Step 2: The streets was the first feature film directed by Chu, and he would return to the franchise with Intensify 3D. And despite his subsequent great musical work, it's the Step Up franchise that has some of my favorite musical sequences directed by Chu.
If you've seen a Step Up movie, or any dance movie in general, to be honest, you're familiar with the plot. And neither Step 2: The streets neither Intensify 3D will move the dial a lot; As the critical consensus (surpassing 46% on Rotten Tomatoes with the third film) can attest, if you've seen one, you've probably seen them all. A dancer caught between two worlds, forced to conform but dreaming of something she feels more deeply. In the end, they find the fusion of two forms and (gasp!) win the competition/exhibition/emotional battle they've been fighting. But that's all to say: we're not paying attention to the plot. We are here for the dance, the routine, the title. intensifying (on the street or not).
And on this front, Chu more than delivers. Their latest musical offerings are big and bold: examples of what movies can do for fit musical theater, translating the energy of the stage into film language. For Chu, this often means spinning cameras, quick cuts and ambitiously staged numbers. On the contrary, Step up 2 and 3 They are more in line with old Hollywood dance sequence traditions: long takes, to better emphasize skill and maintain flow. They all focus on fancy footwork.
If their newer musicals have sequences that look like music videos, then Step Up's offerings are meat-and-potatoes showcases that allow you to genuinely appreciate the art. While the story of dance films can be rigid, the narrative bursts of passion in a final dance showdown or simply as a demonstration of the stakes and personality is where they fit into their rhythm (both halves remind you that We come here to see the dancers dance). even if that also means watching them perform).
Personally, I am more in favor of Intensify 3Dwith dance sequences fueled by little bits of character, charm and more than a little impracticality. Whether it's a song remixed by Fred Astaire on a New York street using props, an elegant tango, or just another unattainable cinematic loft that provides a practice space, Chu allows 3D finding your balance by completely loosening the fabric of reality in those moments and finding something truer. As he keeps the camera's gaze on the performance, we get to see something truly special, and that's before we even get to the final dance battle.
Step 2: The streets and Intensify 3D they are now streaming on Hulu.