Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

Hip hop back in the day...
It's time to put your headband and parachute pants on and break out those Grandmaster Flash records for the holy breakdancing trilogy of films. These movies were made pre-Gangsta rap when disputes were settled either on the dance floor or on the mic. Breakin', its sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, and Beat Street were all released in 1984 and are a fantastic time capsule of their times in all of their cheesy (and in one case not so cheesy) glory.

Looking at it now, Breakin', with its laughably cheesy dialogue ("Blond, brunette - if they're looking for hair why don't they look for gorillas?"), horribly dated `80s fashion (skinny ties! headbands! parachute pants!) and wooden acting, is a harmless, cartoony look at a more innocent time. And let's be honest, that is part of the film's charm.

After the surprise success of the first Breakin' movie a sequel was quickly rushed into production and the result is Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (great title, btw)...

The Uncut Version
This movie is nostalgic for me. It reminds me of an era that I miss greatly. Many people here criticize its accuracy talking about bad grafitti, acting, love songs, etc. What do you guys mean? I am a New York Puertorican, Newyorican raised in Ravenswood Projects, Queens, Bushwick, Brooklyn and went to school in Spanish Harlem. This was back in the day when NYC was tough. La Familia, Ballbuster, Zulu Nation ruled the streets back then.

So I guess I got the right to say the movie accurately portrays life in NYC in the 80's. Some guy here criticized the love songs. C'mon man. What, people back then in the projects didn't love anyone?, had a girlfriend, etc? I find the movie to be so real that I definitely want to move back to NYC.

I know New York isn't the same. The South Bronx is being renovated. The gangs are gone. All the bombers, Lee jeans creased down the middle and finely pressed and jackets, the pumas and adidas with the thick laces in checkerboard formation,...

Oh My GOD!
I was franticly looking for this movie not more than 6 months ago, cannot find it anywhere! . This is a movie that must be seen and owned by anyone who loves hip hop and it's culture. Unlike the other breakdance movies this one is so well made, not only does it include artist that are the foundation of hip hop such and melle mel, afrika bambaataa and tina b to name a few but it outlines the culture, from dj-ing to graffity and showdowns on the dancefloor. The rocksteady crew are pure ledgens and for them to be in this movie is just a major bonus. I am propably preaching to the converted here but if you are into hip hop or just listen to the music, you have got to get this movie, hopefully it will come out on dvd 'cos the music would absolutely ROCK.

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