DVD Review: ‘Planet B-Boy’

Travis:

‘Planet B-Boy’ first caught my attention when I saw a trailer for the documentary online and thought, “hey, this movie looks like a lot of fun.” There are many out there that live the life of break dancing, I am not one of them. But, that’s not to say that others cannot appreciate and find meaning in the true nature of the art. This, above all else, is the goal of the film as it attempts to bring outsiders into the fold of what it means to be a “B-Boy”.

The film follows 19 different teams from 18 different countries competing in the Battle of the Year in Germany. The teams all practice diligently and become the top picks from their countries which allows them to take part in the Battle of the Year, the end-all-be-all of who is on top. We’re introduced to different styles, philosophies and techniques. No two dancers perform the same and the best dance from their hearts. As the competition progresses, the film takes great care in presenting the individual artists to us in an honest and open way as they bare their souls to us about why they break dance.

Knucklehead Zoo is the team competing from the USA and we get a sense of what they’re fighting for which we can ultimately connect with their loss in the competition. Ichegeki, the team from Japan, stands out and finishes very well. Katsu in particular carries a significant part of the film as we follow his inner struggle with his father’s death and the obvious inspiration it gives him in his dance. Gamblerz is a South Korean team and defending champions, but finds themselves defeated by a fellow team from South Korea called Last For One, who take first place. The Korean team’s experience also makes for a very intriguing story, because for them this is the ultimate way to fully live and express themselves before being drafted for the mandatory two-year minimum service in the military that all Korean men must give under law.

‘Planet B-Boy’ is exhilarating, entertaining and enlightening. This form of dance takes great skill and endurance, but more importantly it requires a passion that shows and the level of passion determines the intensity of the individual B-Boy dance. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. It deserves a large audience.

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]