DVDs & Videos; Alan Little reports:.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR (U) *** THERE'S no doubt who's the star turn as director Kenny Ortega opens with a lingering close-up of Zac Efron shaking his sweat-drenched locks before launching into one of the high-energy song and dance numbers which have become the series' trademark.

Tissues at the ready as we bid farewell to Efron's Troy, his best buddy Chad (Corbin Bleu), and their girlfriends Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), Taylor (Monique Coleman) and the attention-seeking twins Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) and Ryan (Lucas Grabeel).

See the talented students perform one final time under ebullient drama teacher Ms Darbus (Alyson Reed) before heading their separate ways.

RIGHTEOUS KILL (15) ** BIG SCREEN titans Robert De Niro and Al Pacino go face-toface for the first time since 1995's Heat in Jon Avnet's psychological thriller as grizzled cop buddies Turk and Rooster on the trail of a killer.

There are no meaty one-liners and scant rapport between the leads whose characters embark on linear emotional journeys that are an insult to their talents.

Cliches stack up quicker than spent bullet casings until a strangely moving final scene that is too little too late.

CITY OF EMBER (PG) *** MONSTER House director Gil Kenan brings to life Jeanne DuPrau's vision of a bustling subterannean refuge cocooned against the threat of nuclear war that has survived under the power of a generator for 200 years.

With food stores dwindling and machinery about to fail and plunge the sanctuary into eternal darkness, young Doon (Harry Treadaway) and Lina (Saoirse Ronan) must find a solution to the nightmare.

Feeling a tad sluggish even at 94 minutes, the young cast shine but Bill Murray is lifeless as a corrupt official.

OPEN SEASON 2 (PG) ***** IN the straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2006 family feature, Elliot the deer (voiced by Joel McHale) is poised to marry sweetheart Giselle (Jane Krakowski) but gets cold hooves.

When the woodland animals learn that their good friend Weenie the dachshund (Cody Cameron) has been dog-napped, Boog the bear (Mike Epps) and Elliot lead the rescue mission, clashing with a group of renegade pets led by a conniving French poodle called Fifi (Crispin Glover).