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Friday
Friday is the rarest specimen of African American cinema: a 'hood movierefreshingly free of the semiseriousness and moralism of shoot 'em up soaps suchas Boyz N the Hood, yet still true to the inner-city experience. Scriptedby rapper Ice Cube, Friday is a no-frills tale of a day in the life of apair of young blacks in South Central. Cube plays Craig, a frustrated teen whoendures the ultimate humiliation: getting fired on his day off. Then unknownChris Tucker plays Smokey, a marijuana-worshipping homeboy whose love for thegreen stuff lands him in predicament after predicament. Sitting on the stoop ofCraig's rundown home, the two hilariously confront a kaleidoscopic array ofgangbangers, weed dealers, crack heads, prostitutes, scheming girlfriends, andneighborhood bullies--all of whom, it should be noted, come off as sympatheticeven as they are being caricatured, a true achievement in the crass, "bootycall" environment of '90s African American comedy. --Ethan Brown

Next Friday
Ice Cube wrote and stars as Craig in this sequel to Friday, which he alsowrote. His nemesis from that film, neighborhood bully Debo (Tommy "Tiny" ListerJr.), has just escaped from county jail and is out to get revenge. To protectCraig, Craig's father (John Witherspoon) sends his son to stay with his UncleElroy (Don "D.C." Curry), who won the lottery and bought a house in RanchoCucamonga. Craig expects the suburbs to be dull, but no sooner has he arrivedthan conflicts arise: The neighbors are hostile hoods, his cousin's girlfriendis out for blood and child support, and the house is about to be seized becauseof unpaid taxes. It's up to Craig and his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) to solvethese problems before the day is over. It's a rambling, loose movie, but agenuinely entertaining one. Ice Cube doesn't write punch lines--though funnylines abound. He writes richly comic characters that speak in virtual arias ofbragging, complaining, and scamming. Sure, some of the characters arestereotypes and many of the jokes are about drugs and scatology--but that's beenthe basis of humor since Plautus and Molière. The rhythmic energy of Ice Cube'sdialogue and the easy charisma of his performance make Next Fridaythoroughly enjoyable. --Bret Fetzer

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Reviews (4)

IT WAS A MUST HAVE
IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE ALL THE MOVIES IN A BOX SET. THEY ARE ALL CLASSIC DVD'S.

A Real Moral Problem Here
I will keep this simple, for those who don't seem to get it. This movie was not near as good as the first one. Without Tucker this movie was destined to fail. Second, this movie seems to be saying, if your strapped for cash, go steal it from your neighbor, bad move. Some parts were funny, but all in all it was a waste.

FUNNY AS HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These movies are 2 of the most funniest movies i have ever seen. These are a must buy!!!!!! I can't wait for the third one sometime next year.

Friday Fresh Pack
very funny combo!!! a must have for a good comedy collection ... Read more

Video Description

This increadible film follows the events in the final twenty fourhours of the life of controversial. Religious and political leader malcolm X. Fanatics tried to firebomb his home. They tried to murder him while he sleep. Why way he so hatted? Where were the police on the day of his assassination? How did his killers manage to escape? ... Read more

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This superb documentary vividly illustrates the enduring vitality of country blues, an idiom that most mainstream music fans had presumed dead or, at best, preserved through more scholarly tributes when filmmaker Robert Mugge and veteran blues and rock writer Robert Palmer embarked on their 1990 odyssey into Mississippi delta country.What Arkansas native and former Memphis stalwart Palmer knew, and Mugge captured on film, was that the blues was not only alive but still intimately woven into the daily lives of rural blacks.

Palmer, a former rock musician and Memphis Blues Festival cofounder best known for his bylines in The New York Times and Rolling Stone, had already chronicled the saga of Southern blues in his seminal book that provides the film's title.He's an astute guide, and Mugge underlines this role by pairing him with British rocker Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), whose avid interest in the music makes him an effective foil.

The film's real triumph, however, rests in the team's success in capturing modern day blues survivors and inheritors playing in the bars, juke joints, and barns of delta country.Palmer, who had returned several years earlier to the delta to capture these artists for his scrappy Fat Possum label, introduces us to the now-amplified but still elemental blues of R.L. Burnside, the late Junior Kimbrough, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, and other keepers of the faith.Mugge, whose profiles of Al Green, Sonny Rollins, and other musicians probed their cultural and artistic contexts with intelligence and sensitivity, captures both the music and the milieu in crisp color footage. Deep Blues thus triumphs as a testament to the blues' deep roots and an unintentional eulogy for Palmer, who would pass away in the mid-'90s just as the gut-bucket music of Burnside and Kimbrough served notice that the blues were alive and kicking. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Simply The Best
There's no other way to put it, this is simply the best book out there on the blues both as a music form and as force in shaping American culture. At once simple and concise, yet broad and in depth enough to tell a very complete story, this one work should satisfy everyone from the novice to the experienced blues fan.

Meticulously researched, Palmer uses Muddy Waters as a jumping off point to explore the history and evolution of the blues as music as well as the society and culture from which it sprang. He peppers his work with amazing anecdotes, from the story of Robert Johnson, the Band meeting a dying Sonny Boy Williamson, an aging Howlin' Wolf giving a phenominal concert that add color to his story and helps make his frequent forays into musicology more tolerable to the non-musician. Best of all is the sense of time and place the book evokes, from plantations and dark swamps in rural Mississippi, to the noisy, crowed streets of South Chicago at the peak of the Great Migration, to small clubs and long forgotten juke-joints.

I read this book for the first time 10 years or so ago and have probably reread it 5 times since. I keep coming up with new things to admire about the book every time. That so much richness can be packed into such a short readable work is amazing. This book triumphs over everything else written on the subject and only leaves you wanting to explore further.

The Best Place to Start and End
Palmer's book was my introduction to the blues and I'm very glad of it because it's so wide and deep (like varying parts of the Mississippi River). You read this, you get the big picture story of the Delta Blues, how the music migrated to Chicago and other big cities and why it's so important to so much great music that came after it. It begins with musical historian Alan Lomax's fruitless search for Robert Johnson and ends with an older Muddy Waters, successful and wealthy, reflecting on his amazing journey. In between, we meet all the other players in Delta Blues, learn how the genre sprang up and see how it was adopted and copied wholesale by a slew of successful British and American rock 'n' rollers. Palmer never talks down to the reader but keeps his prose lively enough to entertain and educate a person with knowledge of the blues yet accessible enough to teach a neophyte. I find I come back to this book often to flesh out details of stories or anecdotes I've read elsewhere.

can the impact of "deep blues" be measured?
Bankrolled by rockstar superstar Dave Stuart and presented by Robert Palmer, author of the superb book of the same name, this film was a very timely voyage into the blues of missisipi. Timely because a number of the cast have died since this film was shot, including the presenter.

Traditional old blues haunts such as Memphis, Clarksdale and Greenville are visited, and fine artists relatively unknown at the time were recorded such as Big Jack Johnson, Booba Barnes and Lonnie Pitchford. Delta old timers Jack Owens, Bud Spires and Booker T. Laury also turn in fine, spirited performances. But for me the highlight is the attention given over to the more obscure "hill country" blues of north missisipi, featuring Jessie Mae Hemphill, R. L. Burnside and the late great Junior Kimbrough and his original juke joint in Holly Springs. Here the music extends from country blues to "drum and fife", a hypnotic musical form that predates blues all the way back to the revolutionary war, but which now faces extinction since the passing of Othar Turner (not featured here, but a close friend of Hemphill). The bonus items are very welcome, especially the extra performances by honkytonk genius Booker T. to the drunk audience comprised of Stuart and Palmer, and Lonnie Pitchford's demonstration of the diddly bow. Also included are extra audio tracks that were originally only available on the soundtrack album (now deleted).

This film helped to revive not just interest in country and acoustic blues in general, but the careers of all of the artists featured. This film is well shot, sounds great, and shares the passion and emotion of some great bluesmen and women. After this, try the "Feelin' Good" CD by Jessie Mae Hemphill. Not only is that a beautiful album, but Jessie's an invalid now who desperately needs the cash!

Sincerity!
Probably the best music video to ever come around in the late 80s/early 90s.----This is really what the REAL blues is all about!! Not someone prancing about in a Versace suit brandishing a gold-plated Gibson Les Paul! Thanks to the incredible and much missed Robert Palmer and Dave Stewart we have a glimpse of what blues must've sounded like (and looked like) back in the days of Charley Patton.
This is an earthy, funky and sincere look at some of the remnants of that period......the artists are stoned, they play a semi-tone away from the rest of the band,their equipment probably came from sears & roebuck ...but the end result is a raw, gritty and no-holds barred excursion into the basis of rock and roll! Hound Dog Taylor would've looked great also on this video (if he had still been around)
Check out the c.ds of these artists on the Fat Possum label.
If you wish to bypass B.B. King and his gold rings or Clapton and his Dolce & Gabana black suit then this IS the book/video for you!

update on featured artists
As a country/delta guitar man I was thrilled to see this un-slick and organic presentation of "the real deal" living the blues and making the blues., not to mention the rural country side and people. Once to see/hear Junior Kimbrough and Jesse Mae Hemphill as well the rest of the artists, you'll be better for it. Speaking of Junior, (passed on) his juke burnt to the ground.. and a few years back Jesse Mae Hemphill suffered a stroke. Her condition has takin away her guitar ability however she states "I still sing for the Lord" .. She lives alone and has no family and feels she's forgotten. She still lives in Mississippi and I understand she's just making it. There are web sites that will give you a mailing adress if you are so inclined to drop Jesse a card of thanks.Back to the DVD, Robert Palmer (also deceased) is an unsung hero of keeping the blues and he truly was a musicolgist and a blues encyclopedia, he kept blues in the consciousness of our country and it was great to see him in this film. and I noticed I few reviewers "dissed" in so many words Dave Stewart.. Lighten up a little on the guy. It was Englishmen that "introduced" the blues to our own musically ignorant generation in the 1st place and he's helping to keep it going with this great DVD. Other reviewers did a much better job than I could in depicting diffrent parts of "Deep Blues" but I would like the blues guitarist out there to take a good look a the instruments being played.. If you look closely you'll see that some of them are imported "clones" and I even saw a Squire being played. Not very many of these players have multi-thousand dollar guitars, it seems like in place of expensive fancy guitars they use talent to play the deep blues. GET THIS DVD IF YOU WANT THE RAW REALITY of WHATS ITS REALLY ALL ABOUT - ... Read more

Description

The greatest names in comedy rocked the house for nine season on HBO - now this amazing collection will rock yours again and again. Too explosive for regular TV, Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam features today's hottest comedians at their wildest and funniest. Whether you're laughing for the first time or catching your raucous favorites, Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam is the ultimate comedy experience - so outrageous that you'll definitely be back for more! ... Read more

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Shaft
Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree) directed this 1971 detective story about John Shaft (Richard Roundtree), an African American private eye who has a rocky relationship with cops, an even rockier one with Harlem gangsters, and a healthy sex life. The script finds Shaft tracking down the kidnapped daughter of a black mobster, but the pleasure of the film is the sum of its attitude, Roundtree's uncompromising performance, and the thrilling, Oscar-winning score by Isaac Hayes. Parks seems fond of certain detective genre clichés (for example, the hero walking into his low-rent office and finding a hood waiting to talk with him), but he and Roundtree make those moments their own. Shaft had a couple of sequels and a follow-up television series, but none had the impact that this movie did. --Tom Keogh

Shaft in Africa
The second sequel to the hit Shaft foreshadows itself early on when Shaft, asked to go undercover in Africa to halt modern-day slave trade, claims that he's not James Bond but strictly Sam Spade. Bond, however, is the operative model here, with John Shaft masquerading as an Ethiopian to infiltrate the slave business and bring it down. Yet everyone he encounters seems to know who he is and wants to kill him--but the string of dead bodies he leaves in his wake across two continents proves that no one is able to stop everyone's favorite hip private eye. Written by Stirling Silliphant, the film is long on action set pieces that are filmed with more energy than in Shaft's Big Score. Given contemporary practices involving smugglers of illegal Chinese and Mexican immigrants, the plot isn't all that far-fetched. Roundtree, as usual, is the picture of unflappable cool--but don't get him mad. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Where is Steve Harvey?
Steve Harvey is not on this DVD. Def Comedy Jam and Cedrice the Entertainer but no Steve Harvey. I'm afraid to order it again. If Steve Harvey is not one of the comedian then I think you should remove his name and his picture--right away!That's the only reason why I rated this product so low. Other than the "missing Steve Harvey", this dvd was funny and exceptional.

def comedy jam- cedric the entertainer
If you like comedy you'll enjoy this ... Read more

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He broke down all the barries, But they failed to break him
This vintage film biography of Jackie Robinson traces his career from the Negro Leagues to the major league, and of cource, he was the first to break the "color line" in malor league baseball. An intriguing aspect of this docudrama, was that Jackie Robinson played himself. Also, the fantastic Ruby Dee was excellent in the role of Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife. Wonderful portrayals, along with deep heart-felt emotions make this an excellent film, that is as timely today, as when it took place. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Duped
This is NOT the Wiilliam Klein film, contrary to what is written above. ... Read more

Description

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.He believed in equal treatment of all races.He initiated peaceful protests throughout the South and founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).In 1964, he was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Learn about his life and how he died for his beliefs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Those Who Like Trash
One of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Having said that, "The Black Six" (a joke gift from a goofy friend), is fully enjoyable.

It looks like it was shot in a couple of days using bits and pieces of discarded scripts that had been haphazardly glued together.

The best part is watching these football legends (and they are legends, 4 of them are in the Hall of Fame) act.

Of particular interest is the hilarious method that Lem Barney uses to quell his opponents.Lem (who I don't think had one line in the movie) practices a type of martial arts that can be described as "Statue Fu").

He leans forward and places his foot on the chest of an opponent.That's it, and that seems to be enough to immobilize the opponent.

Other great awful scenes abound.

Of particular interest for Football fans is watching Carl eller in scenes where he is shirtless.Eller was considered a big man at the time and at 6' 4" and about 250, he is an impressive specimen.But 30 years later, there are wide receivers with those measurements.He would be about 80 pounds too light to make it in today's NFL.

Maybe the "Black 6" should have been chasing steroid dealers instead of southern racists.

Wonder if it's too late for a sequel?

Blaxploitation Fumble
Football players don't always make great thespians, but sometimes players will try their hand at the big screen. In 1974, six of the biggest stars of the NFL appeared in "The Black 6." San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Gene Washington stars as Bubba Daniels, a Vietnam veteran home from his tour of duty, making up for lost time with his five closest friends from the Army. They are Jr. Bro Williams (Carl Eller), Bookie Garrett (Mercury Morris), Frenchy LaBoise (Lem Barney), Tommy Bunka (Willie Lanier), and Kevin Washington (Joe Greene). One day, after completing some work on a farm with his buddies, Bubba checks his general delivery box, and learns that his brother Eddie (Robert Howard) has been killed. Moose King (John Isenberger), the leader of a motorcycle gang in Bubba's home town, killed Eddie because Eddie became involved with Moose's sister, Jenny (Cynthia Daly).

Bubba comes home to get answers and justice. The police and most of the locals know that the motorcycle gang had some involvement, but nobody's willing to challenge the gang's alibi that they were out of town when Eddie died. The only people who are willing to help are an old barfly and Ceal (Rosalind Miles), Bubba's old girlfriend who started turning tricks when Bubba didn't come straight home from the service. With their help, Bubba goes to the biker bar where Moose and his gang frequent, and Jenny works as a waitress. Bubba and Moose nearly settle the score in the bar, but the police break up the confrontation and advise everyone to leave unless they want to get arrested. That gives Moose time to meet with Thor (Ben Davidson), the leader of another local motorcycle gang, for help in dealing with Bubba on a permanent basis. Bubba's friends, concerned for their friend's safety, come to town to provide muscle for Bubba. Thus, the stage is set for the predictable showdown between the gangs and the Black 6, with equally predictable results.

First, let me give you the bad news about "The Black 6." There isn't a single credible performance in this movie. In addition to The Black 6, Moose, and Thor, several other pro football players and baseball great Maury Wills make equally thankless appearances. Neither writer George Theakos nor director Matt Cimber try to give any dimension to any character besides Bubba. The music by David Moskoe is a poor imitation of Curtis Mayfield's "Superfly" score. The title song says the guys don't look for trouble, yet it also says they love "ladies, bikes, and fighting." That confusion never ends. The climactic fight scene is horribly lit, making it impossible to distinguish the good guys from the bad. When Moose's gang is killed by The Black 6, Thor's gang decides to burn them to death with road flares. The Black 6 throw them back with hits that cause bikers to burn, and their bikes to explode. The rest of the bikers get wiped out when their attempt to play kamikaze fails.

Now here's even worse news about the film. It's as dismissive of black people as it is of whites. Most blacks are dismissed as drunks, gamblers, and hustlers, and most whites are dismissed as hateful of non-whites. The more "The Black 6" dwelled on these traits, the more vile I found the film. Thankfully, I only had to endure this filth for only about 85 minutes. The only thing that trumps the ineptitude of the film in general is its misguided, misanthropic view of human beings. I had low expectations for this DVD, but I don't want my $4 curiosity investment to make me feel as repulsed as this movie did. The movie ends with this ominous warning: "Hassle a brother...and the Black 6 will return."

"The Black 6" makes Fred Williamson films look like high art in comparison - and both cost the same price. "The Black 6" is one of the worst movie experiences I've ever had. Avoid this film, even at its cost. Nothing good will come of viewing it. This isn't just blaxploitation. This is total exploitation. Shame on the filmmakers.


Originally published on Epinions.com.

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