Visitors Review

Jake Fortune (2012-05-26 10:11)

Very Hot, Very Kinetic

I've never seen a movie propelled by break dancing until thisafternoon. I saw it in a large suburban mall multiplex anchored in thecorn belt way west of the Hudson River and 5 miles from the closestFred Astaire Dance School. Wow! Step Up 3D (3D version) is visuallykinetic, great fun and spirited as it follows an iconic, time-testedand, to some, tired formulaic story. Like Astaire's song and dance movies from the 1930's through the1950's, one knows that everything will turn out well before the endcredits but in Astaire's movies and this Jon Chu film, its really abouttraveling - about the trip not the destination - as the film un spoolsscenes with very appealing actors, spectacular dancing, savvy camerawork, smart editing and a corny script. But its cathartic corn, atleast to those of us who wouldn't ordinarily see a street dance flick.When co-leads Alyson Stoner and Adam Savani's dweeb characters relateto one another as NYU frosh, they are believable even in the sillinessof the plot structure. So too with the characters played by otherco-leads Rick Malambi and Sharni Vinson. The 3D treatment provides Step Up 3D with distorted visual energy and Idug it, I dug it a lot over and over again. Even as the spectacular endcredits seem to be winding down, Chu gives us a single guy on a smallpart of a wide screen with lots of hand choreography. The camera slowlytrucks towards him as the credits scroll up on the right side. His handand head moves and the 3D camera work are mesmerizing in a "less ismore" kind of way.I saw this movie on a perfectly beautiful Sunday afternoon because filmreviewers Michael Phillips and A.0. Scott told viewers to see it onwhat is the very last edition of syndicated television's "At theMovies". Thumbs up to you boys, and to Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel,Richard Roeper and the guest critics. Your always engaging show, too,was about the journey.

kosmasp (2012-05-25 21:43)

In your face

I still believe that Streetdance has a stronger core (story) and isjust slightly better in the acting department. But when it comes downto the dancing and the 3-D effects of those dance scenes ... well thewinner has to be Step up! Of course dance movies have divided audiences left and right forawhile. Some finding them ridiculous (and being right, when it comes tothe slim stories on offer), others can't get enough of them. I guessthe movies kinda make you want to move your feet. And this one is noexception (if you like dancing that is). You just have to decide whatgroup you belong too. If you are waiting for a dance movie, with a verystrong story ... you will still have to wait though

(2012-05-24 22:14)

Suprisingly Good!

This review is from: Step Up 3 (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) (Blu-ray) This movie was surprisingly good for a dance movie and the 3D makes it even more cool. They do not kid themselves and try to make the movie based on the plot like a You Got Served movie. The dancing is awesome and I really enjoyed it.

jmblfc93 (2012-05-24 07:45)

How this is getting 3.9/10 i do not know :S!!

i watched this film yesterday with the girlfriend, and i didn't havehigh hopes for the film at all, I'm not really into dance/romancemovies. But during the film, with each minute i became more and more inlove with it. I mean WOW!! step up 3D delivers like no other dancemovie out there. This movie was amazing! the 3D was incredible, thedancing was out of this world, the songs on the film were amazing! myand my girlfriend were singing along to them, but the storyline lackedabit, apart from the storyline, Justin Chi has made the perfect dancefilm! I'm even debating going to see this movie again next week!although the last too step up movies lacked character, the latestinstalment in the franchise definitely gives the trilogy the buzz thatit needs! i rate this movie 9/10, it would of been 10/10 if thestoryline wasn't lacking abit! even if you hate dance movies this moviein definitely worth watching.

ItsReesyBabeii (2012-05-24 01:59)

Hideous isn't the word...

Well after watching this movie I know why it was called step up 3D.Because if they didn't make it 3D, this pile of absolute rubbishwouldn't have made ANY money at all. I can't even find the words todescribe how terrible this was and I'm still disgusted that I spentmoney to watch this movie.The storyline is scattered, predictable and at times, boring. It'snothing we've never heard/seen before, same Ole sob story blah blah.The dialogue and acting is laughable, not in the good way... I mean,the way the two main characters 'fall for each other' is just a joke,apparently the best way to get a girls attention is to follow heraround the club with a camera. There's a whole load of gaps in thestoryline which I am not going to bother wasting my time commenting on. Now, the dancing. Hmph, nothing above average. I'm not saying I coulddo any better, but there was nothing in the movie that was mindblowing. I must admit Moose, the twins and the robot dude were prettysick, but other than that I can't remember any of the other dances.When I watch a dance movie I expect to be excited when they're dancing,I expect to be blown away by the quality and nothing in this movie didthat for me which was a massive let down. I was expecting them to topthe scene in step up two when they were dancing in the rain but theydidn't. The final dance which was the most hyped up and anticipated wasa COMPLETE disappointment. But all in all, I would NOT suggest this movie to ANYONE, it left mewith a bitter taste in my mouth and actually just left me bitter ingeneral. But if you do chose to watch the movie you will be left withone question in your head: Is that it?

(2012-05-23 08:31)

Put on ya dancing shoes baby!!

This review is from: Step Up 3 (DVD) These Step Up movies are great to watch dances are top of the line wish I had of seen it on the big screen they keep changing the lead actors yet don't miss a step all in all a great fun movie to watch.

tedg (2012-05-23 11:21)

Bridges

The big mystery with this is that so many people disliked it. It is apuzzle to me. In a minute, I'll say what I liked, but first, why?I'm going to propose a spectrum of moviewatchers. At one end are thosethat report on the richness of the story, the believability of thecharacters, the solidity of the dramatic arc and so on. My commentshere are generally in this camp, but focused on a different set ofnarrative principles. I'm going to suggest that these viewers leadreserved lives, and further that they believe they know and can recitetheir own narratives. In that recitation, they (we?) will use thedramatic devices we have seen. We don't welcome new ones for obviousreasons. A film is not so much a journey away from home but one thatbuilds home.At the other end of this imaginary spectrum are the people who live intheir lives and for whom everything is an experience first and materialfor explanation second. I'm drawing this spectrum because I found thisfilm important to me and important to the evolution of film. I dug it.I didn't care that the acting, characters and story were proremptory.They were designed to fade, to give us an excuse to tie together aseries of visual experiences.I loved the fact that none of these people were remotely attractive,that sex and sexual exploitation wasn't on the table. The heavyemphasis on family, as if loyalty were somehow central simply helped meto focus my energies coming to them as they did to me. Even the excessive product placements blew by me without annoying.Because the experience was experience. I'm thinking that you have to bethat second kind of person to like this. Or perhaps you have to haveselves on both shores.This is one of the few movies actually filmed in 3D. I saw this inRealD 3D, which is cheap threeD and I am starting to avoid it if thereis an Imax 3D alternative, or the movie was converted from 2D. Thecircularly polarized light in some viewers produces strange cognitivedissonance. Also, fast horizontal movements have a stuttering,strobelike effect because the cognitive period is exactly half the 24frames per second we accept as real motion. The motion blurs don't workright because the equipment used to capture and display are digital,and the postprocessing software to introduce threeD blur surprisinglyisn't ready yet.But this director understood this and used it. As the dances get morefrantic, and the distracting effects more pronounced, he supplementedthem with on-stage strobe effects and shifting contrasts. So a limit inthe visual process becomes part of the dance. In fact, the cinematicorchestration far exceeds the apparent ambition as a vehicle to suchdollars out of teen pockets. This camera dances the way the dancers do:it shifts and jumps ahead of what we expect. It is all about that, boththe thing we see and the way we see it. Many of the more dramatic dancemoves have been shifted in time, slowed by erratic tempos, confoundingphysics.Space is used in clever ways. We have the choreography of course, whichfills space in what is by now pretty conventional ways. We have thethree dimensional effects. Many of these are blatant, gimmicky and tomy mind work well to immerse us in this artificially energized worldthat is pretending to be natural and discovered energy. (These kids —not the leads — do have extraordinary life.) Space has narrativeagency: the contest winnings are not a matter of proving the best dancecrew, instead to save the loft in which the ersatz family resides. Thatplace itself has some impossible, subtly off-putting physics in itsstructure. Literal bridges figure prominently in the urban fabric here, as well asthe metaphorical ones, like the engineering-dance conflict that in someways is reduced from the spectrum I mentioned above. Parkour in acouple scenes works with dancing as bridging as well. The good oldBrooklyn Bridge is the setting for one of the most criticized scenes;they make calligraphic strokes of colored slurpee. This was a divide inthe audience. I thought it intelligent and newly spatial: writing lovedances in the air.This would re-appear by reference in the way that smoke and water wereused in the "contest" dances. The subject only seemed trivial, butcognitively this was serious business. The film vocabulary movesanother strobed step forward across those bridges.The fold? Our main character is a filmmaker, making a film about danceusing the same characters as in our film! One scene — not at all in thesame tone as the rest of the movie — has our second lead couple in anurban stageset re-imagining of the Astair-Rogers "I Won't Dance."The heavily sanded, characterless face of the girl lead wasdistracting, especially contrasted to the rich beings of the dancers.I think I saw Miss Prissy, the "queen of krump" from "Rize" in fiveseconds of interview at the beginning.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

jon.h.ochiai (2012-05-22 18:52)

It's the Dance

"Step Up 3D" maybe the best 3D movie since "Avatar". You laugh. For onething "Step Up 3D" was filmed in 3D—no post production enhancement.Seeing amazing street dancing is visually stunning in 3D. Onedistinguishing sequence has Moose (Adam G. Sevani) splashing his moveson the water flooded stage. In another electrifying sequence the dancetroop Pirates move in unison in LED lit costumes. One sees "Step Up 3D"for the 3D—entirely.No ground breaking storytelling here. Amy Anderson and Emily Meyer'sscreenplay barely eclipses perfunctory. This is the coming of age storyof misunderstood young people overcoming the odds to compete in theFirst Annual World Dance Jam. The dialogue is awful. We endure thespeaking interludes throughout the movie to get to the dancing, whichis spectacular. Director Jon Chu has a dramatic sense of line and chaoswith a provocative and flourishing visual style.The dancing is spectacular. Jon Chu has assembled some of the beststreet dancers in the world. The Santiago Twin (spirited Martin andFacundo Lombard) just kill in the World Dance Jam. Chadd Smith as Vlad,whose specialty is the Robot dance, is absolutely awesome—in 3D theeffect is mesmerizing. Sharni Vinson, who plays stunningly beautifuland ripped nomad street dancer Natalie, is elevation and gracecombined. The capoeira practice she performs with Luke (cool andhandsome Rick Malambri) is high velocity precision. Chu is also astudent of the classic musical. He films an homage to "Singing in theRain" in a single take with Moose and his almost girlfriend Camile(Alyson Stoner) as they duet down the street. Chu also provides suchvisual texture and touch in the World Dance Jam itself mixing the Wushuinfluenced Asian street dancers along with the breakers and thepoppers.Even with the corny dialogue and lame story lines, the opening sequencegets it right. Luke (Malambri) runs a shelter and dance studio for downand out street dancers- his parents' legacy. Luke's passion isfilm-making. As the movie opens we see Luke film interviews with hisdancers. This wonderfully captures that dancers are never more presentto life or have more joy than when they are dancing. Authentic passiontranscends the written words, and is inspired. In a roundabout way"Step Up 3D" is at its best when it is in the moment in 3D, Otherwise,we are left with that Moose is too stupid, albeit a brilliantengineering student, to see that Camile is in love with him, and thathe really loves her. Mysterious Natalie may not be who she appears, andthat she and Luke are falling for each other. And does anyone reallytake a train to Los Angeles from New York? We kind of know the answers to these questions. So what there is to dois enjoy the dancing.

Movie Guy (2012-05-22 03:13)

Terrible, just terrible

This is a completely rubbish film from start to finish and I'll explainwhy without spoiling anything (not that there is anything to spoil).Firstly lets start with the good (will be quick) the acting is amongstthe worst I've ever seen in a film, literally, it's a range of peopleprobably genuinely from a street life style and upper-class people whoknow how to dance street (despite the fact street dance is meant to bea representation of your life-style and culture) and there are alsoother dance styles in there too - but to be honest that is the onlyreasonably entertaining thing about the movie and that's only due tochoreography and over-dramatic scenes, now to the bad (grab a coffee).Let's first start with the story, well there isn't much of one it'sbasically an excuse to start dancing nothing more, if you want a decentdance themed movie with a reasonable story and decent acting you shouldlook at save the last dance. Now onto the directing, editing andgeneral theme; it's bad, It's like the creators got together and said"let's make a movie based version of Britain's got talent with only thedancing parts and more dramatic" and took it from there. Now the acting(if you can call it that) is just terrible, now I know some people aresaying to themselves "hey we're not watching this for the acting etc,just wanna see some dancing" well if that's the case the go to a danceshow because that's all this movie is but more glam and dramatic.Acting generally makes a film, obviously directing etc comes into playbut usually if the acting is terrible then so is the film, and that'sexactly what this film is - the even funnier thing about this film theytry too hard to make dancing seem like a mysterious force that isessential and way of life which leads you into wisdom etc yeah right!it's an art-form, an expression etc but that's it. I could literallymoan about this film until I'm blue in the face but I will stop now andlet you judge, and if you have a few brain cells you'll just learn frommy experience and pass on this film because it's simply crap.

GB Joiner (2012-05-21 12:50)

Step Up 3D Could Have Done Without the "D"

I have to say that I am a fan of the series. The dancing in the firstmovie was great, but the subsequent films has had amazing numbers. Icould see why Chu would want to do the film in 3D. 3D is the "it" thingthese days, and the dance sequences were enhanced by the technology.That being said, 90% of the film didn't require 3D. I hate wearing theglasses unless I'm on a ride at Disney. I feel like a lot of the filmsthat employ 3D technology also release a 2D version (a good thing forpeople like me). I wish Step Up 3D would have given the option, even ifthe name denotes the extra dimension. As for the cast, I wasdisappointed in the male lead but not because of his acting or looks.He is beautiful and can act. However, he apparently can't dance. I feltlike if he was going to stand on the sidelines during battles or haveobvious doubles they could have played him even heavier as the"director". Moose and Camille pulled off what could have been animpossibility: tying the first and second film together with the thirdin a realistic manner. Unlike Channing Tatum's cameo to tie the firstand second films together, making Moose and Camille besties going tocollege together was brilliant. The soundtrack is great (even thoughsome of the songs you'll recognized from other recent shows: Glee andSex and the City). All in all, I enjoyed the movie and left the theaterwanting to dance. The film (like any self- respecting franchise) leavesit wide open for a fourth. A word of advice: make like The Fast and theFurious and wait 'til you're missed and can get the entire casttogether to go for #4.

pva3232 (2012-05-20 23:20)

Without 3D I was not impressed

I liked the 1st movie. I loved the 2nd movie. I will not be purchasingthe 3rd movie. I didn't see anything special or ground breaking that Ididn't see in the 1st two "step ups" or even "you got served". I justrented it on DVD - (No 3D) And I saw nothing new. The water scene seemslike it came from Step up 2. The finale with the lights seemed to looksimilar to the the street scene with the flash lights from Step up 2.The dude with the camera couldn't dance. And sister of the bad dude hadno street dancing skills. I liked the twins, Moose and his bestfriend,the robot guy and even bringing back some of the dancers fromstep up 2. My over all review. Step Up 2 was much better....

SandyR (2012-05-20 06:46)

just another break dance

iwoulnt waste 14.00 on this garbage id rather watch salsa or ballroom dancing then these kids spinning their heads like atop.i give it a f for fail

(2012-05-20 01:21)

it is so great film

i like this film so much!!! it is better than part 1&2. It has a lot dance performing. Break dance style is so beautiful...love...love this film!!!!

(2012-05-19 09:41)

If you have a 3D TV, get this movie!

This review is from: Step Up 3 (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) (Blu-ray) Is very rare that my wife watch a movie with me, it does not matter the genre, is that she never has time, but this movie, she already has seen it 3 times, is that good!.The 3D effects, the dance, and the music (must have Surround System to feel the bass) are awesome!If you have a 3D TV, get this movie, it is a show off material.

(2012-05-19 03:42)

Break-Dance Wars

This film is about university freshmen participating in various breakdance showdowns and competitions. The plot is simply about young people getting together to dance, and caring for one another. Of course there is some heavy rivalry and some betrayal. But in the end everyone matures and develops quite nicely.But the real attraction of this film is the dancing which is really an advanced freeform mixture of acrobatics, gymnastics and breakdancing - DO NOT TRY SOME OF THESE MOVES AT HOME.There is an abundance and a wide variation of:- head spins- windmills- flips - hand stands- helicopter spins- robotic movements- leg contortionsThe charged, synchronized and meticulously choreographed routines serve to excite the imagination. It is a healthy way for youths to spend their time and extra energies. I am just simply amazed at some of the routines and dance movements that are presented in this film. They make it look easy, but I am sure that it takes a tremendous amount of effort to really get it looking so good.

(2012-05-18 15:14)

Great Movie! the Combo is PERFECT!

This review is from: Step Up 3 (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) (Blu-ray) I've just bought this movie, and it's awesome! this combo is even better! You get a 3D blue-ray disc,a regular blue-ray disc, a DVD disc and the better, a digital copy for your iPhone!

dualblader (2012-05-15 17:08)

Just Plain Bad

Pure Trash. People who liked this film shouldn't even go see movies. You're thereason why crap like this makes tons of money while other films thatactually have meaning and an interesting story filled with actuallywell written characters suffer at the box office. Anyone who liked thishas no right to watch movies. At all. I mean I get a movie beingentertaining but it should entertain through the story andcharacters....not through a crappy plot with horrible acting and"flashy" dance moves...and the 3D was just a cheap attempt to get morecash. Screw this movie and anyone who liked it.

(2012-05-15 09:56)

you know what you're in for (hint: it's not the acting)

If I were rating Step Up 3D simply based on the acting or writing - you know, the usual movie criteria - then I'd have to give two stars out of five, at most. Heck, to this day I have trouble remembering the two lead characters' names because they were so bland and had zero personality. The only person I *do* remember clearly is Moose, played by Adam Sevani. However, no one watches this sort of movie for the stellar acting or plot. There was one reason, and one reason only, why I watched Step Up 3D - the dancing! And in that respect, the movie more than delivered. The dancing is absolutely fantastic. It's the sort of movie that makes you want to get up and dance yourself, or attempt to, anyway. And for a dance movie, I don't think there's any higher praise. Another surprising highlight of this film was the 3d! It might sound laughable, but I think Step Up showcases some of the best use of 3D since Avatar. No, really. I think the difference between Step Up 3D and all of those other post-Avatar movies is that most of the latter were filmed in 2d and later converted to 3d film, whereas Step Up 3D was conceived in 3d and filmed with 3d cameras from the start. With other movies that have been converted to 3d, the 3d seems like nothing more than a dumb gimmick meant to drive up box office receipts. Step Up 3D on the other hand fully utilizes 3d technology in order to make the dancing really 'pop.' Unfortunately, since 3d-capable TVs are still a relative rarity, most people who watch the movie at home won't be able to see Step Up in 3d format. In short: The acting? Meh. The characterization? Non-existent. The storyline? Trite. The 3D? Surprisingly great! The dancing? OMG COMPLETELY AWESOME I NEED TO SIGN UP FOR A DANCE CLASS RIGHT NOW!! (

stelmarkou (2012-05-15 06:02)

Good dancers...Bad actors

Compared to the first and second step up movies the dancing part of thefilm is better than both combined.Acting part on the other hand is quite bad, very amateur acting frommost of the cast as most are professional dancers, NOT actors! Storyline is quite good and keeps you entertained through out the wholefilm. I believe that the director did the best he could with what hewas given.As for the 3D effects nothing special, only a few dance scenes worthmentioning.The guy at the end credits doing a "dance" with his hands in 3D was abit pointless.Overall though I would recommend you to watch it if you like this kindof films. It has a fantastic soundtrack and as I mentioned above verygood dancing!!!

tbabe29 (2012-05-14 12:20)

So Bad It's Good!

Okay, first of all, remember folks, that dancers aren't actors. Andapparently no one was a writer either because the script sounded likeit was written in about 10 minutes, BUT, this movie was thoroughlyentertaining anyway.Me and my hip hoppers saw this movie after dance class and we were NOTdisappointed! When we weren't watching the mesmerizing dance routines,we were laughing out loud at the horribly cheesy dialogue and plot.The best part of the movie,(besides the dancing), is the characterMoose. He is our main protagonist and is the most believable in regardsto acting and character development. He and his BFF have a moreconvincing romantic storyline than their two older beautiful peoplecounterparts.If you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the dancing and not take thismovie too seriously, you will love it! Especially if you are a dancer.