Rating: 
Summary: Still fun to watch!
Review:
I just got this DVD and enjoyed the movie as much as I did when I saw it in the theater when I was 14. Everyone I new was into breakdancing back then. It was fun! If I tried it now, I probably would break something. I'll just stick to watching it! By the way, did anyone who has seen this recently recognize that one of the people standing and watching the street dancers near the beginning of the movie was Jean Claude Van Damme! He is the one in black when Kelly (special K) is watching them dance for the first time. I cracked up when I noticed. Back in 1984, not many people new who Van Damme was. Funny to see him standing there not doing anything!
Rating: 
Summary: Fast forward through 80%
Review: A second movie came out in 1984 to easily snatch Beat Street's briefly held crown for worst hip hop movie. Breakin' is so Hollywood it's set in Los Angeles, with only a few good dance performances thrown in to save it. It has far more plot than Wild Style or Beat Street, but that plot is PG fluff revolving around a young White female jazz dancer (Lucinda Dickey as Kelly) who learns about "street dancing" and then claims it as her own. Her teachers, real-life stars Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quinones and Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers, are indeed talented dancers, but in the West Coast styles known as poppin' and lockin', not breakin'. These three characters form a crew in which they do very little break-dancing, suggesting that the title was a cheap marketing ploy to capitalize on the popularity of real b-boys.
The dialogue is cheesy and written for children (absolutely no swearing or sex), with a sugar-sweet message about working hard and showing the rich dance snobs what you've got. Although Kelly refers to their moves as "street dancing", she sees very little actual street, unless you count a clean, peaceful Venice Beach boardwalk. The only rap music in the entire movie is during two scenes at the Radiotron club, which strangely feature future-Gangsta Ice-T with feel-good lyrics about achieving your dreams.
Their goals realized, the new crew stars in their own Broadway show, "Street Jazz". This performance, like much of the rest of the movie, is choreographed jazz and modern dance with wack costumes by someone who has probably never been to the Bronx. It too exploits hip hop, and in the process gets it all wrong. Finally, the movie ends with no resolution of the love triangle that has been a major focus of the plot, but promises that Breakin' 2 is coming soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Adding to viewer - Torrey Neely from Carrollton Georgia
Review: Adding to the statement by Torrey Neely from Carrollton Georgia "It's Not Break Dancing.." ------ He's right, there were alot of different styles in this movie which needs to be identified. As a matter of fact its not even called "breakdancing" the true name is bboying. Perfect example how hollywood/media gets a hold of something and revises it to their standard. This mis-led alot of people that aren't or weren't familiar at all with hip hop. But overall, it was a decent movie.
Rating:
Summary: Revisit the 80s.
Review: Do not rent or buy this movie if you are looking for a movie with a strong plot line or decent acting. Both of these items are pretty much nonexistent.
There is really no sense in trying to explain the plot line to this movie, mainly because it only takes up about 20 minutes of this 86-minute movie. The rest of the movie involves the characters dancing (mostly break dancing to be exact). To be honest, the story actually gets in the way of the dancing (never thought I would say that about a movie).
Okay, if the story line isn't worth talking about and the acting is pretty much non-existent, then why the 4-star rating? Because of the dancing. This is one of those movies where the story and the acting don't really matter. For those of us with no dance talent, these dance moves will leave your mouth wide open. And any movie that can successfully do that is worth a high rating.
Rating:
Summary: Revisit the 80s.
Review: Do not rent or buy this movie if you are looking for a movie with a strong plot line or decent acting. Both of these items are pretty much nonexistent.There is really no sense in trying to explain the plot line to this movie, mainly because it only takes up about 20 minutes of this 86-minute movie. The rest of the movie involves the characters dancing (mostly break dancing to be exact). To be honest, the story actually gets in the way of the dancing (never thought I would say that about a movie). Okay, if the story line isn't worth talking about and the acting is pretty much non-existent, then why the 4-star rating? Because of the dancing. This is one of those movies where the story and the acting don't really matter. For those of with no dance talent, these dance moves will leave your mouth wide open. And any movie that can successfully do that is worth a high rating.
Rating:
Summary: remember when
Review: I almost fell over when I saw that they re-released this classic. It is a classic that examines the culural importance of this form of street dance and gives it the honor and respect to acknowledge its influence it has on modern dance. These kids have worked really hard and it has a great lesson about confidence,determination, and faith. It is really cheesey yes, but it is a great story for young viewers, it is fun, and the music is classic. I also love the references to Fred Astaire that Michael Chambers, a highly skilled and talented dancer, is honored to present. The sequel is also worth viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Watch this for the dancing!
Review: I highly recommend this movie for the dance scenes alone, people unfamilar with break dancing will simply be amazed. The highlight for me is Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" (Turbo) Chambers' skill. The scene where he dances with a broom is outstanding, magical and a very good display of body control. Ginuwine, who is an incredible dancer in his own right, actually copied Chambers' scene in one of his recent videos. Anyway Michael Jackson brought us some unbelievable displays of dancing talent but I think Chambers is the best dancer I've ever seen. The lines from Breakin' are cheesy, don't watch it for scenerio, watch it for the dance scenes, the music is also great and from a long gone era. Adolfo "Shabbo Doo" (Ozon) Quinones also showed some mad skillz , as did their main competitor in the movie, Bruno "Pop N' Taco" Falcon. People still use break dance-type moves in videos and concerts and what-not but one doesn't really see break dancers around these days per se and that's a bit sad, because in my mind the people doing it were great dancers!
Rating:
Summary: Watch this for the dancing!
Review: I highly recommend this movie for the dance scenes alone, people unfamilar with break dancing will simply be amazed. The highlight for me is Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" (Turbo) Chambers' skill. The scene where he dances with a broom is outstanding, magical and a very good display of body control. Ginuwine, who is an incredible dancer in his own right, actually copied Chambers' scene in one of his recent videos. Anyway Michael Jackson brought us some unbelievable displays of dancing talent but I think Chambers is the best dancer I've ever seen. The lines from Breakin' are cheesy, don't watch it for scenerio, watch it for the dance scenes, the music is also great and from a long gone era. Adolfo "Shabbo Doo" (Ozon) Quinones also showed some mad skillz , as did their main competitor in the movie, Bruno "Pop N' Taco" Falcon. People still use break dance-type moves in videos and concerts and what-not but one doesn't really see break dancers around these days per se and that's a bit sad, because in my mind the people doing it were great dancers!
Rating:
Summary: Breakin'. FINALLY!
Review: I must say first to the kid who has his timeline mixed up: Shabadoo aka O-Zone is an official campbell. I.E. he is a campbell locker. The rest of us are just Pop Lockers. (Including Re-Run). Shabadoo's father invented the dance style. I find it highly unlikely "Re-Run" (who is brilliant) would win anything against him. The movie is full of classic dancers from boogaloo shrimp (turbo) to poppin' taco (who is responsible for most of Michael Jackson's moves) and Poppin Pete. This is a lighter version of what breakin' culture was at the time, but it was hot. The dancin' was real, the West Coast answer to Break dancin.It was around the same time as Beat Street (which actually was NOT as good on the dancing side, but better on the overall appeal of the Hip Hop culture from emceein' to bombin' to djin' to breakin) but Breakin' totally creatin' an image. No one was poppin' as hard as turbo, taco or pete. No one was lockin' on the level of Ozone. Lot as much actual floor work, but this movie for poppers and lockers (called strutters back in those days in some circles) is the best out there. If you are interested in breakin', this movie and its sequel are the movies that you must memorize move for move.
Rating:
Summary: Body Rockin' '80s Classic!
Review: I purchased the soundtrack when this movie came out in 1984, but I never really saw the complete movie. When it was on TV, I always seemed to catch the last half-hour. Luckily, I was able to find a new VHS copy, and I must say it's one of my favourite movies in my collection. It stars Lucinda Dickey as an up & coming dancer who befriends two breakdancers (Adolpho Quinones & Michael Chambers)who fight for the respect of the dance community to get break dancing taken as a serious art form. The soundtrack is still great after all of these years, and the story is total '80s "breakploitation". Even though it has been criticized for being total trash, and plagued with bad acting, just remember that this movie was the starting vehicle for all the actors involved. I never found the acting THAT BAD. It's a movie that will WOW you with solid jams, and hype mid-'80s fashion, plus lots of high energy breakdancing and other forms of modern dance that make the film interesting & entertaining. I was lucky to find a new VHS copy of this movie, but it would be nice if it was available on DVD in North America. In conclusion, if you really like '80s movies, then this one will not disappoint.
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