26.2 Marinas Assignment - High School Musical comparison

Thirteen years ago a new teen film dropped called "High School Musical" 

all about an athlete called Troy played by Zac Efron who falls in love with a smart, beautiful girl called Gabriella played by Vanessa Hudgens on a Christmas vacation. 

He discovers his love of singing. When they return to school, though, he has to choose between the pressure of dedicating himself to basketball or his love of both music and Gabriella. It was obscenely popular, made a ton of money, through merchandise and the catchy up-beat songs, and made its stars famous. Off the back of its popularity, a year later, "High School Musical 2", its infinitely better sequel was released.

High School Musical is an original Disney film that was released in 2006 on Disney Channel. It became a worldwide phenomenon which led to releasing a sequel on the following year and eventually a third movie that made it to the theatres.  The story’s structure is a very similar one to "Romeo and Juliet" that it involves a romance and few complications between two outside parties minus the war, tragedy and violence. It begins with Troy Bolton (Romeo) and Gabriella Montez (Juliet) meeting for the first time in a party through a karaoke activity that acts as their “connector.” What did the director want to achieve when he chose to start the story with strangers meeting? It was established that the story will mainly revolve around them as the protagonists. The next time they meet, they find out that they come from different opposing groups and in the case of High School Musical, different cliques or school clubs. Troy is the captain of the basketball team while Gabriella is the math and science genius or “geek.” This establishes the complication of their love story.

Troy did not realize that he has a talent for singing and when he did, he developed the desire to pursue it. However, whenever he had to face his team regarding the truth, he denies it to keep his social status intact. He was in denial which ultimately developed developed a sense that the guilt from his superego is greater than his identity. Gabriella on the other hand, is not bothered by the opposing conflicts, considering that she is new in school and has no social status to protect. As long as Troy is with her, she is secured. She depends on Troy’s decision to go for what he wants despite the odds. She is not afraid to satisfy her desires and show her feelings for Troy which indicates that her identity is the strongest element of her personality. When both of their egos did not do its job as the mediator, it created a conflict that ended up hurting them. Because of Troy’s denial out of guilt, Gabriella’s feels a sense of rejection which makes Troy guiltier than he already is. In the end, Troy’s ego negotiates and ends up getting his desire without disappointing his peers. Gabriella’s conscience of understanding Troy’s conflicts helps her to balance the feeling and both find a suitable outcome that satisfies both of them.

High School Musical,” the first one, was a television movie that blindsided programmers when it caught on. One of the most-watched premieres of Disney Channel original movies, 200 million people worldwide are said to have seen the film, it also engendered a stage version, a concert tour and an album that was No.1 CD in 2007.

This love triangle between troys love for Gabriella and singing and having a future in playing basketball seems to get in the way again during the summer break. troy and Gabriella arrange plans many time within the summer however they all are spoiled by "out of the blue" plans arranged that could possibly future his career in basketball. "High S chool Musical 2" takes the High School Musical template of Troy's inner struggle between what his heart is set on and the responsibilities everyone is expecting of him and relocates them onto a non-school setting. This time, rather than being "girl vs friends" and "songs vs sports", he's tackling the harsh realities of adult life vs the fun of his personal relationships. The film takes place over the summer, and while all of the kids want to mess around and play some ball, they're pushed by the cruelty of capitalism to get jobs instead. They somehow all get work at the same country club, and have to bend over backwards serving the wealthy couples having a summer break, including the rich kids from their school. 

The film had a budget of $7 million and, despite starting on television, managed to pull in 17.2 million viewers on its premiere, making it the highest-rated telecast of its time. In 2006 and 2007, between the first two films, the franchise made an estimated $1 billion in operating profit. It was better received than the first instalment, reviewed well by grown adults, and weirdly popular with teens who loved it "ironically". While the first film had brought its stars to global relevance, the second saw that relevance reach new heights. Despite being essentially child stars, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron became one of the most-talked about celebrity couples, with their love and alterations being broadcasted over the covers of tabloids and magazines everywhere. 

Both of these musicals are classics, The first one was a good "stand alone" film. It had a high success rate and gained a lot of popularity over it. However When the second film came out it was totally overshadowed by this upbeat, more relatable soundtrack with new insights and a better storyline. Overall my opinion is that "High School Musical 2" is the better sequel mainly for the soundtrack and actual acting plus vocal range. But also for the less predictable storyline and ultimately better experience watching it.