Let’s first begin by saying I’m a white guy. Some have said pasty white. I’ve always tried to overcome my caucasian roots by opening myself up to other cultures and thought processes. It is this reason — and this reason only — that I’ve decided to watch Stomp the Yard. After all, can there be any other reason to see a movie about step lines?
Unfortunately, Stomp the Yard exhibits all the same qualities as most other urban, black movies have. A troubled or a nonconformist youth put into a group situation where he falls in love with the pretty, unattainable girl and ultimately grows to be a better human being. I’ve seen it before in movies like “School Daze” and “Drumline.” The story is basically the same, just the creative outlet has changed. So perhaps it is my whiteness shining through – but this movie bored me terribly.
First problem (other than the fact the movie is utterly non-original) is the lame — yes, I said LAME — dancing. The battle scenes at the beginning of the movie weren’t overly impressive and the stomp dancing later in the film was repetitious at best. I saw little variation in the dance moves and even less movement in the faces of the dancers — are they all supposed to look angry all the time? I openly admit I can’t dance worth a shit, but I’ve seen better dance choreography at an N’Sync concert.
Second problem was the lack of story development. I got the feeling Stomp the Yard was simply thrust through a cookie cutter machine and dumped into theaters because there wasn’t any primarily black movies out at the moment. The writers could have made the story slightly more interesting by making me care, even in the slightest amount, about the movie’s main characters. DJ (played by Columbus Short) is an uninteresting kid. His love interest, April (played by Meagan Good) is even less interesting.
There is some good in all this though. Stomp the Yard, as its’ predecessors, offers the hope that there is indeed a better life out there to those who wish to grab a hold of it. It provided to me a good feeling when DJ entered Heritage House and paid respect to all the Civil Rights leaders and influential people who paved the way for him to succeed. More movies need to focus on uplifting people rather than portraying their stereotypes and continuing the circle of despair. Even though the message is true, it is convoluted and mired in a story that is plain and boring. There will be better movies in the future — hell, you’ve got to have hope!
'Movie Review: Stomp the Yard (2007)' have 12 comments
January 23, 2007 @ 1:08 pm JerseyMike
You’ve been to an N’Sync concert?!!!
January 23, 2007 @ 1:23 pm General Disdain
I hate to admit, but yes I have. Lots and lots of young adults roaming around those types of concerts!
Now admit it – you’ve been to one too (or at least a Hanson concert) . . .
March 23, 2007 @ 4:29 pm Noble One
First and foremost General, I must applaude you for admitting that you are a terrible dancer. And, furthermore for admitting that you have been to an N’Sync Concert. But, since you are a white guy and obviously have no positive feedback for the movie, I will educate you on the premise of the movie. Being an African American male, and a member of a Fraternity: An African American Greek Lettered Fraternity; so, this isnt misconstrued. Stomp the Yard’s movie make-up was far more than, umm, umm and I quote you: A troubled or a nonconformist youth put into a group situation where he falls in love with the pretty, unattainable girl and utimately grows to be a better human being.” It is about reaching self-actualization, dignity, enlightement, learning to appreciate life and the content and fabric that makes being alive important. Now while I can accept positive criticism, your views are biased and irrational because, you have no premise and your feedback holds no relevance since you have never been a member of an African American Fraternity. Do your research! These organizations were developed to promote scholastic achievement; during the periods of their creations 1900-1920, most African Americans faced a rash force, racism and bigotry which prohibited them form attaining equivalent educations from majority white institutions. Some were not even permitted solely because, they were not caucasian. Now imagine, Mr. White guy if you desired to improve yourself, and I quote again, and you were denied. Could you have survived these periods of allienation and racism. What if the tables were turned.
Now while, I must agree with you that the stepping is not traditional. but, many organizations hold their ideals and principles dear. Therefore, the movie was altered to avoid infringment on these organizations principles. Now,while Im not one to condone violence irregardless of race, it is a reality and one that is dealt with by all nationalities.
Perhaps, you should try to view movies like, pursuit of happiness. I wonder if your comments would hold the same synicism. Humph. And, might I add that alot of caucasian movies are filled with much more gore, and bloodshed than a “Stomp the Yard”, care to comment about the amount of money that Hollywood may gross per movie title. I think not. Now, while I’m a gentleman and scholar, I implore humor in this thread. I’m not here to make a mockary of your comments but, simply point out the bias and your obviously unsupported views since, it is clear that you have no knowledge of the content of the movie and its depictions. Oh, by the way if you really did watch the movie, bet you were asleep huh!, when they noted Rosa Parks, Walter Payton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other political and social activists who were members of fraternites and sororities. but, I guess they were all out picking street fights too huh. Educate and inform yourself before, you make comments and pass judgements on principles which many people hold dear. Now lets be friends and have a beer together shall we. Im waiting to hear your opinion on 300. Another depicition of the
Gladiators.
The Almighty Noble One.
March 24, 2007 @ 1:24 pm General Disdain
Thank you for the comments, Noble One. If I may defend myself a bit . . .
I have no doubt that organizations like fraternities and sororities were put in place to form bonds and to level playing fields. But that’s not what the movie was about.
I may not have explicitly mentioned these leaders were parts of any specific organizations, but I do believe I made a mention in my review, that I thought the respect paid to them was one of the better parts of the movie.
I am not passing judgements on anyone’s priciples or causes. This movie was a coming of age movie, regardless of color, in which the creative outlet was step lines. It was and still remains unoriginal and boring.
Gladly. I was just recently in Atlanta and plan to be down there again in October.
March 25, 2007 @ 7:53 am Noble One
I appreciate your comments General. I actually reside in Washington D.C. now. If you are ever in town, be certain to frequent the smaller theaters. There are a multitude of small film festivals. It allows us an appreciation of quality films, that do not make the large screen. If you are ever in town, The first two rounds are on me. :) I happened to stumble across this sight and I must say that I find more entertainment in the reading of postings by individuals such as yourself.
I look forward to correspondence with you and others.
Well, Im off to read your and others review of the moview 300. Cheers to all.
Almighty Noble One.
May 20, 2007 @ 6:26 pm carlos
As always, the white people just don’t get it…that’s all I have to say…I am Hispanic and enjoyed the movie…
May 22, 2007 @ 8:12 am General Disdain
Carlos,
I get it. But remember, I am judging the movie on the merits of being original, entertaining and enlightening.
-It isn’t nearly original. It is Drumline with dancing.
-It isn’t entertaining. The dance sequences are boring and the dialogue offers nothing new.
-It has its enlightening moments. That’s why it received 4 piles of crap instead of 5.
What did you find so enjoyable?
June 28, 2007 @ 8:55 pm MS. JIMMI
FIRST OF ALL SOUND LIKE YOU ALL NEED TO GET A LIFE. THAT MOVIE WAS GOOD! I REALLY ENJOYED IT AS A MATTER OF FACT I THINK THAT I HAVE WATCHED IT OVER 20 TIMES. I DON’T THINK ANY OF YOU NEGATIVE PEOPLE CAN DO BETTER! SO GET A LIFE.
June 29, 2007 @ 8:59 am General Disdain
I’m glad you enjoyed it, MS. JIMMI. But if you watched this movie 20 times, it’s not me who needs to get a life . . .
December 20, 2007 @ 9:18 pm Sdm
As a woman of color and a dancer, after reading your review I was offended and then I just felt sorry for you. Now let me say I am not a black. So when I say what I say it’s because I’ve had the good sense to educate myself over the years. If you were trying to open yourself up to other cultures and thought processes, you failed. Having as many questions as you seemed to have, instead of turning them into criticisms out of ignorance, what you should have done instead was research. Now, I agree with you in one area: of course the plot line was unoriginal. It’s a dance movie. They’re nearly all the same…No one sees them expecting oscar worthy peformances. Can there be any other reason to see a movie about step lines? That’s like saying is there any other reason to see a movie about football. The market is there, in fans or participants. To each his own…but your review was on part with a movie critic crying, “why on earth was he running with the ball in his hands if it’s called football?”
To label Stomp the Yard as a black film, and nothing else, is only kind of understandable. At least throw in the genre of dance film. I did, I’m a dancer. Having said that, calling the dance lame is funny. The opening scene wasn’t impressive says you don’t know hip hop dance today or begs the question, what on earth are you expecting?. To call stepping repetitive is laughable. Were you paying attention? The point of step is not just dance but sound, it’s like tap in that respect. The intricacies are not always overt. And yes, they always look angry…at least today. :) Additionally, stepping as a tradition, is nearly as old as the NPHC fraternities and sororities are and its roots go back even farther. It’s a source of pride as well as a way for groups to bond. For a movie to showcase something like that was a really cool way to bring attention to a really interesting and long standing part of black culture. Your comment that they only reason it was “dumped” into the theaters was because there were no other primarily black movies is SO offensive and racist you should be ashamed of yourself.
And here’s where I feel sorry for you. It’s just not acceptable in this day and age to be that ignorant. I don’t know if it was your upbringing, your schooling, or chosen ignorance but in today’s culture you should feel a responsibility to learn. Please know that I don’t mean to offend you. For me, it was my upbringing. My parents were Indian and not in the least interested in finding out more about “black culture.” The fact that the movie didn’t make you question at all the relevance of the movie to today’s culture other than there wasn’t any is sad though, and if you are sincere I hope you take a few more opportunities to open yourself up to other culture and thought processes.
December 21, 2007 @ 8:56 am General Disdain
First Sdm, thanks for taking the time to comment.
I started the review by saying I am a white guy, because let’s face it, there were going to be intricacies of the movie I was going to miss since the film is about black culture. By addressing this from the onset meant I was willing to be taught a lesson about things I don’t know about.
So from that viewpoint, I rated the movie. And no matter how you cut it, this movie is not particularly good. Obviously, it is was not going to win any Oscars, because the movie was meant to make a quick buck and nothing more. Films like these are thrust into the theaters, to get minority viewers into seats. You may not like to hear that but it is true. Black America is a very large, mostly untapped movie-going segment of the nation. You’ll see it happen over and over again — make a $50 movie about an urban “fad” and get it released as quickly as possible to line the coffers (I mentioned a few of them in the review and I know I reviewed the recent Jennifer Lopez money-grab too).
Now onto the other part of the problem as I see it. If you are going to make a movie that capitalizes on a segment of society then it had better be able to differentiate itself. A dance movie had better have some fantastic dance sequences in it. What was showcased in this movie was weak at best. I’ve seen step competitions when I was in Atlanta, so I can certainly appreciate the art. It is awesome. As a dancer, I can’t imagine you were actually impressed with what you saw.
These stereotypical, preying-on-your-base type of movies are a bane to society. Don’t hate me for pointing it out, hate those that produce this crap.
June 17, 2008 @ 6:20 pm Ojay
Stereotypical…I totally agree. The thing about Stomp the Yard is it had the potential to be great, but the stereotyping brought them down much.
I loved the dance sequences and the history behind stomp. The focus should have been more on the history.