Dance Flick (2009)
★★ / ★★★★

Damien Dante Wayans directed this parody about a girl (Shoshana Bush) who moves to the city with her father after her mother dies on the way to her dance audition. With the help of a friend (Essence Atkins), she’s able to meet others, open up a little more and fall for a guy (Damon Wayans Jr.). If that sounds familiar, that’s because that’s pretty much what “Save the Last Dance” was about. But this movie takes it a bit further by adding in “Step Up,” “Step Up 2 the Streets,” “High School Musical,” and “Hairspray” into the mix with occassional popular references to icons such as Britney Spears, Halle Berry, and the like. As accessible as those references were, I liked that Wayans added some less popular jokes such as from movies like “Black Snake Moan.” As idiotic as this movie was, I somewhat enjoyed it because I saw it when I was in the mood for watching something where I don’t have to think. I also liked the fact that it showed some vignettes where it revealed the stupidity of the plot or meaningful of certain dance movies. For instance, in “Step Up 2 the Streets,” people constantly had to fight for “respect” (whatever that means) instead of focusing on issues that would most likely impact their futures like education and working toward achieving something most people would assume to be impossible. This movie’s ability to bluntly present issues like that made me like it because I hardly think fighting for so-called respect should be the main drive of young people today. Still, the movie consistently lost focus such as whenever it would refer to something ridiculous like “Twilight.” In my opinion, if such in-your-face spoof pictures should stay in their own universe. That glaring decision to show something so out of the blue was not only unfunny, it also reflects desperation. “Dance Flick” could have been so much more fun if it had its act together. After all, there are a lot of dance movies out there to make fun of because they take themselves too far. The difference between those and this movie is that “Dance Flick” knows it’s being ridiculous.

That’s right. Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Robert Hoffman, Briana Evigan, Rick Malambri, Sharni Vinson, along with SYTYCD/DWTS dancers, etc. are attending/ making appearences at the first ever DizzyFeet! (A foundation founded in 2009 which helps underprivileged young people realize their dream of becoming professional dancers and to support, improve, and increase access to dance education in the Unites States.)

According to Channing Tatum Unwrapped:

Jenna Dewan-Tatum tweeted yesterday that she would be both presenting and performing with “So You Think You Can Dance” dancers and more at the upcoming Dizzy Feet Foundation benefit, and today, she announced that Chan would also be presenting with her.

Dizzy Feet Foundation was founded in 2009 by producer Nigel Lythgoe, director Adam Shankman, “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba and actress Katie Holmes to help underprivileged young people realize their dream of becoming professional dancers and to support, improve, and increase access to dance education in the Unites States.

Guided by a board consisting of some of the most illustrious names in the American dance community, the foundation’s mission is threefold: (1) to provide scholarships to talented students studying at accredited dance schools, studios, or institutions; (2) to establish national standards for dance education and an accreditation program for dance schools in all of the major styles of dance; and (3) to develop, provide, and/or support dance education programs for disadvantaged children through and with local community organizations.

Dizzy Feet’s first-ever fundraising gala, CELEBRATION OF DANCE, is taking place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California on Sunday, November 29th 2009 at 3PM.

All of the leads from ‘Step Up‘, ‘Step Up 2: The Streets‘, and ‘Step Up 3D‘ will make appearances at the event. As I mentioned earlier, Jenna and Chan will be presenting and Jenna will also perform.

Jenna tweeted…“Buy tix now to support dancing and come say hi to us!”. I also learned that the event will not be televised, so if you want an opportunity to give to a good cause and see Chan and Jenna, please visit Ticketmaster.com to get your tickets TODAY!!!

Source- Channing Tatum Unwrapped

Will you attend? I wonder if Adam will make an appearence as well?

NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU
M12|DRAMA|EUA|110 m

Realização: Jian Wen, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai, Yvan Attal, Brett Ratner, Allen Hughes, Shekhar Kapur, Natalie Portman, Faith Akin, Joshua Marston, Randy Balsmeyer
Intérpretes: Kevin Bacon, Justin Bartha, Maggie Q, Orlando Bloom, James Caan, Hayden Christensen, Blake Lively, Julie Christie, Bradley Cooper, Chris Cooper, Drea de Matteo, Carla Gugino, Ethan Hawke, John Hurt, Irfan Khan, Shia LaBeouf, Cloris Leachman, Natalie Portman, Rachel Bilson, Christina Ricci, Olivia Thirlby, Goran Visnjic, Eli Wallach, Robin Wright Penn, Anton Yelchin, Burt Young
IMDB: 7,4/10 (1 174 votos)

O filme “New York, I Love You”, dos mesmo produtores de “Paris, Je t’aime”, traz-nos um conjunto de histórias de amor tendo como cenário a bela cidade de Nova Iorque. Na cidade que nunca dorme há encontros, desencontros, paixões avassaladoras e amores eternos. São pequenas histórias contadas por vários realizadores e actores, num elenco de luxo: Ethan Hawke, Andy Garcia, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha, entre muitos outros.

Apesar de as histórias não se cruzarem, todas assentam num tema comum: o amor e a sua procura. Ao longo do filme, somos apresentados aos vários bairros que compõem a cidade, dos mais aos menos glamourosos, dos mais ou menos conhecidos.

“New York, I Love You”, que teve a sua primeira apresentação pública no Festival Internacional de Cinema de Toronto do ano passado, é, por isso, uma autêntica visita guiada aos mais belos recantos de Nova Iorque.

A MALDIÇÃO DE MOLLY HARTLEY
M16|TERROR|EUA|82 m

Realização: Mickey Liddell
Argumento: John Travis
Intérpretes: Haley Bennett, Jake Weber, Shanna Collins, Chace Crawford, Shannon Woodward, AnnaLynne McCord, Marin Hinkle, Nina Siemaszko, Josh Stewart, Jessica Lowndes, Randy Wayne, Jamie McShane, Kevin Cooney
IMDB: 3,6/10 (3 003 votos)

“The Haunting of Molly Hartley” conta a história da adolescente Molly Hartley. Ela está decidida a deixar para trás todos os problemas do passado assim que começa a estudar numa nova escola. É um óptimo começo, principalmente porque ela inicia um romance com o rapaz mais popular do local.

Mas a tensão e o medo novamente tomam conta de Molly. Ela tem dúvidas se conseguirá manter os seus segredos enterrados, sobretudo quando ela começa a descobrir terríveis acontecimentos que a esperam quando ela está prestes a comemorar os seus 18 anos de idade.

Um filme de terror de péssima realização, de resto bem ao encontro da grande maioria dos filmes do género produzidos nos últimos anos – caso para dizer: “Já não se fazem filmes de terror como antigamente!”

STEP UP 2: THE STREETS
M12|MUSICAL|EUA|92 m

Realização: Jon Chu
Argumento: Toni Ann Johnson, Karen Barna
Intérpretes: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura, Adam G. Sevani, Telisha Shaw
IMDB: 5,5/10 (17 432 votos)

“Step Up 2 the Streets” é um filme recheado de música e dança, onde Andie (Briana Evigan) une forças com o dançarino mais sexy da escola (Robert Hoffman) para formar um grupo, com colegas marginalizados, para competir na concurso de dança de rua de Baltimore – The Streets – onde ela encontra, finalmente, uma maneira de viver o seu sonho, criando uma ponte entre os seus dois mundos, tão afastados…

Uma atracção imediata surge entre a rebelde Andie e o talentoso Chase quando se encontram pela primeira vez na Escola de Artes de Maryland, uma escola de elite muito bem conceituada para jovens dançarinos.

Andie, ao mesmo tempo que faz um esforço para se enquadrar nos modelos da nova escola, tenta viver a sua vida como sempre a viveu, não renegando as suas origens humildes nem o lugar onde nasceu. Já Chase pertence à classe alta e é o rapaz mais popular da escola, que aliás é dirigida pelo seu irmão.

Mas, apesar de pertencerem a mundos tão distintos, Andie e Chase decidem formar o The Streets, um grupo “underground” de dança de rua. Agora, vão descobrir como a arte pode esbater todas as diferenças quando em causa está o mesmo sonho e a mesma paixão.

OS IRMÃOS BLOOM
M12|THRILLER|EUA|109 m

Realização: Rian Johnson
Argumento: Rian Johnson
Intérpretes: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
IMDB: 7,2/10 (6 877 votos)

“The Brothers Bloom” são dois irmãos, interpretados por Adrien Brody e Mark Ruffalo, considerados os melhores vigaristas do mundo, aplicando complexos esquemas fraudulentos de luxúria e intriga.

Agora eles decidem fazer um último “golpe”, que é mostrar a uma bela e excêntrica herdeira verdadeiros momentos de felicidade, numa aventura romântica que os vai levar a dar a volta ao mundo.

“The Brothers Bloom” é realizado e escrito pelo jovem realizador Rian Johnson, o criador do filme independente “Brick”. Sem dúvida, este filme é uma agradável surpresa.

AS RUAS DA AMARGURA
M12|DOCUMENTÁRIO|PORTUGAL

Realização: Rui Simões
Argumento: (nada a assinalar)
Intérpretes: (nada a assinalar)
IMDB: sem votação

“As ruas da Amargura” é um documentário muito interessante que aborda o tema dos sem-abrigo da cidade de Lisboa. “As Ruas da Amargura” são povoadas por homens e mulheres, de todas as idades, com carências afectivas, financeiras, problemas mentais, alcoolismo, toxicodependência, ou simplesmente pessoas que chegaram a Portugal à procura de uma vida um pouco melhor.

“As Ruas da Amargura” são povoadas por homens e mulheres, de todas as idades, com carências afectivas, financeiras, problemas mentais, alcoolismo, toxicodependência, ou simplesmente pessoas que chegaram a Portugal à procura de uma vida um pouco melhor.

Do outro lado das Ruas há um formigueiro de voluntários, assistentes sociais e técnicos diversos que constroem e mantêm estruturas de apoio, uns pensando em dias melhores, outros institucionalizando a ajuda sem acreditar que o fenómeno possa ter cura.

Step Up 2 the Streets
★★ / ★★★★

Jon Chu directs the sequel for “Step Up” and I must say that although the dancing was much more incredible than the first, the story did not quite hold up. Briana Evigan decides to audition to attend Maryland School of the Arts with the help of Channing Tatum (a more than welcome return). In the school, she meets a geeky kid (Adam G. Sevani) who has a passion for dancing but decides not to pursue it because he doesn’t think he’s good enough and an all-star charming guy (Robert Hoffman) who’s sick of the school’s way of structuring/limiting certain styles of dancing. Evigan and Hoffman team up and gather outcasts who have a talent for dancing in order to compete in The Streets, an underground hip-hop battle of dance. Aside from the first scene when Tatum reprises his role to pass the torch (and for the audiences to find out what happened to him after the first film) and the final dance scene in the rain, the rest of it was pretty weak. The dialogue was laughable because even though it makes fun of pop culture such as “The Hills” and the “High School Musical” franchise, they resort to the same type of drama that defined such references. So, in a way, the sequel’s jokes worked against itself. Other than the two leads, we didn’t really get to know who the outcasts were outside of their stereotypes. Although they might have said one funny line or two, they were still one-dimensional. I almost wished that the picture could have focused more on the relationship between Evigan and the strict dance professor who wanted to mold her talents (Will Kemp). I felt like there could have been a two-way street connection between the two to highlight the fact that there are teachers out there who truly care for their students. That would have been a much better film because such an issue is concrete and universally relevant. The bit about the rivalry between groups felt too forced at times. Still, if one is in the mood to see impressive dancing, then by all means, see it. If one cares more about the story, I suggest to watch its predecessor instead.

If you liked the first one, Step Up 2 keeps up the pace with a new prize on the line.

Street dancer Andie wants to win ‘The Battle of The Streets’ and attend dance school, but she can’t have both and loses her crew.  Black sheep brother of the dance school dean, Chase Collins wants to help her out and together they form their own crew.  That’s basically where the plot stops and the dance sequences begin.

Lots of crazy dance sequences in a bunch of venues, but stand outs are the series seen at the actual battle.  Not sure whether the rain makes or break the last dance, you decide.

Andie’s friend Moose ups the comedy factor…shame about the lame Tyler cameo to tie the two stories together.

3/5

-Monster

There’s not much that I can say about this video other than the fact that it’s absolutely HILARIOUS and that it further fuels my love for live performance, dance, and the theater.  I’ve been laughing at this and other pieces of Robert Hoffman III’s work for awhile now (and YES, he is the same Robert James Hoffman III from such classics as She’s the Man, You Got Served and Step Up 2.  IT DOESN”T MAKE HIM ANY LESS FUNNY…Ok, well, maybe it does, just a little.)  But that’s one of the things that I further love about this video.  It shows a completely different/hilarious side to this young actor who clearly understands that he’s making his living on schlock dance flicks.  What’s wrong with that?  At the very least, try to take away from this little endeavor the idea that those crappy, assembly-line-cranked-out dance flicks do have living, breathing people behind them, and (if for no other reason) try to look at their merit as exceptional performance videos into the art of dance, not as actual cinematic adventures.  (That’s what I tried to do, anyway.)  You can further check out Mr. Hoffman at Punchrobert.com  And without further ado; YES!

In a brilliantly vain way to make money, a handful of cents at a time, I joined Helium.com. There you can write to your hearts content about this that and everything under the sun. I figured with just a handful of articles on the brilliance of rotary engined sports cars I’d launch my illustrious journalistic career and make enough to buy a decent mansion or two.

So far my running tally, with months of sporadic writing and an amazing tally of 31 articles is $7.88.

Seven bucks and eighty-eight cents.

Looks like I’ll have to put the mansion, ferrari and most major food groups on hold for now with that overwhelming flood of earnings.

A lowlight of finding subject matter to scrawl about was scoring free tickets to Step Up 2 The Streets. A good idea in theory, a horrible idea realistically.

A street. Not used in this movie.

Here’s how it all went down:

The critic who would undoubtedly give a favorable review for this large chunk of Hollywood fluff would ideally be 14 years old, female and the possessor of a repertoire of more than two dance moves in total. This highlights three problems for me, namely being that I’m twice that age, male and don’t break out into dance unless intoxicated or seriously provoked.

To read the rest of the article, go here. Go on, I need a few more cents to hire a maid for my mansion.

It is a really fascinating phenomen. Everytime I have watched a dance movie with someone, I feel like I have to dance right now. And it is not just because I’m a dancer. Even my friends, who actually are not interested in dancing, feel like that after such a movie. For sure, I focus on other things as my friends like  choreographies, special moves and how difficult it must have been to develope such a choreography. I think, my friends rather see the dance as a whole. But at the end, there is the same result – fascination.  To my mind, that is reason enough to write about some of the best dance movies I have ever seen.

Honey (2003) – Jessica Alba plays Honey Daniels, a 22-year old Hip Hop dancer from Harlem (New York). She teaches Hip Hop at a local youth centre and tries to take care of the kids. Her dream is to make carrer as a music video coreographer. Taking part in a casting she gets to know a famous music video director, Michael,  who encourages her to make a step towards her dream. But Michael is not just interested in Honey as a dancer … This movie is a mus have for everyone, who is interested in Hip Hop dancing. Even Missy Elliot, the queen of Hip Hop acts in this movie.

Step up (2006) / Step up 2: the streets (2008) – “Step up 2: the Streets” is the sequel of “Step up”, actually. There are different actors, but the plot is almost the same. In “Step up” there is the street dancer Tyler (Channing Tatum), who has been sentenced to community service in a school of art in Baltimore. That  is why he gets to know the Ballet dancer Nora and offers her to help her with her coreography for her final exman. You can imagine how it ends – they are falling in love…

In “Step up 2″ there is a girl named Andie (Briana Evigan), who is the female equivalent to Tyler from the first part if you like so. She is used to dance street dance and hip hop, being a member of the crew 410 ,with whome she takes part in street dance battles. Being in trouble at home, her only opportunity to stay in town is to become a member at a school of art and dance, where she meets Chase, her former lover (what a surprise!). Because of being late for several times, she is excluded from crew 410 and cannot take part in THE street battle of the year, called “the streets”. But with the help of Chase she is able to found a new crew with extraordinary dancers she knows from school. Although, these films haven’t got any great plots raising deep thoughts, but the final dance parts are fabulous:

Dirty Dancing (1987) – the best dance film ever – there is no doubt about it. It is a legend. Some sentences are legendary as well like “I have carried a water melon”.  There is almost nobody who hasn’t seen that film. It is about Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Gray), who spend her vacances with her family at the “Kellerman’s”, a holiday resort. She is a good situated girl, who wants to marry a man like her father one day. Unexpectedly, she falls in love with the dance teacher at the resort, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), who is the opposite of her father. When Johnny’s dance partner becomes ill after an illegal abortion, she has to learn the Mambo choreography in order to dance with Johnny at a show in another hotel … That film is one of the better ones with a good plot and it is not just that “falling in love while dancing” thing. I really do recommend it to the rest of the world, who hasn’t seen that film. Just watch the legendary last dance – the Mambo:

I know, there are many other good dance movies. What is your favourite one?

Well well well, who’d have thought it eh? Looks like no amount of hype or appearances on American TV with subtitles could help Susan Boyle win Britain’s Got Talent.

Instead, a group of hardworking young kids called Diversity (who, by the way, were not the bookies favourite or anywhere near it) are crowned the winners.

Part of me is pleased to see young people so passionate about something and working together to create something visually stunning. It’s also nice to see different age groups showing off teamworking skills. But, the cynic in me can’t help think ‘Has nobody seen Step Up or Step Up 2 The Streets?’

C’mon, that stuff is so 2 years ago.

I’m also disappointed in myself for being sucked into all the BGT hype.

Another hip hop/dance teen drama, I wanted to watch this one purely for the groovy dance moves and the music! And I wasn’t disappointed et all!

Most of the hip-hop/R&B dance dramas have a plot which has everything to do with expressing and interpreting emotions through the street dances, and this loosely woven plot just exists to guide the dance sequences presented in the movie. I maybe wrong there but almost all of them have similar story sequence – girls go to ballet schools, the hero and his cool gang hangs out at da clubs, and then a chance encounter – viola they fall in love. Not to mention the hero helps the girl out with her problems and they win whatever competition she was entering.

Nothing much there right! But then its all about the music and the mix. And almost all of these feature dance moves which are a cross between ballet and hip hop, more of a fusion dance you might say.

For this reason, I was dying to watch Step Up and Step Up 2: The Streets very badly I might add.

Step Up has Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) doing community service at Maryland School of Arts for breaking into the school at ungodly hours ofcourse. He meets a ballet dancer Nora Clark (Jenna Dewan) who is struggling to find a dance partner for her “showcase”. This would make or break her dance career, so ofcourse Tyler helps her out. But they have to struggle against jealous friends and sceptical school admin, and their social differences, which they do and perform the ‘showcase’ successfully. The best singles for me in this movie are Samantha Jade’s “Step Up”.  

I felt that Step Up 2: The Streets is way better than the 1st one owing to its stronger storyline and better dance moves.

Here we do have Tyler Gage from the original movie but he just plays a minor role, something like the protagonist Andie West’s (Briana Evigan) guardian prompting her to join Maryland School of Arts. She ultimately gets in due to the good impression she makes on Chase Collins (Robert Hoffman) who is also a student there and also the brother of school director. But her challenges come in the form being ostracised from the dance group she hangs out with as well as the school director. Chase and Andie form a group of their own with a couple of more freestyle students and well they prove to people to that “dance is something which is free from race, street and whatever you belong to.”

The last half hour of the movie is the best as it showcases various groups performing their dance moves. Pretty fantastic movie to watch if you are a hip hop fan! One word though, both the stories have no connection interms of the plot except for the school. So if you were to choose one to watch, Step Up is good for watching the fusion dance mix while Step Up 2 is good for the plot and the hip hop moves.

Step Up is a series of dance movies; Two have been released, and one is coming soon. Step Up 2 The Streets is the second movie starring Briana Evigan (Andie West) and Robert Hoffman (Chase Collins). Andie, who is friends with the previous Step Up character Tyler Gage, has had a hard time growing up after the death of her mother, but exercises her talent of dancing in the 410 crew. Eventually she ends up going to MSA, Maryland School of Arts, in order to not be sent away to live with her aunt in Texas. She goes on to form her own dance crew, and compete at “the streets”. This movie shows the struggles that her and the MSA crew go through in order to be accepted. The tagline of this movie directly defines what it is trying to argue, “It’s not where you’re from. It’s where you’re at.”
One of the many struggles we face in life is the struggle to fit in. Step Up 2 The Streets shows one crew and their journey to be accepted at “the streets”. This quote is from the very beginning of the movie, and sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Andie: “I remember the first time I saw someone move like they were from another planet, I couldn’t keep my eyes away. I was little mom took me to a jam session in the neighborhood, it started off small but word spread and soon some of the best dancers around were showing up to compete in something they eventually called the streets. It became home, I got a front row seat to history. I wanted to glide and spin and fly like they did, but it didn’t come easy. My mom would tell me don’t give up, just be you, because life’s too short to be anybody else. She was right. When I was 16 my mom got sick and in a couple months she was gone. Everything changed, including the streets.” From this quote we see Andie’s love for dancing developing as a young girl. Change, is part of what makes people feel the need to fit in, and to be accepted. Many people are not open to change, or to outsiders, and often stereotype those who they do not know.
Later on the in movie, Andie makes a speech, to let the people hear her voice, in hopes of being accepted. Andie: “The streets are supposed to be about different people coming together… We call this a battle but what are we fighting for? We’re all here because we have this thing we do, we dance… Being part of the street used to mean much more than just turf or power… It’s about bringing something new to the floor… and it shouldn’t matter what we wear, what school or what neighborhood were from because the best part of the streets is not about what you got, it’s what you make of what you’ve got! So if the 410’s too scared to defend their title against us, hell, well be doing our thing outside where the streets started!” This quote is one of the most powerfull statements made in this movie. Though it is talking about “the streets,” it has a much greater meaning, change the context of this quote away from battling at “the streets,” and it can be applied to fitting in almost anywhere. Why do we stereotype people, is it because we are afraid? Afraid that maybe they can offer something, stronger and better than we can? Step Up 2 The Streets makes many powerful statements that can make you think twice about your life. Just like the tagline says, “It’s not where you’re from. It’s where you’re at.”

Parafraseando a Fray Luis de León, Flo Rida se ha sentado de nuevo en el mullido sofá del éxito. Si hace escasos dos años Low junto a T-Pain enloqueció a nuestros “bros” americanos, Right Round apunta en la misma dirección. Ritmo, baile, frotting y seguro que BSO de la tercera entrega de Step Up.

PD: Comienza la cuenta atrás para que la oigas en “Fama: ¡A bailar!“

Ya salio en nuevo trailer oficial para la secuela de Donnie Darko llamada S. Darko que esta protagonizada por Daveigh Chase a quien ya vimos en este mismo papel en la primera entrega Donnie Darko, y el papel de Corey sera interpretado por Briana Evigan (Step Up 2: The Streets). Tambien en el cast esta el conocido Ed Westwick AKA Chuck Bass en Gossip Girl. Esta secuela esta dirigida por Chris Fisher y Escrita por Richard Kelly y Nathan Atkins. El lanzamiento sera el 28 de Abril de este año directo en DVD.

Te refresco la memoria con el plot de la pelicula.

Situada siete años después de lo acontecido en la anterior película, ‘S. Darko’ gira en torno a Samantha y su mejor amigo, Corey, ambos tienen ahora 18 años y se lanzan a la carretera para hacer un viaje en coche hasta Los Angeles; durante el camino, sufrirán una serie de extrañas y perturbadoras visiones…

Click aca para ver el trailer

Hey Trendly Friendlies.  Are you absolutely sick of 2008?  Let’s face it, the only good things to come out of this past year were world domination at the hands of the Chinese, the end of racism, that movie Step Up 2: The Streets and everything on this website.  Sure hearing that Britney is back was kinda good, but George Lucas and Steven Spielberg will ruin her sooner or later.  Besides, who wants to settle for liking something with the word “kinda” in it anyway?

In efforts to make sure that 2009 is much friendlier and trendier, we here at Trendliest are taking a trendspotting trip around the world, to find out all that’s hop, hot, and next  in the worlds of fashion, passion, and small plastic containers.  When we return we’ll be all set to unleash an entire quart-sized tupperware container full of whoop-ass to knock your trendly socks off of your feet that are totally wearing last year’s LeBron James sneaker.

So brace yourselves, because in three weeks the trendliness of The Trendliest returns and you’ll be powerless to stop it unless you have a riot policeman’s shield.  In the meantimes, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Trendly New Year.

So there is this girl i’ve known for almost a year now.  And she has become this pretty freaken amazing person to me.  It was kinda funny how we met, back in the days of sub25 she came to sub with her heart broken and she was soo sad.  I’d never seen her before but i remember exactly the green sweater she was wearing.  so anyways her and my roommate Jenna (yeah ppl get them confused all the time) started hanging out and i’m pretty sure she came over to my apartment once.  and then voila valentines day rolls around and a bunch of us girls go to this movie (step up 2 the streets) woo we see it have a lovely time and end up dancing in the parking lot of the the movie theater and then later Canadian Tire.

the rest is kinda history. we hung out the next weekend were we ended up trekking through a rain/snowstorm haha and jenn’s pants ended up falling down haha.  and we promptly spent the entire weekend in bed crying cus we were both sad (um jenn can you remind me why i was sad again?) well we spent the entire two weeks together every day, She was even kind enough to invite me to her house for easter cus well in Nb i don’t really have any fam to hang out with for the holidays.

like i said the rest is kinda history,we became best friends. I admire you Jenn right to your core.  I know sometimes things arn’t easy for you but your doing so well.  and i would have never guessed a year ago that you would have came into my life and made the impact you did.  You’ve seen me through times of joy and love, and stress and heartache. you nickname me funny things, and you even pull off calling me stephy when i really hate it,  You integrate me back into society when school takes over my life, and you always know how to make me laugh even when i feel like there isn’t much to smile about.   you are always a phone call or text away.  I love you and i already miss you.  and i wish you all the happiness you can’t even imagine.  Thanks for sharing your life and your heart with me! see you in twenty something days clinton, i promise to make pie… yeahhh… ok you nice lady!

love,

Len

February of 2008 was a heck of a month for me and my girls. I was thinking a few days ago about what I’ve accomplished this year, what I’m missing, what I hope for next year, and this was one of the very first memories that came to mind.

The movie Step Up 2 The Streets had a hip hop dance off competition before the grand screening in Miami and we, GiGi’s Academy, won first place [pause for applause] We were invited to NBC’s South Florida Today the following day and no Valentine’s Day has been better spent than with my girls celebrating this amazing moment.

They’re a little (very) tight for space here too, but they still rocked the set. Enjoy!

(meager leftovers from my excursion to the city)

A faithful reader of FIVE YEARS, M. J. Larson, was expecting a post about Barack. Thus, he shall have one.

Gina is taking a social work class – - they let me sit in last Thursday. Her prof (a gorgeous woman made terrifically luminant by her passion for good-deed doing) tells a story about a homeless man she passes everyday –  his aquisition of a new blazer and a new posture and a new approach to using formal language on November 5. Ben Cherland recounted election night in Harlem – banging pots and pans out of windows, dancing in Sugar Hill.  The streety hipster kids of the lower east side burst into an impromtu cheer that rippled through a crowd of drunken bliss in a pizzeria (myself included) at 4 am on Saturday morning which included several individual performances by what appeared to be the cast of “Step Up 2″. In prime JoAnne form, I took a run in the rain on Saturday – puddle jumping the track around the Reservoir in Central Park. A tall Asian man in 92,345 times better shape than me, bounds by, splashing me – intentionally (which didn’t matter in the slightest because it was downpoaring at this point). I can say it – I’m a masochist.  I loved that he then turned around to grin – completely unappologetic.

“WHAT WOULD BARACK DO?” I chastized in return. “SPLASH HIS NEIGHBOR???”

A big job for you, Mr. President. We’re looking forward to seeing what you can do.

Quote: “The best part of the Streets is not what you got, it’s what you make of what you got.” – Andie West

Film: Step Up 2 The Streets
Starring: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Adam Sevani, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Originally Released: February 14, 2008
Watched: October 17, 2008 via Netflix
Ebert Rating: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 24%
My Netflix Rating: *** (Liked It)
Wikipedia Entry

Synopsis

Andie West is an aspiring street dancer from the rough side of town. Her mother dead and in the care of an “aunt,” her “family” is the 410, the city’s top street dance group/gang who are ruthless both in competition and in lifestyle. Heading down the wrong path and about to be shipped off to other family due to “behavior problems” family friend Tyler Gage (making a reappearance from the first film) helps Andie secure a spot in the prestigious Maryland School of Arts where she is linked up with top notch dance instruction and hooks up with the “right crowd.” Disowned by the 410 Andie organizes her new “family” at the MSA to take on the 410 in “The Streets,” Baltimore’s biggest street dance competition. It’s on as the 410 and the MSA Crew battle head to head in the Streets — both figuratively and literally.

Thoughts

This film is a lot like porn in the sense that it’s more about the “action” than the “story.” The star of the movie, like in Step Up, is the dancing and this film lacks no shortage of dance. I would go so far to say as that the film’s storyline is driven and plotted around the dance scenes as opposed to the story driving the dance (again, like porn). In other words, if you watch this film be prepared for amazing dance sequences instead of compelling storytelling. Of course while sparse on storyline, the film does have a positive message about the power of dance to bring people of different types and backgrounds together as Andie so eloquently puts it at the end of the film in her speech at the Streets competition.

DVD Features

Being a music and dance movie, the DVD features on this release rule 8X over with the addition of the music videos from the soundtrack. Other than that it’s the list of usual assorted features you come to expect n these things. Here’s the listing of gems on this release:

1. Deleted Scenes (with optional commentary track by Director John Chu): 8 deleted scenes (approximately 16 minutes worth of footage)
2. Music Videos:  “Low” by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, “Ching-A-Ling/Shake Your Pom Pom” by MIssy Elliott, “Killa” by Cherish feat. Yung Joc, “Hypnotized” by Plies feat. Akon, “Let It Go” by Brit & Alex, Outtakes from the film to Cassie’s “Is It You”
3. “Through Fresh Eyes: The Making of Step Up 2” – 12 minute “behind-the-scenes” featurette.  Director John Chu talks about making the film and his own personal background in film.  Interesting to note how much YouTube and MySpace played a role in his research of dance styles.
4. “Outlaws of Hip Hop:  Meet the 410″ – 5 minutes.  The actors who play the 410 talk about their love of the dance.  It’s all about the love of the dance
5. Robert Hoffman Video Prank – 2 minutes.  This was pretty lame…

The Verdict

This movie was alright. The storytelling wasn’t really there as it was basically the “King of the Streets” vs. the “Upstart/Outcast” group for bragging rights. The real reason to see this film is for the sick dance sequences which this film has in spades. Of course that is not to say the film doesn’t have a good point to learn from. Andie says it best at the end of the film that it’s about the love of the dance as that’s a commonality that brings everyone, regardless of background, together. Amen to that.  Sign me up for lessons!

Is the DVD worth the purchase? If you love hip-hop then I’d say most definitely. The music videos from this DVD release set it apart from others. Of course you could probably find these videos (and hundreds like them) on YouTube but that’s beside the point. If you’re not much into hip-hop, dance or music then stick with the rental.