4rtist1

[4rtist1]

Superfly

Super Fly was a cool movie. It wasn't my favorite film from the Blaxploitation era, but it had its own unique flavor. One thing I loved the most was the fashion. While it wasn’t a complete departure from other movies of the era, it had a louder, more flamboyant feel. Youngblood Priest’s fur coats, leather outfits, and iconic hairstyle made a statement. His look wasn’t just about style it represented power, pride, and individuality. It caught people’s eyes, both on screen and off, and became part of the film’s lasting cultural impact.

The soundtrack was another standout. Curtis Mayfield’s music didn’t just play in the background it spoke directly to what was happening in the movie. Songs like “Pusherman” and “Freddie’s Dead” provided commentary on the characters and the world they lived in. That kind of soundtrack makes a film feel more alive. It’s rare that the music feels like it’s narrating the story, but that’s exactly what happened here. A good soundtrack can definitely improve how a movie is received, and Super Fly is proof of that.

Before watching the movie, I thought Super Fly would be like Shaft. They're both part of the Blaxploitation genre and tackle themes of Black power, survival, and resistance. But they approach those ideas differently. Shaft is a private detective, still working within the system in his own rebellious way. Youngblood Priest, on the other hand, is a drug dealer trying to make one last big score so he can get out of the game. He’s not fighting crime—he’s tangled up in it. That gives Super Fly a more complicated, morally gray tone.

The film walks a fine line between glorifying and critiquing drug dealing. It shows the flashy lifestyle money, cars, clothes but it also shows the fear, danger, and desperation behind it. Priest wants out. He’s not addicted to the hustle; he’s trapped by it. That inner conflict gives the movie emotional weight and speaks to the reality many Black men faced: trying to survive a system set up to make them fail.

One thing that stood out from the cultural conversations I saw about Super Fly was how much people talked about Youngblood especially his hair. It sounds simple, but it meant something. Seeing a man on screen who looked like the people in Black neighborhoods was powerful. He wasn’t a side character or comic relief he was the lead. That visibility mattered. It showed that a man like Priest could be the center of the story, and for many, that was inspiring.

[4rtist1]

Cleopatra

This movie was a little different from the movies previously watched like Coffy. This movie spoke to what women could be like in power. Like I said previously I love a strong woman lead movie but I something about this movie was a little different than the last. This had shown women in a little different light. Though the movies like Coffy she was a strong black women but this movie gave a sense of a different kind of powerful woman. Almost to the point that is seemed like an untouchable power in real life but most of the time that is the goal. She was a women that had this James Bond type vibe.  She was different from the other women because in the other films the women were like vigilantes they didn't have real help. That's what made this film stick out to me and I think that's what made this film popular back then a women working within the system. Handling the problems she has with the drug dealers and the corruption. One thing that I've always admired about watching these films is that they address the issue in the world. These movies spoke clearly and loudly back than. They choose the pick a woman and to put her in the system and to fight back against it. Another thing is she isn't just a woman she is a women that clearly does what she believes is right and they didn't dumb her down she is still in fully dolled up and everything. Nothing about the battle she is fighting is out of revenge which speaks to the character of her. She is trying to protect her people, defend the youth, and taking on a crazy drug lord. Another thing is gotta love a good antagonist. Pitting two women against each other is always a lovely thing to see. The thing about pitting two women against each other is fun. Two women who couldn't be more different. I don't know I love to see a strong woman but seeing one play a villian sometimes does something so great to the storyline. I feel they sometimes play it better than a man. I don't know if the emotion feels more raw and authentic. Even though is a blaxploitation film which means everything is highly exaggerated the acting, the action, and everything else. So I will say that Mommy feels a slightly a little cartoonish  The trope is always my favorite. The music is funky and stylish, and Cleopatra’s Corvette Stingray might as well be her sidekick. But beneath the flash is a serious message about Black empowerment, especially Black women asserting control over their image, space, and destiny.  

[4rtist1]

Jackie Brown

Watching Jackie Brown after watching the movies Coffy and Foxy Brown. I appreciated how less there was unnecessary nudity. It was a change of pace almost and thinking about how all three movies had the same actor makes me wonder a little bit did she appreciate it too. You can tell the difference between the eras of film making by watching these movies in that specific order. While this wasn't my favorite movie. I thought the movie was a little too slow for my taste. Slow burn films aren't really my thing. Though I did see the maturity in the film. The conversation they had in this film about age and they're thoughts about their life was kind of a refreshing moment. This movie had that maturity and in this scene it reached a sense of relatability. The vibe of this movie throughout from it’s character, soundtrack etc you get the vibe of struggle and aspiration. 

Her plan was very well thought out. She managed to cross not just her boss but the cop who was trying to send her to jail if she didn't come through. She made them both think they had someone that was going to risk what she wanted to get what they wanted. You realized that she never gave up what she wanted and she wanted to make the most out of her life because she didn’t feel like she did and she was 40 yrs old. Robbie was never going to give her that and she knew that and for the cops her deal wasn’t enough it would have left her with no money. She decided not to rely on the men that she was surrounded by and make up a plan of her own. When I saw the plan finally go through I was surprised and kind of proud. Like it was slight stuff that I caught that was like " Ohhh that was smart." For example, at the end when she and Max lured Robbie to the shop just for the cops to be there. The thing is that she was playing both sides until the end. Just to make sure the cops missed and Robbie capped them instead of vice versa. She made she that it made it seem like that she was doing it under distress by yelling out "Robbie he has a gun." She made a guy that had a career like a cop almost agree to not only crossed a dealer but a cop as well. Him being in love with her probably helped with the persuasion. I love to see a women outsmart two men. Especially when the two men have archetypes that have the ohh I can get over and handle these women because I know women and I know how they can be so if I do this it'll work out in my favor. Robbie had that archetype for real; you notice it more with how he handles Melanie. He didn’t have any real trust in anybody but himself.

[4rtist1]

Foxy Brown

Now if my brother did something like what Foxy brother did I would have been pissed too because what you mean my man died because of my brother's big ass mouth. And my brother knows that's my man and he still decided to turn him in for a payday or to get the people he messed up with off his back that that's me or my boyfriend's problem. Like where does your loyalty really lie because it clears that it doesn't lie with me. You made it clear as day. The scene where she comes busting in her brother's crib after the shooting was funny. When she said "You better thank the lord because that's the only reason I haven't killed you." Then as she leaves the gf goes who she thinks she is and Linc says " That's my sister and she is a whole lotta woman." I think the thing about that whole situation that made it seem like her choice of how to express her frustration towards her brother was so older sister. As much as you could tell she wanted to hate her brother for what he did she couldn't really do too much because it was her brother. At the very end she told him that she basically knew why he did it and that it wasn't going to work. She tore all his shit up and told him to move and do something better and he better not be there when she comes back. I think about how in the beginning it hinted to the fact that Foxy clearly is always helping her brother out of a jam or whatever he’s in. Then when it’s time for him to have her back he just gave her up and played around and acted like he didn’t know what she was talking about. He couldn’t even give her the respect to just say hey I was in a bind and I decided to give him up to help myself out and that was wrong anything along these lines. Even the people who she was gunning for revenge for were confused once they placed her face and realized the guy who gave him up was her brother. 

Another thing is that when Foxy was caught trying to help me her friend. Then shooting up with coke and then sending her out to the ranch. I want to say I appreciated the fact that one that part of the story wasn't too long and they didn't show that rape scene. Truthfully storylines that have that much racism and abuse in them have never been something I chose to watch on screen and prefer for it not to be something that is shown too long. Last thing about this particular scene is I wasn't really too much of a fan of the acting from both of the white actors here. Especially when she was escaping and she hit them and poured gasoline on them. It was too exaggerated to the point that it seemed really fake but that is kind of what movies were like around this time. 

[4rtist1]

Coffy

I think I can speak for everyone and say we understand and even overstand the plight of the character Coffy. She wanted the people who hurt and took advantage of her sister to get caught, hurt something. When she finally decided to take a step of getting back at the people she felt bad because it wasn't really her character she was hurting. Which is a normal human feeling that everyone has done at least once in their lifetime, acted out of motion and then realized that they could have handled the situation better. I will say I thought the way she went about trying to get her point across was a very stupid way. I got irritated when she got caught trying to kill Alturo because it seemed like there were so many better plans that didn't involve her getting caught immediately after she pulled out the gun. But then when the guy walked in with the one lens in his glasses and linked her to Howard. It took me by surprise a little bit that Howard was connected with Alturo. I mean they say all politicians are corrupt and it kind of hinted at it when Carter was telling Coffy about how many people were on the take with the new drug dealer that was coming into town. I want to say that I dislike Howard though. I think about that saying they say occasionally "Why would a man be there" often. In this particular instance Howard looked at his girlfriend, lover whatever their title was and because he wanted to save himself he let them people take her out back to kill her actually he gave the order and went on about his business. Think about it he could have chosen a different route to help Coffy and himself but didn't trifle. But women do it best lol she helped herself and then killed Howard as she should have in this instance but how dare they order them people to kill her. I love a movie that is centered around a powerful female archetype because a lot of times you don't see too many of those or if you do it's in a certain kind of light like she got to struggle first or she is strong but it's because a man is helping her in some kind of way. That wasn't the case in this movie. She was strong from the get go. One thing about old movies that I always find a little off putting and funny at the same time is the fighting; it seems so fake and excessive. Like the scene where the beat up Carter was so fake looking at the glass vase that hit the man. Speaking of putting another thing that was that every fight scene that involved a woman for some reason her blouse was ripped off and her chest had to be all out which was weird. There was no reason that every time a woman was fighting. They were oversexualizing the woman in this movie and it was clear in the fight scenes because that bit was very unnecessary.

[4rtist1]

Shaft(1971)

I've watched the newer Shafts never the older ones. Watching this one made me think about the difference between the ones made now and the ones made back then. The movies still touch on the racial issues and the problems between black people and the police department. I appreciate the character that Shaft represents. Hr stuck up to "The man" and didn't take nothing from the people who were ignorant to him. I think about how to this day the Shaft character still kind of depicts that same characteristic. The movie keeps the same meaning it had before. The message of creating that Black superhero and him going against the normal scene. There was one scene in particular that stuck out to me. The scene after Ben boys got killed and they finally got some place safe. Ben says he should be out there because he just lost five boys. Shaft then says "Till we find out why there dead this is the right place to be" and Ben then says "You think like a white man". That scene stuck out to me more so because one Shaft had the right idea that they were in the right place because they weren't sure why they got hit and there is no reason to be outside looking for trouble if you don't even know why the problem started. Two in this instance I not sure what he meant by you think like a white man. I probably could guess what he meant but I don't think I would be typically right. Because one thing that was clearly was he was trying to say that Shaft was wrong that there was no reason for them to be sitting talking and not outside trying to find the problem but what else did he mean by that. Did he mean to say he was being too cautious was he trying to say he was scary what was the intention behind that line. Back then around that time the movie was heavily influenced by what was going on around that time period. You can tell because of the complication between Shaft and the police department. The problems the black community was having with themselves, the problems between the black communities and other communities. Like the encounter between Shaft and the cop that called him a name and then he called him a name back to show him he can be just as ignorant as him. This movie called out a lot of things one of those things being how realistic no matter how it may seem communities rely on the black community whether they wanna say it or not. The end scene right before the credit and even throughout the movie the dectivites were on Shaft trying to figure out what he knew because they knew he was on it and had information that could help them and they were behind Shaft and had to catch up. But the end scene where he called the detective and says he cased just busted wide open and he says "Well then close it for me." Said a lot and I think that being the end scene had a lot of meaning to the movie and also to life then and now lowkey.

[4rtist1]

WATTSTAX

The celebration of Blackness of Black music, Black people is a good thing to see on screen. A pack festival people connecting and sharing their love spiritually, physically, and everything else. Based on the footage you see happy people enjoying themselves. The film wasn't just a show of the music festivals but cut to people talking about current events and black culture around that time. The film made you feel like you were there almost like you were watching it happening in real time. One thing the beauty of documentaries have. The perspective they decide to show and how they decide to show it. It gives it the real storytelling feeling. Almost like not just the director is talking to you but also the subject of the film. The back and forth between these convos and the music angles gives it a type of connection feeling like the songs goes with the words that are being spoken. The doc showed me one of the things I love about us and our culture. Our ability to connect with our music and connect with each other through our music. Our fashion from our hair which shows so much of a personality sometimes. Looking at the outfits in this movie is amazing to see. To see how so much of the stuff that was popular in the 80s fashion came back years later. To see people talk about black culture and civil rights problems. To think how much of those things still relate to this day. You'd think by now things should have changed to realize it hasn't or that things have changed and has now become relevant now again. The interviews talk about the riots and how these riots were bringing good change that they were supposed to bring good change. The riots about religion, unemployment, crime, identity, men and women, and adultery. Topics that we have are still big conversations, especially right now going through the things we were going through surprisingly. I say surprisingly because some of the things we are having conversations about are things that were fought for and won back then. Watching this film for me showed how much growth we still haven't had as a society , some growth we have had is shown as well along with so backtracking we also had. Thinking about how a festival like this would never happen at this point of time. We still have music festivals like "The Root Picnic" and things like that but it would never be as interactive as it was back then. Shit it probably wouldn't even have as good performance and music like back then. Talking a little more on the conversation that were had in the film and less about the festival because the conversation was like really the message of the film. I just want to say that I enjoyed the conversation that we had. They got me thinking about then and now. Right now in the state we are in you need to hear about these topics.

[4rtist1]

Baadaasss!

I would like to point out that I like the fact that Mario decided to make a movie about his dad making the movie is something that I like. I actually enjoyed his perspective honestly. I enjoyed seeing the relationship grow between him and his dad. I enjoyed the process of watching Van Peebles go through making the movie. One thing about me is I always enjoyed watching any creative process. One of the moments that stuck out to me during the process was at the end when it was playing in the theater and he thought no one was going to show up and he walked and went to the bar across the street and for him a little later to realize a couple drinks in when the bartender goes " Well what are they showing over there ?" His face realizes when it hits him that what they are showing his movie and that is a crowd basically for him was a moment. The characters in this perspective made me see the original movie in a new light kind of. The cut offs to where they had people talking about the movie gave more insight. I would say I liked the Priscilla character. She was funny. A little comedy is alway needed and she definitely brought it along with others. Another moment that stuck out to me was the time he went to a potential producer house and the producer climbed the rope for his child. Then Van Peebles' daughters asked him to try it but he hesitated for reasons known. The producer goes on about how he only did it for his kid and adds it took him a year to get all the way to the top. In the end Van Peebles ends up giving it to his daughter and goes all the way to the top. The reaction shots from everyone in this particular scene spoke a lot without even saying a word. My professor always goes on about the power behind showing a message without saying a word. The daughter's reaction shot shows how proud she is of her dad. The son's perspective looks kind of proud and concerned almost. The producer's family looks both impressed and with a negative emotion. Now the producer and Van Peebles face are the most important in this scene. The producer almost seems disappointed with jealousy included and Peebles expression going up the rope shows contemplating and regret once he makes it to the top. This scene stuck out for me because it shows how much the producer respected him and viewed him. Him climbing that rope for him showed the producer that he wasn't one of those people he was going to belittle and keep in line. Peebles realizes he messed up his first impression and knew he shouldn't have climbed that rope. Lowkey him climbing that rope saved him in the end.

[4rtist1]

Sweet SweetBack

I will say I enjoy a lot of movies from the Blaxploitation era. This movie in particular wasn't really my favorite. Honestly the opening scene was really uncomfortable to watch before I even realized it was her son she was having sex with. For me opening scenes are very important. It pretty much gives the audience and the movie its opening message and overall vibe. I read this article that talked about that opening scene and the message they felt was behind that scene. I don't know if I agree with them. They talked about how the depiction of the women was to show off the strong woman vibe and to show off that women are the strong household figure of the black home. Personally I think there are better ways to show off a strong black woman and she doesn't have to be naked to show that. I also don't really agree that the scene in particular showed black women in a good light or even the black community in one. A grown woman having sex with a child is taboo by itself but then you add that the child was also her son doesn't really make the situation better. The thing is around this time the goal was to break out of the negative light that white media had put us in. Then you go to the theater to see a movie made by a black director/producer and he wanted to show the black community and that's what he chooses for the opening scene. Now you may say the whole movie had a better view/message overall but I think the opening scene was bold and very telling to his perspective of his community. I was asked a question on whether or not this movie was really male dominated. I would say I think so and you can definitely tell this movie was told from a male perspective. From the story he chose to tell , to the actors and how he chose to depict them. Ask the question on "Why a whorehouse ?" One thing I will say is this was the era of Blaxploitation where the goal was to break out of these boxes that the black community was put in but the white media. That we had to be the villains in the storyline or the ones in the "corner". I think that the movie being told from a black perspective no matter what kind of perspective it was, it was bound to be a successful movie in the black community. I would say that this movie coming out around that era was not a shock. Black movies around that time seemed to always do good and to this day they do very well in the black communities (sometimes).