“Remember my name. Fame! I’m gonna live forever. I’m gonna learn how to fly—High!”

These famous lyrics made its way back into our lives last week when the re-make of the 1980 movie, Fame, was released in theaters.

Of course I went to see the movie, because I am a dancer. I received my BFA in dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts. I love to see dance on stage and it gives me chills to experience it on the big screen.

Besides the five middle school boys a few rows behind me, snickering and kicking the already flimsy seats around them with full force, I had the best experience.

Performing artist or not, you should see this movie. It isn’t just another dance flick where there is no real plot or character development.

In the past five years, dance has been all over the big screen and I have no complaints there, but in most of these movies, honestly, there has been no through line. The movies have been completely unrealistic but we haven’t paid attention to it, simply because the dancing was just so amazing.

In Fame (2009) on the other hand, every character develops throughout the story and each scene has a purpose.

The movie depicts the lives of performing artists perfectly– the hard work, physical and mental.

Debbie Allen reappears in the movie and repeats one of her famous quotes from decades ago, “You’ve got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying in sweat.”

This next part may be a spoiler but it goes to show how deep the film goes into a dancer’s psyche.

One of the male characters is passionate about joining a ballet company. However, his teacher warns him that he will never get into a ballet company nor will he be able to support himself as a dancer, but suggests the possibility of him becoming a great teacher. I heard the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ in the theater as we all felt his heart break. And in the next scene he attempts to commit suicide.

The film is just that realistic. So all of the drama on top of great dancing makes this a kick ass movie.

And it is not at all a replica of the original film. I know many people think that the re-make doesn’t do justice to the original. They say that the first was much grittier, but this one goes to the edge just as much.

Also, because this film wasn’t a musical, it was neither cheesy nor predictable; although there was the typical lunchroom scene where everyone breaks into a song and dance that everyone seems to know. (I always found this scene unbearable.)

There are also different characters and story lines as well as up-to-date references to popular culture such as YouTube and text messaging.

The big dance company named in the film is Complexions Contemporary Ballet which, although founded in 1994, didn’t become the number one company to audition for until recently.

My favorite part of the movie was Naturi Naughton, who plays Denise. I’ve always been a fan of her but we’ve all wondered where she’s been since she left the group 3LW…I hope those aren’t crickets out there. 3LW was a popular R&B group during the early 2000s. Two of the members became Cheetah Girls while Naturi seemingly fell under the radar.

Well, she’s clearly spent that time perfecting her craft because her performance in this movie is phenomenal, as an actress and as a vocalist.

So if you are still a skeptic, I suggest you head down to your local theater to formulate your own opinion on the movie.

Here’s a trailer of the first five minutes.

Selena Watkins is a 365gay intern.