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Who is the main character of "Aladdin"?

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[quote="APK"]I wanted to post this a while back but I kept forgetting. Some things I liked about HSM

I'm going to first apologize for the length of this post. But please read it.

There have been some who were annoyed by the movie's portrayal of high school and its cliques. (it's offensive, so cliche, etc etc)

But for a movie about teen cliques, I'd have to say it did a fairly good job of sending out the message that they divide people, but not so much that it makes high school look terrifying. Here's why.

1. They didn't portray cheerleaders as being stupid, slutty or mean. Simply because Taylor didn't like them doesn't make them bad. And just because they're into Troy doesn't make them stupid. They didn't show that Taylor ever got to know any of them personally, but it showed that even the "braniac underdogs" like her could be closed minded towards others. Her character did have an air of superiority around her throughout the movie, as if she was SO SURE she was better than everyone else. When Taylor shows Gabriella how to "speak cheerleader," Gabriella was confused, as if she was wondering how anyone could "speak cheerleader." Clearly, her character is free from judging others for their cliques and labels, which is why Gabriella gave Troy a chance. She isn't totally unaware of how fast people can label others however, which is why she is determined not to be the school's "freaky genius girl again."

2. They didn't portray jocks as being stupid, brainless or mean. Troy and his friends are pretty nice guys. However, Taylor glares at them while they walk past the hallway as if they don't deserve to be sharing the same school as her. She declares that Chad doesn't know how to count, yet Chad hasn't missed out on homework since pre-K. (I'm sorry, I might have gotten that quote wrong)In fact, the jocks had to have been pretty smart to think of that scheme in the end of the movie.

3. They didn't portray braniacs to be uncool, bad dressers, ugly or unconfident. Taylor happened to be the only "mean" one in her crew. They didn't show the others being as judgemental. But even she can change in the end. While all the different cliques in their school avoid each other, they are okay as individuals when given the chance.

4. The only really intentionally mean one in the movie was Sharpay. Her brother Ryan is more of a follower. If he didn't have Sharpay by his side all the time, he could be a nice guy. at least he can admit when other performers are as good as him.

5. At least the other kids in school can talk to each other without flaming each other, despite whatever they say behind each other's backs. It's safe to say they all have known each other for a long time, but they don't know each other well. They know each other's names and acknowledge each others existence. Even though they avoid each other, it doesn't seem like they have a real hate for each other. Notice how Chad and his teammates stand next to Sharpay and Ryan when they look at the callback list. They look comfortable and friendly and not eager to start a war. (Except for Sharpay who screams bloody murder when she sees the list) But even Sharpay can talk to Troy (and Troy and his teammates at least acknowledge that Sharpay was cute "So is a mountain lion. But you don't pet it.")

5. There were no nerdy bookworms being shoved into lockers, there were no creepy goth girls thrown in the movie for laughs, there were no sterotypical Black guys/girls used as props, there were no uncool shy girls that were magically transformed into a beauty queen by prom night...or any of those stuff thrown in in teen movies.[/quote]

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