Writer: Lai Swee Wei

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Watch this if you liked: "High School Musical", "Grease", "Mamma Mia!"

All I have to say is: "High School Musical 3" definitely defeats the first two movies by a mile! A rather long mile, at that! If you're expecting bigger and better, well that's exactly what this third movie delivers. It features bigger musical numbers with more difficult choreography, more dancers and more elaborate sets.

In the beginning, you will find yourself enjoying a very catchy tune from the very first musical number, "Here And Now" as it starts off in a very heated basketball game. The Wildcats are down at halftime. This is the last game that they will ever play as seniors. Somehow this heart-pumping moment just had to be 'soppy-fied' with a little corny scene featuring Gabrielle Montez singing her encouragement to her high school sweetheart and Wildcats team captain Troy Bolton. Disney movies, what can we say? Excusable. Nonetheless, the intro was as energetic as an Energizer bunny that never stops banging.

This movie focuses a lot more on the pressures that high school seniors have about prom, finals, graduation and going away. Troy's future is undecided as he struggles to balance basketball, his newfound love of singing and his main squeeze, Gabrielle. Meanwhile, Gabrielle tries to face her dilemma of being in Stamford University, thousands of miles away from Troy. Ah, sweet young love, it's getting a bit too lovey-dovey, isn't it!

This film also introduces three new characters - Jimmie 'the Rocket' Zara (a young kid on the basketball team who really idolises Troy Bolton), Donnie Dion (best friend to Jimmie and towel boy for the basketball team) and Tiara Gold (Sharpay's personal assistant who is secretly conniving). More of the spotlight seems to fall on newcomers Jimmie and Tiara as both play important roles in complementing the main characters.

In terms of its musicality, be swayed in a romantic waltz with Troy and Gabrielle in "Can I Have This Dance", and pumped up with adrenalin during Troy and Chad's rock duet "The Boys Are Back". Be blinded by fame like Sharpay and Ryan Evans in "I Want It All". The soundtrack features 10 all-new songs and brings back some old songs as well, such as "We're All In This Together", but a rather slower version. The choreography, elaborate sets, and energetic dancers brings such life to the songs and make it that much more enjoyable to watch.

The saddest part is at the end when the curtain draws to a close and the camera focuses on each of the six main characters, all smiles although tears are welling up in some of their eyes, knowing what we know, that this is the end of "High School Musical"... or is it? Nonetheless, it was the right ending.

Stay till the credits roll to watch some of the funny bloopers.

Cinema Online, 20 October 2008