Celebreak

Planet B-Boy Movie Review

Posted on November 18, 2008

“I’ve been addicted to this dance for so long, it feels like a shadow following me wherever I go” says B-Boy Joe while talking about about his life as a breaker in South Korea. This Last 4 One crew member is one of the many b-boys whom the film Planet B-Boy, which was released on DVD last Tuesday, follows as they journey to the 2005 Battle of the Year (BOTY) competition. Unlike other documentaries, it explores the dynamics of b-boy life more than the dynamics of the dance itself.  

The movie starts off giving a brief history of breaking and how it’s decline in the 80’s led to the creation of Thomas Hergenrother’s BOTY competition in the early 90’s. The event, which is held annually in Braunschweig, Germany, holds local competitions in 18 different countries and sends the winner of each to represent their nation at the event. The documentary follows the winners of South Korea (Last 4 One), Japan (Ichigeki), France (Phase-T) and the United States (Knucklehead Zoo) as they train for and travel to BOTY. There are also numerous interviews with last year’s winners, Gamblerz, whom are also from South Korea.

For Ichigeki, BOTY is an opportunity to express themselves on the global stage. It’s their second time attending but they feel they weren’t true to themselves the first time around. This time, they want to dance more authentically and not compromise their style for the sake of winning. Their most frequently interviewed crew member, Katsu, also deals with his father’s death and helping run the family business.

The French b-boys, whom legendary B-Boy Storm says have more “Sensitivity for music”, are shown using breaking to unite people in Chelles, France. For them, breaking has been a means to reach out to the community and has even helped change the racist attitude of one crew member’s family. There, breaking and hip hop culture have united people from different countries and religions. As one b-boy puts it, their “Flag is hip hop”.

I’m not sure if it’s intentional but the film make’s the prior year’s winners, Gamblerz, seem a bit arrogant. But one might expect that as they were arguably the most notable b-boys at the time. In talking about their lives since winning, they mention raising their performance fees and being the first crew to ever perform at a Buddhist temple. Their goal is to make themselves and their country legendary by doing what no crew has ever done: win BOTY two years in a row. This contrasts the other Korean Crew, Last 4 One, who are portrayed as humble, poor and from the country side. They’re trying to make their families proud while making a living dancing in a society that doesn’t see breaking as a career option.  

For Knucklehead Zoo, going to BOTY is the ultimate b-boy dream. The crew members have found brotherhood in one another and relish the notion of winning and bringing the title back to the country where the art form started. They’re from Las Vegas and the showmanship and entertainment culture is definitely reflected in their views.

In the end, Ichigeki wins the award for best show and Last 4 One wins 1st place in the battles. But instead of focusing on wins and losses, director Benson Lee ends the film by extending the theme of hip hop as a unifying force. Once the competition is over, the b-boys let their guard down and start enjoying each other’s company. They give each other props, eat and drink together. These are b-boys from different countries, cultures and walks of life, yet they’re all able to relate because of their common love for breaking. And ultimately, that’s what this film is about. As Ken Swift says in the film ”No matter what language you speak, you can communicate with hip hop culture”

Ken Swift and Crazy Legs on David Letterman in 1984

Posted on November 8, 2008

The year was 1984. In response to the previous year’s hit movie Flashdance, breaking had become a new sensation. And people were hungry for more. 

To feed the public’s appetite, the media cooked an all-you-can-eat breaking buffet. You could find it everywhere; newspaper articles, magazines…and even on Late Night TV. Check out a young Crazy Legs and Ken Swift from Rock Steady Crew getting down with David Letterman to promote the 1984 hip hop film Beat Street.

Kung Fu Movies and Breaking

Posted on October 13, 2008