Jason Foldes (jrfoldes)

Don't ask me why but this is the second movie I've reviewed starring Jason Dolley which is getting a good review. The first being Minutemen. Either the boy has a good agent, or is getting luck of the draw.

Yeah it is a typical Disney TV movie, but it certainly is one of the better ones recently. There is no real antagonist in the film as it focuses on the theme of man versus himself. The title character Pete (Jason Dolley) never gets noticed -- even his teachers think he's a stranger to school -- but when his best friend Cleatus (Mitchell Musso) cannot perform his duties as school mascot (due to an allergic reactions from the suit) he takes his place. The result finds Pete as "The Chicken" becoming an overnight sensation with Cleatus getting all the credit. Inevitably through happinstance everyone learns that Cleatus is not the man under the feathers, but the same question is on everyone's lips who is The Chicken? Yes the movie does involve the usual attempt to get the girl, and an obstacle does present itself that the heroes have to overcome, but it is done in a fun and original way.

If there is a main theme here it is most definetly friendship. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy. Frankly when children grow into their tweens, this film is a good introduction to the more age appropriate themes.

First I need to apologize for the long delay of this review. This review would have been up before the release of the film as I got special advanced preview passes, but because of the death of a family friend I was not able to attend. Of course other commitments had come up and my seeing this film had to be put on the back burner. Although almost a year later here it is, and yes Corey Gorewicz and Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray you can message Zac Efron and let him know I will start my latest banter against him. I'll e-mail the review to you both for forwarding.

Let me just say this movie was much better then second installment. Where the second felt rushed and the high school was noticeably absent, the thrid managed to redeem the franchise coming full circle. This movie had the passing of the torch theme but also the tragedy of saying goodbye to your old life. Frankly there was more element of realism and if you took away the singing and dancing this may have been en episode of Degrassi. The film covered growth and love in the real world, as well as change, and following your heart. They also went into the problem of initiations and hazing when Troy and Chad stole the clothes of two minors forcing them to run through the school in a towel. Yeah not exactly in character with the goodboy image we were led to believe, but it is hinted as being tradition and even the good boy had a dark side.

The characters are still the same with a few exception like the aforementione hazing. Troy and Gabriella hit another snag in their relationship. Ryan is coming into his own stepping out of his sister's shadow. Sharpay is still the spoiled-little rich girl who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Unfortunetly I felt the rest of the regulars were underminded and not given their moment to shine. We do learn a lot more about Troy and Chad's childhood, and as great as that moment -- actually a song called "The Boys are Back" -- was character development on the rest of the cast could have been used. This is not where the movie loses points in my mind.

Let's talk about the next generation, Jimmy, Donny, and Tiara, whom are foreshadowed to be the next Troy, Chad, and Sharpay. I think they got the bum wrap in the deal. Talk about underused. I felt they could have made this movie 20 minutes longer just so we can explore their characters more. I mean why was Jimmy called "The Rocket"? And why does he idolize Troy to the point of unhealthy obsession? Donny was hardly in it and his and Jimmy's friendship could have been explored more throughly. Tiara's backstory was explained but her sole purpose was to give Sharpay a taste of her own medicine. Also maybe the three of them could have had their own song or dance number, something that shows they are more then potential filler. It will be interesting to see is they appear in the next installment, although rumour suggests we won't see them again.

Now I just want to make mention of actor Matt Prokop who played Jimmy "The Rocket" Zara, and my being being appointed his official expert on Flixster has nothing to do with what I'm about to say. I'll be honest readers keep your eye on this guy. I don't know why but when watching him preform I saw something that tells me he will go places in this industry. You can see it in his eyes and how he carries himself. Frankly, I'm willing to bet good money on him.

Well enough of the praising and review I think we all got the gist that I enjoyed this movie, flawed yes, but a fun ride. Whatever happens next we won't see the end of the franchise. It is goodbye for most of the original cast, and I beg Kenny Ortega to follow the advice Zac Efron said on SNL, "No one sings in college".

A powerful film. What more can be said? Based on the book of the same name, To Kill A Mockingbird is set in the American south in a time when the black community is still not seen as equals to the whites. When a black man is accused of raping a white girl the town is set into turmoil and a lone unbiased well respected publice defender must take a case he know he is going to lose even though the evidence suggest his client is innocent. Although most people look towards the trial as the main plot of the film it is in reality the story that follows the young stars that take centre stage. The film is told through the eyes of young Scott Finch who recounts that faithfull summer when her father Atticus took on the case and when her older brother Jem and their mutual friend were trying to make the resident neighbourhood recluse, Boo Radley come out of his forced housearrest. Perhaps one of the greatest fictional stories ever told this dilm has a lot going for it, and when we do finally meet Boo we can't help but cheer at his heroic actions and the sacrifice Atticus and the town sheriff were willing to make so he does not face further punishment. Gregory Peck won an Oscar for his role as Atticus and it was a performance that will forever go down in film history as memorable. Although I strongly recommend watching this movie, reading the novel first is perhaps a better as you begin to appreciate the film more.

If ever there was a better person in the 20th century it was Oscar Shindler. If ever there was a movie that was worthwhile to tell his story and do justice to one of the horrors of World War Two, then it is Shindler's List. This movie is by far one of the best films ever created. Spielberg stand up and take a bow. After viewing this movie we can actually see how realistic the fear many of our grandparents and great grandparents had to go through in their lives, regardless if they were Jewish or not. The stories were one thing, the pictures another, but to actually see such horrors can make one sick to their stomach which nearly rivals actually being there. Seeing many of those horrific scenes I reminded myself how bad the mental torture would have been, not knowing whether you were going to live or die, simply because of your faith. This was a time where heroes rose in the most unlikely of places, as did Oscar Shindler. In retrospect this movie proves that we can find heroes in the most unlikely of places at the most unlikely of times. We should all take the quote mentioned in the movie from the Talmud to heart "He who saves one life saves the world entire".