Alex Heaton (azanti0029) Beat Street was always the film you watched back in the 80's if you took Hip Hop and Break Dancing seriously and wanted a better idea of how this new wave of music was infecting the youth culture at the time. Oh how we laughed at those who thought Electric Bogaloo was the film to watch,if you hadn't seen this, you didn't know anything.Beat Street as a film in its own right is something of a rare gem and still stands up today, despite a really weak performance from Rae Dawn Chong,the rest of the performances from mostly non or inexperienced actors are raw and real. The plot, such as it is revolves around two brothers, KK a DJ, Lee a dancer and their close friends who are all hustling with the new movement of dance, music and graffiti art to make their marks in the run down impoverished Bronx of New York. Thrown into this story is something of a rather flimsy love plot involving the older brother (Guy Davis) and a dance from the local arts school, where it seems only the rich kids go. What is more interesting is the relationship between talented artist Ramo (John Chardliet, shame he didn't do more acting) and his girlfriend and mother of his young child,(Santiago, excellent in anything she is in) as they struggle to make ends meet while he strains to retain his title of the spray can king. At the time this was made it was seen by many as a fictionalised version of the documentary Wild Style, the films almost go hand in hand. In the latter an artist called 'Cap' always sprayed over everyones work, just for the hell of it. Here someone called 'Spit' does the same, ultimately with Tragic results.The film features the dance groups of the time, Rocky Steady Crew and New City Breakers, as well as Africa Bambata, Doug E Fresh, Grandmater Mel and the Furious Five and others. It is gritty, rough around the edges, but has a charm and is often funny and touching. The ending with the concert and mesh of styles and music of the time is a really rewarding sequence which I have watched many times. Anyone who looks at this film dismissively is really missing the point. It was an attempt to counter point god awful films like Breakdance 1 and 2, to show a more realistic depiction of the types of kids who were involved in this music and culture at the time (Most of them in the film actually were) and though the film enjoyed some success it left many of its participants wondering at the end, what happens now? What indeed? It almost feels as if the film was the last cry of a generation that became fragmented and lost its way just before drug culture impacted so heavily on communities.Beat Street played out of competition at the Cannes festival in 1984, which that year found Paris / Texas scooping up all the awards, but as an impact on youth culture on an international stage that film cannot claim to have even a fraction of the influence that Beat Street did, especially behind the iron curtain where pirate copies were being sold for as much as 100 dollars. Sometimes it feels as if it were criminally overlooked, not least of all, by Cannes. Anyone who doubts its impact only needs to go and look at Art and Hip Hop in France, and you will find many of its influences orginate from this film. It was a voice for a time that many over looked, but those interested in the beginnings of Hip Hop should seek this out. As a statement on musical culture given voice through a drama, in this way, this film has not been equalled.

view_and_review I'll be perfectly honest: I watched "Beat Street" tons of times and it wasn't for the acting. I remember when this movie was still fresh and it was a must watch for all the young rap-loving, b-boying, break dancing kids. I can't give it high marks for the story, I can't give it high marks for the script, and I can't give it high marks for the acting even with the addition of Rae Dong Chong... but I sure did love the breakdance battle scenes and the music. Even to this day I watch it for the dancing and marvel at the moves the two gangs did. "Beat Street" will always be a favorite of mine even if I can't bring myself to give it a high grade.

Anthony Maybe you shouldn't compare, but Wild Style and Style Wars are original Hip Hop. Beat Street does have a lot of the original artists of early Hip Hop, but they've been obviously made clear that this could be their big break, of course for some it was and that's nice. But if you view this as original Hip Hop Culture you're wrong. It's overproduced and has a Hollywood sauce. Rather look for the first two movies i mentioned. They have convey the grittiness that comes with life in the ghetto. Yes, the rating for this movie is low, but the reviews are mostly positive or even raving. This is probably because although the story, the acting, the dialogues and the direction all are dreadful, the music and dancing is what the people love about it. Me, i do love the dancing but at the time thought that electro was the death of Hip Hop (i was so glad when round '86 a new generation of now classic Hip Hop artists appeared, like Krs One, Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic Mc's, Jungle Brothers, Bizmarkie to name a few), and i still don't like most of the beats in this movie and that is why it doesn't work for me. I mean, Wild Style has not much of a story but the music there is great and authentic. Of course tastes differ and that's alright. But as far as i'm concerned, this movie is trash except for the break dancing and some of the music and so i can't rate it higher than a 4 out of ten.

Jack Spencer This started out to be a movie about the street culture of the Bronx in New York. What it accomplished was to give birth to a new culture and way of life, for American youth. What other movie has done this except Rebel Without A Cause? One of the most important movies of all time. The elements are simple yet fascinating. The story is timeless, young people try to succeed against all odds. Yet the story is always believable and never depressing. The characters are so realistic, a city dweller, would recognize them as neighbors. The story is entertaining, and comes to a satisfying ending. Buy this one for your permanent collection. It is a piece of American history.