Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

How sad is this?

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Normally, I try to stay away from movies that are just about dancing. The one exception for this moment is this film, Save the Last Dance. The movie is more than just dancing, it is a human story that explores themes such as passion, family tragedy, and interracial love. I found the latter part interesting because it is relatively uncommon to see in movies and I thought that part in the movie worked very well. As for the dancing, it's not too bad and the choreography is halfway decent. Thomas Carter's film is about a girl named Sara who dreams to be a ballerina are shattered when an unfortunate family tragedy occurs and she is forced to move to the other side of town, where the town is predominantly black. Sara is able to befriend Chenille, whom in turn introduces her to her brother, Derek. Together, Sara and Derek work together to help Sara train for a dance audition for Jubilee. The acting was not too bad. Julia Stiles handled the dramatic part effectively, although I'm not sure if she makes for a talented dancer, especially in hip-hop dance. Sean Patrick Thomas does a solid job as Derek and I really liked Kerry Washington in her role as Chenille. Overall, Save the Last Dance is nowhere close to a great movie, but it does have some entertaining moments. In particular, the dance moments are quite effective, although not perfect. The drama was handled well and I quite liked the beginning of the film the best, although the narrative seems to stumble midway. This is not a bad film though. My Grade: B-

Save the Last Dance is a good romantic movie, and even though the characters are teens, the subjects treated apply as much for adults. So, it's not teen-centric. I'd say most guys will find their groove in it. There are beautiful women, hot dancing, and testosterone fueled conflicts. The romance is real, there's no Hollywood tricks, all of this could happen in real life.The acting is excellent. Julia Stiles really got established in the eyes of a wider audience with this film, and for good reasons. Sean Patrick Thomas is solid. And Kerry Washington seems a natural as Chenille.The story is touching and very interesting. The scenario doesn't run in a straight line, and it touches lot of subjects. The hip-hop and classical music is great. The dialogs are nice and smooth, realistic. The characters have nice emotional depth to them, some complexities, and good backgrounds.Quite frankly, I gave only 8* because there are other movies I'd rather watch before this one, but I can't really find anything wrong with it.If you want to see a simple touching romance that will have men interested to watch, this is for you.

O.K let me start by saying i'm 18years old, and some may not class that as a "MATURE" viewer but its definitely older than i was when this movie first came out which was 10 YEARS OLD! now i remember watching this movie with a bunch of friends at a friends house and LOVING it, by the time i was 12 this movie was comfortably my favorite and i still have it on DVD. However i just saw it come on t.v recently and after watching it although i still thought it was a solid movie it no longer holds the TOP SPOT for me and i wish they had focused a little more on Chenille's situation, Kerry Washington is one hell of an actress especially in the scenes with her "baby daddy", but i understand it can only be so long. I still like my fav scenes that i did before i.e fight scene with Nikki and Sarah, all the club scenes and Sarah's dramatic speech about ballet and of course her audition dance. All in all i'd say it's a great movie but i'm not as enthusiastic as i was when i was younger...

Dancing can be defined as movements done in accordance with an accompanying sound or music. Still, dancing is a limitless universal language. Being able to relate and connect to a movie requires not only a good script but a rational way to put film right into the watchers' hearts. In the movie "Save the Last Dance", literary, theatric, and cinematic techniques combine to enhance the message and understanding of the movie. Set in the city of Chicago the main character, Sara, embarks on a journey in a world completely different from the one she knew, getting back to who she is by overcoming hardship. She gives up dancing after her mother dies in a hurry to make it to Sarah's Julliard audition. The new school Sara attends is gritty and underprivileged emphasizing its inner city features. Another set is Sara's father's house, which she has to move too. It is decrepit and greatly contrasts to her previous sheltered and secure life. The tone is the story is sad and cathartic. The theme indulges in this tone because it is about following dreams and overcoming adversity. One grows to credit and trust Sara, allowing one to agree with Sara's judgments or views of others. The hip-hop club that Sara and her new friends always flee to clearly foreshadows the return to her passion for Ballet. One of the prime symbols is falling during a dance. Each time Sara falls during a dance piece a significant event occurs. As Sara dances her mother dies. As Sara trips, her anger overwhelms her dream. When Sara finally masters her dance the fact that she does not fall is significant to her growth not only as a dancer but as a person. One first meets Sara in dark clothes, which reflects her inner isolation. Also, her simple clothes suggest her "simple" lifestyle and detachment from the hard lives others live. The boys in the gritty inner city school are recognizable in their over-sized coats and baggy pants. The girls wear "bling" and flashy pants. When another troublemaker of the story enters, her makeup and clothing is dark. The acting itself it realistic and not overdone. When students share their stories about their hardships, their expressions and sometimes tears seem genuine. Costumes are kept modern for realistic purposes. Props are used minimally in this story, which reinforces the focus on the lives of the kids, thus not distracting the viewer from the messages. It is the cinematic elements that make the movie unique. Opening with eye-level angles and close ups on Sara's face, one meets Sara as she goes through a transition from security to estrangement. Dark and wintery lighting give the effect of sadness, guilt, and apprehension. The movie opens with dark blues, greys, and whites. As flashbacks of happiness occur, one notices the transition from dark to bright clothes and brighter lighting. To show where a character stands in comparison to his or her environment, medium and long shots are used often. The camera moves in a long shot when the movie watcher meets Derek, the future lover and guide to Sara. This definitely makes him stand out and highlights his interest in intelligence in contrast to his classmates. Long shots are used when one meets most of the other characters, including Malakai, the antagonist of the story. Importantly, music is greatly and effectively used. The music plays when there is sadness. Piano solos and string symphony cue when Sara is reminiscing. The music undoubtedly carries the story. It emphasizes sadness, strength, moving forward, and guilt. One major chord can pull a heartstring and such riffs and pitches effectively enhance the emotion.