Planet B-Boy

Infobox Film
name = Planet B-Boy


caption = Promotional movie poster
director = Benson Lee
producer = Benson Lee
Amy Lo
Executive producers:
Johnny Lee
Chris C. Kim
Danny Huang
writer =
narrator =
starring = Gamblerz
Ichigeki
Knucklehead Zoo
Last For One
Phase T
Ken Swift
Storm
Thomas Hergenröther
Trac 2
music = Woody Pak
cinematography = Vasco Lucas Nunes
editing = Benson Lee
Jeff Marcello
distributor = Elephant Eye Films
released = March 21, 2008 (USA)
runtime = 101 min.
country = U.S.A.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.planetbboy.com/
amg_id = 1:392228
imdb_id = 0770796

Planet B-Boy is a 2007 documentary film that focuses on the 2005 Battle of the Year while also describing B-Boy (commonly known as Breakdancing, although this term is incorrect) culture and history as a global phenomenon. This documentary was directed by Canadian-American Korean filmmaker Benson Lee and released in theaters in the United States on March 21, 2008.

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 world [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117936552.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Planet B-Boy review] at variety.com. Retrieved April 3, 2008.] after originally making its debut on April 26, 2007 at the Tribeca Film Festival [ [http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/bboy+film+debuts+at+tribeca/480787 B-boy film debuts at Tribeca] ] . Planet B-Boy has received many strong reviews [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/27/DD3OVQBLM.DTL&type=movies Planet B-Boy review] San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 3, 2008.] [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/movies/21plan.html Movie Review: Planet B-Boy] The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2008.] [ [http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/reviews/article_1321762.php/Movie_Review_Planet_B-Boy 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" [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/planet_bboy/ Planet B-Boy] at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 3, 2008.] . In March of 2008 it was revealed that director Benson Lee was working on a feature adaptation of Planet B-Boy [ [http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/news-features/Floor_Wars_Planet_Bboy.html News and Features - Floor Wars] Tribeca Film Festival website. Retrieved May 2, 2008.] .

Awards and Selections

Best Documentary Feature Award – 26th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival [ [http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/2008/post/251/ Om 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 [ [http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/2008/post/251/ Om Shanti Om and Planet B-Boy Win Audience Awards] SFIAAFF page. Retrieved April 3, 2008.]

Moviesquad DOC U! Award – 2007 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam [ [http://www.idfa.nl/en/daily/news/and-the-winners-will-be.aspx And the winners are...] IDFA page. Retrieved April 3, 2008.]

Official Selection – 2007 Tribeca Film Festival [ [http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/filmguide/archive/Planet_B-Boy.html Planet 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 2007 [ [http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/films/planet-b-boy/ Planet B-Boy] at Edinburgh International Film Festival page. Retrieved April 3, 2008.]

Official Selection – 33rd Deauville American Film Festival

Official Selection - 2008 [http://www.constellation-change.co.uk/ Constellation Change Film Festival]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0770796|title=Planet B-Boy
* [http://www.planetbboy.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2008/05/28/f-planet-b-boy.html Interview with Benson Lee]
* [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/03/31/2008-03-31_planet_bboy_director_aims_to_give_break_-1.html?page=0 "Planet B-Boy director aims to give break dancing its due"] March 2008 interview with the New York Daily News.