Tag: Planet B-Boy

Hip Hop Week! PLANET B BOY and GRAFFITI LIMBO Screening Tonight at Webster University


PLANET B BOY and GRAFFITI LIMBO both screen at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood)  TONIGHT August 30th. The program starts at 7:30.

It’s Hip Hop Week at Webster University!

Their purpose is to educate people in the culture of Hip Hop by using elements such as art, music, film and dance. Hip Hop Week will not only educate but inspire and entertain the community by bringing musicians, artists, educators and designers together for a multi day event in St. Louis, Mo.


Planet B Boy – directed by Benson Lee, 2007 – 95 minutes

Jumping continents and crossing cultures, Planet B-Boy looks at the history of breakdancing and its vibrant resurgence in urban cultures around the world.

Preceded by: Graffiti Limbo – directed by Brent Jaimes, 1996 – 45 minutes


Graffiti Limbo offers unique insight into what may be the ultimate expression of public art. Graffiti is a vibrant combination of art and urban dissent that  emerged from the streets and inspired artists such as Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat. It is one of the few art forms where artists face arrest and even death as they create their art. For some, however, it is a form of vandalism that causes millions of dollars in property damage and is used by gangs to mark turf in inner cities.

Admission is:

$7 for the general public
$6 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$5 for Webster University staff and faculty

Free for Webster students with proper I.D.

Advance tickets are available from the cashier before each screening or contact the Film Series office (314-246-7525) for more options. The Film Series can only accept cash or check.

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]

‘Planet B-Boy’ looks promising

Planet B-Boy is a new documentary from Benson Lee that follows several international break-dancing groups as they practice for the Battle of the Year, where “B-Boys” from 18 different countries come together to compete. The film also introduces the audience to the history, culture and future of the dance style which is considered by those who still thrive on the 80’s phenomenon more than just dance. Planet B-Boy looks really cool and interesting … and its real! Unlike the glossy fictional Hollywood dance-movie flops like Step Up, this film offers the real thing. The film first premiered in March, ran in April at the Tribeca Film Festival and opens in theatres [at least, in St. Louis] on May 2.