#samfirstenberg

[adamwatchesmovies]

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo is more than the greatest sequel title of all time. It’s a constant stream of pure entertainment. I don’t think I can call it a good movie, but it’s right on the edge and whichever way you categorize it, you’ll have a blast.

Set some time after the first, Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) now has a promising dance career. As she contemplates moving to France for a big show, she learns some grave news from her friends Ozone (Adolfo ‘Shabba Doo’ Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael ‘Boogaloo Shrimp’ Chambers). An evil business conglomerate wants to tear down their community center and replace it with a shopping mall. It’s up to the kids to raise the money needed to save the center!

I can't call Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo a good movie because of the storyline. It's as predictable as the hands on a clock and needlessly padded. Someone will donate a big chunk of money towards the project and it’ll seem like a turning point. Then, another, unrelated character will donate another huge sum of money only minutes later, making you forget about that first “win”. I know in real life every penny would count, but from a storytelling point of view, why have two people who donate say… $50 when one character could donate $100 and save us some time? On top of being poorly written and clichéd, the premise is contrived. You can’t help feel as though you were cheated out of a better film, particularly when you consider the way the previous one ended.

Where this film gains back an ocean’s worth of points is in its energy, enthusiasm, dance routines, and comedy. Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo clearly doesn’t take itself seriously, which makes you wonder if the flaws were intentional. Remember that spontaneous bar brawl in the first film? That off-the-wall moment that came so suddenly it had you laughing long and hard? That’s nothing compared to what Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo has in store for you. It's like the head of The Cannon Group, director Sam Firstenberg, and everyone involved in the dance choreography came up with some cool scenes and locked the writer in a closet until they could fit it in the plot somehow. Like Roger Rabbit said, you can get away with anything, even if it makes no sense if it’s funny. That’s one thing you have to give Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo credit it for, it certainly knows how to pull some laughs out of you.

What's not ambiguously good or bad are the inspired dance sequences. There are two big, jaw-droppingly nutty ones during the film (I wish the last number was as good as these). That talent combined with the picture's earnestness compels you to have a good time.

I was pleasantly surprised with Breakin’. I only watched it so I could get to the sequel, a film with a title so crazy and awesome, you’ve got to say the whole thing every time. In my book, it’s a legitimately good film, mostly because of the high energy, enthusiasm, and dance routines. That’s what brings me to also recommend the sequel. Just keep in mind the story you're about to sit through won't be good. By the time the credits are over, you’ll be wobbling your legs and contemplating whether or not you could do that backspin thing if you take it slow. This film's electricity is infectious. (On Blu-ray, December 16, 2016)

[josephfrady]

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#breakin2electricboogaloo #1984 DIR #samfirstenberg CAST #sabrinagarcia #adolfoquinones #michaelchambers #music #comedy #drama #romance #movie DP #hananiabaer (à Los Angeles, California.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CC3Ra8SoU9q/?igshid=d4hkkhl4641y

[andyqwoods]

Night Visions Turku. Camp-Oopperan jälkeen alkaa todellinen elokuvataide! . #turku #nightvisionsturku #nightvisionsfestival #americanninja #avengingforce #ninjaputki #opera #darioargento #samfirstenberg #ishootraw #googlepixel (at Logomo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2n__zlK04/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5hmzdrk6s963

[ieatmovies]

MC CINSEY’S ISLAND (1998) C’est sûr que quand on a fait NINJA III (1984) ou encore CYBORG COP (1993) voire mieux -DELTA FORCE 3 (1991)-, ça intéresse: parce qu’après son travail sur le mémorable CROCODILE (2000) de Tobe Jooper, le réalisateur Sam Firstenberg a arrêté le cinéma. N’hésitez pas à parcourir sa carrière, qui comporte de nombreuses perles du genre. Retour sur l’un de ses films les plus... heu... les moins... ah, bref, sur “LE TRÉSOR DE MC CINSEY” chez nous, long-métrage aux relents de nanar avec rien de moins que le catcheur Hulk Hogan, l’instoppable et frénétique Grace Jones, et le vétéran Robert Vaughn -THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960)-: gentillet, cette “version longue d’un épisode de CARAÏBES OFFSHORE (THUNDER IN PARADISE, 1994-1995) sert-elle encore à quelque chose? Parce que bon, on se souvient du coupable mais génial SUBURBAN COMMANDO (1991) aux côtés de Christopher Lloyd, mais ça date: ici, Hulk Hogan est plus qu’à l’aise, comme le reste du casting qui semble soit n’en avoir rien à foutre, soit avoir envie d’en faire des tonnes, à commencer par Grace Jones, qui fera subir à ses soldats un entraînement d’aérobic de bon matin, l’une des improbables séquences de MC CINSEY’S ISLAND. Notons la présence d’un perroquet au doubleur français complètement défoncé, déclamant encore alors que le générique de fin se lance: du gros n’importe quoi, la volaille se voulant imager la version “moderne” du pirate joué par Hogan. En gros, notre moustache blonde a pris sa retraite sur une petite île, convoitée par le gand d’Alanso (Grace Jones) de par la présence d’un trésor pirate caché sur celle-ci: détenteur de la carte, Joe Mac Gray (Hogan) va devoir sauver son pote le jeune playboy inutile, s’allier avec une gonzesse peu scrupuleuse, et devoir rempiler avec son ancien ami Walter (Vaughn) pour mettre fin à cette traque idiote. MC CINSEY’S ISLAND est lent, mou, et aucune altercation n’a de crédibilité: le combat Hogan VS The Big Show -autre catcheur reconnu- dure deux secondes, des sons type “cartoon” remplacent les vrais effets sonores pour amuser la galerie, et... et Grace Jones, bon Dieu, qui semble alimentée par un mix de speed et de boisson énergisante SANS CESSE. Pas de grand scénario pour ce film qui va ressasser son thème musical -qui vous restera dans le crâne au moins 24h après visionnage- le plus souvent possible, ni d’enjeu véritable, MC CINSEY’S ISLAND ressemblant à une pause détente pour tout le monde, réalisateur, casting et spectateur. C’es con parce que le potentiel et les moyens sont là pour nous livrer une belle bouse, mais non: family-friendly, c’est trop calme pour du Hogan, tout ça... Bien que...on n’a pas besoin de réfléchir et c’est tant mieux: dommage que l’approche “bon enfant” de cette pseudo-aventure formatée TV ne recèle pas de joyeuses débilités qui pourraient en faire un bon nanar. Au contraire, on se contente d’une paresse bermuda/bandana/summer time qui à défaut d’amuser, se laisse pourtant regarder pour la postérité -là, ça vaut le coup-: on préfèrera à ce MC CINSEY’S ISLAND l’inévitable THE ULTIMATE WEAPON (1997), moins aseptisé et carrément plus niais. Constat en demi-teinte pour LE TRÉSOR DE MC CINSEY, qui n’est qu’un coffre en plastique rempli de bijoux en toc, à des lieues d’un nanar que l’on espérait légitime. Un truc croisé sur Gulli, anecdotique bribe de souvenir... HUE, LE KROGAN! /20

[piggieparodiesunleashed-blog]

And here is my latest from the cover reworks... this is pretty similar to the original, just done a little less OTT. I used the same Lucinda image as used on the original, dut digitally repainted it (gave her less boob showing and removed the garter belt. repainted Sho from a promo photo for the movie and the same for the large Ninja face.Also gave them all the same light source and yellow glow. @shokosugiofficial #shokosugi #lucindadickey #samfirstenberg #stevenlambert #golanglobus #cannonmovies #cannongroup #independentartist #ninja #ninjaiiithedomination #mgm

[flynnparadox]

American Ninja (1985; Sam Firstenberg). Honestly didn't like this one as a kid but I'm sure enjoying it right now... #americanninja #samfirstenberg #michaeldudikoff #ninja #ninjamovies #80s #80saction #bluray #cannonfilms

[josephfrady]

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#americanninja #1985 DIR #samfirstenberg CAST #michaeldudikoff #judiearonson #stevejames #action #movie DP #hananiabaer (à Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3XEr7eIpCp/?igshid=107i34st15cov

[josephfrady]

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#americanninja #1985 #samfirstenberg #johnfujioka #michaeldudikoff #action #quote #movie DP #hananiabaer (à Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu9AZCoIP48/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=czascyygoj45

[piggieparodiesunleashed-blog]

Not Guinea Pig related, bit still my art! I started this as initially just messing around to practice a couple of techniques i was rusty on... then my O.C.D. kicked in and ended up making the cover i wish the re-releases had! I may actually get this printed up on tees and posters if that is of interest to people (cost would be standard costs if there is a demand)? Sorry about the watermark, but i have another life doing parody tees and i have an issue with my work being bootlegged. Hope you like this, after all it IS the best Cannon movie (in my humble opinion). It´s around 10 - 12 hours in Photoshop using screen captures from the Blu-ray i have then repainted from them. #SamFirstenberg #Shokosugi #StevenLambert #virgilfrye @shokosugiofficial #cannonmovies #cannongroup @kane_kosugi #revengeoftheninja #ninja #martialarts #classic #80s #golanglobus #gogoboys #menahemgolan #yoramglobus #poggieparodies #independentartist #photoshop #digitalpaint #movieposter #tribute

[piggieparodiesunleashed-blog]

Here is my 2nd reimagined cover, this time for American Ninja which is one of my other favourite The Cannon Group, Inc. movies and again directed by Sam Shmulik Firstenberg. This took longer than the Revenge of the Ninja cover i did, but that was mostly on figuring out the layout as i wanted it to be different. I also added Steve James to the credits as he was missing before! Again, done in Photoshop with layout from Screen Captures and then digitally painted. @michaeldudikoff @judiearonson #americanninja #michaeldudikoff #judiearonson #SamFirstenberg #StevenLambert #cannongroup #cannonmovies #ninja #stevejames #tadashiyamashita #80s #classic #adobephotoshop #digitalpaint #piggieparodies #independentartist #mgm #metrogoldwynmeyer #promotionaluseonly