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 was 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 also made his screen debut, and it's Ice-T. Who knew they would be
bigger than the lead stars?
There's another scene that'll 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
also taught him other moves as well.
Alfredo Quiñones, Michael Chambers, and Lucinda Dickey are outstanding, but the male dancers didn't like Lucinda Dickey because of
her gymnastics background. On the other hand, I'm surprised to learn that she barely did any more movies and disappeared not
long afterwards. Alfredo and Michael are very good in dancing, 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, forget about the negative reviews for Breakin' because it's a fun movie.