High School Musical 2006: Ode to My Generation

This entry is for the Mis-Matched Couples Blogathon hosted by Realweegie Midget Reviews and Cinematic Catharsis. It runs from March 29-31 2024.

Music entered my life as early as it possibly could. Adopted at age of 1, my world became rock n’ roll and full of legendary music. I’m talking 70’s hard rock, Disney standards, mixed in with The Wizard of Oz (1939) soundtrack.

My toddler years were Kiss fan made VHS tapes, Def Leppard interviews, AC/DC Stuff Upper Lip tour updates on VH1, and plenty of Disney movie marathons. Full House reruns in my elementary years were watching Nick@Nite with Uncle Jesse playing concerts in the living room. Music like The Beach Boys and more rock standards such as “My Sharona” entered my life at this point. While all of this was good and plenty, getting healthy doses of legendary music, the musical staple of my own generation didn’t come around until 2006 with the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical.

Launching Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale to mega teen stardom, HSM was not anything technically, “new“, but it came around at a time when kids of my generation had nothing else that was their own.
Sure Disney had The Cheetah Girls and Lizzie McGuire containing original music, but they were not broad appeals (I wasn’t into either). High School Musical with its relatable Romeo and Juliet/ West Side Story inspired love story appealed to all kids and was insanely relatable, as it took place at school. Even elementary students like 4th grader, 9/ 10 year old me at the time, connected with it over the familiar setting.

(Disney)

Zac Efron stars as Troy Bolton: captain of the basketball team at East High School. He’s basically the typical all American jock, and with his dad as the team coach, there is extra pressure on him to be perfect. HS is his oyster: he has a best friend, co-captain Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), knows the teachers, and is popular with other students like performer twins Sharpay (Tisdale) and Ryan Evans (Lucas Grabeel).

On New Years Eve, Troy goes on vacation out of state to a ski lounge and ends up at a party with karaoke, in which he is randomly paired with Gabriella Montez (Hudgens). Neither wants to sing, and they do so reluctantly, but as “The Start of Something New” goes on, they feel more confident and comfortable with each other. In fact, they feel so comfortable with each other, by the end of the night they almost kiss.

Thinking they never will see each other again, the pair exchange numbers, but this turns out to be wrong when Gabriella walks up in homeroom the first day back to school, as a transfer student to East High. Gabriella soon discovers Troy is a jock, and she is taken in by the science club president Taylor McKessie (Monique Coleman), but that doesn’t stop them from pursuing their hidden passion, even auditioning for the winter musical (they sing What I’ve Been Looking For). Once this news breaks, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor, and even Troy’s Dad do everything in their power to stop it, as kids should “Stick to the Status Quo“.

But Troy and Gabriella are determined against the odds, and once their friends come around, everyone realizes its all better when they are “All in This Together“

At first, I was not on board with HSM, I believed it to be over hyped. It was a few weeks until I saw it, and my mom actually picked up the DVD at my my younger sister’s insistence. But then something shifted, I kept hearing “Breaking Free”, and was so taken in by that song. The melody, the visuals in which Troy and Gabriella were performing, it just spoke to me. (Of course, the twirl at towards the end and the sweet kiss on cheek once the song is finished were also aspects I admired!)

As far as the chemistry between these two goes, on paper, yes they are mismatched. Yet, I think what bonds them is the power of music, as well as the fact Gabriella isn’t impressed by Troy’s jock status, to her, that’s beside the point. Music I believe is a powerful force, and it can bring you surprising bonds with people you would never think you’d be friends with. With these two, it allows them to be their real selves, and it connects them on a deeper level than just surface level appearances.

Of course, I must mention, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens as actors, were paired together in auditions because the producers and director Kenny Ortega saw something between them that was blatantly obvious. They crushed on each other during filming in 2005 and then dated until 2010, 2 years after the HSM3 wrapped. “Zanessa” were a couple I totally believed was, “true love”, in my elementary/ middle school years. I don’t personally think it was a show-mance, as you look at Zac’s own personal romances since he broke up with Vanessa, and none have been successful or long lasting.

Overall, HSM is probably nothing more than a G rated Grease, or a West Side Story set in school, or as my Mom has always seen, just “something goofy on Disney Channel”. But to kids of my generation, this was something connective: the music was new, the stars were teens themselves, you had to wait for the other two movie installments, and you saw Zac Efron’s face plastered on Tiger Beat, Bop, and J-14 (Mags my sister and I got!). I don’t recall there has been something as major on the same vein as HSM since then, or maybe we have to wait a long while before something as major comes around again. Whatever the case, while I do have my own issues with the trilogy, and I have fallen out of love with the actors, and don’t care for some of the acting performances, HSM will always be something my generation can claim for themselves. That doesn’t always happen, and I’m not sure what my opinion will be 10 years from now, but, for me, just like for Troy and Gabriella, the music is what keeps me bonded with this trilogy. It’s a part of the music of my life, and it will forever represent my own childhood.

BONUS: This is my favorite Troy- Gabriella duet of the whole trilogy, HSM3’s Right Here, Right Now. I’ve always believed Zac’s voice possessed a tenderness not present in any other song. It is the hopeless romantic number of the trilogy, I found it tender at age 12, and I still believe that as an adult.

Directed by John Ford (1971/2006)

This review is for MovieRob’s July 2023 Genre Grandeur of Documentaries!

In my life at the movies (so far), no one film director has been as mysterious and complex as John Ford. It seems the more I learn about him, the less I actually know about him. I’ve read books, and seen documentaries, seen mini-featurettes about Ford, watched interviews with people who worked and knew him, and I come away from all of them both fascinated and confused all at the same time.

In 1971, director Peter Bogdanovich attempted to do what no person had done before, make a documentary about the all-American director of the 20th century. Until 2006, the documentary was scarce, but thanks to some revision, and rights handling issues, the restored and slightly re-cut, longer documentary premiered on TCM. For the purposes of this review, I will be referring to the 2006 version, as that’s the version that is available to watch today.

To start, Bogdanovich interviewed the three leading men who worked with Ford the most: James Stewart (3 movies), Henry Fonda (7), and of course, John Wayne (14, but more when you count the un-credited bit roles Wayne did for Ford). Interviews with Ford himself were also included, with more footage being included in the 2006 version, as Ford had passed by then. The revised edition also saw interviews, with Ford collaborators Maureen O’Hara and Harry Carey Jr., and directors Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, and Walter Hill.

While some of it was the standard working on set stories, and how Ford acted when cameras were not rolling, what was fascinating was the inclusion of his film clips, and how by watching and analyzing his films, you can actually learn everything you need to know about him. For instance, Ford frequently put music in his movies, with characters singing in Rio Grande (1950) and The Quiet Man (1952). This directly comes from Ford’s own real life interests, as there are stories of Maureen O’Hara saying at dinner at his house, she would have to sing before eating, or after a day on set, Ford would gather his company, the cast and the crew, and sing music around a campfire, or at the bar.

John Wayne telling the story of how he first met Ford while at college at USC is a highlight, as it’s truly being told right in front of you, rather than just reading it in a Ford an/or Wayne biography. It was also very intriguing Henry Fonda agreed to be interviewed, considering the two had a personal and professional falling out during the marking of Mister Roberts (1955). Fonda spoke well of Ford, and did not even bring up the incident, so it was really cool to hear of the insights he had to offer about working for him.

Then there were the scholarly reflections of the directors: Bogdanovich himself, Scorsese, Hill, and Eastwood. All of them talk about their memories of the first time watching a Ford picture, and how he has inspired their own work in the industry. Listening to their opinions of Ford as a director was fun, as they can really see a pattern or stand out elements of what makes Ford great, and it encourages the viewer to try to do the same when watching their next Ford film.

To me however, the biggest bombshell of this documentary was the added audio of Katharine Hepburn, visiting Ford when he was in ill-health. While Ford and Hepburn only worked on the 1936 box office bomb Mary of Scotland together, they had a short but passionate affair that affected them the rest of their lives. Dan Ford (a grandson), brought Hepburn to see Ford in 1973, and according to Bodganovich, the conversation was taped in Ford’s bedroom. At first the conversation is just talking about the old days: golf, the making of Mary of Scotland, then it turns intimate: Ford telling Kate he loves her, with Kate telling him, “it’s mutual“.

Bodganovich explains the tape was left running, recording them without their knowledge. This fact is backed up when you hear Ford ask if anyone is listening and Kate says, “No“.

I was personally stunned by this, as I would never even think Ford and Hepburn felt that way towards one another. I had read previously the character Mary-Kate in The Quiet Man was named actually for Maureen O’Hara, herself, as she pointed out in her book: “Mary” was the English version of Maureen, and “Kate” was for what her father wanted to name her. As it turns out, there may be more to it, as the character Mary-Kate could be named for Ford’s wife, Mary, and Kate, as in Katharine Hepburn. What is it really? I personally don’t know what to go with. Maybe it’s both??

In the end, I think Directed by John Ford, much like the director’s films themselves require more than one viewing, it needs multiple viewings in order for you to really take it all in. Its under 2 hours, but it’s jam packed with info, info for you to ponder and wonder about. It is currently on here on YouTube.

H2O: Just Add Water

If you would have asked me in middle school what my favorite tv show was, easily hands down the answer would have been the Aussie tv show H2O: Just Add Water.

H2O: Just Add Water is a show about 3 different girls who live on the beaches of the Gold Coast. Emma Gilbert (Claire Holt), Cleo Sertori (Phoebe Tonkin), and Rikki Chadwick (Cariba Heine) (and later Bella Hartley (Indiana Evans)) are our heroines and together they navigate through normal teen life all while hiding their secret: they are mermaids with powers over water. Emma can freeze water, Cleo can shape water, and Rikki can boil water. No one execpt Cleo’s childhood friend (and love interest) science brainiac Lewis McCartney (Angus McLaren) knows about their secret and he helps them navigate everyday problems all while balancing it with mermaid adventures. The show ran from 2006 – 2010 with 3 seasons and 78 episodes.

When H2O premeired in the USA, it was March 2008. I was 11 1/2, and I believe I was the perfect age to get hooked on the show. H2O stood out from all the other teen shows I was watching because the show actually had a serialized storyline that was engaging. I made my own little scrapbook for the show (its gone now!), got the season 2 cd for my 12th birthday, and even had the dolls (they went to goodwill!).

Season 1 is certianly the best, as it had the most stakes and was organic for the story they were telling. With the transformation into mermaids needing to be kept secret, the biggest storyline is the fear of exposure, and the antagonist is a scientist, Dr Denman, who would exploit the girls for fame and money. The season also sees the best character journey of, “bad boy”, Zane Bennett (Burgess Aberthany) from rich snobby jerk, to being more caring and sensitive… especially after he almost drowns in a shipwreck (only to be saved by Emma, but after he catches a glimpse of a “sea monster”) and has a relationship with Rikki (ZIKKI IS MY FAVORITE relationship of the entire show!). Season 1 also has the best mythology backstory building, concerning the dynamics of how the girls powers work. 

Season 2 is pretty good, with the introduction of the infamous Charlotte Watsford (Brittney Byrnes) who becomes a third point in a love triangle with Lewis and Cleo. It’s kind of painful, as their relationship takes up some screentime that was dedicated to the girls friendship in season 1, but its really engaging and keeps you watching and asking when Cleo and Lewis will get back together. Season 2 also continues the myth building with Mako Island and the girls powers, as their powers change to also control weather. The biggest plot of the season is Charlotte becoming a mermaid and the girls having to accept her in their group, while she’s a bully to Cleo and alienating Lewis from having contact with her (and the rest of the girls). Season 2 is still enjoyable and it really strengthens the friendships and ups the ante on everything: the danger, the romance, the fun. I remember bootlegging episodes 14-26 on YouTube because they failed to play on Nickelodeon in America, and I was insanely upset about it. Nothing was going to keep me from this show!

Season 3 is honestly my least favorite. At the time of release, in 2009-2010, in the UK (it aired there first before Australia), I was one of the bootleg viewers. I would get home from 8th grade, and a recording of the new episode would be uploaded. I recall I had to be quick about it because they would be deleted for copyright claims, so that was always a problem. Nonetheless, I made sure exactly right when the videos were uploaded I was at the computer screen.
What I hate about season 3 is the whole friendship dynamic changes. Claire Holt left the cast due to a scheduling conflict being replaced by Bella, a new girl who moves to town with her never seen on screen family (I’m team Emma over Bella!).  Angus McLaren has reduced episodes and left the main cast, and Lewis was “replaced” by Will (Luke Mitchell), who in comparison is a dull character. The friendship of the 3 girls just doesn’t gel properly and it’s basically the case of, “Oh Bella! You’re a mermaid too, we must be friends!”.
The show also starts chasing some trends of other teen shows around this time: Bella has her own band and sings! Will takes of his shirt a ton! Zane now owns the local cafe (no boss to answer to) and calls it Rikki’s!

Add in Zane’s character just completely reverting back to being a total jerk due to lazy writing and it just sucks. Not to mention the overall plot of the water tentacle being the enemy and the payoff completely not following what they set up, this season is a frustrating watch. There are some highlights however: as Cleo and Lewis (Clewis!) are so adorable (until they write him out) this season, and Rikki has some strong emotional  development.

I’m no ordinary girl

Overall, H2O will always be that special show in my heart. It’s the only show from my childhood preteen years I genuinely still care about, and do not regret watching. I may have come to it only because mermaids are my favorite mythological creature, but in the end, this is what got me open to Australian TV. It planted the seeds for me to watch Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, A Place to Call Home, Dance Academy and for that I’m really grateful.

This post was written for the March 2023 Genre Grandeur of beaches hosted by MovieRob.