For those of you who are interested in learning a thing or two about b-boy dancing (or known as breakdancing) then Battle of the Year is a good watch. It wraps good dance moves in a script that employs a few clichés from other sports and dance films. Josh Holloway plays Jason Blake, an ex-basketball coach who is employed by hip-hop mogul Dante (Lax Alonso) to coach the American b-boying dancers in the annual Battle of the Year competition. As he leads the team to the finals, Jason teaches his team of newly assembled dancers the dynamics of team work. Chris Brown plays Rooster, a dancer with a lack of discipline but high on attitude. Franklyn (Josh Peck), Jason’s assistant coach, barely has much of a role and simply aids Jason during their journey to the finish line. Stacy (Caity Lotz) makes a quick appearance as the group’s choreographer and leaves just as quickly. Even though the dance sequences are impressive, the ability to capture the essence of breakdancing in a fine-tuned script proves disappointing. While dance fanatics may walk away unsatisfied, some might enjoy the humor and choreography planted from scene to scene.
The film is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download. Special Blu-ray features include This Is Planet B Boy, The Art of B-Boying: A Guide to Breaking and Preparing for Battle: Training & Rehearsals. Bonus features on DVD include This Is Planet B Boy and Preparing for Battle: Training & Rehearsals. ~Marriska Fernandes