Superfly

Superfly
by Jr. Gordon Parks

Superfly
List Price: $14.96
Our Price: $6.44
You Save: $8.52 (57%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Carl Lee, Ron O'Neal, Shelia Frazier
Director: Jr. Gordon Parks
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-01-13
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Model: 28888
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
  • New

DVD Reviews of Superfly

DVD Review: He's got a plan to stick it to The Man!
Summary: 4 Stars

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
More Superfly reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Description of Superfly

SUPER FLY - DVD Movie
Bestsellers in DVD
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] ImageThe Story of Jeremiah [VHS]
Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS] ImageWresting With God [VHS]
by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $19.99
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS] ImageStudy Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]
Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $44.00
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS] ImageTempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: $9.98
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/Party Video [VHS] ImageTempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Strike the Original Match [VHS] ImageStrike the Original Match [VHS]
New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $14.95
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] ImageMedjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]
JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008 ImageMayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008
by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User ImagePediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User
by Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Cost Accounting [VHS] ImageCost Accounting [VHS]
by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Claudine ImageClaudine
Fox; Release date: 2003-01-14; DVD
Best price: $4.28
Price in other shops: $9.98
Soul Cinema Double Feature: Cotton Comes to Harlem and Hell up in Harlem ImageSoul Cinema Double Feature: Cotton Comes to Harlem and Hell up in Harlem
MGM; Release date: 2009-09-01; DVD
Best price: $7.23
Price in other shops: $14.98
Dolemite ImageDolemite
Allegro; Release date: 2002-03-19; DVD
Best price: $7.29
Price in other shops: $14.98
Shaft Collection (Shaft / Shaft's Big Score / Shaft in Africa) ImageShaft Collection (Shaft / Shaft's Big Score / Shaft in Africa)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-12-12; DVD
Best price: $5.23
Price in other shops: $14.97
Cleopatra Jones ImageCleopatra Jones
Warner Brothers; Release date: 1999-03-30; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: $9.98
Shaft ImageShaft
ROUNDTREE,RICHARD; Release date: 2000-06-06; DVD
Best price: $2.64
Price in other shops: $9.98
Coffy ImageCoffy
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2001-01-09; DVD
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops: $14.98
Foxy Brown ImageFoxy Brown
GRIER,PAM; Release date: 2001-01-09; DVD
Best price: $3.23
Price in other shops: $14.98
Four Film Favorites: Urban Action Collection (Black Belt Jones / Black Samson / Hot Potato / Three the Hard Way) ImageFour Film Favorites: Urban Action Collection (Black Belt Jones / Black Samson / Hot Potato / Three the Hard Way)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2010-01-12; DVD
Best price: $5.92
Price in other shops: $14.99
The Mack ImageThe Mack
Warner; Release date: 2002-09-03; DVD
Best price: $3.67
Price in other shops: $5.97
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners