Dance movies are action movies, too

My girlfriend is a major anime fan, but after a few years of using her Netflix account to watch 30-40 hours of anime each month, she is finally somewhat burned out on anime, and has started watching real movies again. Recently, she insisted that we needed to watch "Step It Up 2: the Streets."

I laughed and rolled my eyes, but then she promised that she would be willing to watch Batman Begins with me, because she wants to be ready when we see The Dark Knight in the theatre soon. So we picked up Step It Up 2 at the rental place, though Batman Begins was of course all rented out.

The opening scene shocked both of us. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but it was very unexpected and interesting. After that, I was pulled in. The acting was okay, there was a surprising amount of plot and even character development, and some really impressive dance scenes.

And then it hit me: dance movies are action movies, too.

The story structure is the same. The hero is a rebel, but really talented, and faces considerable challenges and maybe adversity. On a regular basis, action breaks out for even the slightest reasons, because the audience expects it, and it makes up for all kinds of other flaws like weak acting or writing or whatever. There might be betrayal, and there will almost definitely be some kind of difficult romance subplot. In the end, there is a dramatic confrontation. In dance movies, it will involve a dance competition or a dance-off or some other comparison of dancing ability, while in an action movie, there is shooting, punching, car chases and the explosive destruction of various locations.

Over the years, various women have enticed me into watching a dance movie, starting with Breaking 2: Electric Boogaloo. I have endured these dance movies, keeping in mind my goal of getting laid later that night. But now I see the truth, that these dance movies are really not that different from the action movies that I love. And this new one, Step It Up 2, was particularly good because it was also funny and even surprising at times.

I recently told my girlfriend about Sturgeon's Law, when she was wondering why she just didn't enjoy anime lately. But if you realize that 90% of everything is crap, then it stands to reason that 90% of anime are crap, 90% of action movies are crap, and yes, 90% of dance movies are crap. And more importantly 10% of them are good. We should all be constantly looking for the best 10% of everything in life and stop wallowing in the crap that vaguely resembles our favorite stuff, and try keep trying new genres of things.

Have you tried Bollywood movies yet? Might gain you many brownie points for staying out late playing games

Staying out late? My girlfriend doesn't mind me hosting the games at our place. She wasn't even mad when the last game on Sunday ran late, wrapping up around 11:00 PM.

As for Bollywood, if this Hollywood strike lasts long enough, I expect to see Bollywood movies to gain some popularity. So I'm saving the Bollywood rental possibilities for when times get tough.

I'm a sucker for foreign flicks. If you want two good dance movies see Strictly Ballroom (Australia 1992) or Shall We Dance (Japan 1995). Both are a lot of fun and will earn you brownie points with the lady.

-Will

Bulwyf wrote:

I'm a sucker for foreign flicks. If you want two good dance movies see Strictly Ballroom (Australia 1992) or Shall We Dance (Japan 1995). Both are a lot of fun and will earn you brownie points with the lady.

-Will

I've heard good things about both those movies but never got around to seeing them. Definitely will mention them to my girl.

In hopes of making my action movie/dance movie comparison more clearly... There are moves in some action movies that just make you go "wow"... like maybe when Jet Li does something complicated and fast or Bruce Willis beating up those teutonic terrorists in Die Hard. Well, there was this dude in Step It Up 2 who slid across a section of floor on his head. He was completely upside down, with only his bare scalp in contact with the floor, and slid. That break-dancing move was badass.

Bulwyf wrote:

I'm a sucker for foreign flicks. If you want two good dance movies see Strictly Ballroom (Australia 1992) or Shall We Dance (Japan 1995). Both are a lot of fun and will earn you brownie points with the lady.

-Will

Also my two favorites. Not action movies in any sense though, especially Shall We Dance which is slower paced and delightful. But please by all that is good and holy avoid the American remake with Richard Gere.

Jesus christ, we're talking about dance pictures and nobody is gonna bring up WEST SIDE STORY? Come on, that's an amazing picture...

Michael Barnes wrote:

Jesus christ, we're talking about dance pictures and nobody is gonna bring up WEST SIDE STORY? Come on, that's an amazing picture...

Great point. Romeo & Juliet was transformed into both an action movie (Romeo + Juliet) and a dance movie (West Side Story).

Ummm guys just want to point out that your talking about dance movies ,So umm your gay.Turn in your hetro-card and start thinking about your future career as a Fashion or Interior Designer.

Druen Kree wrote:

Ummm guys just want to point out that your talking about dance movies ,So umm your gay.Turn in your hetro-card and start thinking about your future career as a Fashion or Interior Designer.

I'm secure enough in my heterosexuality that I can watch any movie without turning gay, though I confess that I have zero interest in gay porno movies.

Back to my theory... notice how some movie stars have done major action movies and major dance movies?

Patrick Swayze
Jessica Alba
Kevin Bacon
John Travolta

And remember those intense bad guys in the first Diehard movie? According to Natasha, the french foreign exchange student that I took to see it, most of them were famous European ballet stars. That's why she kept snickering during the fight scenes.

They aren't really action movies, they just follow a drama template, which is what action movies follow.

iguanaDitty wrote:

But please by all that is good and holy avoid the American remake with Richard Gere.

Actually just do youself a favor and avoid anything with Richard "I love hamsters" Gere.


-Will

Van Dammn or whatever the hell his name was was also an action star who was a professional dancer first.
I think he was electric boogaloo as well.

Bulwyf wrote:

iguanaDitty wrote:

But please by all that is good and holy avoid the American remake with Richard Gere.

Actually just do youself a favor and avoid anything with Richard "I love hamsters" Gere.


-Will

I don't know, the film version of Chicago was pretty good. Not as good as the musical, but hey.