Rating: 
Summary: Still Fly After All these Years
Review: Super Fly came out in 1972 and is still controversial. Critics say that the story glorifies drugs. I disagree. Ron O Neal (a brilliant actor who simply came on the scene before his time) as Priest is an intense and intelligent character. He knows he's in a dirty game and he's sick of playing it and longs to get out. Junkies are portrayed as pitiful creatures that no one in their right mind would want to emulate. Priest's partner is a greedy, blind fool and his mentor Scatter is living proof that the game can bite you. Add this complex story to Curtis Mayfield's brilliant score and you have what may be the greatest of the blackploitaiton movies. I just want to know when this is going to come out on DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: He's got a plan to stick it to The Man!
Review: Superfly (1972) is a tough, unpolished gem rising above the numerous films to come from the blaxploitation period of the early 70's. While some are critical of the message they believe posed within the film, one of glamorizing the image of the drug dealer, I didn't really see it that way at all. I think this image presented was a superficial one, and one that the main character within the film saw and understood, prompting his actions and decisions to try and escape the life.
Ron O'Neal, who recently passed away on January 14, 2004, plays Priest, a streetwise pusher in a dilemma. Seems he is tired of the hustle, and is looking for a way to get out of the game, but, as his partner Eddie (Carl Lee) puts it, "Look, I know it's a rotten game, but it's the only one The Man left us to play." Apparently Priest has thought long about this, and he has come up with a plan to score a lot of cash in a short amount of time, and then plans to retire. Sounds like a plan, but Priest soon encounters powerful forces that feel he is worth more to them on the streets, pushing junk, doing what he does best. While the film does appear to glamorize the lifestyle of the drug peddler, I truly believe the underlying message was than despite all Priests' success, he was languishing in a form of slavery, always working for someone else and taking all the risks involved in such a trade. In a way he realized this, but found it difficult to leave the life, as that was all he knew, and working for 'chump change' was not in his future.
Gordon Parks, Jr. direction may seem amateurish with jerky camera shots and such, but it fit in nicely with the nature of the material within the film, giving a raw, harsh look into the seedy side of life, much like Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973). One of the things that really sets this film apart from the other movies of the time was the soundtrack by the legendary Curtis Mayfield. With such funkified songs as Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, and Superfly, Mayfield's contributions to the film served to elevate it above many films within the genre, and solidify his career as a musical genius. O'Neal is great as Priest (love those outta sight mutton chops), and is supported by some really decent performances by the lovely Sheila Frazier, Julius Harris, who many may recognize from the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), and Charles McGregor, who also appearing in Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles (1974).
There are a good amount of special features on this disc including a brand new documentary called `One Last Deal: A Retrospective', a commentary track by Dr. Todd Boyd, a USC professor of television and cinema and author of "Am I Black Enough for You: Popular Culture from the 'Hood and Beyond", a early featurette with Ron O'Neal, a `making of ` documentary with O'Neal, `Behind the Threads' featurette with costumer designer Nate Adams where he shows off some of the original costumes from the film, and an audio only track with Mayfield's music. Also, I really liked some of the small touches within the interactive menu. For instance, instead of a listing for `Scene Selection', it's titled `Makin' the Scene', the `Special Features' selection is titled `Fly Features', and the subtitles section is labeled `Jive Talk'. A very nice and well-developed release by Warner Brothers, although I still am annoyed that they use the cheap plastic and cardboard packaging. When will they learn...
Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: He's got a plan to stick it to The Man!
Review: Superfly (1972) is a tough, unpolished gem rising above the numerous films to come from the blaxploitation period of the early 70's. While some are critical of the message they believe posed within the film, one of glamorizing the image of the drug dealer, I didn't really see it that way at all. I think this image presented was a superficial one, and one that the main character within the film saw and understood, prompting his actions and decisions to try and escape the life.Ron O'Neal, who recently passed away on January 14, 2004, plays Priest, a streetwise pusher in a dilemma. Seems he is tired of the hustle, and is looking for a way to get out of the game, but, as his partner Eddie (Carl Lee) puts it, "Look, I know it's a rotten game, but it's the only one The Man left us to play." Apparently Priest has thought long about this, and he has come up with a plan to score a lot of cash in a short amount of time, and then plans to retire. Sounds like a plan, but Priest soon encounters powerful forces that feel he is worth more to them on the streets, pushing junk, doing what he does best. While the film does appear to glamorize the lifestyle of the drug peddler, I truly believe the underlying message was than despite all Priests' success, he was languishing in a form of slavery, always working for someone else and taking all the risks involved in such a trade. In a way he realized this, but found it difficult to leave the life, as that was all he knew, and working for 'chump change' was not in his future. Gordon Parks, Jr. direction may seem amateurish with jerky camera shots and such, but it fit in nicely with the nature of the material within the film, giving a raw, harsh look into the seedy side of life, much like Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets (1973). One of the things that really sets this film apart from the other movies of the time was the soundtrack by the legendary Curtis Mayfield. With such funkified songs as Pusherman, Freddie's Dead, and Superfly, Mayfield's contributions to the film served to elevate it above many films within the genre, and solidify his career as a musical genius. O'Neal is great as Priest (love those outta sight mutton chops), and is supported by some really decent performances by the lovely Sheila Frazier, Julius Harris, who many may recognize from the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), and Charles McGregor, who also appearing in Mel Brooks Blazing Saddles (1974). There are a good amount of special features on this disc including a brand new documentary called 'One Last Deal: A Retrospective', a commentary track by Dr. Todd Boyd, a USC professor of television and cinema and author of "Am I Black Enough for You: Popular Culture from the 'Hood and Beyond", a early featurette with Ron O'Neal, a 'making of ' documentary with O'Neal, 'Behind the Threads' featurette with costumer designer Nate Adams where he shows off some of the original costumes from the film, and an audio only track with Mayfield's music. Also, I really liked some of the small touches within the interactive menu. For instance, instead of a listing for 'Scene Selection', it's titled 'Makin' the Scene', the 'Special Features' selection is titled 'Fly Features', and the subtitles section is labeled 'Jive Talk'. A very nice and well-developed release by Warner Brothers, although I still am annoyed that they use the cheap plastic and cardboard packaging. When will they learn... Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: he wants out of the life
Review: Superfly has a reputation as one of the great blaxploitation films, along with Shaft, Coffy, and Foxy Brown. Years after watching the others, I finally get around to seeing Superfly. Superfly is about Youngblood Priest, a drug dealer and one of the baddest, most authentically black cats in all the city. He has it good with his women, the money, his wheels, and he has the respect of the other dealers and underworld figures. Despite all this success, Priest desperately wants to move out of the criminal life. He figures one last score will get him out. I expected more comedy. Perhaps seeing Ron O'Neal in that outrageous pimp suit on the DVD cover prepared me for a lighter, breezier flick. I also expected more action. Superfly has almost no action. Superfly attempts a thoroughly realistic portrayal of a drug dealer surviving, thriving, and trying to snake his way out of the business. O'Neal's performance is a job well done, and supporting players deserve credit as well. Gordon Parks Jr. directed, and while his work is not masterful, it serves the performers and setting well. Superfly deserves its reputation as a landmark blaxploitation flick, and it's surely worth 90 minutes of your time. Just don't start the movie expecting a lot of action or comedy. Superfly is a lowdown nasty drama about the hard life. Also, the DVD includes some extras. Best of these is a commentary by Dr. Todd Boyd, whose knowledge of the film and time period is evident. Dr. Boyd's insights into the ghetto culture of the early and mid 1970s and African-American life there are valuable and exceptional.
Rating:
Summary: Ron O'Neal is superb!
Review: Superfly has been one of my favs for years. The performances were the bomb and what a joy to be able to watch and listen to Curtis Mayfield during the movie. Cool piece, great look and feel; a fine story.
Rating:
Summary: Superfly
Review: Superfly is indeed a great movie Ron O Neal and Carl Lee and Juluis Harris as "Scatterman" showed me that there is nothing new under the sun as concerning the grittiness of street life then and now. The conviction with which ONeal played his character made it more than just a movie and I must say that the love scene with Shelia Frazier is off the charts (talk about big things coming in small packages). Superfly is indeed the MAN
Rating:
Summary: Superfly is the greatest movie ever about the Struggle
Review: Superfly is the best and Curtis Mayfield is a great performer
Rating:
Summary: The best
Review: Superfly is the best soul movie ever made. Amazing cinema + amazing score. this is a MILESTONE.
Rating:
Summary: Superfly is a Super Buy!
Review: Superfly is the story of a man named Priest, however he was no priest. He grew up a black man in the heart of lower Harlem and quickly learned to be a playa. At the age of 17, he was thrown out of high school for assaulting a teacher and began his life on the streets. After multiple arrests, and many brushes with death, Priest decided enough was enough. He had lost his woman to the "Dagos" in a brilliant depiction of race tensions in Harlem in 1970's. The only things keeping Priest back was the Kingpins of the hood. Once you were in, you were in for life. It ends with the ultimate race war in the Harlem night. Blacks hit whites, whites hit blacks, and all to the soothing beats of the soul brother Curtis Mayfield. The rest? Watch the movie. It is the best depiction of Harlem drug life in the early seventies to date. A cult classic. - Jerome and Tyrone Billings - Brooklyn, NY
Rating: 
Summary: Unconscionable Act by Warner Bros.
Review: Superfly is widely recognized as being arguably the best film of its genre, and having one of, if not the greatest, film soundtracks of all time -- and yet, Warner Bros., in an act of irreverence, finally releases Superfly on DVD using inferior, cartoonish, cardboard packaging and, worse yet, the soundtrack is not even in HIFI SOUND!!! This is beyond my comprehension that Curtis Mayfield's great musical work, clearly worthy of an Academy Award, should be undervalued and demeaned in this manner. I do not recommend buying the DVD not because of the film, which I love, but because of the unconscionable treatment of the film's release on DVD by Warner Bros.
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