On B List of Movie Reviews
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Breakin' (1984)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
11/20
6/06:
What started in a 1983 documentary called Breakin' 'n' Enterin',
many of the same guys stayed together to make Breakin', the breakdance picture on steroids that went
on to be a box-office smash.
That's what the movie is all about: dance, dance, and dance. And it's not a bad thing. The two nice aspects
about it are clean language and no sexual stuff. Given this rarity, Breakin' is enjoyable because
it's about the characters who follow their passion.
I have to say that I'm impressed with one scene at Venice Beach. I see everybody dancing, and then, out of
the blue, there's somebody familiar in black spandex, prompting me to say, "Is that really him?" Yep, it's
Jean-Claude Van Damme. By the way, the tall friend with black curly hair next to him is Michael Qissi who
played Tong Po in Kickboxer.
1982 to 1984 is when Van Damme tried to break into Hollywood while working in odd jobs after coming over from
Belguim. Breakin' marked his first screen role before Bloodsport
made him an overnight international star four years later. Another well-known actor who also made his screen
debut is Ice-T. Who knew they would be bigger than the lead stars?
There's another scene which will make you go, "Hmm, I believe that's Michael Jackson's signature move." Not many
people know this, but it's Michael Chambers who helped him perfect the moonwalk after Michael Jackson saw him
perform it on some TV show a year earlier. He would show it off in Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
on May 16, 1983. Chambers taught him other moves as well.
Alfredo Quiñones, Michael Chambers, and Lucinda Dickey are outstanding, but the male dancers didn't like the
actress because of her gymnastics background. On the other hand, I'm surprised to learn she barely did any
more movies and disappeared not long afterwards. Alfredo Quiñones and Michael Chambers are very good dancers,
and it's to Lucinda Dickey's credit for keeping up with them although she did know how to dance. In fact, she
should've been the star in Flashdance instead of Jennifer Beals.
All in all, you are well-advised to forget the negative reviews for Breakin' because it's a fun movie.