![Review Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / The Tudors: Complete Series 2 [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nyKtP1w2L._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Jeremy Northam
- Natalie Dormer
- Henry Cavill
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
- Maria Doyle Kennedy
- Michael Hirst
Run time: 503 min.
RRP: £29.99
Price: £15.64
Review The Tudors: Complete Series 2 [2008] / Sony Pictures Home Entertainment:It’s a very welcome return for The Tudors in this terrific second season of the show, which picks up once more on the earlier years in the reign of King Henry VIII. And once again, it pulls few punches, by turns violent, passionate and dramatic. It’s absolutely not family viewing, but it does grab you by the collar and simply not let up. What’s more, The Tudors is once again powered by arguably a career-defining performance by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He’s quite superb as the young King, capturing the obsession of Henry VIII in his quest for a male heir to the throne. He’s matched by a strong supporting cast, too, particularly Natalie Dormer’s Anne Boleyn. And with lavish production values grounding the show, it’s a sumptuous, surprisingly edgy slice of historical drama. That said, once again, the show takes some liberties with history, and inevitably attracts attention for doing so. But those liberties are taken for a reason. The drama is never less than compelling, and it’s worth cutting The Tudors some slack for the decisions it makes. [+]After all, the end result is genuinely gripping and engaging television, and come the final credits on the ten episodes here, chances are you’ll be thirsting for more. For even though you may know how the story ultimately ends, The Tudors is ample proof that the journey there is really what matters. -Jon Foster.
Actors & Directors
- Sarah Paulson
- Bradley Whitford
- Amanda Peet
- D.L. Hughley
- Matthew Perry
Run time: 894 min.
RRP: £50.99
Price: £11.50
Review Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - The Complete Series / Warner Home Video:Aaron Sorkin, bless him, believes that "the people who watch television shows aren't dumber than the people who make television shows. " He also believes that "quality is not anathema to profit. " He puts these idealistic words into the mouth of Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), the new, impolitic NBS TV president whose first order of business is to revitalise the network's cash cow, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a long-running live late-night sketch-comedy series reeling from the Howard Beale-esque on-air meltdown of its creator (Judd Hirsch, alas, limited to the pilot episode). With this Upstairs/Backstage look at Studio 60's tumultuous network politics and stormy personal relationships, Sorkin, the creator of Sports Night and The West Wing, once again tried to raise the bar of prime time fare. That he didn't quite clear it makes this one-season wonder a fascinating object lesson of great hopes and dashed expectations. Studio 60 was perhaps the most hotly debated series of the 2006 season and, love it or hate it, all its strengths and flaws can be savoured and savaged anew with this complete-series set. Pretty much above reproach is the ensemble. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford head the cast as comedy writer Matt and executive producer Danny, former Studio 60 hands whom Jordan brings back to "save" the show. Steven Weber co-stars as network chairman Jack Rudolph, who clashes with Jordan over reality programming (he wants it, she doesn't), is embroiled in network negotiations with China, and must fend off angry affiliates offended by such sketches as "Crazy Christians. " Jordan contends with becoming tabloid fodder after her ex-husband leaks scandalous details of their past. [+]Meanwhile, Matt, a sardonic atheist, is in a whole Ross and Rachel thing with Harriet (Emmy nominee Sarah Paulson), who is devoutly religious and the show's galvanising star performer (she does do a mean Holly Hunter). Studio 60 has much to say about comedy in wartime, the divided states of America, the creative process, and patriotism. Some of it is deftly handled, some of it is ham-handed and some of it patronising. Most of it is delivered in Sorkin's signature chock-a-block style and with walk-and-talk urgency. But even at its most maddening, there are enough riveting moments (a performance by displaced New Orleans musicians in "The Christmas Show"), jaw-dropping developments ("I'm coming for you, Jordan," warns Danny, suddenly-turned romantic stalker), and indelible performances (John Goodman's Emmy-winning turn as a plain-speaking Pahrump, NV judge not impressed with the Hollywood types before him in the two-part "Nevada Day") to make Studio 60 a series worth revisiting, if only as a guilty pleasure. The pilot episode commentary by Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, were produced before the show was canceled, robbing this series' fervent fans of the opportunity for some closure. -Donald Liebenson.
![Review Contender Entertainment Group / Spooks : Complete BBC Series 3 [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4157D19XN0L._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Sam Miller;Rob Bailey;Cilla Ware;Ciaran Donnelly (II);Andy Wilson (IV);Julian Simpson;Omar Madha;Bharat Nalluri;Alrick Riley;Jonny Campbell;Antonia Bird;Gary Wicks;Jeremy Lovering;Justin Chadwick
Run time: 610 min.
RRP: £39.99
Price: £13.98
Review Spooks : Complete BBC Series 3 [2002] / Contender Entertainment Group:
Actors & Directors
- Cliff Bole
- Philip J. Sgriccia
- Michael Massee
- Lauren Cohan
- Jensen Ackles
- Katie Cassidy
- Kim Manners
- J. Miller Tobin
- Jared Padalecki
- Charles Beeson
Run time: 2486 min.
RRP: £69.99
Price: £24.97
Review Supernatural - Complete Season 1-3 / Warner Home Video:
Actors & Directors
- Darren Gough (II)
- Flavia Cacace
- Matthew Cutler
- Matt Di Angelo
- Lilia Kopylova
RRP: £21.99
Price: £9.97
Review Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour / 2 Entertain Video:
Actors & Directors
- Michael Rosenbaum
- Kristin Kreuk
- Tom Welling
- Allison Mack
Run time: 864 min.
RRP: £49.99
Price: £20.97
Review Smallville - The Complete Seventh Season / Warner Home Video:
![Review Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / Damages - Season 1 [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fO3uzxW%2BL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Zeljko Ivanek
- Rose Byrne
- Mario Van Peebles
- Tate Donovan
- Ted Danson
- Glenn Close
Run time: 559 min.
RRP: £34.99
Price: £7.97
Review Damages - Season 1 [2007] / Sony Pictures Home Entertainment:Glenn Close continues the exodus of terrific movie actors and actresses who are finding the more fulfilling and meaty roles on the smaller screen. And with Damages, she's struck gold in an engrossing legal thriller. Close plays Patty Hewes, an experienced and high profile litigator. She's then joined by the eager, and considerably more wet-behind-the-ears Ellen Parsons (played by Rose Byrne), who fits into the role of her protégé. Damages then sees the pair fighting a bitter and prolonged case against Ted Danson's high-profile and very rich businessman. Where Damages differs from many in the genre is that its first season effectively covers one single case (albeit with many, many strands), much as Murder One did all those years ago. And this makes for an increasingly layered and intriguing drama, with a healthy number of twists to keep you on your toes. The entire first season is presented in this Damages set, and very gripping it is too. Superbly acted by its cast of high and lower profile actors, it brings with it a real compulsion to find out what happened next. It's where the DVD set comes in handy, as there's no longer a week between episodes to get to the next part of the story! Damages may not have been the highest profile export from the States of late, but it is one of the very best. [+]And this set is an ideal opportunity to find out what all the fuss is about… -Jon Foster.
![Review 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment / Prison Break - Season 3 - Complete [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zF2DuqUyL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- William Fichtner
- Wentworth Miller
- Kevin Hooks
- Amaury Nolasco
- Dominic Purcell
- Wade Williams
- Michael Switzer
- Greg Yaitanes
Run time: 543 min.
RRP: £39.99
Price: £13.98
Review Prison Break - Season 3 - Complete [2007] / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment:It was always going to be a challenge to move a show whose premise effectively fitted comfortably inside a single series to a third season. And so perhaps inevitably, Prison Break moves the action back to the slammer, this time in Panama. It proves to be a wise choice, as, while plausibility has long since been thrown out of the window, it's a more natural setting for the show. Prison Break still follows brothers Lincoln and Michael Burrows, but this time there's a far tougher prison that needs to be broken out of. It's a little less claustrophobic than the last one, but more dangerous. And along with the usual terrific supporting cast of characters, the tension, twists and violence that underpin the show are all very much present and correct. Powering Prison Break forwards, of course, is the pin-up star Wentworth Miller, who owns his role as Michael, and grounds many of the show's extremities. And while it's a shorter season than the first two, this third run still manages to cram in some strong entertainment. Perhaps season three isn't Prison Break's finest hour, and perhaps the concept has diluted somewhat since the show first began. But this is still really good, assured entertainment, that knows what it wants to do and simply gets on with it. [+]For that alone, it remains a show hard to resist. -Jon Foster.
![Review ITV DVD / Lewis - Series 2 - Complete [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HL2O5Q3nL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Bill Anderson
- Laurence Fox
- Kevin Whately
Run time: 370 min.
RRP: £24.99
Price: £7.49
Review Lewis - Series 2 - Complete [2007] / ITV DVD:After the successful first standalone outing for the character, Kevin Whately returns to the title role of Lewis again, for a second full season of investigations. And things seem, to the benefit of the viewer, just as dangerous as they always were. This series of Lewis is set five years after the death of Inspector Morse (to whom Lewis was, of course, the sidekick), and while the gap left behind by the late, great John Thaw is occasionally felt, this is still very much quality drama in its own right. Thus, this DVD set brings together all four feature-length episodes from the second series of Lewis, and finds the detective in his familiar Oxford stomping ground. Accompanied by Laurence Fox's DS Hathaway, a collection of well-written, compelling mysteries are waiting to be solved. The series' investigations cover the discovery of a body in a library through to the world of underground boxing and a rape case that brings out the worst in the Oxford establishment. And there aren't any weak links here: each episode is involving, intelligent and a gripping watch. Even at its worst, Lewis is very good television drama. What's more, Whately is terrific in the increasingly complex central role, and the scripts continue to allow him to flesh out the character. Lewis is, in many ways, a flawed man, and as he works his way through the layered and involving cases, this becomes ever-more obvious. [+]And the programme is all the better for it. For in spite of some cynicism when it first announced that a standalone Lewis programme was being produced, there's ample here to silence the most sceptical of naysayers. For Lewis is, simply, very strong television. -Jon Foster.
![Review 2 Entertain Video / Pride And Prejudice : Complete BBC Series - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VFolBY2dL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- David Bamber
- Anna Chancellor
- Crispin Bonham-Carter
- Colin Firth
- Jennifer Ehle
Run time: 327 min.
RRP: £19.99
Price: £8.97
Review Pride And Prejudice : Complete BBC Series - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995] / 2 Entertain Video:In spite of the quality of the more recent Keira Knightley-starring big-screen interpretation, it's the mid-90s BBC mini-series of Pride and Prejudice that's still regarding by many as the definitive telling of Jane Austen's classic. Featuring, as many swooning admirers will already know, Colin Firth in a career-topping performance as Mr Darcy, Pride and Prejudice is the timeless tale of seemingly impossible romance. On one hand, there's the wealthy, single Mr Darcy, and on the other is Elizabeth, a woman Darcy believes is beneath him. Across six sumptuous hours of this classic mini-series, their story then slowly bubbles, aided by some excellent supporting performances. Nods must go to the likes of Jennifer Ehle, Susannah Harker, Anna Chancellor and Julia Sawalha, to highlight but a handful. It's not just in front of the camera where Pride and Prejudice scores, though. The production values are absolutely outstanding, with this really a watermark for BBC costume drama production. Add in Simon Langton's diligent direction, and this is one of those rare occasions where everything seemingly effortlessly falls into place, with outstanding end results. Over ten years since it was first broadcast, the particular take on Pride and Prejudice remains as vital, moving and compelling as it was first time round. And if it's ever topped, it's going to take something really, really special to do it… -Jon Foster.
![Review Contender Entertainment Group / Spooks : Complete BBC Series 5 [2007] [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OYhGcIkfL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Rupert Penry-Jones
- Omar Madha;Julian Simpson;Andy Hay
- Peter Firth
- Raza Jaffrey
Run time: 620 min.
RRP: £39.99
Price: £11.41
Review Spooks : Complete BBC Series 5 [2007] [2002] / Contender Entertainment Group:
Actors & Directors
- John Le Mesurier
- Clive Dunn
- Arthur Lowe
- James Beck
- John Laurie
RRP: £99.99
Price: £41.35
Review Dad's Army - The Complete Collection / 2 Entertain Video:
Actors & Directors
- Ashley Jensen
- Stephen Merchant
- Ricky Gervais
- Ricky Gervais
Run time: 81 min.
RRP: £21.99
Price: £5.97
Review Extras - The Special / Universal Pictures UK:Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown of celebrity. Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) is back and more miserable than ever in this darker and devastatingly funny finale to the Emmy-winning series. Though his sitcom When the Whistle Blows rates six million viewers, he is, as ever, mindful of the critics' barbs and jealous of colleagues landing the prestige film roles he covets. "I'm not proud of having Britain's No. 1 catchphrase," he grouses (actually, he has sunk to No. 3, now trailing "You are the weakest link, goodbye"). Worse, he has become a right bastard, arrogantly treating crewmembers and his one true friend, Maggie (a heartbreaking Ashley Jensen), like dirt. Andy finally drops his clueless and incompetent agent (series co-creator Stephen Merchant) and quits the show. "Don't worry about me," he proclaims. "The phone won't stop ringing. [+]" Unlike the finale of The Office, this super-duper-sized episode really has no loose ends to tie up. In Andy's humiliating comeuppance (he sinks to portraying an alien on Dr. Who and joins the desperate housemates on Celebrity Big Brother), Gervais has the perfect vessel with which to rail against soul-sucking celebrity, degrading tabloid culture, and "the gutter press. " As for Andy and Maggie, those longing for some kind of Tim/Dawn hookup may not get exactly what they want, but they will get what they need in the lovely final scenes. A-listers having a laugh at their own images have always been one of Extras' special treats. The finale features jaw-dropping cameos by Clive Owen and George Michael, performing community service yet again. -Donald Liebenson.
![Review 2 Entertain Video / The IT Crowd Series 1 & 2 Box Set [2005]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Wk3U4tE4L._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Richard Ayoade
- Chris O'Dowd
- Christopher Morris
- Katherine Parkinson
Run time: 280 min.
RRP: £29.99
Price: £11.98
Review The IT Crowd Series 1 & 2 Box Set [2005] / 2 Entertain Video:
Actors & Directors
- Paul Johansson
- Chad Michael Murray
- Sophia Bush
- Moira Kelly
- James Lafferty
Run time: 844 min.
RRP: £49.99
Price: £13.97
Review One Tree Hill - Season 4 / Warner Home Video:One Tree Hill - Series 4 finds the dramatic final year of high school for the series' major characters full of grudges, pregnancies, partner-switching, big mistakes, and dashed hopes. But there are also renewals of friendship and new possibilities in love and independence. The season is overshadowed by the murder of Keith Scott (Craig Sheffer), uncle to brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott, neither of whom realises that the killer was their own father, Dan (Paul Johansson), Keith's brother. While Dan is haunted by his conscience over his misdeed, Nathan himself feels Keith's ghostly presence during a season-opening crisis in which he dives into a lake to rescue Rachel (Danneel Harris) and Cooper (Michael Trucco). Nathan, struggling to understand the meaning of his experience, puts a strain on his new marriage to Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and becomes the target of Rachel's predatory sexual advances. Rachel's friend Brooke (Sophia Bush) breaks up with Lucas after the latter's close friend Peyton (Hilarie Burton) confesses she has feelings for him. (Brooke also turns her back on her old friendship with Peyton, making for several episodes of nasty, verbal volleys between the girls. ) Lucas' sudden availability puts the possibility of romance with Peyton in play, but she's also busy dealing with the discovery of a brother she didn't know she had-a guy who isn't quite what he appears to be. As if that's not enough, there are pregnancies and presumed pregnancies galore in season four: Haley and Nathan, for sure, plus Lucas' mom Karen (Moira Kelly), who is carrying Keith's child. Two other characters either believe or maintain they are pregnant. [+]Meanwhile, Nathan's mom, Deb (Barbara Alyn Woods), develops a personality-altering drug addiction and carries around a loaded pistol; Lucas' pal Skills (Antwon Tanner) gets a shot at playing basketball for the Ravens; and Mouth (Lee Norris) gets drunk and complains that girls only want to be his friend. Everything heads, inexorably, toward graduation day, which finds several crises simultaneously overlapping with the joy of moving on. As with every One Tree Hill season, series 4 is easy to get hooked on, with a very good cast and audacious storylines. -Tom Keogh.
![Review Universal Pictures UK / House - Season 4 - Complete [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OSY492K-L._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Mira Sorvino
- Deran Sarafian
- Michael Michele
- Frank Whaley
- Lisa Edelstein
- Juan J. Campanella
- Hugh Laurie
Run time: 672 min.
RRP: £34.99
Price: £23.74
Review House - Season 4 - Complete [2007] / Universal Pictures UK:How do you keep a medical show, entering its fourth series, fresh for another round of episodes? If you?re House, it?s easy: get rid of the main team, and have a new bunch come along and audition to be doctors. It?s a very House thing to do, and it makes the first half of season four an absolute blast. Much of the reason for that of course is Hugh Laurie, in the title role. As House, he manages to turn himself into the medical Simon Cowell, chucking out outrageously sarcastic asides, while also giving space to the intriguing collection of supporting players. It?s a stunning performance. On top of that is the usual assortment of medical mysteries, including a brilliantly constructed remote diagnosis of a patient stuck in the South Pole. Even when the audition phase is over, House has plenty to offer, not least a terrific concluding two-parter that continually pulls the proverbial rug. And the ingenuity of the scriptwriters shouldn?t go without praise, continually delivering a series of brilliant medical whodunits for Laurie and his team to solve. If there?s a problem with House season four, it?s that it tries to cram too many characters in there, but it?s not a serious concern. For it?s a show that knuckles down and gets on with things quickly, continually managing to surprise and entertain. [+]You may never want to be treated by Dr House, but it?s enormous fun watching him treat others? -Simon Brew.
![Review 2 Entertain Video / Lark Rise to Candleford: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51srzULz2yL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Julia Sawalha
- Liz Smith
- Dawn French
Run time: 582 min.
RRP: £34.99
Price: £17.97
Review Lark Rise to Candleford: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008] / 2 Entertain Video:The BBC's costume drama juggernaut struck gold once more when it decided to tackle the work of Flora Thompson. And in adapting her books in the form of the television production Lark Rise To Candleford, it has brought another compelling piece of drama to the screen. Lark Rise To Candleford is set at the end of the 19th century, and it follows the story of two communities in the midst of a developing Oxfordshire. One is a fast-growing market town, the other a sleepier, quieter place that's holding more onto the past. Centred on Laura, the eldest daughter in the Timmins house, as she leaves the quieter life for work in the market town, the stage is then set for a quality drama series. All ten episodes are present and correct on the Lark Rise To Candleford DVD set, and there's a lot to enjoy. The cast, for instance, is simply terrific, with Julia Sawalha, Dawn French and Olivia Hallinan rightly taking plaudits. And the journey of their characters, along with those of the strong supporting cast, is simply wonderful television. Mixing in humour, drama and the production values we seem to take for granted from the BBC, Lark Rise To Candleford really is quite a treat. And what's more, it's proof positive that when it comes to television period drama, there really isn't anyway doing it better. [+]Super stuff. -Jon Foster.
Release date: 2008-09-22
RRP: £39.99
Price: £26.95
Review The Wire: Complete HBO Season 5 / Warner Home Video:It's borderline tragic that one of American television's finest shows of recent times comes to an end with season five of The Wire. Long-praised for its astonishing mix of character, grit and outstandingly scripted drama, the upside is that the show sure goes out with some style. As with every season of The Wire, there's an underlying theme running alongside the exploration of both sides of Baltimore's drug problem, and this time it's the media. Fighting cutbacks, yet trying to maintain quality, the staff of The Baltimore Sun prove to be a compelling addition to the mix. On top of that, there's also Mayor Carcetti's battles at City Hall with the budget, a stretched police force looking for easy statistics, and fractions among the city's main drug dealers. Desperate times, ultimately, call for desperate measures, and it turns to McNulty to come up with a plan that threads through each of the city's factions. That The Wire has maintained its standards for five straight seasons is surely something to be celebrated all by itself. Yet what's even more remarkable is the way that it leaves our screens, seemingly forever. No character is safe and nothing is black and white, right up to the quite wonderful final episode. And what a way to go that last instalment proves to be. [+]Giving nothing away, it's a superb fanfare to a genuinely stunning-and unequalled-piece of television drama. If you've not already, you really should find out what all the fuss about. -Simon Brew.
![Review Contender Entertainment Group / Spooks : Complete BBC Series 4 [2002]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VZIhhMLWL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Omar Madha
- Gary Wicks
- Cilla Ware
- Khalid Laith
- Bharat Nalluri
- Andy Wilson (IV)
Run time: 587 min.
RRP: £39.99
Price: £11.98
Review Spooks : Complete BBC Series 4 [2002] / Contender Entertainment Group:A gripping British antidote to the counter-terrorism related drama that's coming from the US, Spooks' secret agents are back on superb form in this enthralling fourth season. The DVD set features all ten episodes, and there's an immense amount to enjoy. For those new to Spooks, it's a drama that's packed with twists and turns, clever characterisation, conspiracies and a generous dollop of intrigue. The Spooks of the title are counter-terrorism spies, living in a constant world of danger, and some of the edgy plotlines of this and the seasons that preceded it are testament to that. After the minor criticisms levelled at season three, this fourth series jumps back into action, and while you won't find spoilers here, it quickly exceeds expectations. So when the credits roll at the end of the superb final episode, there are few who won't be checking out a release date for the fifth series. Inevitable comparisons to 24 ensue, but the beauty of Spooks is that it has enough verve and enough ideas to carve out a niche all of its own. It's an excellent piece of British television drama, and while its tough approach won't engage with all, the majority are likely to find themselves hooked. And quickly. -Jon Foster.
![Review High School Musical / High School Musical Encore/ High School Musical 2 (Duo Pack) [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518mJzXoUVL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Ashley Tisdale
- Monique Coleman
- Zach Effron
- Corbin Bleu
- Drew Seeley
Run time: 203 min.
RRP: £17.99
Price: £7.00
Review High School Musical Encore/ High School Musical 2 (Duo Pack) [2006] / High School Musical:High School Musical (Encore Edition) The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical is a combination of backstage action and Grease without the unwholesome habits. It's a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appealing for all ages. At a New Year's Eve party, Troy (Zac Efron) has a chance meeting with Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) when they share a karaoke song. Lo and behold, when school resumes, they discover that Gabriella has just transferred to Troy's East High School, a campus divided into tight cliques of jocks, cheerleaders, brainiacs, and skater dudes. Eager to recapture the magic they'd discovered during karaoke, Troy and Gabriella consider auditioning for the school's upcoming musical, much to the dismay of the school's frost queen/theatre goddess, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale). Problem is, Troy is also the star of the basketball team and Gabrielle is being recruited to compete in the Scholastic Decathlon. Will they give up their cliques to start something new, or will they do as the show's first big anthem urges and "Stick to the Status Quo"? Well, this is a Disney movie, so maybe the sacrifices won't be that hard, and even the hints of romance are mild. The bestselling soundtrack is catchy in that Disney-pop kind of way, mixing in a dash of hip-hop ("Getcha Head in the Game," punctuated by squeaky basketball shoes and other sound effects), salsa ("Bop to the Top"), and the endearingly hammy ("What I've Been Looking For" performed by Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, played by Lucas Grabeel). It's not hard to imagine High School Musical becoming a semi-staple for high school groups to perform themselves. -David Horiuchi High School Musical 2 What time is it? Time for High School Musical 2, the sequel to the Disney Channel smash. [+]School is out, and Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) are looking forward to a summer to remember, but Troy also needs to earn money so he can go to college. As it turns out, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), the self-proclaimed primo girl of East High, has her eye set on primo-boy Troy, and gets him a job at the country club her parents own. It looks great for Troy when Gabriella and the rest of the Wildcats are hired also, but when he gets preferential treatment from the club manager (Mark Taylor) and others, it puts all of his relationships in hot water. Everyone's back from the original movie, including Zac's buddy Chad (Corbin Bleu), Sharpay's brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Gabriella's friend Taylor (Monique Coleman). And the songs on the hit soundtrack often parallel the originals and are just as catchy: the Troy-Gabriella duet ("You Are the Music in Me," which is later Sharpay-ized into a rock version), the sports-flavored hip-hop number ("I Don't Dance," but this time on the baseball diamond instead of the basketball court), the Gabriella lament ("Gotta Go My Own Way"), the climactic stage duet ("Everyday"), and the mass-ensemble closer ("All for One"). But the sequel doesn't just stick to the status quo. Other songs include a flashy opener ("What Time Is It"), Sharpay's poolside feature ("Fabulous"), a percussive ensemble number ("Work This Out"), and Zac's solo ("Bet On It"), and the dances are even bigger this time around, relentlessly high-energy and often spectacular. In addition, the "let's put on a show" angle is only a subplot and the romance is now front and center-which means High School Musical has lost a bit of its innocence. But it's still wholesome viewing for tweens of all ages. -David Horiuchi.
| Models & Brands:
The Tudors: Complete Series 2 [2008], Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - The Complete Series, Spooks : Complete BBC Series 3 [2002], Supernatural - Complete Season 1-3, Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour, Smallville - The Complete Seventh Season, Damages - Season 1 [2007], Prison Break - Season 3 - Complete [2007], Lewis - Series 2 - Complete [2007], Pride And Prejudice : Complete BBC Series - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995], Spooks : Complete BBC Series 5 [2007] [2002], Dad's Army - The Complete Collection, Extras - The Special, The IT Crowd Series 1 & 2 Box Set [2005], One Tree Hill - Season 4, House - Season 4 - Complete [2007], Lark Rise to Candleford: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008], The Wire: Complete HBO Season 5, Spooks : Complete BBC Series 4 [2002], High School Musical Encore/ High School Musical 2 (Duo Pack) [2006] |
