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10/18/08
Planet B-Boy (2008)
89
%
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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.
Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
US Box Office: $0
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... [More]
Director: Benson Lee
Reviews for Planet B-Boy
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04/23/09
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.
03/20/08
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.
03/21/08
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.
03/17/08
Utilitarian documentary about international breakdancing championship in Germany proves lackluster in its depiction of inventive choreography and culture.
03/21/08
If I could, I would spin on my head to express how much I enjoyed Planet B-Boy.
05/16/08
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.
12/17/08
[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.
03/27/08
Top CriticSo 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.
03/28/08
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.
03/30/08
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.
04/24/08
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.
06/30/07
Planet B-Boy effortlessly makes the case that breakdancing is a genuine art form. Mixing ballet and the street, the crews are dazzling.
04/11/08
"Planet B-Boy" takes a step toward bringing together foreign communities by sharing a communal model of freedom of expression--the freedom of movement.
03/17/08
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.
03/20/08
The film overflows with displays of explosive dancing and does a superb job showing the form's incredible complexity and technical diversity.
03/28/08
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.
03/19/08
Top CriticNotoriety and financial reward are hard to come by in the world of b-boying, a reality illuminated by Benson Lee's documentary.
03/18/08
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.
03/21/08
Latest News for Planet B-Boy
November 06, 2008:
Evolution of breakdancing into an international phenomenon examined by electrifying documentary. 
More...
March 01, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review
More...
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