Rating: 
Summary: Impressive Blaxploitation Film with Taste of Gangster Genre
Review: Probably Fred Williamson's most successful and best-known film in the 1970s. "Black Caesar" deserves much attention. Though it is flawed at some points, it is better than most of average blaxploitation films...The film choronicles the rise and fall of Tommy Gibbs, played by Fred Williamson with star-making performance. But what makes this film impressive is Director Larry Cohen's good ideas here and there. This New Yorker director uses good locations in New York City to give the film an authentic feeling, and Tommy's assasination scene and car chase sense (not by a fact-moving car, but by a stop-and-going taxi with mobsters behind it) in Manhattan is terrific. And very ironical ending of the film (shot among the debris of buildings, or old dream) expresses effectively much bitter taste of Tommy's short-lived fame and power. Larry Cohen, whose career includes films which have many cult followers ("Maniac Cop" "Q" "It's Alive," and many more), is also known as a writer who produces good ideas, and "Black Caesar" surely shows his skills. This film is probably better understood as a homage to gangster films of the 1930s (like "Scarface" starring Paul Muni) and "Black Caesar," of which title reminds us of "Little Caesar" featuring Edward G Robinson, follows the pattern of the genre. But the film definitely belongs to blaxploitation with its characteristic energy -- particularly by the intense acting of the cast and good soundtrack by James Brown -- and if you like "Coffy" "Shaft" "Slaughter" or that kind of film, you like it. Some ideas, by the today's standard, are questionable -- see how Tommy beats his enemy as a revenge for old days, using a shoe-shine box, and smears his face with black shoe polish -- but overall the film is an exciting blaxploitation film with a nod to gangster movies.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive Blaxploitation Film with Taste of Gangster Genre
Review: Probably Fred Williamson's most successful and best-known film in the 1970s. "Black Caesar" deserves much attention. Though it is flawed at some points, it is better than most of average blaxploitation films... The film choronicles the rise and fall of Tommy Gibbs, played by Fred Williamson with star-making performance. But what makes this film impressive is Director Larry Cohen's good ideas here and there. This New Yorker director uses good locations in New York City to give the film an authentic feeling, and Tommy's assasination scene and car chase sense (not by a fact-moving car, but by a stop-and-going taxi with mobsters behind it) in Manhattan is terrific. And very ironical ending of the film (shot among the debris of buildings, or old dream) expresses effectively much bitter taste of Tommy's short-lived fame and power. Larry Cohen, whose career includes films which have many cult followers ("Maniac Cop" "Q" "It's Alive," and many more), is also known as a writer who produces good ideas, and "Black Caesar" surely shows his skills. This film is probably better understood as a homage to gangster films of the 1930s (like "Scarface" starring Paul Muni) and "Black Caesar," of which title reminds us of "Little Caesar" featuring Edward G Robinson, follows the pattern of the genre. But the film definitely belongs to blaxploitation with its characteristic energy -- particularly by the intense acting of the cast and good soundtrack by James Brown -- and if you like "Coffy" "Shaft" "Slaughter" or that kind of film, you like it. Some ideas, by the today's standard, are questionable -- see how Tommy beats his enemy as a revenge for old days, using a shoe-shine box, and smears his face with black shoe polish -- but overall the film is an exciting blaxploitation film with a nod to gangster movies.
Rating: 
Summary: CITIZEN CANE OF THE BLAXPLOITATION GENRE
Review: SHAFT, SUPERFLY and THE MAC were considered the grand-daddies and MVPs of the Blaxploitation genre, however, I think HELL UP IN HARLEM was the one that really got the popular vote... (My fave actually is ACROSS 110th STREET and THREE THE HARD WAY then BLACK CEASAR and HELL) - - Hell up in Harlem was the Sequal to BLACK CEASAR, but it was much more fast paced. In fact, basically it was BLACK CEASAR without the plot. Its kinda... the post show payback time. BLACK CEASAR basically is HELL UP IN HARLEM with more plot and charactor depth.. Its a story about rising to the top from the bottom, how to play a person and change the tables, but the danger of letting success get to your head (o.k. in a blaxsploitationish way...) If that aint enough JAMES BROWN did the soundtrack - - I love Durville Martin in the role of his boyhood friend turned a phony preacher who eventually finds God - - at an inopportune time. This is a great watch, and the directing and acting are actually quite good. For a comedic take on this Genre... dont forget to watch IM GONNA GET YOU SUCKA ! (The shots of the gritty streets of NYC are incredible by the way... second only to Superfly and Cotton Comes to Harlem.)
Rating:
Summary: Black Caesar
Review: This is a classic and is worth buying. James Brown has the soundtrack on point. This met and exceeded all my expectations by far. After viewing this i had to purchase Hell up in Harlem, the sequel. I suggest you get both titles!
Rating:
Summary: Black Ceasar Great movie
Review: This is a great movie to watch. It has suspense,drama and lots and lots of action. I thought it was a very well put together movie, but if you get this you must also buy "Hell Up In Harlem". This the sequel to Black Ceasar. I am 31 years old and saw the movie for the first time in 1998 and loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10
Review: This is by far the best in the genre.....raw and rugged....a perfect 10....should not be missed if your a fan of blaxploitation flicks.....enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Blaxploitation.....A Perfect 10
Review: THIS MOVIE IS SO AWESOME I WISH THAT I COULD GIVE THIS MOVIE 100 STARS BECAUSE THE ACTING IS WONDERFUL BY JULIUS W. HARRIS, GLORIA HENDRY, AND MINNIE GENTRY THIS IS A POWERFUL DRAMATIC ACTION PACKED MOVIE BASED IN HARLEM, NEW YORK I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE WHO ENJOYS BLAXPLOITATION MOVIES AND I LOVE THE ACTING THE PLOT EVERYTHING THE WHOLE PACKAGE DELIVERS I WOULD ALSO RECCOMMEND THE SOUNDTRACK I AM NOT TRULY A JAMES BROWN FAN BUT HE REALLY DELIVERS WITH"THE BOSS" AND ALSO "MAMA" I LOVE THIS MOVIE AND THE SOUNDTRACK!!!
Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC I LOVE FRED WILLIAMSON!!!
Review: THIS MOVIE IS SO AWESOME I WISH THAT I COULD GIVE THIS MOVIE 100 STARS BECAUSE THE ACTING IS WONDERFUL BY JULIUS W. HARRIS, GLORIA HENDRY, AND MINNIE GENTRY THIS IS A POWERFUL DRAMATIC ACTION PACKED MOVIE BASED IN HARLEM, NEW YORK I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE WHO ENJOYS BLAXPLOITATION MOVIES AND I LOVE THE ACTING THE PLOT EVERYTHING THE WHOLE PACKAGE DELIVERS I WOULD ALSO RECCOMMEND THE SOUNDTRACK I AM NOT TRULY A JAMES BROWN FAN BUT HE REALLY DELIVERS WITH"THE BOSS" AND ALSO "MAMA" I LOVE THIS MOVIE AND THE SOUNDTRACK!!!
Rating:
Summary: The quintessential "blaxploitation" film. . .
Review: Those of us who know what it takes to make a powerful film know that you don't need a gargantuan budget and a big-name director. This stylish, gritty crime film from the 1970s "blaxploitation" library stars Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs, a tough, confident hood who works his way up the organized crime ladder in New York City. Director Larry Cohen perfectly blends elements from DePalma's "Scarface", 1930s gangster films, and the powerful, in-your-face violence is expertly complemented with the themes of loyalty, redemption, and greed (The scene in which Tommy's gang heads a bloody gun battle at a Mafia pool party was exceptionally well done). The performances were all convincing, especially D'urville Martin's over-the-top portrayal of Tommy's preacher friend. Combining raw, uncompromising violence, a complex morality tale, a dynamic soundtrack from the godfather of soul, James Brown, and believable performances, this film is a powerful journey into the realm of organized crime and its a shame that more people don't know about this movie. So for those of you who like big-budget, socially acceptable Hollywood garbage with action scenes almost completely lacking adrenaline, go see a James Cameron film. If you want an honest, uncompromising character study, definitely check out this underappreciated gangster flick. Don't miss a particularly entertaining scene in which Tommy gets knife happy on one of his victims in a barber shop, cutting off a certain appendage. This scene receives an indirect if perverse tribute in Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs."
Rating:
Summary: The quintessential "blaxploitation" film. . .
Review: Those of us who know what it takes to make a powerful film know that you don't need a gargantuan budget and a big-name director. This stylish, gritty crime film from the 1970s "blaxploitation" library stars Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs, a tough, confident hood who works his way up the organized crime ladder in New York City. Director Larry Cohen perfectly blends elements from DePalma's "Scarface", 1930s gangster films, and the powerful, in-your-face violence is expertly complemented with the themes of loyalty, redemption, and greed (The scene in which Tommy's gang heads a bloody gun battle at a Mafia pool party was exceptionally well done). The performances were all convincing, especially D'urville Martin's over-the-top portrayal of Tommy's preacher friend. Combining raw, uncompromising violence, a complex morality tale, a dynamic soundtrack from the godfather of soul, James Brown, and believable performances, this film is a powerful journey into the realm of organized crime and its a shame that more people don't know about this movie. So for those of you who like big-budget, socially acceptable Hollywood garbage with action scenes almost completely lacking adrenaline, go see a James Cameron film. If you want an honest, uncompromising character study, definitely check out this underappreciated gangster flick. Don't miss a particularly entertaining scene in which Tommy gets knife happy on one of his victims in a barber shop, cutting off a certain appendage. This scene receives an indirect if perverse tribute in Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs."
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