Video: Step Up 3: Pirates vs Red Hook (Happy Birthday Stephen "tWitch" Boss!)

I want to wish Stephen "tWitch" Boss a very Happy Birthday! He may no longer be here but all of his fans won't forget his love and passion for dancing. If you are experiencing mental health issues please make sure you get help.

Below is one of my favorite dance battles in Step Up 3 between the Pirates and Red Hook. I thought Red Hook was actually really good. However, thanks to Jason's (tWitch's character) strong moves and Vladd the Robot's robotic moves, that's how the Pirates were able to win that round. Jason was really the star of this performance.

Happy International Dance Day! (Video: Step Up 4: Corporate Flash Mob)

To all my fellow dancers (professional, amateur, aspiring or dancing for fun), Happy International Dance Day! Here's one of my favorite dance scenes from Step Up 4: Revolution where The Mob staged a flash mob at the office of the real estate firm which was planning to gentrify their Miami neighborhood.

RIP Stephen "tWitch" Boss

In Remembrance: Stephen "tWitch" Boss

In saddening news, it's being reported that Stephen "tWitch" Boss has died at the age of 40 years old. It's also being reported that he committed suicide. Although tWitch was most known for being the DJ and later co-host on the talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He was also an actor and dancer. He played the character Jason in one of my favorite dance movie franchises, Step Up (movies Step Up 3, Step Up 4: Revolution and Step Up 5: All In) and was in the recently released The Hip Hop Nutcracker on Disney+.

I've posted this before (and I'll continue to post it) but if you find yourself struggling or feeling overwhelmed by mental health issues please seek help. In the US, the national suicide prevention hotline number is 988, please call and talk to someone if you need to.

Video: LMNTRIX's Mad Scientist video entry for The Vortex dance competition (Step Up 5)

It's only eight more days until Halloween and I wanted to start posting more fun and spooky stuff. Here's a video from Step Up 5: All In. I always thought LMNTRIX's video entry for The Vortex dance competition had the perfect Halloween vibe with their mad scientist inspired performance.

I wish the video entries for The Mob, The Grim Knights and some of the other contestants were also shown. Because it would have been interesting to have seen whatever dances and performances they had come up with. If not shown in the movie (as perhaps a montage scene) then at least those videos should have been included in the bonus or special features section for the DVD/Blu-ray.

Music: Demons by Zeds Dead

Most Memorable Scene: The Grim Knights' Final Dance in Step Up 5

You know what I didn't understand about the Grim Knights dance crew in Step Up 5: All In is that they were actually really good dancers, why did they have to resort to cheating? Especially since it was shown early on in the movie that they were good at dancing when they won an impromptu dance battle against The Mob when both dance crews were in a night club. Too bad the Grim Knights' leader Jasper decided to work with Alexxa Brava, the host of The Vortex to rig the The Vortex dance competition in order to win.

I'm not sure if the Grim Knights as a team were all in on the cheating or was it just Jasper alone working with Alexxa. Either way cheating doesn't do anyone any favors and it would have been better if they would have let their dancing skills speak for them. Especially since in the end, it didn't work out how Alexxa and Jasper thought it would.

Flashback Friday: Timbaland featuring Ne-Yo video: Hands in the Air (Step Up 4: Revolution Soundtrack)

I know I'm a little late posting something for 10th Anniversary for Step Up 4: Revolution, Wednesday (July 27th) was the actual date. Anyway, I'll post a celebratory post tomorrow until then here is Timbaland featuring Ne-Yo video Hands in the Air which features dancer and actress Kathryn McCormick who was also the lead actress in Step Up 4. Funny enough, Ne-Yo is one of the stars in the Step Up: High Water TV Series.

Most Memorable Scene: The Final Dance in Step Up 5

This is the final post on the winning factor in the Step Up movies and it's fitting because Step Up 5: All In had one of the biggest and most impressive performance. The winning factor was LMNTRIX and The Mob's grandiose presentation for the final dance battle in The Vortex dance competition. I thought their costumes which also added to the performance were an interesting combination of Steampunk and Dapper.

What brought about this grand performance was when LMNTRIX found out that the entire dance competition was rigged in favor of the Grim Knights dance crew. They decided to go all out and put on a great show even if they knew they weren't going to win. And it worked in their favor. Because although Alexxa Brava, the host of The Vortex and Jasper, the leader of the Grim Knights were working together to make sure the Grim Knights won, no amount of cheating could diminish LMNTRIX and The Mob's combined grand performance.

What do you think, was the winning factor the big performance?


Step Up 5: All In

Most Memorable Scene: The Final Dance in Step Up 3

In continuing with my post on the winning factor of the dance crews in the Step Up movies, I would like to focus on the final dance for the Pirates dance crew in Step Up 3. I think the winning factor for them was their costumes that lit up. The costumes were something Jason (and I believe with a little help from Moose) created and I think it really elevated their performance. Honestly, I think the Pirates were losing against the Samurai crew and it wasn't until that final performance where they were using their costumes that their dancing and presentation really stood out. Otherwise I think the Samurai would have won.

What do you think, did the Pirates' costumes give them the winning factor?


Step Up 3

Most Memorable Scene: The Final Dance in Step Up 2

I think when it comes down to who ends up winning any of the dance competitions in the Step Up universe, it's presentation that's the winning factor in the final dance. Because in the second, third and fifth movies (Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3 and Step Up 5: All In) it's always the protagonist characters' dance crew who always seem to have that extra bit of something special that makes them stand out. Whether it's something intentional or not, it's something that usually enhances their performance and gives them a better presentation.

I will post all three videos with the first today and the other two on Thursday and Friday. The first is Step Up 2: The Streets, even though I think they already had a good performance, the rain is what absolutely enhanced it and made it even better. I think if they had performed this in the warehouse where the other dance crews had already danced, I don't think it would have stood out the way it did out in the rain.

What do you think, was the rain the winning factor?


Step Up 2: The Streets

Step Up's Eddy and Sean, Were They a Missed Opportunity for Romance

I know a lot of Step Up movie fans have complained over the years that there were no gay, queer, lesbian, trans, etc. characters or romance in the franchise. Which is true. But I couldn't help wondering if Eddy and Sean Asa from Step Up 4: Revolution and Step Up 5: All In would have been the perfect choice. I always wondered if Eddy was bisexual and in love with his best friend Sean? Although, it was shown that Eddy was attracted to women (he certainly liked The Mob's DJ, Penelope) but it's hard to overlook that he may have been in love with Sean. Because in Step Up 4, Eddy's jealous reaction to Sean liking Emily Anderson and wanting her to join The Mob was way too intense.

(Sean Asa and Eddy   Step Up 4: Revolution)

Happy Valentine's Day! (+ a Geeky TV/Movie List)

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day. It doesn't matter if you're single or in a relationship, I hope your day is filled with love.

If you're looking for Valentine's Day themed episodes to watch, I put together a list which also several shows and also includes three movies two of them are Star Wars because there was romance centered in the first two trilogies.

The tragic and bittersweet romance of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in the prequels and an iconic and passionate romance between Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo. The third movie is a dance movie well more specifically a Step Up movie but it has such a beautiful romance plus fighting gentrification that I couldn't help including it. If you're looking for more shows and movies to watch, here is link to another one of my Valentine's Day list.

Fashion Meets Fandom: Andie West (Step Up 5)

In Step Up 2: The Streets, Andrea "Andie" West had a tomboyish sporty style while that sort of continued in her second appearance in Step Up 5: All In. However, I feel like her style also matured a bit. Although, her wardrobe was still very sporty with her wearing a lot of dance and athletic pieces but she also wore a few more feminine pieces such as a really cute asymmetric dress in the scene when she dancing with Sean at the amusement park.

For this Fashion Meets Fandom, I was inspired by the outfit Andie wore when LMNTRIX were practicing in the basement of the hotel. She wore a loose fitting crop top paired with a sports bra (seen in the fifth picture) and leggings.

Monday Motivation: Don't let setbacks and rejection stop you from going after your dreams

Happy Monday, I know not everyone is happy about Mondays which is why I wanted to post this video of The Mob's terrible auditions for dancing jobs from the movie Step Up 5: All In for Monday Motivation. Hopefully your Monday will be much better than the awful experience these dancers had in trying to get jobs. The casting directors were so degrading, demeaning and dismissive and they seemed to enjoy making the dancers do ridiculous things for jobs they knew they weren't going to hire them for.

This scene might be fun to watch but I can't help thinking about all the rejection The Mob got from these auditions. Which doesn't seem very motivating for Monday Motivation but it is because although this was a setback for them they did bounce back to later enter a big dance competition albeit Sean in a different crew from The Mob. But the main thing is that they didn't give up even if they got a lot of rejection and endured a minor setback.

Rejection and setbacks happen but it's how you deal with them that matter. Do you give up or do you keep following your dreams?

Music: I Won't Let You Down (Shockbit Remix) by OK Go

Throwback Thursday: The Mob's Museum of Art Dance Scene (Step Up 4) (Video)

Ever since I rewatched all five Step Up movies, it's reignited my love for this franchise. So for this Throwback Thursday I wanted to post this video from Step Up 4: Revolution of The Mob's beautifully crafted performance. They did a great job of putting together this flash performance, it truly fit in with the art at the museum. It's performance art at it's finest.

Feel Good Friday: The Pirates Crew Dancing (Step Up 3)

It's a little late but it's still Friday. What's everyone feeling good about? I've always loved this scene in Step Up 3 of everyone in The Pirates dancing and having fun. I love all the Step Up movies but I think this third movie is probably my absolute favorite out of the franchise. I don't know why but I just love this movie.

Music: Fancy Footwork by Chromeo

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #17: Maddie and Chim, The Mob, Cyberchase and The Batman

It's Friday, what fandom thoughts are on your mind?

- 9-1-1 fans are really happy right now with the announcement that the fan favorite characters Maddie Buckley and Howard "Chimney" Han are returning to the remainder of the fifth season of the show. Maddie had been dealing with Postpartum Depression and she had left Los Angeles because she didn't think her daughter Jee-Yun was safe with her. Chimney along with their daughter Jee-Yun left town to try to find her and the last time Chim was shown was in the seventh episode Ghost Stories where he was in Boston and ran into an old friend, Eli Cobb.

Jennifer Love Hewitt who plays Maddie had been on maternity leave but the actress has now returned and is currently already back to filming. The return of Hewitt also mean Kenneth Choi will finally be making his return back to the series. I'm surprised the show's marketing and promotion teams aren't trying to take advantage of all this fan excitement by releasing a promotion of the return of Chimney and Maddie.

(Chimney and Maddie       9-1-1 season 4 episode 3: Future Tense)

Fashion Meets Fandom: Emily Anderson inspired outfits (Step Up 4)

In Step Up 4: Revolution, Emily Anderson may have been the daughter of a wealthy real estate developer but despite her father's disapproval, she aspired to be a professional dancer. Emily had a lot going on in her life. Between studying dancing at the Winwood Dance Academy Company, she joined The Mob dance crew. She would later convince them to fight against her father's company, which was planning to gentrify a Miami neighborhood and she also fell in love with The Mob's co-leader Sean Asa.

Even with all of that going on Emily wore some really cute clothes throughout the movie. From casual day and cover up dresses to sophisticated and detailed cocktail and evening dresses. To practice her dancing, she wore a combination of t-shirts, tank tops, leotard or bodysuit, shorts and even a cover up dress over a swim suit while she was practicing in the water on the beach. She even wore the occasional pair of pants but not as often as the other pieces. Since this movie was set in Miami and with the hot weather, I like that the movie's stylist picked pieces that were more flowy and lightweight.

Trailer: Step Up 6: Year of the Dance

How come no one told me there was a sixth Step Up movie? Especially since I just finished a rewatch of movies 1-5. For anyone such as myself who didn't know the movie is titled Step Up 6: Year of the Dance and apparently it was released June 26, 2019. And I don't recall hearing anything about it, until now. From the trailer, the movie is set in China and has a whole new cast, I think it will be cool to see a new dance team battle it out.

I don't know if this was originally released in theatres or video on demand but it's not on DVD/Blu-ray but you can buy or rent it video on demand. I also found it on the STARZ channel, which I'll be watching it on. I either plan on watching it tonight or some time tomorrow.

Step Up 6: Year of the Dance

Description:

Youth from different social classes in Beijing come together to form China's best dance crew and learn what it really means to be family.

Rewatch Review: Step Up 5: All In

I finished my Step Up rewatch on Monday with Step Up 5: All In and I have to say, I still really enjoy watching this movie. It has an interesting story that centers around many of the characters struggling to follow their dreams of being professional dancers. I think Sean Asa finding The Vortex dance competition was just the thing he needed to keep his dream going because the winner will receive a three-year paid contract to perform in Las Vegas. Sean was truly struggling, with The Mob having a difficult time finding dance jobs, it was becoming abundantly clear that it was not working out for them in Los Angeles. Sean didn't want to go back to Miami and truly in need of help, he ended up getting a job doing maintenance at Moose's grandparents' dance studio and did I fail to mention that his only option for room and board was sleeping in the storage closet at the studio.

If it wasn't for Moose, I don't know what Sean would have done. He barely had any money and even if he wanted to go back to Miami, I doubt he had enough money to do that. Which is why this competition was something he needed to do because it not only gave him a chance to regroup but the other dancers (Moose, Andie, Jenny, the Santiago twins, Vladd "The Robot", etc.) as well and they created a new team to go after their dreams. I loved seeing the characters grow into a strong team and a romance slowly developing between Andie and Sean. While Moose and Camille's relationship was strong and steady despite a little hiccup that came up. As with any Step Up movie, the dances were amazing especially LMNTRIX's final dance that included The Mob.

Despite all of this, Step Up 5: All In isn't considered a fan favorite and I'm not sure why fans were disappointed. I do wonder if it had anything to do with seeing so many of the characters struggling. I think it can be hard sometimes to see your favorite characters having setbacks. This made me think of how some of the Gilmore Girls fans reacted to Rory's journey in the Gilmore Girls revival A Year in the Life. They were disappointed with how Rory was shown in the revival because her life (professional and personal) seemed to be in a downward spiral and nothing seemed be working out for her. She was truly undergoing a major setback in her life but what I like is that by the end of the revival, Rory had found that old spark and was writing again and despite the big bombshell at the end I think Rory was on her way to living the life she wanted.

Which is how I saw Step Up 5, these dancers were not where they wanted to be career and life wise but The Vortex dance competition was a good way back into the dance world that they loved so much and they were willing to take a chance on entering the competition. What I like about this movie is that the dancers never gave up on their dreams, it's very inspiring. I love all five of the Step Up movies and I think Step Up 5 is still a good movie that perfectly closed out the franchise.

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #16: Betty White, Moose and Charlie's Angels

Happy New Year's Eve, I can't believe it's less than hour until it 2022. Before the year ends, I wanted to know what are some of your fandom thoughts?

- It's definitely sad to hear of about the death of Betty White. She was an icon, a pioneer, a humanitarian and a advocate. She had the longest running career in TV and was the first woman to ever produce a sitcom. She was nominated for 21 Emmy nominations across 10 different shows. Over the years, I've watched so many shows that she had appeared in: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mama's Family, Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland, an episode of My Name is Earl, and one of my favorite movies Lake Placid, she really was one of the best. Rest in Peace, Betty White.