17 Again

Released Year: 2009

Directed by Burr Steers

Casted by:

Zac Efron as Mike O'Donnell (17 years old)/ later also as Mark Gold

Matthew Perry as Mike O'Donnell (37 years old)

Sterling Knight as Alex O'Donnell

Thomas Lennon as Ned Gold (37 years old)

Leslie Mann as Scarlet O'Donnell (37 years old)

Michelle Trachtenberg as Margaret "Maggie" Sarah O'Donnell

Hunter Parrish as Stan

Katerina Graham as Jamie

Melora Hardin as Principal Jane Masterson 

 Story:

In 1989, 17 year-old Mike O'Donnell learns from his girlfriend Scarlet Porter that she is pregnant during the start of his high school championship basketball game. Moments after the game begins, he leaves the game and goes after Scarlet, abandoning his hopes of going to college and becoming a professional basketball player.

In 2009, Mike, now 37 years old, finds his life stalled. Scarlet, now his wife and mother of his two children, has separated from him due to his blaming her for his regrets about abandoning his future, forcing him to move in with his geeky and wealthy best friend since high school, Ned Gold. At his job, we see another reason for his frustration: due to his lack of higher education and since he is significantly older than most of his co-workers, he is passed over for a promotion he deserves in favor of a much younger worker. He gets fired from his job and his high school-age children, Maggie (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Alex want nothing to do with him. Later, while visiting his high school to reminisce, an encounter with a mysterious janitor transforms Mike into his 17 year-old self.

Mike then enrolls in high school posing as Mark Gold, Ned's son, and plans to go to college with a basketball scholarship. As he befriends his bullied son and discovers that his daughter has a boyfriend who does not respect her, Mike comes to believe that his mission is to help them. He meets Maggie's boyfriend and Alex's bully, Stan, the captain of the basketball team, and embarrasses him in front of the whole school after he insults Alex. Later, in Sex Education class while the teacher is handing out condoms to the students in a basket, Stan turns to Mike and refuses to give him any saying that he does not need them, causing quiet laughter among the class. Mike then makes a speech about love and sex in front of the whole class for Maggie's benefit, causing all of the girls to give back their condoms. Stan then takes the condoms and takes a handful claiming that he is stocked up for the weekend and kisses Maggie passionately. Because of this, Mike loses his temper and starts a fight with Stan on the floor, which is being taped by other students and eventually goes viral within a matter of minutes. Mike loses the fight and Ned is called up to the school, where he instantly becomes attracted to the principal.

Mike comforts Maggie when her boyfriend dumps her after she refuses to sleep with him. With his help, Alex overcomes Stan's bullying to obtain a place with Mike on the basketball team and the girlfriend he desires.

Through their children, Mike spends time with Scarlet, who is attracted to his remarkable resemblance to her husband in high school. Mike has difficulty resisting his desire for her despite the relationship's clear inappropriateness. At the same time, he must fend off Maggie's sexual advances.

Mike soon realizes that Scarlet is the best thing that ever happened to him and finally realizes that his own selfishness has driven his family away. He tries to re-unite with her, briefly forgetting his young form and kisses her during a party, in front of Maggie and other girls, and unsuccessfully explains to her that he is actually her husband. On the day of the court hearing to finalize Scarlet and Mike's divorce, Mike makes one last attempt to win her back (as Mark) by reading a supposed letter from Mike. He states that although he couldn't set things right in the beginning of his life, it doesn't extinguish the fact that he still loves her. After he exits, Scarlet notices that the "letter" is actually the directions to the courtroom and she begins to grow curious. As a result, she postpones the divorce by a month. During a high school basketball game, Mike reveals himself to Scarlet. As Scarlet once again runs away down the hall, Mike decides to chase her down once more, but not before handing the ball off to his son. Mike is then transformed back into his 37 year-old self, and reunites with Scarlet.

The film ends with Mike receiving the gift of a whistle from Ned in celebration of his new job as basketball coach.

 L² Scored: 9/10

L² Comment: 

I'm feeling like watching FRIENDS now, but hey~ the 10 seasons are a long marathon for me. So I decided to watch this movie with Chandler Matthew inside,  even though he might not appear that much in the movie, but a bit is better than none~ 

The whole movie is cool and fun to watch, even though its not the first time, but its still make me smile at some of the part~ Love Zac Efron as always and he is really so cute~ couldn't take my eyes off him

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Released Year: 2008
Directed by Kenny Ortega

Casted by:
Zac Efron as Troy Bolton
Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans
Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth
Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen
Story:

Team captain Troy rallies the team's spirit ("Now or Never") and they win the championship game which is the last one for the seniors on the squad at East High. Later, at Troy's after-match party at his house, Troy and Gabriella are seen thinking about their future and wishing that their last few months at East High would not end. ("Right Here, Right Now").

Sharpay meets Tiara Gold, a British exchange student whom she hires to be her personal assistant. When drama teacher Ms. Darbus notices that there were so few sign-ups for the spring musical, Sharpay suggests she could do a one-woman show. This alarms Kelsi, who is writing the show, so she immediately signs up everyone in their homeroom for it instead. This results in Ms. Darbus announcing they will create a play about their final days at East High, called Senior Year. In addition, she reveals that Sharpay, Ryan, Kelsi, and Troy have all been considered for a scholarship at Juilliard School, but only one of them is to be chosen. Troy is confused, because he did not apply to Juilliard. Seeing his friends laughing, he believes they gave his name to Juilliard. (We later find out that it was Ms. Darbus who gave his name to Juilliard). Sharpay becomes desperate to win the scholarship, and knowing that Kelsi will give the best songs to Troy and Gabriella in the musical, she gets Ryan to try to persuade Kelsi to give them a song, by predicting her (and Ryan's) future ("I Want It All").

The next day, Troy asks Gabriella to the dance while on the rooftop (seen previously in High School Musical as The Garden Club, a place where Troy goes seeking some quiet). She then teaches him how to waltz ("Can I Have This Dance?"). Chad then asks Taylor to go to prom with him with a cheesy pick-up line. She initially refuses, but later agrees when Chad proves he can put in some effort and asks again in front of everyone in the school. The group rehearses for the musical, a scene about their prom night ("A Night to Remember"). The next day Ryan walks in on Kelsi composing in the music room and they start to sing ("Just Wanna Be With You") which leads to Ryan asking Kelsi to prom. While Troy and Chad reminisce about their past ("The Boys Are Back"), Sharpay and Tiara discover that Gabriella has a chance to go to college early to Stanford. Sharpay convinces Troy that he is the only thing keeping Gabriella from her dream. Troy talks to Gabriella about this and after sharing an awkward goodnight, Gabriella sings ("Walk Away") and leaves for college the next day.

Troy's dad, Jack, talks to him about his academic future, which he expects will be in the University of Albuquerque. This assumption makes Troy become angry and confused, and he runs away, storming around East High bewildered until he finally screams at the top of his lungs in the theater ("Scream"). Ms. Darbus is secretly watching and reveals that she sent in his application for Juilliard. Troy later gets a call from Gabriella saying that although she loves him, she will not return to Albuquerque. However, on the day of the prom, Troy visits Gabriella at Stanford University and convinces her to return and they kiss sweetly together during ("Can I Have This Dance? (Reprise)"). Back at East High, Sharpay is prepared for the last musical at East High and Troy's fellow basketball player Jimmie receives a text from Troy to tell him to cover for him onstage because he is going to be late. The Juilliard representatives are there, and watch as the show seems to go well.

Kelsi and Ryan start out the show followed by a couple other numbers; Jimmie then performs with Sharpay and embarrasses her, although the audience applauds him. Troy and Gabriella appear during the second half of the show and sing their duet together. Tiara then betrays Sharpay and tells her how she is going to take over next year in the drama department. Sharpay finally learns how it feels to be humiliated, but does not wish to go down. While Tiara performs, Sharpay immediately crashes her performance and upstages her ("Senior Year Spring Musical"). At the end of the musical, Ms. Darbus reveals that both Kelsi and Ryan have won the Juilliard scholarship and tells about everyone's future plans ("We're All In This Together (Graduation Mix)") .

At the graduation ceremony, Troy gives the class speech. Throwing their caps in the air, the graduates form a giant wildcat before breaking out into song and dance to the tune of ("High School Musical"). As the movie ends, the cast does their famous High School Musical jump with a close up of the six in order before bowing when the curtain falls.

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

Love watching High School Musical :) I have watched it in the cinema, but the DVD does attract me well enough for me to spend my night with it. Love the choreograph done by Kenny Ortega in this movie especially the last graduation scene, its awesome~ watching this kind of teenager movie always make me feel so much younger :)

"Once a Wildcats, always a Wildcats"

High School Musical 2

Released Year: 2007
Directed by Kenny Ortega

Casted by:
Zac Efron as Troy Bolton
Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans
Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth
Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
Robert Curtis Brown as Vance Evans
Jessica Tuck as Darby Evans
Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen
Story:

The school year ends with everyone at East High School looking forward to summer vacation ("What Time Is It"). Troy Bolton is still dating Gabriella Montez, who decides to stay in Albuquerque with her mother. Troy eventually decides to look for a summer job to gain money for college.

Sharpay and Ryan Evans plan to spend part of the summer at their family's country club, Lava Springs ("Fabulous"), but Sharpay's summer plans also include pursuing Troy, whom she has arranged to be hired at the club. However, Troy convinces the club's manager, Mr. Fulton, into hiring Gabriella and their close group of friends as well; including Taylor and Chad. Sharpay is enraged upon learning that Gabriella is working as one of the lifeguards but is unable to get her fired so she orders Fulton to give them difficult tasks so they would be best to quit. Fulton attempts to intimidate the group but Troy rebuilds their confidence and convinces them that they can persevere ("Work This Out").

Troy continues to worry about funding for college. Sharpay senses his need and arranges for Troy to be promoted, hoping that this will convince him to sing with her at the talent show. Meanwhile, Kelsi writes a ballad for Troy and Gabriella. Troy agrees to sing with his friends in the show ("You Are The Music In Me"), not knowing that Sharpay is vying for his attention. (In the extended version, Sharpay and Ryan trap Troy as he prepares for a date with Gabriella, and perform their potential show stopper ("Humuhumunukunukuapua'a").)

Ryan realizes he does not mean much to Sharpay anymore, as she is ready to blow her brother aside for the opportunity to perform with Troy. This leads to tension between the twin siblings and Ryan angrily informs Sharpay that he will no longer obey her orders. Taylor and Gabriella invite Ryan to the baseball game, where he persuades the Wildcats to take part in the talent show ("I Don't Dance").

Troy and Gabriella's relationship is strained when Troy sees Ryan with Gabriella, sparking jealousy. Owing to a "promise" from Troy, he and Sharpay practice their song for the Midsummer Night's Talent Show ("You Are The Music In Me (Sharpay Version)"). When Sharpay discovers that Ryan and the Wildcats are putting together their own performance in the show, she orders Mr. Fulton to ban all junior staff members from performing. Gabriella angrily confronts Sharpay about her interference and quits her job at Lava Springs. Troy overhears the exchange, and tries to persuade Gabriella to change her mind. Gabriella expresses her loss of trust with Troy ("Gotta Go My Own Way") and leaves Lava Springs.

Troy returns to work the next day to find that his friends refuse to talk to him. Kelsi silently shows Troy the notice from Mr. Fulton, causing Troy to question his own motivations ("Bet On It"). He begins to reconcile with Chad and his other friends. Then Troy confronts Sharpay, informing her that he will not sing with her. The Wildcats and Chad forgive Troy for his absence and convince him to sing in the talent show, which he does only under the condition that they are all allowed to perform as well.

At Sharpay's supposed instruction, Ryan gives Troy a new song to learn moments before the show. As Troy goes onstage, he asks Sharpay why she switched the song, and Sharpay is shocked to find that her brother tricked her. Troy sings the song ("Everyday") alone, until Gabriella surprisingly joins him onstage. In the end, Sharpay proudly presents her brother, Ryan, with the award for the talent show. After the talent show, all the Wildcats go to the golf course to enjoy the fireworks.

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

This is a summer version which the students work in a club for their summer jobs, they are tanned which i think its not suitable for zac efron. This time, Lucas, Corbin and Monique sings more than the 1st movie which i think its a good thing coz they really got nice vocal. And i realize Grabeel is kinda cute but he's a bit sissy.

High School Musical

Released Year: 2006
Directed by Kenny Ortega

Casted by:
Zac Efron as Troy Bolton
Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans
Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth
Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
Bart Johnson as Jack Bolton
Alyson Reed as Ms. DarbusStory:

Troy and Gabriella meet at a New Year's Eve party while both are at a ski lodge during winter break. Troy is the captain of East High School's basketball team, and Gabriella is portrayed as shy and academic. At the party, the two are called upon to sing karaoke together (Start of Something New). They seem to be attracted to each other, and exchange numbers before parting.

After break, Troy sees Gabriella in his homeroom, and she explains that she just moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and transferred to East High over break. Troy shows Gabriella around the school, and they pause in front of the sign-up sheet for the winter musical auditions. This alarms Drama Club president Sharpay Evans, who assumes that Gabriella is interested in auditioning. Wanting to eliminate competition, Sharpay investigates the new girl and arranges for the scholastic decathlon captain, Taylor, to find out about Gabriella's past academic achievements.

During basketball practice, Troy has trouble focusing because his thoughts are on Gabriella and the idea that he might enjoy singing more (Get'cha Head In the Game). Gabriella and Troy both go to the musical auditions where Sharpay and her brother Ryan perform (What I've Been Looking For) but both are too shy to audition. When Gabriella finally summons the courage to step forward, Troy offers to sing with her, but Ms. Darbus tells them that they are too late. After Ms. Darbus apparently leaves, Kelsi, the composer of the musical, trips and drops her things. Troy and Gabriella rush to help her, and they sing together as Kelsi plays piano (What I've Been Looking For (Reprise)). Ms. Darbus overhears them and gives them a callback audition.

When the callback list is posted, Sharpay is furious to learn that she has competition for the lead in the musical, and the rest of the Wildcats are shocked that Troy and Gabriella have auditioned for a musical. Other students confess their own secret passions and talents (Stick To The Status Quo), alarming both Taylor and Troy's friend Chad. Since Gabriella has agreed to join the scholastic decathlon team, both Taylor and Chad want their teammates to focus on their upcoming competitions rather than the musical. To help Troy and Gabriella return to normal, Chad and the basketball team trick Troy into saying that Gabriella is not important while she watches through a wi-fi link that the scholastic decathlon team has set up. Gabriella is hurt (When There Was Me And You), she refuses to talk to Troy and decides not to audition for the musical. Chad and Taylor feel guilty for ruining Troy and Gabriella's relationship, and decide to tell them the truth. After Chad and the basketball team tell Troy what they did and offer to support him in callbacks, Troy goes to Gabriella's house and they make up.

Intimidated after overhearing Gabriella and Troy practicing, Sharpay convinces Ms. Darbus to change the callback time to coincide with both the basketball championship and the scholastic decathlon, so that Gabriella and Troy cannot participate. Kelsi overhears the conversation and the basketball team and the decathlon team work together to come up with a plan. On the day of the competitions, Taylor and Gabriella use the schools computers to cause a series of mishaps that delay the big game and the decathlon. With both competitions delayed, Troy and Gabriella rush to the auditorium, and Sharpay and Ryan finish performing their song (Bop To The Top), confident that their plan worked. Troy and Gabriella then audition (Breaking Free) and Ms. Darbus gives Troy and Gabriella the lead roles, making Sharpay and Ryan understudies. Troy and Gabriella both win their respective competitions, and the film ends when the entire school gathers in the gym to celebrate (We're All In This Together).

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

Watching this make me feel young :) Love the dance, love the vocals, love Zac Efron :)

A Disney produce never fail to make the heat in the teens (though i'm not one). But i'm really a fans of Efron, I found him extremely cute. Of course, i watched the 3rd movie b4 in the cinema, this will be the 1st time i watch the 1st movie, and it really is a nice movie :) All of them look so young and fresh~ love it so much :)

Charlie St. Cloud

Released Year: 2010

Directed by Burr Steers

Casted by:

Zac Efron as Charlie St Cloud

Amanda Crew as Tess Carroll

Charlie Tahan as Sam St Cloud

Kim Basinger as Claire St Cloud

Story:

Charlie was a superb and facinated boat racer who always team up with his brother Sam. On once night, Claire, their mother asked Charlie to take care of Sam while she went out for shift duty. Charlie drove Sam out and both met an accident. Sam loss his life while Charlie continue to see his brother's spirit.

Charlie become down and demotivate ever since then. He stays and work in the cemetry as a garderner while teach his brother's spirit how to play baseball in the woods everyday when the bell ring as their promise. Until he met Tess who slowly open up his heart. Tess is also a boat racer and gonna achieve her own record by sailing across the globe. Before that she came to date Charlie. Both of them have a romantic night before Tess left.

The next day, Charlie saw Tess with bleeded head lying around the cemetry but she claimed that she's ok. After a few while, Charlie discovered that it was Tess' spirit who came back to look for him. Charlie based on his experienced finally get to found Tess in a deserted ocean side.

From that onward, Sam's spirit left and Charlie start a new life again.

L² Scored: 7.5/10

L² Comment:

As usual, I still love Zac, so cute. But i know, a lot of people just cant stand him. but why? aint he cute enough to make u wet? lolz~ ok, back to the movie, this is from the novel of Ben Sherwood's "The Death & Life of Charlie St Cloud". Splendid huh? the movie is surprisingly good. But its so sad, i kinda feel down after watching this movie, Charlie's life is so fcking dull and grey after his brother die....

Hairspray

Released Year: 2007
Directed by Adam Shankman

Casted by:
Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad
John Travolta as Edna Turnblad
Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma von Tussel
Zac Efron as Link Larkin
Brittany Snow as Amber von Tussel
Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle
Elijah Kelley as Seaweed J. Stubbs
Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton
James Marsden as Corny Collins
Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad
Story:

In 1962, America still separate their skin color and the white don't really prefer the negro. Tracy the short and stout white girl and her friend Penny is fancy about the Corny Colins show. The show has dances and singings which create the dream for them.

The Corny Colins show have the Ms Hairspray Pageant every year and Velma the producer aka the choreographer always make fault result to let her own daughter Amber to win the crown. In one open interview, Tracy went for it but was humiliated by Velma and others of being ugly. Tracy being upset but later on get to join with the black people in their singing and dancing. The black people has their own show hosted by Motormouth Maybelle. After being encourage by Maybelle's son Seaweed, Tracy went over for the show and surprise everyone by her singing and dancing.

Corny Collins decided to put Tracy into his show but was strongly rejected by Velma and Amber. Luckily Tracy has her support from her mother Edna and father Wilbur. Edna even accompany Tracy to go for shopping and dress up well. But Edna was verbally attacked by Velma and Amber of being fat. Luckily Wilbur is there to assure Edna.

The one and only Negro show was cancel by the television centre and Maybelle brought along the black guys to protest. Tracy is willing to join force on the protest and put her career with the Crny Collins shows in risks. Tracy use the board to hit a policeman and she ran away. Afraid of being caught, Tracy went to see Penny for help. Penny being in love with Seaweed both help Tracy to sneak into the pageant. In the end, Ina, Seaweed sister won the Ms Hairspray Pageant. Velma's evil tricks was explore to the public. Corny even invite Maybelle to be one of the host in his show. Finally, Tracy and the handsome Link fall in love with each other.

L² Scored: 9/10

L² Comment:

Woah~ same like the musical film of Fame, i m very very very impressed with all these. It totally took my breath away. John Travolta is damn funny to be drag on the big mama character and zac efron is super super cute :)

The dance and songs are all nice. Highly recommended. 2 thumbs up :)