(Ever read a review by a Science major? Yeah. Review a la Lab Report format. I'm seriously going nuts.)
Objectives:
To celebrate the END of Instrumental Analysis, to lighten up the mind with something else other than academic-related stuff, and to be totally ignorant of the fact that we have about 3-4 papers left in the next 3 weeks.
Introduction:
Sky High, a story about superheroes. Sky high is an elite high school which is responsible to educate and mould teenagers with super powers into superheroes for the future. Story centres on Will Stronghold, teenage son of not one, but two superheroes - The Commander (super strong talent) and Jetstream (super flying skill). And yes, he eventually goes to Sky High, just like his parents. But there's one problem, he... doesnt have super powers. Late bloomer, says the school nurse. He soon finds himself in the "sidekick" class, not "heroes" class (students were divided into sidekicks and heroes as soon as their first day of school - typical bias). But thanks to his archrival, Warren Peace whose father was captured by Will's father and imprisoned, he discovers his superpowers unintentionally... which are, assumingly super-strong power just like his dad. Then there's this girl dilemma, high school bullies, parental expectations, archrival in form of Warren Peace, peer pressure and of course, you can't have superhero stories without an evil villian.
Methods:
Decide on the movie, buy tickets, go watch it, and then criticize about it all the way home. Finally, write in blog.
Results and Discussion:
In the "sidekicks" class, you learn to analyze situation and how to help the superhero by giving him the right weapons, taught by an experienced, retired and desperately-wants-to-be-remembered sidekick. Ultimately in school, individuals categorized as sidekicks are often bullied, labeled as uncool, unimportant and unfit to be popular.. often taken lightly and regarded as inferior. In the "superheroes class", you are taught weird things (supernatural science, technology + mechanisms) by a weird professor..
A balloon-head professor, how more weird you want?Storyline: C. There were several major flaws in the storyline and it was kinda predictable, which totally takes away the joy of watching the movie.
1) In the fight with Warren in the cafeteria, I thought it was a little odd in how Will discovered his powers. When Warren starts attacking his friends, Will decides "That's enough" and suddenly he lifts up the table with Warren still standing on top of it. Yes, he just lifted it then pauses with the table lifted to marvel at his newly-discovered power (along with the crowd). After a moment of "waaaahhhhhh", he finally throws the table (and Warren) to the wall. To me, that was a bit lame. I just don't get it. Here you are, high school scenario.. with teenage boys with RAGING hormones.. involved in a fight. It would have been more logical if in anger, Will had lifted the table and spontaneously, threw it against the wall. Then only, be amazed at his newfound power and strength while staring at his hands in disbelief. But I guess the part where Will grabs the fire extinguisher to put off the fiery, burning Warren was pretty funny.
2) There's this pretty, hot and popular student body president, Gwen, at one end. And on the other end, there's this best friend of his since 1st grade, Layla. Hahaa. High school + 2 girls + dilemma = Sounds familiar? He develops a crush on Gwen, totally forgot his date with Layla, going to the prom night with Gwen, Layla says she's going with Warren to make Will jealous, Will is so oblivious to Layla's feelings for him, Gwen tells off Layla, Will gets angry.. bet you can finish the story. Not difficult to figure out he ends up with who. But the twist in the end was a bit unreal, when Gwen turns out to be the evil villianness. Read, THE villianness, whose deadly weapon is a pacifier gun. Yes, a pacifier gun. Aiyohhh..
This is the Commander proudly showing Will the pacifier gun in his "Spoils of war" souvenir gallery.
This is how you zap someone you don't like with the gun
This is what happens to them post-zapping. Cute hor? No need to zap back to adult horr..3) Warren helps Will in defeating Gwen and her troops. There was no development (none at all) on the story between Will and Warren. That was the major setback in the movie, IMO. We know that Will's dad captured and locked up Warren's dad. That's why Warren has a grudge against him. I think the only real development was when Will teamed up with Warren as heroes in "Save the citizen" competition. We see that they make a great team, but we don't see whether their relationship is any better cuz Warren continues to ignore him in school. And then, in the ending, Warren joins Will, Layla and other sidekicks to save Sky High. No scene with any exchange of words between them after it was all over. Another scene that really disappointed me was the scene with Will's dad (The Commander) speaking with Will, his friends and Warren. I was half expecting The Commander to briefly speak to you-know-who because of you-know-why, but no. Or that he would at least acknowledge Warren's presence and thank him for saving Sky High and the other superheroes, but no.. nothing! Loose ends.. lots of them.
A scene from "Save the citizen" competition4) The flying schoolbus was interesting. But sorry, Harry Potter came up with the idea first. Or rather, J.K. Rowling for that matter. Looked like a borrowed idea, not very original.. although this flying schoolbus had turbo engine.
5) The fact that suddenly Will kisses Layla, even just when he discovers that his parents were turned into babies (babies sound so horrific, don't they). Ahem, girl won't run away.. can kiss later. Parents save first. Save the best for last, remember?
6) In the scene where Will fights with Gwen (the villian), Gwen throws him off the school island (school's on an island floating in the air). Just as she declared victory, Will suddenly flew back up and she screams "No! You can fly! Impossible!". Why issit impossible-lah? Remember he has superstrength power just like his dad? His mother has flying power.. of course he would inherit that from her lar! Hello?? Maybe she was meant to be an airhead, but it kinda contradicts her character as a villian cuz she's supposed to be smart.. right?
Very short movie.. probably too short until they left out a lot of chances for further development, resulting in lack of support and substance of the main storyline. Just too many loopholes for my liking.
Acting: B-.
Michael Angarano as Will Stronghold
> Character [3.5/5]
> Acting [3.75/5]
> Not much comments on his character. He's just a typical 14-year-old boy with a crush on a senior and struggling to live up to his parents' expectation and blending in with the new crowd without losing himself. Fairly good acting by Michael Angarano. Didn't portray much depth in his regrets though and during the transitioning moment when he discovers that he likes Layla, not Gwen. But he was fairly good.
> Talent - Superstrong and flying ability
Danielle Panabaker as Layla
> Character [3.5 / 5]
> Acting [2.5/5]
> Still very fresh in acting, IMO. Her crying scenes were pretty OK.. but other than that, still lacking. Didn't look too shocked or lost or disorientated when Gwen threw Will off the school island (school was on an island floating in the air). I mean, she had feelings for him right? Some of her expressions looked forced and unnatural. She's got the whole package, just need more experience and training. Lots of room for improvement.
> Talent - Ability to manipulate and accelerate growth of any plant on the earth.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Gwen
> Character [3.5/5]
> Acting [4/5]
> She played the role very well. Her acting was probably the most oustanding among these four main characters. She was brilliant at portraying the sweet and gentle girl every guy wants to bring home to show their mother, and she was also darn convincing as an arrogant snob and evil villianness. Thumbs up for her versatility.
> Talent - Ability to manipulate and construct machineries/weapons with her mind (Technopath).
Steven Strait as Warren Peace
> Character [3.5/5]
> Acting [3.75/5]
> He's HOT.. uhhh, I mean.. hot as in he has the ability to generate fireballs with his hands and fire on his hands. He's definitely hot *
cough cough* I thought he looked too well-built (adult) to act as a 16-year-old, but his acting probably made up for it though. He's good, considering this was his first movie.
> Talent - Ability to generate fire on his arms, generate fireballs from his hands.
Hot stuff on the loose! Run for cover!Conclusion:My rating is
C+. I would recommend this if you want a good, entertaining movie that doesn't require you to think so much (e.g. Flightplan). Good family movie if you wanna watch it with younger siblings/children under 12. End quote by Will Stronghold, "So my girlfriend became my arch-enemy, my arch-enemy became my best friend and my best friend became my girlfriend". Simple summary, don't ya think?
