Kathryn_128 Reviews

The Cheetah Girls 2 (2005 TV Movie)

A good way to pass two hours of time, but not worth missing something big for.

[7/10 · 13 January 2007]

Okay, another day, another DCOM review.

This was shown on the Disney Channel, at least in England, soon after the phenomenally successful release of High School Musical. Sharing a director in Kenny Ortega, people had high hopes for the Cheetah Girls 2.

Now, I'm not gonna say it disappointed, because I don't think it did, but it didn't do that great a job of keeping you happy either.

I have to say, this movie was an improvement on High School Musical (which I've also reviewed) in that the music was better in that everybody did their own singing. The songs were nicely multicultural, which was a good nod to America's Latina population (Chanel also served that purpose). They were fun, with good messages that JUST erred on the right side of cheesy.

The stereotypical vibes of the girls were a little annoying, as you could look at each one and know what they were all about. On the plus side, I adored the addition of Marisol and her psychotic mother to the mix, and as always, Galleria and Chanel's moms were a bunch of laughs. Luke seemed a little too nice to be true, but this is Disney we're talking about. You can't be TOO mean, else you will scare the target demographic. And we can't have that, now can we? (Pfft.) The plot was solid, and meaningful, with moments of humor and a nice bunch of little sub-plots. It had more substance that High School Musical did. You had to like the fact that it didn't dwell on one thing for too long. And can I just say that Juaquin(is that how you spell it?) is entirely too hot for this movie. He should blatantly be stripping somewhere...

Oh yeah, and I just HAVE to comment on the names. I realize every little girl would like to have their names, but they are among the stupidest I've ever heard. That's includes baby Apple. I mean, REALLY, Aquanetta, Galleria, Chanel (!), and Dorinda? Also, who calls their child Angel? A boy? He was fantastic apart from his idiotic name.

I know people didn't like that some of the songs had Spanish parts, or that there was a whole Spanish song, but I think it's a great way to encourage interest in another language and culture, especially since there are just so many Latina people living in America. A La Nanita Nane translates beautifully, and Angel (insert shudder) has a part in Strut which practically makes the song.

Other than the slightly silly and OTT ness of the movie it was solid and nice time consumer, you'll like it, but you won't go running everyone over on your way to the DVD store. Not by a long shot.

High School Musical (2006 TV Movie)

Excellent, of course, but definitely not flawless

[8/10 · 2 January 2007]

Okay. Everyone seems to either hate or love this movie. I have to say, I'm erring on the "love it" side, but that doesn't mean I don't see the flaws in it.

So, since I've seen so many reviews gushing about how perfect it is, how cute, etc. etc. etc. I'm going to get what I think is wrong with the movie out of the way first. First things first, it's ENTIRELY unrealistic. I don't mean this in the sense of the bursting into song and dance, cause that's what happens in musicals. I mean more the high school mentality.

High School Musical has been so popular, I guess, because you have to remember the target demographic is tweens, that is anyone between the ages of say, eight and thirteen, who don't know real high school, and can still hope against hope, wish against wish, vow against all vows, that they might one day go to a school just like East High, with people just like Troy and Gabriella, and defeat someone just like Sharpay upon graduating the eighth grade/Year 9 (or thereabouts in England). They don't know it'll never happen. Well, they don't know just yet, anyway.

Funny, the situation seems totally different in England, with anyone and everyone watching it, but that might just be that us angsty teenagers like pointing out what a huge lie the whole movie is, and usually love any opportunity to behave like a child without suffering the social repercussions. Personally, I just find it so much fun, as I do most of the Disney Channel. (Yes, I know, I'm 15, what's wrong with me?) But, I digress.

The lip synching was poor in places, and seeing as Zac Efron spent most of the movie doing it, I really think it should've been better. Also, the East High Wildcats really weren't very good. I'd have put my money on West High Knights. All the way. That's not too important though. I was ever so slightly concerned about Sharpay and Ryan's close relationship, but not in a really serious way. I think Lucas Grabeel is a character people often forget about when talking about the movie, and having heard him in the otherwise terrible "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" (just entirely pointless, and added nothing to the HSM "experience"), he's actually a great singer, with a clear, powerful, expressive voice, and played Sharpay's camp brother so well.

I'm not going to gripe about Zac Efron being dubbed by Drew Seeley, because, on hearing the first two lines of Breaking Free and the disgrace on Gabriella's balcony, however sweet, it's just as well he spared us that for the ENTIRE MOVIE. The tween girls love him, and that's half the part. He did what he needed to do, playing his type A high school movie character just fine, as did all the actors.

On a good note, the music is catchy, non-repetitive, and easy to sing and learn. The dances are a little more difficult, but really fun once you've learned them, and are entertaining to watch if you're not a dancer, because the choreography is excellent. The main characters are likable and sweet, if a little watered down. Sharpay is kind of like Regina (of Mean Girls) Lite. Super Lite. Once again though, we must remember that it's Disney. The overall message is an important one, if a bit cheesier than they are allowed. It's nice that they are doing a cliché, and entirely embracing that, making it seem less of a cliché.

It's like Grease, but about eighty times cleaner, much perkier and a whole lot of fun all round.

The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Entirely beauteous, and proves there is more than one way to present this magnificent musical

[10/10 · 2 January 2007]

This film was awesome, in every sense of the word. For many, this was the only opportunity they had to experience The Phantom of the Opera, and it does not disappoint.

This movie is one of the few where I think there was not a single mis-cast person. Not a one. I know, I can already hear people screaming that Gerard Butler can't sing, but I don't believe that's true. His voice, while not technically flawless, is powerful and touching and betrays everything the Phantom is feeling. I think that's really important for such a complex, heartbreaking character as our Phantom, and Emmy Rossum fulfilled everything Christine should ever be. Sweet, pious, loving, brave and a wonderful singer. I don't understand why people have it in for her. Raoul, while possessing a RIDICULOUS haircut, was a perfect lyric tenor, and played his part excellently, becoming actually way attractive once he got a little wet and had done some fighting. Carlotta was the humour in the story, and Minnie Driver, always talented, did not disappoint. Jennifer Ellison was fine for her small part, and was nothing outstanding, but didn't let the cast down, and even did her own ballet! The set is one of the most opulent and rich I have ever seen, with gold and red velvet everywhere, a real Gothic architectural masterpiece enclosing our story, and it's used to SUCH good effect. For instance, the Phantom's lair, with its complex traps, and yet aquamarine beauty struck us as the centre of the Phantom's pain, and the angel on the rooftop he cursed Christine and Raoul from created a major turning point in the storyline.

Another thing I noticed was that Gerard Butler contains a HUGE amount of sex appeal as the Phantom, especially in The Point of No Return. That's the best change, in my opinion, from some of the stage musicals, as there, he's often portrayed as an old, fat, ugly paedophile. In my opinion, this left the audience never in doubt of who Christine was going to choose. However, in the movie, if you didn't already know what would happen, seeing the sword fight and the Phantom's singing/performance, especially in PoNR, with its sexy, aggressive lyrics, (and the equally so costume!) made you see that the Phantom was actually viable competition for Raoul. Raoul is Christine's romantic awakening, whereas, with the way the Phantom looks and acts, Raoul is NOT her sexual awakening, which is clearly the Phantom's job here.

The fact that Christine's decision is actually A DIFFICULT ONE in the movie made all the difference, and this combined with a wonderful cast, almost all of whom did their own singing, a drop dead gorgeous set, wondrous costumes, dazzling special effects and staying true to the heartrending tragedy of the original musical have created a masterpiece.