Planet B-Boy is a 2007 documentary film that focuses on the 2005 Battle of the Year while also describing B-boy culture and history as a global phenomenon. This documentary was directed by Canadian-American Korean filmmaker Benson Lee, shot by Portuguese-American filmmaker Vasco Nunes, and released in theaters in the United States on March 21, 2008. It was released on DVD on November 11, 2008.
Content Planet B-Boy features extensive footage of the dancers in competition as well as street performances and various rehearsals by the different crews from around the world. The narrative of the film centers on five particular crews (representing France, Japan, South Korea, and the United States) in their quest to win the Battle of the Year, and it includes multiple interviews with the B-Boys and their families. The film also includes interviews with German B-Boy and promoter Thomas Hergenröther (who founded the Battle of the Year competition) and legendary B-Boy Ken Swift of the Rock Steady Crew.
This film has been shown at numerous festivals around the worldPlanet B-Boy review at variety.com. Retrieved April 3, 2008. after originally making its debut on April 26, 2007, at the Tribeca Film Festival.B-boy film debuts at Tribeca Planet B-Boy has received many strong reviewsPlanet B-Boy review San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 3, 2008.Movie Review: Planet B-Boy The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2008.Movie Review: Planet B-Boy Monsters & Critics. Retrieved April 3, 2008. and currently has a 91% rating at Rotten Tomatoes - with the consensus that "Lee's dazzling documentary makes a compelling argument for breakdancing as an art form".Planet B-Boy at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 3, 2008. In March 2008 it was revealed that director Benson Lee was working on a feature adaptation of Planet B-Boy, starring Chris Brown and featuring many American b-boys such as Kid David from Renegades and Casper from Boogie Brats. MTV website. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
Reception On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 41 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.
Awards and Selections Best Documentary Feature Award – 26th San Francisco International Asian American Film FestivalOm Shanti Om and Planet B-Boy Win Audience Awards SFIAAFF page. Retrieved April 3, 2008. Audience Award – 26th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Moviesquad DOC U! Award – 2007 International Documentary Film Festival AmsterdamAnd the winners are... IDFA page. Retrieved April 3, 2008. Official Selection – 2007 Tribeca Film FestivalPlanet B-Boy at Tribeca Film Festival film guide archive. Retrieved April 3, 2008. Official Selection – 2007 Sydney Film Festival Official Selection – Edinburgh International Film Festival 2007Planet B-Boy at Edinburgh International Film Festival page. Retrieved April 3, 2008. Official Selection – 33rd Deauville American Film Festival Official Selection – 2008 Constellation Change Film Festival Official Selection – 2008 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival'Planet B-Boy' Lands in Philly Hyphen Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
References
External links
Interview with Benson Lee Planet B-Boy director aims to give break dancing its due March 2008 interview with the New York Daily News. Conversation with Benson Lee, Director of Planet B-Boy April 2009, State of Mind Music