, silly and charming but not enough to say that they left a legacy behind.

That being said, I liked HSM 3 the best. It felt much more like a musical than the first two movies, the story is better and it was staged better. It's a guilty pleasure of mine to listen to some of its songs.
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Post by Scarred4life »

Well, I think people will certainly remember them, but by no means are they classic movies, or a legacy.
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Post by Escapay »

Like pap said, it'll be appreciated most by the generation who grew up with it. The High School Musical movies are the "Saved by the Bell" of the 2000s kids.

Most adults in 1988-1993 probably felt the same thing about "Saved by the Bell". Stupid stereotypical treatment of high school life, as if everyone's pretty and all situations end perfectly. But for kids who grew up on the series, be it in the original run or its initial neverending syndication (until it got relegated to 7 am on TBS), that was *their* show.

Likewise, with High School Musical, as much as I dislike it, I can't deny that it's become a part of the culture for kids of the past 4 years. Twenty years from now, it'll be a nostalgic memory for most of them, just as "Saved by the Bell" is for us.

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Post by milojthatch »

You really need a "None of them" option!
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Post by blackcauldron85 »

The_Iceflash wrote:"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."

I probabily worded it wrong but that was the day it was certified quadruple platinum.
Oops... :oops: Sorry! That's what I get for reading while I eat, apparently...
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Post by The_Iceflash »

blackcauldron85 wrote:
The_Iceflash wrote:"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."

I probabily worded it wrong but that was the day it was certified quadruple platinum.
Oops... :oops: Sorry! That's what I get for reading while I eat, apparently...
Seeing as you're a fan of all three films, you're forgiven. :D

Oh and I'm not sure about Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure/High Stakes. I'm sure you can fill us in on that. :wink: I'll change it back to Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure until the name change is confirmed.
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Post by Goliath »

Duckburger wrote:The only thing I enjoy about these movies, is
Vanessa Hudchen's nude photo circulate around the web as a result of her fame. Hot stuff. :D
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Post by Elladorine »

I'm not big on these films, but I don't dislike them either. I've seen how little kids love the characters and songs and think it's cool they're having fun with them. As for myself, I do like the Status Quo song from the first one. Image
Escapay wrote:Twenty years from now, it'll be a nostalgic memory for most of them, just as "Saved by the Bell" is for us.
You young whipper-snappers! *shakes cane* I've typically said it's the Grease of the current generation, minus the adult themes. ;) :lol:
Last edited by Elladorine on Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Super Aurora »

Goliath wrote:
Duckburger wrote:The only thing I enjoy about these movies, is
Vanessa Hudchen's nude photo circulate around the web as a result of her fame. Hot stuff. :D
I still have it in my porn file folder. I don't fap to it that much anymore.


speaking of this thread,

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/high_school_musical/


yeah....I know.
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Post by Duckburger »

Goliath wrote:Vanessa Hudchen's nude photo circulate around the web as a result of her fame. Hot stuff. :D
Lol. Yeah, I've seen that photo. That girl is crazy for putting that stuff online.
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Post by jediliz »

Super Aurora wrote:none of them.
DITTO!

I can't stand these movies.
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