watching movies one cup at a time

Everyone always talks about the movie Breakin’. And I think Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo not only goes down as the stupidest sequel title, it is also the most played-out sequel joke of all time. I’ve got nothing against Breakin’. It was a decent movie. But Beat Street was the S**T. These 2 movies came out within a month of eachother at a time when breakdancing was huge and, along with hip-hop, it was making it’s way into mainstream culture. Breakin’ pretty much stole all the attention. But while Breakin’ was all L.A. and sunny, Beat Street was The Bronx in the winter. It was raw and it was real.

The story is basically young people trying to “make it big” doing what they love - dance, music and art in the form of breakdancing, DJ’ing, and spray can art. They are doing it because they love it and they will do it wherever they can; in an abandoned building juiced up for a party, on the subway cars, and on the street corners.

One of the best parts about the movie are the really great performances by Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, Melle Mel & the Furious Five, The Treacherous Three featuring Doug E. Fresh (and Kool Moe Dee) that are throughout the whole film. Plus the best dance music from that time is constantly playing. They had to release 2 LPs for the soundtrack and I had them both. For the actual breakin’, they got two real NYC crews to do all the fantastic dancing. There are 2 battles that really show off what the culture was all about back then.

Of course the movie is very dated. The fashions are everything you would expect from the ’80s. But that’s part of the charm really and they look good. I remember that time well and it does take me back. Plus the movie really does make it all look fun.

But the movie has a serious side too. The characters feel very real. These aren’t the best actors but their performance feels genuine. It’s not a lot of Hollywood actors trying to be from the Bronx. Rae Dawn Chong is the biggest name in the cast and she’s really just a supporting character. The struggles of these kids trying to do their thing and dedicate themselves to what they love is the core of the movie. And it’s done extremely well.

Breakin’ is cool. But Beat Street is where it’s at.