Review

Changeling

Released into to US theaters on October 31, 2008, Changeling is a Clint Eastwood directed film about the true story of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a Los Angelan mother whose son disappeared. It takes place in Los Angeles during the late 1930s into the early 40s. After much sadness, Ms. Collins is told by the LAPD in all of its corruption that they have found her son, only to learn that the "son" that they said was found, she knw instantly, was someone else's. Through attempting to deal with unwavering officials in the LAPD that hold to their identification of the boy, Christine Collins begins to get some support from some of those that have heard of her plight and believe what she says. I thought it was a great film. Though up until the end it resembles a film that will reach the top of the mountain—the trip up being depressing and heart-cooling—and seeing the sunset in all of its beauty, and all previous sadness is turned into sunshine, this film never really reaches that complete and resolute warmth. Throughout the film, Christine gets help from those around her, but with each helping hand, a different hand slaps her down with greater force. There's a constant up and down fluctuation of triumph and defeat throughout. Christine Collins is a polite woman that knows what's right. She stays to raise her son when his father left, and her undaunting spirit in retrieving her son proves her to be a hero to many. Clint Eastwood is a brilliant director and he utilizes Jolie's talents to their perfection. One thing that stood out to me was the range of her eyes. She could tell the entire story with her eyes. A small detail that I loved, because I love little stuff like this, was Christine Collins's hats. Throughout the entire movie her hats are all brown or drab colors, but in the very last shot, her hat is white and it symbolizes the hope that she feels in the end.

High School Musical

After meeting for a brief romantic moment during their summer breaks, Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) are reunited at their high school. It's love at first sight and they toy nervously but passionately with each other before making it official that they care for each other's company. Naturally, there is a mishap, and there early connections are tested. In most recently published dictionaries, if one were to reference garbage, they would be redirected to High School Musical. This film is the epitome of cliché and the spit-up from the child of A Walk to Remember and Siterhood of the Traveling Pants. In other words, it's complete rubbish. Troy is just a stupid kid with an ego bigger than his brain and Gabriella is a little perfect fairy princess. The movie failed at its pitiful attempts at being funny as well. Because it's a musical, it's even cheesier. One of the lines from a song goes "Getcha getcha getcha getcha head the game now!" I mean, COME ON! So cheesy. One theme from the movie is that the main way in which Troy and Gabriella communicate is through the gossip grapevine. This causes problems because true feelings are mismatched in the process. I have to hand it to the filmmakers though. They definitely captured their target audience: little girls. With such a fairy tale love, teen girls and younger just can't wait to marry Troy and live the same story. The sappy, romantic vibe is existent throughout to say the least.