Coffy

Rating:
Summary: Errors and omissions
Review: 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...

Rating:
Summary: Errors and omissions
Review: 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...

Rating:
Summary: Over the top
Review: I continue to marvel at the DVD revolution. When I first learned about DVD several years ago, I rightly figured that it would change the way we watch movies. What I didn't figure was how much. Thanks to the acquisition of a relatively cheap player and a cheaper subscription to a rental service, I can sit in front of the television set EVERY NIGHT and watch cult, exploitation, horror, action, and other films in dozens of genres that were next to impossible to find a few years ago. And if you could find a beat up VHS copy of a low budget classic, for example, you would pay top dollar for the privilege because you had to buy, not rent, the film. Video stores out where I live long ago quit carrying the sorts of films I longed to see. Heck, the last time I considered myself lucky at the local movie store was when I found an uncut version of Joe D'Amato's "Buio Omega," under the name "Buried Alive," at a major retailer well known for not carrying such cinematic treasures. And that was probably fifteen years ago! Yep, DVD is not only here to stay but also keeps growing by leaps and bounds. No film is too outrageous for rerelease on DVD, which is where Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation epic "Coffy" enters the picture.

Director Hill sets the tone of his project immediately by introducing us to Coffy (Pam Grier), a nurse by day and an avenging angel by night. Sadly, a bunch of drug dealers corrupted her little sister some time ago, turning the poor lass into a mentally unstable basket case who now resides full time in a bed at the local psych ward. Coffy knows she can't go to the police for help because of the systemic racism of the man, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. Decked out in the steamiest outfit she can find, she lures a drug kingpin and his lieutenant back to his apartment in order to dispatch the two with shotgun and syringe. Two down for her sister with a bunch more to go. In the meantime, Coffy rekindles her friendship with a black cop named Carter (William Elliot) while maintaining a relationship with fast talking politico Howard Brunswick (Booker Bradshaw). Our heroine comes close to telling her cop friend all about her missions of carnage, but before she can do so a bunch of heavies beat Carter senseless for refusing to go on the take. It's not surprising at all that these same thugs are the guys Coffy will eventually go after as her plot takes her up the underworld chain of command. But in order to achieve her mission, she's going to need all of her feminine wiles. Seeking revenge is serious business--just ask Charles Bronson.

Coffy learns about the existence of drug kingpin Arturo Vitroni (Allan Arbus of M*A*S*H* fame) who associates with a powerful procurer named King George (Robert DoQui). In order to ingratiate herself to Vitroni, Coffy goes undercover as a Jamaican harridan named Mystique complete with hilarious accent and a huge Afro. When you stop laughing, feel free to continue. Grier's character puts the moves on King George, convincing him to take her on as his star employee. The other ladies in his majesty's service resent the power Mystique holds over the boss, so Coffy needs to worry about the girls plotting her downfall even as she strives to keep her true identity under wraps. Mystique manages to grab Vitroni's attention at a soiree where a full scale catfight breaks out between Coffy and the other gals, a catfight involving thrown food, slapping, a broken bottle, and razor blades carefully placed in Mystique's Afro just in case one of these sneaky girls tries to pull her hair. The movie flies by rapidly from this point forward, with Coffy discovering just how far Vitroni and his goons--including the ominous Russian thug Omar (Sid Haig)--are willing to go. Expect a few plot twists before the credits roll.

I really got a charge out of "Coffy." I've always been a big fan of Pam Grier, one of those rare actresses who just keep getting better looking with age. She's great as the relentless Coffy, a woman out to destroying her enemies anyway she can. And while her acting isn't the greatest, the script easily takes much of the blame off the performers. Hill's movie is pure exploitation, more focused on exaggerated visual theatrics like Omar tying King George to the bumper of his car and dragging him through the streets than engaging in intellectually stimulating dialogue. The movie does examine several themes--racism, crime in the black community, and drug abuse among others--but the real driving force of the film is mixing up sex and violence in ways aimed at shocking audiences and pushing boundaries. I initially found the scene between Vitroni and Coffy deeply offensive until I placed it in the context of the film as a whole. Black audiences could bellow in rage at the overt racism expressed by a few of the characters and then sit back and relax as Coffy dealt out her own brand of justice to the evildoers on behalf of the black community.

The primary extra on the DVD is a commentary with Jack Hill that is, unfortunately, rather boring to listen to. It's the film that should draw in audiences, and in that respect "Coffy" will succeed because of it's in your face attitude and over the top histrionics. I can't wait to follow this one up with the other blaxploitation classics. Although this is my first excursion into this genre, I suspect "Coffy" is an excellent place for the novice to start. Go get 'em, Coffy!


Rating:
Summary: this is THE best female action flick
Review: i finnaly agree with mistermaxxx for a change,which is rare but its not blaxsploitation.but before new jack city,before blow,before traffik,or traffic,there was coffy.coffy is a real gritty 70's black flick.coffy comes across as being verry caring AND somewhat unstable AND murderous at the same time.vengence is her goal to rid the city of all the drug pushers and gangstas in the city wich led to her sister and others in the city diying due to drugs.her cold vengence is further induced due to the fact a friend gets beaten severely who is actually a good cop that refuses to turn corrupt.coffy plot is not all that sub par.as a matter of fact it has ALOT of relevence today.that is what actually suprised me about the film.also the soundtrack is GREAT!.the graphic violence and sex is also what i liked about the film.for the un informed the best way to describe coffy is that she's a urban black female version,of marvel comic's the punisher.but to the tenth power! and is set in the early 70's.but tha sad part is that coffy was a ordinary women at one point before turning into a somewhat unstable bloody murderous diabolical cold caculating killer vigilante.un like punisher who was actualy a soldier before turning into a crazed vigilante.

Rating:
Summary: Actually, a VERY GOOD movie for its class and time!
Review: I like this show. It bites. Pam is superb in it, and proves she can act as well as do the physical end of really wild and rapid action scenes. In the multiple-girl fight scene, she easily flips and tosses two blondes, a redhead, and a brunette around like rag dolls. Watching this particular scene, you can see that the women were trying to be as realistic as possible with the grappling and struggling they were doing with one another. Of course the blows were faked and "pulled", but Pam's lifting, flipping, and tossing of her opponents was very well done indicating that she had the physical strength and prowess to pull it off. She kicked butt ABSOLUTELY! The whole show is well worth seeing just for that one scene itself!
As for the rest of its content, it has grit, that low-grade 70's crime drama "feel", and a nice pace to it. Not bad at all on its own and with Pam in it, really good!

Rating:
Summary: great movie&soundtrack
Review: i love the force of Pam Grier.she seeks revenge and gets it.she does whatever she has to find the Pushers&dealers.i can't stand the term Blackexplotation? do folks say that about all the gangster films and say Italianexplotation? i mean it's loaded.Pam Grier is still Sexy as ever.she was ahead of her time.Tv had to get a Wonder Woman&3 Charlie's Angels to Equal one Pam Grier.the soundtrack is slamming Roy Ayers is a Genius.

Rating:
Summary: great movie&soundtrack
Review: i love the force of Pam Grier.she seeks revenge and gets it.she does whatever she has to find the Pushers&dealers.i can't stand the term Blackexplotation? do folks say that about all the gangster films and say Italianexplotation? i mean it's loaded.Pam Grier is still Sexy as ever.she was ahead of her time.Tv had to get a Wonder Woman&3 Charlie's Angels to Equal one Pam Grier.the soundtrack is slamming Roy Ayers is a Genius.

Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC MOVIE WITH THE SEXY PAM GRIER
Review: I LOVED THIS MOVIE!! WORDS ALONE CAN NOT EXPRESS ABOUT THIS GREAT MOVIE! I AM A "HUGE" FAN OF PAM GRIER!! SEE THIS MOVIE! IT'S ACTION-PACKED! IT HAS VIOLENCE! BUT, MOST OF ALL, IT HAS PAM GRIER!!!

Rating:
Summary: Grier is Fantastic the Queen of B-movies
Review: I think that this movie is exciting sexy and most of all full of adventure. I think that Pam Grier truly shows her acting ability as well as her fantastic figure and sex appeal. She not just another pretty face on the big screen. This movie is definitly the bomb!

Rating:
Summary: Pam Grier Never Looked Better!
Review: I'll be honest, I just purchased this movie to see Pam Grier naked and I must say, there's some excellent nude scenes in this movie..., this should've been considered a comedy in some respects. Get this movie if only for a cheap thrill.