http://jonnyfendi.blogspot.com I always love musical movies, but what I never realized before is that there is one other category that I may love it as well as musical movies, it is dance movies! "StreetDance" is a perfect example of today's dance movie. The story just seems to be another repetition from other similar movies. It's all about rebellion against establishment of formal institutions and it's also about how to express yourself. It's the whole elements that have been occurring since "Footloose" (1984) to the modern breathtaking flick like "Step Up 2: The Streets" (2008), in which I think that it is still the best presentation of our time. The modern dance movie is also always about traditional art-school dancer Vs. freestyle street dancer, where on thiz movie is street dancers vs. ballet dancers. It is about Carly (Nichola Burley) and her dance crew which later named "Breaking Point". They have to mix together with several ballet dancers from The Royal Dance School in exchange for rehearsal place. Nichola Burley can deliver her character smooth enough to take us into energizing mood with her unique British accent and some enthralling dancing moves as well. Thiz movie really put Burley into the spotlight since last time I saw her in psychological thriller "Donkey Punch" in 2008. Other Cast members are Charlotte Rampling, Richard Winsor and real life professional dancer like George Sampson. Thiz movie is also featuring "Britain's Got Talent" stars, Diversity and Flawless. It is very exciting to observe how the recent street dance style has evolved outside of dance studios. The movie is surprisingly directed by first time Directors, Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini. It is delightful and enjoyable movie. It's filled with fascinating choreography and heart-throbbing hip hop music. The pop group N-Dubz said, "We Dance On".Visit My Blog on JONNY'S MOVEE : http://jonnyfendi.blogspot.com

DICK STEEL For a minute this looks like another American film that just can't wait to jump onto the 3D bandwagon, and taking along the teenage dance film fan demographic with them. But surprise, it's a British film, and the Brits can street dance just as well, going heads up with yet another upcoming American dance film continuing the Step Up franchise, also presented in 3D.So is this new three dimensional format any good for this genre? There are a few moments and scenes here specifically crafted with 3D in mind, such as the tossing of items toward the screen, from hats to a busy food fight in a school canteen. There's also some jarringly added bullet-time choreography during one of the street dance battles in a club, but the real treat here is for that depth of field when we sit around and admire the precision-timed and energetic dance choreography from procedural balletic moves to raw, improvisational street dancing.But this film does go the distance to explain and show the basics 101 of street dance, since it has characters from different camps put together to try and influence one another, and from their initial adversity come craft something unique from its diversity. All these thanks to Charlotte Rampling's Helena, a ballet teacher looking to infuse some spunk, energy and drive into her lethargic ballet students who are looking to impress some judges for entry into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance.At the opposite corner, we have a crew looking forward to their participation in the UL Street Dance Competition finals, only for their leader Jay (Ukwell Roach) handover the reins to his girlfriend Carly (Nichola Burley) who has to step up to the plate and assert her own leadership style in the crew's final lap to glory. To make matters worse, she has a lack of EQ with her teammates save for a few core supporters, and has to gather logistics from scratch, hence a marriage of strange bedfellows when she takes up Helena's offer.Simply put, the story's very typical of dance films, with the usual themes of clashing of cultures, and to learn from each other's differences. Much like a Zero to Hero story with the usual cliché trappings involving romance, betrayal and friendship, with that dash of comedy, eye candy cast and of course, authentic street dancing moves unseen (at least to me) put on the big screen, made to come alive through 3D technology properly done. You'll come to expect that usual big bang finale where the fruits of the characters labour become the money making showpiece that the teenage crowd will line up for, and probably emulate, and it's not hard to see how this cannot go down that path of glory.It's something that street dance enthusiasts, and they're growing by the numbers everyday, will embrace and flock to the cinemas for, and hey, the fusion of ballet and street dancing elements does pose an intriguing proposition. But after all, it's not about the techniques and styles used, but that of the human spirit of expression and perseverance, practice and camaraderie that ultimately soars above all. Recommended!

Neil Welch Oh. A dance movie - modern wiggly leaping about dancing to a soundtrack of rap, hip hop and bangbox music, with a story about streetdancers forced to join forces with a class of ballet dancers.Let's get something straight - I'm not a fan of dancing, neither ballet nor street, and I'm fat and 57 - I don't do dancing (which may be one of the reasons I don't care for it). Also I don't care for music falling into those styles. So why did I go and see it? Because it's in 3D, and I'm a sucker for 3D.But d'you know, I really enjoyed it. There's nothing in it plot-wise which you haven't seen in a hundred other movies, but that didn't matter - it's a feelgood story about underdogs learning to work together and coming out on top.Some of the acting is a bit ropy, but it has two things working strongly for it. One is Nichola Burley. Her acting slips from time to time, but she conveys tough vulnerability well, and she is both cute and hot at the same time. And the other is the dancing. It still isn't my thing, but by heck, it's impressive. And the final sequence is well done.Oh, and the 3D isn't bad either.

geoffgee From a storytelling point of view I went to see Street Dance curious as to what kind of narrative could possibly be made out of such an unlikely premise - ie the combining of two such dissimilar dance styles as street dance and ballet. The story that emerges here (out of the protagonists initial reluctance to co-operate with each other) I found to be original, had plenty of interesting dialogue and built up to a very satisfying and exhilarating finish. Several of the film's characters are portrayed in sufficient depth that I could feel significant empathy for them and their aspirations. The numerous conflicts, which arise at intervals right up to the film's closing minutes, (together with the manner of their resolution) kept my interest at a high level. All the actors and actresses give believable performances for their respective roles. It was also good to see a number of faces I hadn't seen before. The cinematography I thought was excellent. I also noticed effective use being made of quite shallow depth of field - in which the subject is in sharp focus while nearer or more distant objects weren't. Finally I think this film has some of the most natural (and therefore most satisfying) 3D effect I have seen - which is apparent as much in the ordinary interior and exterior scenes as in dancing parts. All in all I think this is a very enjoyable film that might very well give you a whole new perspective on what the basic concept of dance ought to be.