Reviews (25)

Baadasssss is Bad asss
This movie was revolutionary. Unfortunately it spark the blaxploitation era in cinema, a genre of low budget kill whitey flics, that with their high violence, low budgets, and great soundtracks(minus the political message of Sweetback) began to define an era in cinema when black directors where able to make black movies with black cast in leading roles. Released independently by Melvin Van Peoples in 1971 at a time when blacks in the cinema was next to non-existent (unless they were docile and shuffling their feet). Sweetback tells the story of a man that has had enough of the man and fights back. This movie was revolutionary from its polititcal message to its cinematography. The cinematography of this film which set the president for all other blaxploitation movies to follow was amazing.

This film is for people who can appreciate independent films
This is a great film. The story line isn't completely coherent, but the cinematography is great, the soundtrack is great and the cast is great. The film edits and audio layering are so seventies but, so sweet; reminiscent of seventies porn (I'm not even talking about the sex scenes). I'm really glad I picked this one up. This film is for people who can appreciate independent films.

Please let's get serious ....
I bought this DVD based on a .... believe it or not .... three star review in USA Today film selections last week. The negative reviews didn't scare me because I have seen campy, thought provoking movies get drubbed before and I had to see for myself.

This DVD has hit the high point as to the worst garbage ever put on a DVD. The acting is the pitts, if you can call it acting. Matter of fact th other people watching with me had to keep asking if the hero of the film, played by Melvin Peebles, talked or if he was dumb. To even bring up cinematography and the name of this DVD in the same sentence is ludicrous. The one song track is so badly played it's repeated ad infinitum just in case you didn't get to hate it in the first place.

Toward the end of the movie, at least one quarter of the film by the way deals with short shots of a minute or less of Van Peebles running from the man through the brush, the sewer, the street, tunnels, railroad tracks, desert, parks, highways .... you get the picture .... To make matters worse, the best part of the movie was when after wearing the same crushed gold velour jump suit, and dark shirt, for the WHOLE movie during the last five minutes he FINALLY managed to convince a vagrant to change clothes with his ....

Finally, to equate this film with any sort of greatness of black society and their creative ability is really doing an injustice ...... please please please just because it's done by and about blacks does NOT make this DVD great .....

I am however giving serous consideration to cancelling my USA subscription!

Sweet Melvin's Horrible Asssss Movie
This is one of the worst motion pictures ever made and I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Forget the technical stuff-bad lighting, worse acting and no screenplay to speak of, this is boring, incoherent and almost unwatchably slow. It gets a lot of credit for being the grandaddy of "Blaxploitation" cinema, but the truth is black movies were about to happen anyway and this one just happened to get there first. If I could give this zero stars, I would, but unfortunately one is as low as you can go. Unmitigated crap!!!

Baaaaaddddd DVD quality
This movie may have been groundbreaking in its day, but the DVD is horrendous in terms of image and sound quality. Why wasn't this film cleaned up if it's an anniversary edition? The image has too much debris and the crackling and hissing in several sections of the soundtrack is annoying.

Some of the acting is amateurish, but there are moments when the cinematography, editing, and directing is excellent. I would given the movie 5 stars for its uniqueness alone had it not been for this grotesque DVD transfer! ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Saba Tay on the Tippie Ti.
This movie came and went in theaters so fast I didn't get a chance to see it, but I rented it because Pootie Tang was always funny on the Chris Rock show, and I consider Chris Rock one of the funniest men in America. Pootie Tang is a rapper who speaks some sort of very extreme rap lingo, to the point where you cannot understand a word he says. Meanwhile, everyone else always understands him (kind of like Chewbacca, somehow the other characters can interpret what he says perfectly) though once in a while they'll say, "What the hell you talkin about?"

The plot isn't complex, Pootie fights bad guys (like drug dealers) with his magic belt, sings songs that somehow people can understand, and the ladies love him. Chris Rock plays his father, one of his friends, a DJ, and probably some other character I'm forgetting. Meanwhile The Man wants to brainwash Pootie into endorsing their horrible product, and (surprise surprise) he loses his magic belt, and goes on a mission to get it back. Wanda Sykes is great as...uh...I forget her name, but she narrates the story and helps Pootie, plus she wears a different cool-... wig in every scene. I wasn't rolling on the floor laughing, but the movie was funny and entertaining It starts out with Bob Costas interviewing him and saying he's gonna show a clip from his movie, 80 minutes go by, maybe even less (the end credits seemed to go on for 10 minutes) . The opening, with him fighting Dolemite-type bad guys, is hilarious. I also was impressed that the movie didn't rely on gross-out humor and wasn't violent-I don't think anyone got killed- and has a positive message that makes it a good family movie. I think it was "Do right, fight what's wrong, but the important thing is to love the world while you're doing it ." And what's wrong with that?

Comedic Genius, Pure Comedic Genius
Pootie Tang is like modern art. You either get it, or you don't. People have different senses of humor, and this movie will expose that like none other. I laughed until it hurt, my best friend didn't crack a smile. The movie centers around Pootie himself, a crimefighter who uses a belt to whip his opponents into submission. He also doesn't speak English, but this hilarious pseudo-ebonics language. Pootie is dedicated to helping the children, who I believe he calls the "Tippie Tai." Now, before you make up your mind about this movie, I will give a brief test. Read the following list of characters: Pootie Tang, Dirty Dee, Trucky, Bad Bitty, Biggie Shorty, and Froggy. If you didn't find these names humorous, this movie probably isn't for you. The humor centers around nonsense. Words, names, and events that make so little sense, that they are hilarious. Example: Pootie's father is mauled by a gorilla at a factory. That's funny stuff, but not to everyone. If you're looking for subtle humor, search elsewhere. But if you're looking for a movie with an off-the-wall brand of humor, buy Pootie Tang. I will admit however, that towards the end of the movie all of the nonsense words lost their humor value slightly. That is the only thing that prevented this movie from getting 5 Stars. Sa Da Te!

Absurd, Hilarious Comedy--one day A Classic
Yeah, you heard it first.
Pootie Tang will one day be a classic.

Based on the character on HBO's Chris Rock Show.
Pootie is a superstar/crimefighter, who beats down criminals with a magical belt (from Piggly Wiggly) and speaks an un-understandable type of slang.

The story is:
Pootie loses his magical belt to an evil vixen (played by Jennifer Coolidge), who was sent by the business mogul Dick Lecter (played by Robert Vaughn).
Lecter wants the belt so he can control Pootie and get him to endorse his products such as cigarettes, malt liquor, and razor blades to the children.
Pootie, after losing his belt, must retreat to the farm to regain his confidence and strength he will need to defeat the evil Dick Lecter.

The film also has tons of other stars like: comic Chris Rock (as Pootie's friend, his father, and a radio DJ), comic Wanda Sykes (as Biggie Shorty), comic Dave Attell (as Frank), J.B. Smoove (as the annoying Trucky), Laura Kightlinger, J.D. Williams (as Froggie), and Bob Costas (as himself).

This is movie is great but you have to give it a chance and realize that it is purposely ridiculous.

Stupid with some funny moments
Corny, but with funny moments. I didn't particularly care for the girl drinking the cat-milk scene which I thought wa s bit much, but hilarious at the same time. I did like the scene with pootie Tangs hit "silent" album. Silly but funny.

Other than that...just a dumb comedy.

Funniest Movie I've EVER Seen in My Life
I'm a hardcore critic, particularly when it comes to the dozens of all-black movies, year after year, perpetuating horrible stereo-types. Your first clues that Pootie Tang is different are Chris Rock & Wanda Sykes. Within the first minutes, this movie had me crying & holding my middle, I laughed so hard. I laughed this hard right up to moment it ended. Next day I invited four friends over to watch, same reactions. I laughed harder than before! Some reviews dubbed it "stupid". That's a moronic over-simplification. It's actually a very intellegent spoof on ridiculous subjects. The comedy is brilliant! And, not ONE curse word uttered in this entire film. (Sah-Dah-Tay!!) ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Pam Grier, the voluptuous queen of blaxploitation movies (and the foxy title character of Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown) reigns supreme in this kick-ass action flick. Bodacious nurse Foxy takes the law into her own hands after her main squeeze is murdered in cold blood. The standard revenge plot of Foxy Brown moves along on fast-forward, and the violence ratio (some of it quite gruesome) is high. Director Jack Hill, a master of the low-budget drive-in movie (Switchblade Sisters), made Coffy with Pam Grier the year before. This one's not quite as much fun, but it is decidedly kinkier, and the parade of 1970s fashion crimes is mind expanding. At one crucial moment Foxy saves herself by pulling a concealed revolver out of her mighty Afro--absolutely one of the high points of blaxploitation cinema. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Beautiful...but deadly!
Ahhh, this movie is a lot of fun. Lots of action, snappy dialog, and loads and loads of funk. All of this and Pam Grier...a beautiful woman who wasn't afraid to show it...this is your basic revenge story, with Foxy going after the drug syndicate that killed her boyfriend and her brother. What's really funny is this syndicate is mainly comprised of a creepy female leader, her pretty boy, philandering, racist boyfriend/number 2 in charge, and two sadistic, incompentent henchmen. Not much of a gang, but they do manage to throw in a few more guys here and there. All in all, a fun movie of this genre, better than most. To miss this one "would be a tragedy of the most diemensional proportions."

A Kick in the Head
Ignore all the blather about "blaxploitation" and "camp", this is two-fisted B-action movie with an involving story, a kickass performance (from Ms. Grier) and joltingly brutal scenes of action violence.
Getting a hoot out of the period costumes and attitudes is great, but anyone who enjoys a fierce action film will probably be blown away by this flick, which plays like an episode of 'Starsky & Hutch' directed by Paul Verhoeven. At times it seems that the sleazier and more violent a scene gets, the more craft and skill writer/director Jack Hill brings to it. What audiences thought about it at the time of its original release can only be imagined, but almost any modern viewer is likely to be stunned as Foxy goes up against a degenerate bunch of sleazoids and realistically (and literally) takes them apart.
Still strong to this day, 'Foxy Brown' makes most modern action flicks look like episodes of 'Matlock'.

Dis movie rox my sox cause dat pam gurl is in it....
i love pam gurl cause she is the hottest black gurl alive and i am black too and i rarley get to see da hot gurls........TARA BANX AND PAM GRIET ARE DA HOTTESTA GURLSA IN DA HOLLA ENTIRA PLANETA! will u marry me kizzol.....i love u gurls......i love da part with dat guy and that part with that other person!!!!..

EAT ROX MAI SOX MAHON!!!1

THE ORIGINAL FOXY BROWN !!!!!!-"SUPERBAD!!!!!!
YES , COMPARED TO TODAY'S FILM STANDARDS , THIS FILM WAS CHEAPLY MADE WITH OVER THE TOP 70'S FASHION-AND POOR ACTING TO ADD-BUT A CLASSIC ! NONETHELESS- IT FEATURED THE SUPERSEXY AND BEAUTIFUL PAM GRIER- THE MOVIE STARTS WITH THE TANTALIZING GRIER DANCING TO THE "THEME FROM FOXY BROWN" AND THEN THE STORY OF REVENGE FOR HER BOYFRIEND AND BROTHER'S DEATH-FOXY GOES UNDERCOVER AS A HIGH PRICE CALL GIRL SERVING JURY DUTY-THE END OF THE FILM IS EXPLOSIVE AS FOXY SPORTS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AFROS EVER SEEN ON FILM! "A PIECE OF THE 70'S IN A TIME CAPSULE CALLED DVD"-A CLASSIC NOW AND AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE IN IT'S TIME-BEAUTY, ACTION AND COMEDY - WHAT MORE COULD WE ASK FOR?

Bodacious
This movie flat rocks. I love Black explotation movies, and this one is near the top. Pam Grier has so much sex apeal and attitude
she takes over this movie like a run away train. Loads of fun. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Simply the funniest movie of all time..........period!!!!
I've seen nearly every Rudy Ray Moore movie made and they're all hilarious, but this one takes the cake! When you see Queen Bee and her emotions when she helps bail out Dolemite, you'll probably shed a tear or two.....or ya could get a bucket of water and dump it over your head like she did. The woman deserved an Academy Award! And Creeper.....simply amazing...for crying out loud he had to have actually been high while making this movie. I recommend this video to everyone, I've shown it to just about everyone I know and they all think it's hilarious. I also recommend Dolemite 2: The Human Tornado...it's even funnier.

Dolemite is a super bad ...in a super good movie!
On the surface Dolemite is a bad movie. Bad acting, bad production values and a bad script. So why does it work so well? Heart. Rudy Ray Moore and Company put up such a great effort that this movie that it overcomes all the obstacles it faces. Rudy Ray Moore's, Jerry Jones and D'urville Martin made this film with a $100,000 budget and did a better job than some filmmakers with $100 million budgets. The one thing I love this bout this film is that everyone does their best in spite of the low budget and poor production values. You want to see Rudy Ray Moore get even with Willie Green and those insecure, no business born, junkyard rat soup eating ... And you howl laughing every time he goes into one of his classic "toasts" or shoots off a one liner.
Sure the movie is awful. But the blaring errors only make it better. The boom mikes in shots, shadows of production crew in frames and horribly choreographed fights are so hilarious they only make the comedy funnier. If you want a great movie buy citizen Kane. If you want a fun movie get Dolemite. It's so bad it'll kick your DVD's ...twice a day.

Don't Buy It For Quality, But for Laughs!
As an avid fan of the Blaxploitation Genre, you find that quite often, people shoot down these classics. The reasons ranging from Bad acting to terrible DVD Quality. However, if you don't try and dissect these films, but just watch them, then you will be greatly entertained. "Dolemite" is no doubt a prime example. I own the Box Set of "Dolemite" films, and it is very much worth watching. I see hanging mics, and various other mistakes in filmmaking (including poor editing of a love scene), but I found myself laughing until I cried. In addition to that, I have borrowed some very memorable lines for conversations at work!!!

CLASSIC!!!!!!
This flick is classic!!!!! It's not only funny as hell, it has some interesting characters!! Like Queen Bee, and Dolemite's Kung Fu girls, the Hamburger Pimp, Blakeley the cop, Joe Blow...the lover man...."you should be paying me!!", Willie Green and Dolemite himself!!! The styles, with the clothes, the talk, and all that. The direction is horrible, so is the acting, but that some of the things that makes it funny!! But I still love it. Look out for all....Look the scene where they show the band playing at The Total Experience. For about a few seconds (good enough to see the singer's face....(I think is is on the piano, can't see what he is actually playing) You will see a very, very young...James Ingram....(for all those R&B kats that know who he is) That is him...Still looks the same, but with a perm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rudy Ray Moore: Blaxploitation God
So there's really not anything that's actually "good" about this movie. The boom mike has a starring role, the acting is completely atrocious, and I can't remember what the story was 5 minutes after watching the film.

Even so, this movie is totally and wonderfully great. It posesses in spades what many hugh blockbuster do not have: soul and inspiration. Rudy Ray Moore is a middle aged, pretty flabby dude. By looking at him, I'm simply not going to buy into him being a kung fu master and Don Juan to all the ladies. But he seems to believe that he is, and this giddy fun manages to translate to the film.

Don't pop in this DVD if you want a well-made, conventional film; "Dolemite" sits firmly in cult territory. For the cult film lover though, it's hard to disparage bad kung fu, kung fu prostitutes, a hero that commits some pretty serious crimes (which the movie wonderfully fails to adress) and strange and bewildering proto-rapping from Moore himself. This movie is endlessly rewatchable. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wow.
Another movie in which Calvin Lockhart is momentarily shirt-less. A hundred, thousand, million stars!

Cotton Comes to Harlem
a little slow in delived but an excellent movie.

I thought it was a funny movie!
I am a huge fan of blaxploitation movies of the 1970s. I thought it was really funny, especially in the beginning of the movie. This is the kind of movie that you can't take very seriously because a lot of it is cliche. Calvin Lockhart's character (Rev. Deke O'Malley) is conniving, but irresistable. You will enjoy this DVD!

Two Words: Judy Pace!
Seeing Judy Pace in this movie is worth the price of admission alone! The movie itself has an interesting storyline and it does bounce around a little but is definately entertaining. This movie isn't as cliche as many of the other films in this genre. There are some good chase scenes and it was interesting to see Redd Foxx pre 'Sanford and Son'. I would consider this one of the most important movies of the blaxploitation genre.

One of the Best Films of the Day, That Set the 70s STYLE
"Cotton Comes to Harlem" is a solid, funny, and most of all, cool movie which was, besides "Shaft" and "Coffy," to set the trend of the black movies of the 70s. Look how Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques walk and talk, and you'll know the meaning of "style."

Based on Chester Himes's novel, the film follows the two super-cool cops who suspect that Rev. O'Malley's "Back to Africa" campaign (minimun entry 100 dallors needed) is a fraud to steal money from people living in Harlem. But things get complicated when, during the rally, the organization is attacked by masked gangsters who took the money of $87,000, and that was done under the nose of the very cops. Determined to nail the criminal, and possibly the preacher himself, the detective Gravediffer & Coffin start their investigation, and do it in their own fashion.

The film keeps the fast pace with a tightly knit web of characters including Reverend's beautiful wife Iris. But most charming part of the film remains the same today: its being funny and smart. In fact, you will see among violent actions suddenly unexpected humor. The best thing of the film is, in my book, the car chase scene that include "the cemetary chase" and "a flying guy." The film also ends with a showdown in the Apollo Theater (though I don't know whether the inside scene of it was really shot there) And the real Harlem locale of the 70s, which helps to create the authentic atomospher, would be someday a precious record of the New York City.

In short, this is a film Quentin Tarantino with his known flair for characters and story might have shot 30 years ago. Some part of the film look, I admit, dated today when you see women's parts are little better than secondary, just catering obligatory sex scenes. Still, those scenes have been given slight touch of humor, that might almost compensate for the lack of the screen goddess like Pam Grier. Buy this one, along with "Coffy" and "Shaft" and perhaps "Across the 110th Street." That makes a quick course of learning what the blaxploitation films are all about.

Those two main charaters are to reappear in "Come Back Charlston Blues," which is, unfortunately, not as good as this one. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Decent (not great) presentation of drive-in classic
Of course, if you're reading this, you probably already know that "Shaft" is an above-average blaxploitation flick with Richard Roundree as a private detective hired to track down a Harlem gang boss' missing daughter. With dialogue like "You got problems, Shaft?" "Yeah, two of 'em. I was born black and I was born poor." you really can't lose.

So on with the DVD. The film itself is nicely letterboxed (I think for the first time), and while it's not made from the greatest print (there are a couple scratches), it's a perfectly acceptable presentation.

Extras include trailers for all three Shaft flicks . This is great--I wish Warner had done the same with their "Dirty Harry" DVD. (They did with the VHS version.) There's also a 1971-produced short "Making of" film and the option to view the movie in French (a surreal experience, to be sure.)

The cast and crew bios, however, are pretty meager, offering only a relatively complete portrait of Richard Roundtree. Where's Moses Gunn? Or Gordon Parks? The "Awards" option is pretty worthless as well, showing that the movie won the Oscar for "Best Original Song."

Oh, yes, and there's no commentary track with Director Parks as is described on the Amazon site. Forgivably, it's not mentioned on the DVD box, so this is probably just something that didn't pan out at the last minute.

It's still lots of fun, but not what it could have been.

A Winner!
This is the genuine original "Shaft" from 1971, with Richard Roundtree, that scored so well with inner-city (read: African-American) audiences that it spawned two sequels and created a new mini-genre, the grudgingly titled "Blaxploitation" films. As a kid living in a rural white area at the time, I missed this important and popular movie until I saw it last week in my VCR. And you know what? It's good.

Shaft is a private investigator who is hired by a local crime boss to find his beautiful, vulnerable daughter, who has been kidnapped by a rival ring from New Jersey. This is no small potatoes: a major drug war could break out between Jersey and Harlem if the problem isn't resolved soon. By the way, someone goes crashing through Shaft's very high office window in his presence, so Shaft has to bargain and barter with his only sympathetic contact in the NYPD to keep from being arrested on a murder charge. Shaft has to work on his own, under cover, without most of the advantages the police enjoy.

The performances in this film are wonderful. It shows how shamefully Hollywood has ignored black talent that actors the caliber of Moses Gunn didn't get steady work, and the situation is only marginally better today. The talent brings conviction to a gangster plot line that is really just an update of 1930s material, minimizing its formulaic quality and keeping it fresh. There are also sharp points made about the realities of urban black life. Example: A taxicab pauses, then zooms by well-dressed Shaft, only to stop 50 feet up the street to pick up a similarly dressed white guy. It's stuff like this that raises "Shaft" well above the movie-of-the-week level that infects so many routine and direct-to-video films.

I think that time may have actually improved "Shaft." The violence is just violence. Shooting a gun is just that, not an invitation to buckets of blood. A car crash is a car crash, not a fireball. One thing the writers or producers seem a little conflicted about is the level of swearing: a character will say "[bad]" in one sentence, use the s-word in the next, then revert to "[bad]" Ditto those well-worn terms about fornication. Well, 1971 was a confusing time.

For a generation raised on Joe Fridays, Shaft is quite an interesting character, a handsome leather-clad James Bond without all the high-tech gadgetry. He has a nice apartment and a loving wife, but he also keeps a sleek, tasteful bachelor pad that Hugh Hefner might envy. He must be quite the successful P.I.! I suppose this bit of fantasy was meant to serve as relief to the gritty urban drama played out on the streets. At any rate, I didn't mind it. If you're sitting on the fence about this movie, buy the tape; it's quite cheap.

The original
Gordon Parks created a sensation in Shaft with an ultracool performance by Richard Roundtree who went onto to do several films in this series. However none holds up as well as does the first film, which plays just as well today as it did in the 70's. Shaft was the quintessential rogue cop, taking orders from no one and tracking down the crooks no matter where they hid in the city. But what really makes this movie work is the feel Parks has for New York, capturing the quality of the inner city like few others have been able to do. One is carried along on the hip soundtrack by Isaac Hayes, taking in the mean streets of Harlem as Shaft fights both the corrupt police force and the underworld. Always one to do it his own way.

The mob wanted Harlem back. They got shaft...up to here.
That title is the films original tagline...and they got the shaft allright!

Shaft is a great 70's urban classic. The film is beautifully photographed and staged. The atmospheric camera work captures the streets of New York, always keeping the look of the film harsh and cold. The color scheme is typical 70's muted with acidic contrasts, but at the same time uses a number of blue tinges, especially in the outdoors, to suggest the cold environment the people are facing.

The DVD is presented in the film's original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio as well as an open matte (fullscreen) transfer that adds some picture information at the top and the bottom of the screen. The transfers look pretty darned good for a 1971 flick. Audio is presented in the film's original monaural track and is fairly weak, though acceptable.

The DVD features includes a bonus documentary "Filming Shaft on Location", three trailers and cast biographies.

You gotta love Shaft & Richard Rountree. A great flick and a great DVD.

THE BEST OF THE BLAXPLOITATION FILMS
PERHAPS THE BEST BLAXPLOITATION FILM OF THEM ALL. JOHN SHAFT [RICHARD ROUNDTREE] IS HIRED TO INVESTIGATE THE KIDNAPPING OF A GANG LORD'S DAUGHTER. VERY INTERESTING MOVIE WIH LOTS OF GREAT MUSIC. THE FILM ALSO HAS A SHARP SENSE OF HUMOR. FOR A FUN TIME, CHECK OUT THIS CLASSIC 1971 ACTIONER. ISSAC HAYES WON AN OSCAR FOR THE SHAFT THEME SONG. FOLLOWED BY TWO SEQUELS, A TV SERIES, AND WAS REMADE [SORT OF] IN 2000. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

THE Movie That Set the Style of 70s
All of Pam Grier movies in the 70s, "Coffy" is the most famous. She deserves it; watch this movie, and you see what so-called blaxploitation films are all about.

The fast-paced "Coffy" starts with a dynamite opening, in which Pam's character Coffy lures her enemy into a nasty surprise, and she blows away poor fool's head with a shotgun literally. Then, her mission of eradicating drug racket goes on until a very bitter ending. There are actions, fighting, nudity, and battling girls at a party where Pam uses most unexpected weapon -- salad! Frankly they look rather bland by today's standard, but good soundtrack by Roy Ayres is still wonderful.

Probably the most interesting thing about "Coffy" is its gorgeous 70s fashion: music, clothes, and hairstyle. even if you find its story a little stale, you never get tired of watching dresses, glasses, hats, and everything -- they are so big! And surprising thing is that the film to certain extent reflects the political condition of those days (see how a black congressman address a speech about drug issues among Afro-Americans).

"Coffy" is one of the movies that set the style of the 70s. Those who are interested in that period should watch it (and the original "Shaft") once.

Vigilante action with Pam!
Pam Grier is Coffy, an inner-city nurse whose younger sister's life has been destroyed by illicit drugs, and who is now out to avenge her by killing the drug dealers. Her method is to lure the dope pushers by offering them her sexual favors, and then blasting them with a sawed-off shotgun!

And what man can resist such a statuesque beauty? Many a dope pusher meets his Maker after making it with Coffy. Pam Grier has some outstanding nude scenes in this movie, and that alone makes this DVD worth the price, but director Jack Hill's commentary is an interesting bonus. This DVD is a must-have for every Pam Grier fan!

One vengeful mama.
For a blaxploitation movie this one isn't too bad, thanks largely to Pam Grier. She is one tough lady in this interesting retooling of "The Bride that Wore Black," only in this case it is little sister who Coffy is seeking vengeance upon. There is plenty of violence and nudity to thrill, but the movie actually develops a story and posits the moral question whether vengeance is justified if criminals can't be brought to justice. Ultimately, Coffy enters the world of prostitution, posing as a sultry Jamaican bombshell, to get the top crime boss in the city. The movie is vintage 70's with luscious babes lounging around swimming pools, garish interiors and love-inducing fireplaces. Too bad Pam Grier had to wait such a long time to get the plum role of Jackie Brown, building her fame on Jack Hill movies.

Errors and omissions
From the information from other sites I am to believe that this is not an 'Anamorphic/16:9 enhanced' DVD. Foxy Brown is. All Region 2's in the MGM Blaxploitation-series are...

They call her Coffy and she'll cream you!
This was a pretty enjoyable movie, but I have to admit that I enjoyed Foxy Brown just a little more. This movie is basically about Pam Griers' character getting revenge on those who have hurt her and her family. She starts out with lower level pimps and pushers, and workers her way up the power structure to the head sleezebags. The one thing that didn't really sit well with me was the way she portrayed the moments of remorse her character felt about what she was doing. I am not saying that a person who becomes a vigilante wouldn't have these feelings, but I just didn't really buy it coming from her. I know, I know, maybe I am delving too deep into the character, but if they're going to go there...anyway, it didn't make me enjoy the movie any less. And it's always nice to see as much eye candy as there was in this movie. Pam Grier is really hot and made most of the other women in this movie look kinda dumpy. To sum it up, it's a fun movie, some minor slow points, but it kept me interested throughout. If funk with a dash of groovitude is your bag, then this movie is for you. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

It's a great film
I love the Dolemite movies, which is quite possibly the greatest duo of films ever made. I'll never in my life forget the kung-fu action scenes and a naked Rudy Ray Moore rolling down a grassy hill in "The Human Tornado." These movies should be viewed every man, woman and child to walk the earth...they are truly an experience like no other.

The Kung-Fu is worth the purchase price alone!!!
Don't believe the fools who doubt Rudy Ray Moore!!! How can people look at the Dolemite movies seriously? The opening credits are printed on his GIANT JAMES-BROWN-STYLE CAPE!! You'll never enjoy the sensory overload and outright absurdity of these movies if you try to THINK about them. Just have a six-pack and a few smart-mouthed friends around when you watch it.

Nothing beats Dolemite's , jokin', hustlin' kung-fu ways. NOTHING!!! Step off, Batman!!!

I quote the man himself when I say: "Man, move over and let me pass, 'fore they has to be pullin' these Hush-Puppies out your ...!!"

My brother MADE me watch this, and I'm a changed man.

Dolemite's back!
Ok, last time we caught up with the godfather of rap he beat willie green and crooked politicans in a brilliant film. This time I'm affraid, Rudy Ray Moore fumbles. The Human Tornando succumbs to the sequel disease of being worse than the first one. It's not horrible it's a very good movie, but it tries to be to formulatic , it wants to be as good as the first one and use sub-plots resembly the first one.

The plot line, Dolemite leaves California behind and is somewhere in the south when he is caught with the sherrif's wife and jumps off a hill naked. The sherrif is pursuing him across the nation as dolemite puts his nightclub act on the go. He makes it back to Cali. and finds Queen Bee in some hot water with nightclub competiors, and Dolemite comes to the rescue. The movie's not horrible, but not as good as the 1st. It sometimes is choppy, hard to follow, and complete nonsense ( even more than in the original) Dolemite saves the day of course but a weird ending leaves you wanting a bit more well enough to leave on a high point. Remember the first had witty comebacks, and two rap songs performed you'll be lucky to catch him even run into rhyme this time. All in all this was good, close but no cigar.

Big time disapointed
I just loved the 1st one but the sequel was just too slow, not very funny and had lost it's charm. It just has a few memorable scenes.

A Dolemite Fan
Although the characters in this movie and other Dolemite movies
are a little rusty with their acting, I can't help but watch
these movies over and over again. The movie hits with the
rest of the top-rated movies of that era. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just Old Classics
If you've ever watched MAD TV, they do some spoofs off of this series, which include many of the "problems" named in some of the above reviews.

The skit has horrible acting, silly rhymes, stupid villains, an unsteady camera, and just overall... heh, you get the point. Collector shows such as these sometimes get their "fame" on these grounds.

I cannot exactly recommend this, though =)

Must Have for Cheesy movie night
Ok I think this is really a horrible movie. The plot is the pimp drug dealer gets freed from jail to get a worse pimp drug dealer.

This is the primer for our cheesy movie night because no matter what we watch after this one it has to be better and usually is.

THe action sequences are horribly choreographed. the plot is horrendous. But somehow Dolemite seems to be abe to rhyme all his lines. This is probably not the movie for everyone and if you have never seen Dolemite before I would recommend renting it before you buy it to see if it is something you want in your collection. As for me I take the good with the bad.

The Greatest
This is a wonderful idea. To buy them all together not only saves money, but it will be easlier to keep together. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

BEST BOXING MOVIE EVER!
Penitentiary 2 is the best of the Penitentiary flicks. It has the drama of Rocky, the comedy of an old Rudy Ray Moore flick, and the edge of an episode of OZ (HOOOOOOAAAAH). Speaking of OZ, this flick has Ernie Hudson in it. Oh and don't let me forget to mention that this movie has the ultimate action TV hero of the 80's MR. T! My favorite character in this movie is Mr. Seldom Seems. This guy's beard is as thick and round as the afro on his head and he's always telling people not to touch him. He's got a thing about people touching him, he's sort of like Rain Man except he doesn't scream when he's hugged he just starts throwing blows. If you want to watch a classic boxing movie, then P2 is it.......OOOH YEAH, there's a drag queen and a midget in this movie also

T is my unholy master!
Sometime around 1983 I was wrought with such viable emotional disturbances as dialapetes of the panchreas and triaceotomy of the plebes, the only way I could have overcome these ailments was to sell my soul to Mr. T. Who is, consequenTly, the jesus of our time. Mr. T was born of the virgin mary and will rise again in three days, to judge the living and the dead, his kingdom will have no end! Join T and all his followers to bask in the glory of his eTernal kingdom. He is eated at the right hand of the father and shall proclaim his worth to the masses through the profits. Hail T! Hail adrian! Hail satan!

Crazy Potato-Salad Scene!
This film is a cross between the "Rocky" films and Rudy Ray Moore flicks (Dolomite, The Avenging Disco Godfather... and HE does make a special appearance in this Fanaka classic). With loony character names like 'Too Sweet", 'Half-Dead' and 'Seldom Seen', this story-line is peppered with demented scenes like the scary "potato salad scene", or the dwarf-prostitute pursuit. A must see for all Mr. T fans.

Crazy potato-salad scene!
This film an interesting cross between the "Rocky" flicks and basically any movie with Rudy Ray Moore (Dolomite, Avenging disco Godfather...and he does make an appearance in this film). With crazy character names like 'Too Sweet', 'Seldom Seen', 'Half-Dead', one can't go wrong. Go 'Too Sweet', 'Half-Dead' will never bring you down!

Under rated
What can you say about a movie that has Mr. T as a boxing instructer, smoking a bong, and drinking wine? Well I rank this movie high because the clothes of Mr. T are better than any thing worn to the oscars. I meam He dresses as a genie....come on the man is a genuis. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid 70's Action Flick
Big, brawny Jim Brown makes a convincing hero in this two-fisted, jive-talking blaxploitation thriller. The story moves with great speed and plenty of tough action as Brown hunts for the slayers of his parents and encounters a nest of racist gangsters.
Everything about this flick is a notch above the average blaxploitation flick of its era. The direction is tight, the cinematography inventive and slick, and the performances are hammy without going too far. A very young and very weaselly Rip Torn does a fine job as the pinched, hateful villain who really gets what he deserves. Indeed, all the villains go down hard in this movie, which builds to a climactic conflict with a body count like a Spaghetti Western's.
Mention must be made of Stella Stevens, who has a number of short, but memorable, nude scenes. Not to mince words- she's so fine that virtually any man watching will likely gape at the screen in awe.
Superior entertainment for blaxploitation fans and anyone who likes a rip-snorting action movie.

Fairly Good Action & Answer to Shaft; Jim Brown Is Slaughter
So, MGM hit the goldmine with Richard Roundtree's "Shaft," so why not other companies? Samuel Arkoff's AIP (American Internationa Picture), known for many exploitation films (a kind of films you might have seen at local drive-in theaters back in the 50s and 60s), gave an answer to John Shaft. Yes, it's Slaughter, ex-Green Beret who takes the law in his hand for revenge. And Jim Brown, former American football player, and previously seen in films like "The Dirty Dozen" was chosen. Very Good casting, as it turns out.

Plus Brown (later seen in Tim Burton's "Mars Attack!"), we have a good supporting cast, namely Rip Torn and Stella Stevens. It was too good, I guess. Anyway, with the presence of them, "Slaughter" is barely raised above from other average blaxploitation films, some people say...

Interesting thing is, the film's supporting cast almost all consists of white actors. As a result, the atomosphere of the film is different from that of other blaxploitation films like "Coffy" and "Shaft," and you may be disappointed because of that. However, the good pace of the film (thanks to the director Jack Starret's deft hand) will keep you interested. In my book, "Slaughter" is a better-than-average action film. Oh, and there are nudity, which is No. 1 rule of this genre, including that of Stella Stevens (original "The Nutty Professor" and others). Is this misjudge on her side when choosing projects? Probably. (She again shows up in blaxploitation film, the sequel of Warner Brother's "Cleopatra Jones.") But I am happy with her appearance, I confess.

On top of her participation, there is a rousing title song by Billy Preston, whose electoric keyboard with his trademark howling sound can be heard. Probably "Slaughter" should be rated as an average three-star movie. Well, his song, however, is another virtue of the film, and with this and Ms. Stevens, one notch up. Yeah, I like this film. ... Read more

Description

A girl from rural Mississippi turns to bank robbery to raise money needed to spring her boyfriend from prison. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The music
I over the years have become a big fan of blaxploitation films. I have nothing negative to say, because if it weren't for them there would be no Eddie Murphy and so on.

The only reason I gave this picture 4 stars is because I can't for the life of me find out the name of that song that plays at the end of this movie. If anybody anywhere can tell me the name of that song and who sings it, I would greatly appreciate it. Send me an e-mail and I will reply with great thanks. Maurice

Crazy Movie!!
This movie had me rolling in laughter, but there's an important message behind this movie. The production is quite low and the acting will not win any Oscars, but this is one of the best Blaxploitation movies I have ever seen.

Blaxploitation at it's finest
This is my favorite movie of all time.. it has the best dialogue,"hip 70's phrases", music.. the characters are believable.. I've watched this movie a thousand time and it gets better every time.. this has got to be blaxploitation at it's finest!!!!!

country girl enters the big city
Wow! This movie is wild. The acting and even the directing and edting isn't the best, but it keeps you hooked in once you're out the gate.

I enjoyed the music and hints of black militancy. Like at one point when the main character Anna Mae(?) says the same line as Jonathan Jackson when he attempted to liberate his brother George Jackson.

All and all, it's good for laughs and jokes.

This movie did not have the best acting but it was truly fun
I think that this movie needs to be republicized ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Undiscovered Blaxploitation Gold
Fans of Blaxploitation will be more than satisfied with this DVD double feature. "The Black Gestapo" is a mean, nasty race-riot of a movie. A benevolent police group, the People's Army, attempts to aid the citizens of Watts, who are being terrorized by what appears to be a mob of bitter appliance salesmen. There's dissention in the army's ranks, however, and a splinter group made up of local criminals forms to run the white mob out of Watts (one wise guy is castrated in his bathtub, another is run off the road by a breast-baring Uschi Digart and shot up by the gang). The mob retreats, but this new People's Army takes their place, shaking down the citizens and having drunken orgies at their new compound (where Ms. Digart shows up again in the leader's bed). "Gestapo" is directed by R.L. (Lee) Frost, who directed such exploitation gems as "The Defilers," "The Pick-Up" and "Love Camp #7." This one's not as stylish as his earlier roughies, but he keeps the story moving with brisk pacing and plenty of sex n' violence (though mostly violence). There's not a single one of "The Black Gestapo"'s 88 minutes that's politically correct.

By comparison, "The Black Six" is an After School Special, focusing on a good-natured biker gang of six Viet Nam vets (all played by pro football players, including "Mean" Joe Green) who are riding across the U.S., doing odd jobs for weak-chinned farm women or terrifying bigots at a poorly constructed roadside cafe (our heroes literally bring down the clapboard restaurant while its owner--a part I'm sure was originally written for Shelley Winters--stands by the road shrieking). The beating death of one of the brother's brother takes the guys back to a hick town to avenge his murder. By this point, you'll have heard the theme song about 12 times. You'll hear it 12 more times before the final credits. Bad acting, silly dialog and extreme afros all lead to a totally incomprehensible ending. All this hilarity is brought to us by director Matt Cimber, who later went on to direct the Pia Zadora potboiler "Butterfly," which is, in view of "The Black Six," an accomplished film.

No fan of Blaxploitation can afford not to see these movies. The entertainment value is double the cost of the DVD!

Great Social Comentary
Black Gestapo is a great social commentary. I would rank it with Animal Farm. It shows the dangerous of the black militant movement. In the movie a black militant , but non-violent organization hires outside help for protection. They warant this unit unlike any other in the group to use force to push out the opperessing mafia. Unfortuneatly, they become more crooked than the mafia. I love how the movie put extreme black radicalism in the same boat as the nazis movement. It was a wake - up call to me and many others.

The Black Six was a little lighter. It was about cool bikes and football player. It was good none the less.

A Strange Little Gem
First, I'll admit that the only reason I bought this film was because Uschi Digard was creditted in it (anD, well, I found it cheap :-).

This is a strange little story about black revolutionaries, Panther styled, that split groups. One becomes very domineering and tyranical, which leads them to greater power. The other are the good guys who keep their revolution's ideals in sight. The two finally duke it out.

Look for:
The main bad guy is "Mack" from TV's "Night Court"
Uschi Digard in a few eye candy scenes. Some nudity, some action scenes. Worthwhile for Uschi Completists (am I the only one :-D) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Special agent Cleopatra Jones (Tamara Dobson), six feet two inches of sinewy fighting fury clad in layers of runway chic fashions in bright rainbow colors, strolls up a sand dune and orders the destruction of a Turkish poppy field. Thousands of miles away, an L.A. drug lord named Mommy (Shelley Winters hamming it up with garish wigs and lecherous leers) screeches as her life blood burns away and lures Cleopatra stateside to plot her demise. A product of the "blaxploitation" explosion of low-budget thrillers featuring black heroes in the 1970s, Cleopatra Jones may not bethe best of the batch but revels in the most outrageous fashion sense. Cleo looks great in furs, pantsuits, ponchos, turbans--a new outfit every scene--and drives a sleek black Corvette with a personalized license plate: "CLEO." It's a shame that the producers dropped the exotic potential of a globetrotting super-agent for an L.A.-bound gangster film, which is entertaining in a comic-book way but rarely reaches the energetic levels of the gritty Pam Grier action pictures Coffy and Foxy Brown. Bernie Casey is a role model of dignity and action as a neighborhood activist, and a garishly overdressed Antonio Fargas delivers a suitably flamboyant performance as Mommy's pusher Doodlebug. The glamorous super-agent flew off to Hong Kong for the 1975 sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This one is great fun
Sure it's over the top. Sure Shelley Winters' character is absurd. But this one is a lot of fun. In the genre of blaxploitation movies, this movie is closer to "Shaft" in quality than it is to "Foxy Brown". "Foxy", while enjoyable, is a very amateurish production. "Cleopatra", on the other hand, is very well done. The car chase rates as one of the best of the era.

As for the transfer, it also is very well done. My only complaint about the DVD is the lack of any additional features. In fact, it is so bare that the menu is a generic Warner Bros. logo instead of related to the movie.

Regardless, even if you aren't a big fan of the blaxploitation genre, this one is great entertainment....exciting and funny at the same time.

Major Company's Answer to Blaxploitation Vogue
As a good example to see how a major studio handles topics in vogue, "Cleopatra Jones" is worth watching. I mean, there is nothing new in this film except the fact that more money is invested than in "Coffy" or "Foxy Brown," small, independent company's works. The formula is basically the same as those of so-called blaxploitaion films, but the shoot-out, car chase, or explosion scenes are all updated.

This movie is about Cleopatra Jones, or "Cleo," sexy, cool, no-nonsense secret agent for government, who fights against drug syndicate. And she uses karate (a bit). Well, the rest is as you guess. Tamara Dobson is remembered as Cleo, and rightly so. Her tall, slender body fits exactly Cleopatra's character, and she is pretty impressive, and her acting is not bad.

However, much, much more impressive is Shelley Winters (Oscar winner!!), who plays "Mommy," ruthless mastermind behind drug business. Her hammy performance -- wearing a black leather jacket, yelling "I will kill HERRR!!! -- is something you see in your nightmare. She overacts so much that if Golden Raspberry Awards had been there back in the 70s, she surely would have win the prize of the decade. The final scene, in which Cleo fights Mammy (yes, they fight!!) in a junkyard, will become ... well ... a bizzare memory for you.

Okay blaxploitation film
"Cleopatra Jones" is a surprisingly well-made action film, and although it offers nothing new, it has more going for it than many other films of this type. Drugs, inner-city violence, dealers and their remora of enforcers are what Amazon warrior Cleopatra Jones is up against and she tackles these evils with the help of two karate experts. Car chases, shootouts, killings and karate fights are all done with professional skill but it's too bad that Bernie Casey wasn't given more to do because he's wasted in this picture. Shelley Winters is way over the top as a lesbian drug dealer in an embarrassing performance that adds nothing to the film or her reputation as a capable Hollywood actress who won an Oscar in a supporting role in "A Patch of Blue" [1965]. Joe Simon's punchy vocals accompany the action on a soundtrack that seems to mirror Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft".

For Blaxploitation fans only
If you liked the trashy Blaxploitation films of the 70s, you'll love this. If you're like me and hate this junk-filled genre, it ain't for you.

Bad acting (especially Shelly Winters and the ubiquitous Antonio Fargas), overdone story (main character getting revenge for framing by the (of course) racist crooked cops), ad nauseum. Good for laughs, but not much else.

However, there are some redeeming features that raise this from one starts to two for me. Bernie Casey comes off as a very sincere and redeeming character who tries to rid th eneighborhood of drug abuse. Cleo Jones herself shows that women can be smart as well as sexy (though she's not quite as charasmatic as Pam Grier's characters and Pam's a better actress). But in either case, this is one of those films best watched with a bunch of your friends over and a cooler filled with beers nearby.

Campy '70s Fun!
I have always really liked this movie since it came out in 1973. I have watched it countless times through the years on TV, but haven't seen it for a while on TV so I picked it up on DVD. Although the DVD doesn't offer a lot of features, the picture quality is good and it's presented in it's original cinemascope format. This was one of the higher budget "blaxploitation" flicks from the '70s. Seeing it as a kid I thought it was the coolest movie. Now that I am a lot older, it's still cool, but in a campy/fun way. The plot consists of a government agent named Cleopatra Jones (Tamara Dobson)who is hired to rid the US of drugs. She goes after one of the "Queenpins" of the drug trade called Mommy, played by Shelley Winters. The one thing I never forgot about this movie was Cleopatra's kickin' Corvette complete with a cassette deck, which was really high-end at the time! (Most cars had 8-track players) Along with this was her funky fashions! If you like the '70s action genre, this is a great addition to your library. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE
AFTER SEEING HOW ENTERTAINING THE ORIGINAL ''SHAFT'' WAS, I WAS DISSAPOINTED BY THIS SEQUEL. THIS TIME, SHAFT INVESTIGATES THE MURDER OF AN OLD FRIEND. SOMETHING THAT MADE THE FIRST FILM SO ENJOYABLE IS SIMPLY JUST MISSING FROM THIS ONE. THIS FILM IS MEDIOCRE AT TIMES, BUT THANKS TO RICHARD ROUNDTREE'S LIKABLE PERFORMANCE, AND THANKS TO THE EXPLOSIVE FINAL HALF HOUR, THIS FILM IS WATCHABLE. ONCE AGAIN, THE THEME SONG IS A HIGHLIGHT. FOLLOWED BY SHAFT IN AFRICA.

Nu Yawk's Koolest
Back in prehistoric times, John Shaft was the role model if you was a nice guy, Priest from Superfly was the man if you was dreaming of livin' the life. Shaft's Big Score the followup to the Cool Black crimefighter series, is a slickened up version of the much more grittier original. Still, the bad ... gets off. The climatic chase has been "rescene" in dozens of later films from Hollywood and around the world and Mr. Parks still doesn't get the proper props for bringing to the screen a cultural icon that despite time and Singleton's "nephew" is still the Man. The late Reverend O.C. Smith is too countrified for singing a Big City theme but the powers the be didn't want to pay Isaac"Black Moses-Voice of ... Reason Chef from South Park" Hayes asking price. But there is a tease of what it might of been in the club scene where somebodys' girlfriend swirls to the early '70s funk. Never mind the usher pass the joint and hand me the gin Shaft Big Score is smokin' Jim.

Shaft Is Back !! With Good Action Scenes and Sexy Smile
Because of the success of the original "Shaft," MGM upgraded the series, giving more action scenes and less nudity; so this time Shaft in the opening credits drives a car in the midnight New York while in the previous film he was walking down the street.

The basic of the story is not particuarly original. It is about the missing money from the safe of Shaft's friend and insurance broker. As Shaft starts his investigation, a crime syndicate is looking for the money while it tries to kill him, but of course, it's a very, very wrong idea. Our Shaft, keeping the police and Bumpy (Moses Gunn re-appearing from the original) at bay, gets what he wants, as always!

Gordon Parks (who had a long remarkable career as photographer, and himself appearing as a croupier here) demonstrates he is also good at presenting impressive action scenes, especially the chase scenes at the end of the film. However, by the today's standard, they might look too long and stretched. Actually, the stunts themselves are impressive, but if the editing had been tighter, they would be much better.

Richard Roundtree looks as sexy as ever, and entertains us with his suave way of talking to girls. Other characters are drawn better than original "Shaft." Charismatic Julius W Harris is cast effectively as a detective, and the idea of clarinet-playing gangster is interesting. And Drew Bundini Brown's Willy is a standout. The movie is a satisfactory, if not perfect, action thriller.

Effective Sequel
When a friend of Shaft is killed in an explosion, the super-slick private dick tries to track down the killer. During Shaft's investigation, he once again crosses paths with Bumpy Jones, the Harlem mob boss from the first film, as well as another ganster, Gus Mascola. Again Shaft begins to play all sides against each other, in order for him to get what he wants, revenge, and a big chunk of change! This film was rushed into production to cap on the success of the first film, and the hurried production shows in the film. The plot is kinda weak, and the classic dialogue from the superior predecessor is sorely missed. However, the awesome chase scenes at the end of the film, as well as the increases in both sex and the body count make this an over all fun ride. Followed by Shaft in Africa.

Shaft 2 is 2
Shaft's Big Score was the second entry of the series. The main let down was the music that was provided with O.C. Smith's vocals. It had some gems of dialogue like the elderly lady scene at the elevator. Being a vehicle showcasing black actors, it was a conversation piece for the African American while playing card or during breaks at work or school. It was a thrill to watch then and still is fun now. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Would be a disaster if not for Pam
Pam Grier's magnetic personality and spunky character pretty much save this otherwise outrageously stupid and trashy film. Yaphet Kotto is pretty good too, in a low-key way. Other than that, it has all the stuff that keeps Blaxploitation films form being taken seriously (if they were ever meant to be in the first place). Horrbile acting, atrocious dialogue, cornball story, poorly staged fight scenes, ad nauseum. My parents forbade me from seeing this when it first came out (I was 11 at the time). Now I see why.

Yaphet Kotot does Comedy!?!
"Friday Foster"... Not as good as "Coffy" or "Foxy Brown", but better than "Sheeba, Baby". Pam is good as always, with lots of fairly gratuitous nudity (always a way to turn a bad movie to fair :-)

My big surprise was Yaphet Koto, who gets most of the best lines, and is funny throughout the film. I am always used to him as the stone-faced cop, a la "Across 110th Street" and "Homicide". If I remeber correctly, he gets off the "I'm getting too old for this sh!t," line years before "Lethal Weapon" made it a cliché.

Definitely worth watching for Blaxploitation or Pam Grier fans. If you are not familiar with Pam's earlier work, "Coffy" or "Foxy Brown" should definitely come first.

Pam Grier in Her Lighter Mood
Pam Grier of the 70s will be remembered as Coffy, tough, sexy, no-nonsense heroine who blows her enemy's head away with a shotgun, but as a movie, for all its good, funky soundtrack, "Coffy" was dark and violent. Then, it is a welcome opportunity for her fans to see lighter side of her in "Foxy Brown," in which Pam Grier plays an assistant camera artist who finds some conspiracy going on.

The story has been already told elsewhere, so I won't repeat it here. All I can say is, it is not particularly original, but good enough to keep us interested. But what we should notice in "Friday Foster" is a group of well-cast, talented actors. In addition to Pam Grier, who this time round goes with less tears and nudity, and more smile, is helped by Yaphet Kotto (Michael Clarke Duncan of the 70s) but it is Eartha Kitt as "madame" who steals the show with her flamboyant speech at fashion show. Actions are done in a rather bland way, but still watchable, and watch out Pam Grier steal a black hearse to chase the hitman; she later hits another guy in the head with a bottle full of milk!! Especially recommended to beginners of the genre as starting point of blaxploitaion films.

Slam, Bam, Thank You, Pam!
There are only two special features on this DVD, and they both belong to Pam Grier. And that's reason enough to buy it! She has two nude scenes in this lackluster blaxploitation thriller that largely fails to thrill, and her sparkle is the only spark here. A good cast, including Jim Backus, Earha Kitt, Carl Weathers, Scatman Crothers, and Yaphet Kotto, is wasted here, but they try their best with what they're given. The movie is in widescreen and the image quality is excellent. There's the movie trailer and a scene and language selector, and that's it. For '70s blaxploitation genre fans and Pam Grier fans only, but that's quite a large audience!

Good Solid Film
Pam Grier Is Solid in this Film&She Looks as Fine as Always.This Film Captures The 70's Vibe Really well.ALot OF Action&Laughs through out.Godfrey Cambridge had me Rolling.After watching Him in Watermellon MAn or Cotton Comes To Harlem this is a Real Interesting Role.Carl Weathers went on to do Rocky 1,2&3.Yaphet Kotto a Great Actor who Has Done well in Both T.V.&Film.&Ted Lange who Played Issac on The Love Boat.it was a Very Important Time Period For Black Films.FOrget what The Critics Say these Films Kept Hollywood Rolling&Paved The Way for The Future.Worth Seeking Out.Their has Never Been Another Actress Like PAM GRIER.SHE IS ONE OF A KIND. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A CHANGE OF PACE FOR SHAFT
THIS TIME, JOHN SHAFT [RICHARD ROUNDTREE] IS FORCED TO GO TO AFRICA TO INFILTRATE A 20TH CENTURY SLAVE CARTEL. I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THEY TRYED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE SERIES. THOUGH IT STILL PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL, IT'S STILL A DECENT ACTION FILM.

Bravo for Shaft!
Shaft does it again! He brings his street sense to Africa and woos an African princess in the process...and right under the watchful eye of her bodyguard! Too smooth! I was actually craving for more after this one...who knows, he might have done the same in Europe had more had been produced! Richard Roundtree was truly one of the hottest names in the business at that time as John Shaft. Get the other two as well to complete the collection ("Shaft" and "Shaft's Big Score").

Worth it for one line
Shaft is discussing an impending female circumcision with the African princess and suggests "We put a little wear and tear on that thing before they cut it off". SMOOOOVE

John Shaft Plays James Bond in Africa
Though the second sequel to "Shaft," there's no remaining trace of the first two "blaxploitation" films. "Shaft in Africa" looks more like a big-budget 007 film, and instead of Roger Moore, put Richard Roundtree in the hero's role.

The pair of director John Guillermin and writer Stirling Silliphant will definetely reminds you of "Towering Inferno," pinnacle of the "disaster movies" in vogue in the 70s, and "Shaft in Africa" has the same feeling -- it is packed with actions and violence, plus costly set (or shots on location). This time Shaft, in order to stop the modern-day slave trading in Africa, has to endure a chains of brutal attacks from enemies and the scorching heat of Afraica. The globe-trotting story leads him from NYC to Ethiopia, and then to France. And Shaft doesn't forget that he is THE sexy guy; Shaft's love is played by beautiful princess Vonetta McGee, and he even spends a good time with a white girl in bed.

If you expect "blaxploitation" films in "Shaft in Africa" you may be diappointed. It is no longer that. The total tone is nearer to films of James Bond (to which Shaft refers briefly) and actions never stop coming on screen between Shaft's one-liners. As far as the actions are concerned, it never lets you down, and you will see unique things here and there that you can find only in the 70s: in one scene Shaft, completely naked, proves that he can do stick-fighting (!).

Overall, "Shaft in Africa" is a good action film. Often its violence is excessive, but the film's pace is always slick and Roundtree plays convincingly the cool and sexy hero. There is no more Isaac Hayes theme song, but Four Tops's great song will make you forget that. And don't miss the airport scene in which Shaft has to take a photo with a lion. This lion (of course, he is a real one) is audacious enough to give him a quick, threatening look to him. Shaft (or Roundtree) doesn't look happy about that.

Please don't say it so loud!
I love bad movies and cult movies and all thos