Crew Battles
- TV Movie
- 2007
- 25m
YOUR RATING
Photos
Storyline
Featured review
Entertaining and interesting despite lacking excitement or insight
In the world of London b-boys and b-girls, different crews do battle on the dance floor. Like boxing, the contests are played out in three minute rounds but instead of exchanging blows, the competitors dance against one another. This documentary follows the build up to the contest between reigning champion "Mouse" and the up and coming dancer "Kid".
Shown as part of the worthy and interesting New Shoots season on channel 4 (kudos to them again for supporting UK talent and short films), this film from deaf first time director Dim Ajadi looks into the break dancing culture of London. In a way it is rather disappointing to see UK culture following the US without really injecting much of our own into it but this is a criticism of us as a nation rather than this film, because the film itself does a good job of capturing the characters within it. Kid is quite dull as he simply ticks off the boxes on the arrogant cliché list but Mouse's history and situation makes him a strong character. The downside of this is that it rather throws off the "aspiring little guy" approach that the film seems to sort of want to take.
The Flowziac girls make for a refreshing selection because they do (mostly) lack the arrogance of their male counterparts. The contest at the end of the film is reasonably well filmed and the skills are all on show. It could have been a bit better though as the conclusion lacked any real tension or excitement but it was still good at showing what we had been hearing about during the film. The bigger issue I had was the lack of insight and social commentary it seemed to offer. It set the foundation for it well by getting into the world but I did wonder what Bim wanted me to take from it when I left. Maybe I ask for too much but I would have liked something more than just seeing these people but even easy stuff to build on (like the way that the dancing is survival to Mouse) isn't really seized upon.
Overall though the film was entertaining and interesting as a look at the world of break dancing battles in London but it was just a shame that it didn't deliver genuine excitement in the showdown scenario or have much in the way of insight or social commentary as an aside.
Shown as part of the worthy and interesting New Shoots season on channel 4 (kudos to them again for supporting UK talent and short films), this film from deaf first time director Dim Ajadi looks into the break dancing culture of London. In a way it is rather disappointing to see UK culture following the US without really injecting much of our own into it but this is a criticism of us as a nation rather than this film, because the film itself does a good job of capturing the characters within it. Kid is quite dull as he simply ticks off the boxes on the arrogant cliché list but Mouse's history and situation makes him a strong character. The downside of this is that it rather throws off the "aspiring little guy" approach that the film seems to sort of want to take.
The Flowziac girls make for a refreshing selection because they do (mostly) lack the arrogance of their male counterparts. The contest at the end of the film is reasonably well filmed and the skills are all on show. It could have been a bit better though as the conclusion lacked any real tension or excitement but it was still good at showing what we had been hearing about during the film. The bigger issue I had was the lack of insight and social commentary it seemed to offer. It set the foundation for it well by getting into the world but I did wonder what Bim wanted me to take from it when I left. Maybe I ask for too much but I would have liked something more than just seeing these people but even easy stuff to build on (like the way that the dancing is survival to Mouse) isn't really seized upon.
Overall though the film was entertaining and interesting as a look at the world of break dancing battles in London but it was just a shame that it didn't deliver genuine excitement in the showdown scenario or have much in the way of insight or social commentary as an aside.
helpful•00
- bob the moo
- May 12, 2007
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
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