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Movies / On DVD / Planet B-Boy
Planet B-Boy

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Planet B-Boy (2008)

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Reviews Counted:37

Fresh:33

Rotten:4

Average Rating:6.9/10

Consensus: Lee's dazzling documentary makes a compelling argument for breakdancing as an art form.

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:Mar 21, 2008 Limited

Synopsis: With compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences, Planet B-Boy is set in the International world of b-boying - the urban dance more commonly known as "breakdancing." Weaving between the vivid... With compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences, Planet B-Boy is set in the International world of b-boying - the urban dance more commonly known as "breakdancing." Weaving between the vivid backdrops of Osaka, Paris, Seoul and Las Vegas, spectacular choreography frames the intimate stories of dancers who struggle for their dreams despite being misunderstood by larger society and their own families.

An American dancer in Vegas looks for his big break; a Korean son seeks his father's approval; a twelve-year-old boy in France confronts his family's racism - all the b-boys' lives collide in Germany where their skills are put to the ultimate test: the "Battle of the Year" finals, with crews from 18 nations vying for the title of World Champion. --© Elephant Eye Films
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Director: Benson Lee

Director: Benson Lee
Producer: Amy Lo
Composer: Jim Black
Studio: Elephant Eye Films

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Release:

Nov 11, 2008

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Reviews for Planet B-Boy

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Gerald Peary
Gerald Peary
Boston Phoenix

Lee does a decent job making us care for the squads, but he does his film a better service just by pointing his camera at the breath-taking contortions of the human body.

Full Review Source: I.E. Weekly | comment Comment
03/20/08
Amy Nicholson
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly

The break-dancing documentary Planet B-Boy proves that what might be (but probably isn't) worth five minutes of your time while you're passing through the Times Square subway station really isn't worth a 11/2-hour movie.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment 4 Comments
03/21/08
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Director Benson Lee makes sure to serve up his topic's key points, but only in easy-to-digest bites that eschew any real investigation into the movement's history, pioneers, influences, and multicultural variations.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
03/17/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Slant Magazine

Utilitarian documentary about international breakdancing championship in Germany proves lackluster in its depiction of inventive choreography and culture.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/21/08
Sara Schieron
Sara Schieron
Boxoffice Magazine

If I could, I would spin on my head to express how much I enjoyed Planet B-Boy.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
05/16/08
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

Benson Lee's crackling 2007 video documentary follows five teams as they compete for a world title, with one amazing number after another showcasing the dancers' chorus-line precision, gymnastic athleticism, and thematic novelty.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/17/08
Andrea Gronvall
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader

[Director] Lee makes a spirited and persuasive case for break dancing, not only as an art form of strength, beauty, discipline and instinct, but as a means of transcending caste and culture.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
03/27/08
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post

So while I might complain about some of Lee's filmmaking choices, I feel nothing but wonder and delight at seeing these dancers excel at something they love so passionately.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
03/28/08
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

After watching this movie, I felt like every nerve ending in my body was shooting sparks. No wonder these boys dedicate their lives to this dance. It's electrifying.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
03/30/08
Beverly Berning
Beverly Berning
culturevulture.net

Regardless of its shortcomings, there is a variety of break dancing on display here that will bring the viewer up to speed on the state of the art.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
04/24/08
Bill White
Bill White
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

As any good film that culminates in a dance competition must, it hypes the pounding music, cheering crowds, and mawkish family backstories to the extreme.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
06/30/07
Chris Barsanti
Chris Barsanti
Filmcritic.com

Planet B-Boy effortlessly makes the case that breakdancing is a genuine art form. Mixing ballet and the street, the crews are dazzling.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
04/11/08
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Planet B-Boy" takes a step toward bringing together foreign communities by sharing a communal model of freedom of expression--the freedom of movement.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
03/17/08
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

It’s only when Planet B-Boy settles into the stories of the 2005 tournament's hopefuls and turns into the Spellbound of bodyrockin' that the film finds its proper ambassadorial groove.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
03/20/08
David Fear
David Fear
Time Out New York

The film overflows with displays of explosive dancing and does a superb job showing the form's incredible complexity and technical diversity.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
03/28/08
David Wiegand
David Wiegand
San Francisco Chronicle

Often exhilarating docu charts several breakdancing crews' path to the Battle of the Year, which hosts national winners from 18 countries -- not excluding Israel, Belgium or Latvia -- in dazzling competitive displays.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/19/08
Dennis Harvey
Dennis Harvey
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Notoriety and financial reward are hard to come by in the world of b-boying, a reality illuminated by Benson Lee's documentary.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
03/18/08
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Though he doesn't break any new documentary ground, Lee knows how to shoot his subjects. Their stories are moving, and their moves are thrilling.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
03/21/08
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News
 
 
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Latest News for Planet B-Boy

November 06, 2008: Evolution of breakdancing into an international phenomenon examined by electrifying documentary. Opens in new window
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