Camp Rock

I first saw Camp Rock on Family Channel on Friday June 20, 2008, and I would just like to say that I loved it! Now don't get me wrong I'm not just going to sit here and talk about how hot the Jonas Brothers were.

Camp Rock was an enjoyable movie to watch, there were some new fresh faces like Demi Lovato,as the sweet and main character Mitchie, Meaghan Jette Martin as the evil Tess etc. Overall the plot was awesome and the acting was better than expected, being Disney Channel Stars. The singing was amazing, especially up and coming Demi Lovato. The songs were very catchy and upbeat to listen to, my favourite being This is Me, sung by Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas. Overall i think that Camp Rock was better than expected with me and is a great movie for family and friends. I highly recommended viewing it.:)

I wasn't sure what Camp Rock would be like, as I heard a lot of bad things about it, and a lot of comparing to High School Musical. As I didn't care that much for the latter, I gave Camp Rock a shot, expecting it to be bad. Instead...it wasn't THAT bad. Yes, it was predictable and bland, but there were some enjoyable things about it.

Admittedly the story is very predictable, it is the sort of thing you have seen before and there is nothing special here. The script also has its weak spots and clichés, and some of the characters felt shallow.

However, the performances had a lot of spirit and enthusiasm about them, with Demi Lovato sweet and pretty in the title role especially. I thought the soundtrack was groovy and in general quite catchy, not my sort of thing really, but even after 15 minutes I can still remember the end song. The choreography is good, repetitive perhaps in one or two areas but not too bad. Also the ending has a touch of feel good about it.

Overall, nothing to rave about or anything special, but not as bad as I thought it would be. 6/10 Bethany Cox

I basically consider it a guilty pleasure as with High School Musical and the rest of Disney Channel Original Movies, I grew up with it. These definitely would be dispensable if not for having some themes and good messages for kids, teens and even young adults in some occasions. Although most of these repeat themselves a bit, themes like be who you are no matter what society expects or its norms, don't lie to your friends, don't opt for the easy way out or don't make the more money-oriented-but-hated decision.

Personally I'm a sucker for breaking-the-norms feel-good movies like these. At times the dull and badly acted scenes might drag a bit but when they break into song or at the time of conveying the message it's loud and clear, and fun!

What saves this movie is definitely the music. And also I can't condemn it because it sort of has a place in my heart and my memories. Unfortunately and contrary to other childhood movie revisits I have recently done, it doesn't warm my heart as much as others have like Annie 1999 and High School Musical. I learned a lot with it when I was a kid and I recommend it for kids to watch, it's timeless.

Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) is desperate to attend the prestigious Camp Rock. She is overjoyed when her mother gets a discount by working in the kitchen. She is befriended by Caitlyn Geller (Alyson Stoner) but she abandons her to be a follower of snooty selfish Tess (Meaghan Martin) who has a famous mother. Like everyone else, she falls for celebrity counselor Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) who is trying to rehab his damaged public reputation. He overhears her singing and falls for her without actually seeing her or knowing her identity. All the while, she is hiding her poor kitchen help background from all the other kids.

Demi Lovato is a thing. The Jonas Brothers is a thing. I was never into that thing. I'm not a hater. That's not my thing either. It's nice to see the origins of these things. Everybody has the energetic sincerity. These young performers have good charisma. The story is a mash of various underdog, Cinderella, musical things. It's all very sincere and appealing in that try-hard way. It was supposed to be the next High School Musical and it faltered as that. The everybody gets along happy ending is too saccharine and it devolves into a glee club grind. Nevertheless, let's not be haters.

I recently watched "Camp Rock" quite frankly because I was bored and I like to keep the T.V. on when I read. I am out of the age range that Disney tries to appeal to (a.k.a. preteens) but I figured "what the heck? let's try to get back in touch with the good old days".

First off, I found none of the songs really catchy and the choreography not quite what it could've and should've been (this from a dancer's POV, by the way). The ending song was especially cheesy and useless and should've been thrown out altogether. The ending choreography was just repetition and boring.

Secondly, the acting on the part of the lead girl, Lovato, was good for Disney Channel and she could probably be seen in more Disney movies to come. Because we all know that pretty much no Disney Channel actors ever leave the Big D. The Jonas Brothers aren't probably the greatest actors in the world and there certainly is no harm in an acting class (or two.... or three...).

And lastly, the plot has been done so many times (not only Disney is guilty of this either) that it was really predictable and boring and I found myself rolling my eyes. Girl likes boy, but oh no! a girl who wants the spotlight! And so on and so forth.

I'm sure many teenyboppers who love The Jonas Brothers, hoping for a resurrection of HSM will love this movie and have their rooms decked out in HSM and "Camp Rock" but for the rest of us.... probably not worth the time.