"HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: REMIX"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING Zac Efron as TROY BOLTON Vanessa Anne Hudgens as GABRIELLA MONTEZ Ashley Tisdale as SHARPAY EVANS Lucas Grabeel as RYAN EVANS Corbin Bleu as CHAD DANFORTH Monique Coleman as TAYLOR MCKESSIE TV-G Studio: Disney Directed by: Kenny Ortega Back to DVD Review Home |  |
Early in 2006 when “High School Musical” was released on DVD, I predicted that a special edition was around the corner. You see, originally the DVD release was to include two discs loaded with special features. However, after the TV movie became a pop culture event, the bonus disc was pulled for a later release.
In time for Christmas, the “High School Musical Remix” DVD became available. It was a smart move by the Disney company, priming the Christmastime pump and beginning the initial hype for the upcoming “High School Musical 2” (as well as the upcoming theatrical release of “Haunted High School Musical” in 2008).
My thoughts on the film haven’t changed much since viewing it less than a year ago. “High School Musical” was a sensation that took everyone by surprise (especially the folks at Disney). It made overnight stars of Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Monique Coleman (although Monique also had some help from “Dancing with the Stars”).
It’s a cute movie. Some have said it’s “Grease” for this generation, but I don’t quite fall that far for the film. “Grease” was really special, and as a child of the 70s and 80s, I just can’t bring myself to think in those terms.
However, it was a well made movie. The music is catchy – far catchier than you might expect for a run-of-the-mill made-for-TV movie on the Disney Channel. The characters are cute, and the story is wholesome. It’s something the whole family can enjoy, and the musical numbers are pretty well done.
What’s more intriguing to me about “High School Musical” is the phenomenon it created for Disney and the stars. It’s also interesting to see how the stars have changed over this short time. At the press junket, I saw Vanessa Hudgens almost fall out of her chair when she first flipped through the novelization. She literally couldn’t believe her eyes. Only a short few months later, Hudgens was touring with arena shows, opting out of “High School Musical” songs over her solo work.
Oh well. Innocence doesn’t last forever.
Still, fans of “High School Musical” will want to pick up the Remix edition because it has most of what was missing from the original release (except for a commentary track on the feature). The first disc is virtually identical to the original release, only slightly repackaged in the menus. It includes a featurette to learn the dance moves as well as a music video.
The second disc comes with a decent supply of extras. Most of these are dance-alongs, which is probably a bullseye for the target demographic but completely lost on little ol’ me. There are also several music videos and some behind-the-scenes featurettes. Additional, post-phenomenon special features include a reunion with the cast, talking about how their lives have changed, as well as a short bit about the DVD release and screening at the El Capitan theatre in L.A. last May.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Full screen (1.33:1). English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
