Reviews (2)

For Us, The Living-Dead
First of all, I would have appreciated being warned that this movie was in Extended Play Mode. CD Universe was kind enough to note that the copy it had for sale was in the EP mode and thus I did not buy it from them. I was optimistic that Amazon's copy might be in Standard Play mode because nothing was listed in the "technical details section." I had already opened the package before I noticed that it was in EP Mode. This copy of the movie had artifacts throughout the entire film. I tried it on two seperate VCRs. To to that off, the acting was uniformly horrible and the movie didn't even address the identity/landmark trial of assassin Byron De La Beckwith who was played superbly played by James Woods in "Ghosts of Mississippi" That is the movie you should see if you want to know about Medgar Evers and see outstanding performances at the same time including an uncharacteristically good one from Whoopi Goldberg. She was also great in "A Long Walk Home" which deals with some of the same themes. Lastly, I would have like to have seen someone like Denzel Washington in the title role.

Underrated, Overlooked and So Damn Good
For Us the Living, a movie that recently sneaked onto video after airing on national T.V. The story of Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader from the early to mid sixties who was murdered by the Klu Klux Klan. This movie tells us first hand how Medgar, took on racist politicians and came home to be a loving husband. Played beautifully by Holling Rollins, and the gifted Irene Cara. It is on my shelf right there by Malcolm X. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The War Between the States finally brought an end to centuries of slavery in America. Africans in America: Judgment Day eloquently tells the story of the years leading up to this terrible war, detailing how the rising tide of abolitionism met the deeply entrenched slave economy, which made armed struggle inevitable. The genius of the program lies in its use of individual stories to explain nationwide events; the re-creations, interviews, and lush photography create a real sense of the tense antebellum atmosphere leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. This is an essential piece of American history, told from a long-neglected perspective. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastically brilliant
Without question, this series is one of the best documentaries on American History ever made: loaded with obscure info, thorough, challenging, and well-produced. Get it. ... Read more

Description

The greatest names in comedy rocked the house for nine season on HBO - now this amazing collection will rock yours again and again. Too explosive for regular TV, Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam features today's hottest comedians at their wildest and funniest. Whether you're laughing for the first time or catching your raucous favorites, Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam is the ultimate comedy experience - so outrageous that you'll definitely be back for more! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Raw, jagged, and explosively angry, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song is a landmark in American independent cinema. Melvin Van Peebles directed, wrote, produced, edited, scored, and stars as Sweetback, a passive bouncer raised in a brothel. Shot guerrilla style on a starvation budget on the streets of Los Angeles, it's a violent tale of Sweetback's journey from passive acceptance to political awareness and active defiance. He becomes the target of a manhunt when he kills two cops who beat up a young black activist, and he bounces from hideout to hideout before running for the border, all the while getting more booty than Shaft and Superfly put together. The movie was so inflammatory by conservative industry standards that it was "Rated X by an All White Jury," which the ads proudly touted. The unusual mix of agitprop and exploitation is directed in a jagged style that recalls Godard and set to a funky score performed by Earth, Wind & Fire, which Van Peebles intercuts with chanting Greek chorus-like slogans. Released independently, it was a huge hit and effectively spawned the blaxploitation genre, but none of the films that followed ever recaptured the energy, the anger, and the social politics of this breakthrough in independent cinema. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Baadasssss is Bad asss
This movie was revolutionary. Unfortunately it spark the blaxploitation era in cinema, a genre of low budget kill whitey flics, that with their high violence, low budgets, and great soundtracks(minus the political message of Sweetback) began to define an era in cinema when black directors where able to make black movies with black cast in leading roles. Released independently by Melvin Van Peoples in 1971 at a time when blacks in the cinema was next to non-existent (unless they were docile and shuffling their feet). Sweetback tells the story of a man that has had enough of the man and fights back. This movie was revolutionary from its polititcal message to its cinematography. The cinematography of this film which set the president for all other blaxploitation movies to follow was amazing.

This film is for people who can appreciate independent films
This is a great film. The story line isn't completely coherent, but the cinematography is great, the soundtrack is great and the cast is great. The film edits and audio layering are so seventies but, so sweet; reminiscent of seventies porn (I'm not even talking about the sex scenes). I'm really glad I picked this one up. This film is for people who can appreciate independent films.

Please let's get serious ....
I bought this DVD based on a .... believe it or not .... three star review in USA Today film selections last week. The negative reviews didn't scare me because I have seen campy, thought provoking movies get drubbed before and I had to see for myself.

This DVD has hit the high point as to the worst garbage ever put on a DVD. The acting is the pitts, if you can call it acting. Matter of fact th other people watching with me had to keep asking if the hero of the film, played by Melvin Peebles, talked or if he was dumb. To even bring up cinematography and the name of this DVD in the same sentence is ludicrous. The one song track is so badly played it's repeated ad infinitum just in case you didn't get to hate it in the first place.

Toward the end of the movie, at least one quarter of the film by the way deals with short shots of a minute or less of Van Peebles running from the man through the brush, the sewer, the street, tunnels, railroad tracks, desert, parks, highways .... you get the picture .... To make matters worse, the best part of the movie was when after wearing the same crushed gold velour jump suit, and dark shirt, for the WHOLE movie during the last five minutes he FINALLY managed to convince a vagrant to change clothes with his ....

Finally, to equate this film with any sort of greatness of black society and their creative ability is really doing an injustice ...... please please please just because it's done by and about blacks does NOT make this DVD great .....

I am however giving serous consideration to cancelling my USA subscription!

Sweet Melvin's Horrible Asssss Movie
This is one of the worst motion pictures ever made and I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Forget the technical stuff-bad lighting, worse acting and no screenplay to speak of, this is boring, incoherent and almost unwatchably slow. It gets a lot of credit for being the grandaddy of "Blaxploitation" cinema, but the truth is black movies were about to happen anyway and this one just happened to get there first. If I could give this zero stars, I would, but unfortunately one is as low as you can go. Unmitigated crap!!!

Baaaaaddddd DVD quality
This movie may have been groundbreaking in its day, but the DVD is horrendous in terms of image and sound quality. Why wasn't this film cleaned up if it's an anniversary edition? The image has too much debris and the crackling and hissing in several sections of the soundtrack is annoying.

Some of the acting is amateurish, but there are moments when the cinematography, editing, and directing is excellent. I would given the movie 5 stars for its uniqueness alone had it not been for this grotesque DVD transfer! ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the essential documentary series from 20th-century television,Eyes on the Prize is an extraordinary, grassroots history of the civilrights movement in 1950s and '60s America. Leaving punditry and debate toothers, this six-hour program concerns itself with the individuals who were there, who participated on the front lines, who witnessed and survived totell about the crusade's tragedies and victories. Starting with a pair ofmid-'50s heroic actions in the South that helped galvanize black and white activism against institutional racism (actions that included Rosa Parks'srefusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama),the series winds its way through the exponential growth of the movement tothe passage of the Voting Rights Act and beyond. The epochal battle between states-rights advocates and federal authorities is well-covered, as are themany sacrifices made and enormous risks taken by Mississippi Freedom Riders and advocates of black voter registration. Also in this boxed set is theseries' sequel, Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads1965-mid 1980s. An equally stirring, eight-hour history of the post-civil-rights years, in which hard-won political power manifested itself both insideand outside elected government offices, this follow-up traces the fracturingof a unified civil rights community into numerous missions and agendas.Driven by interviews and archival footage, the series takes a clear look at such historical chapters as the rise of black separatism, the election ofCarl Stokes to Cleveland's Office of the Mayor, and the turmoil of schooldesegregation. Both the original series and sequel are an absolute must for acontemporary understanding of racism in America. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (13)

EYES ON THE PRIZE
I watched the series in England over several Monday nights. It left me in tears after each episode. I have been fortunate because I have videotape every single episode and will keep it for any children I have. If you watch only one documentary about the civil rights then this is the one. It is authoratitive, accurate, serious and full of heart rendering stories showing the struggle for human rights for Black people. If every school in showed this serious, then maybe, just maybe, there would be a better understanding between us all.

Incredibly Educational
"I know the one thing we did right was the day we started to fight...keep your eyes on the prize...hold on my lord, hold on!" These are the words to the singing which accompanies the introduction of each video in this set. It is an incredibly beautiful acapello sung by the civil rights movement participants.

The set includes actual images and footage of the long uphill battle that black Americans fought in order to obtain their equal rights in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Chilling, terrifying, frustrating, inspiring images and comments are portrayed throughout the movies reflecting on times such as the murder of 14-yr old Emmitt Till, Brown vs. Board of Education, Ms. Fannie Lou Hammer's address to the convention, Martin Luther King's efforts in teaching non-violence, the sit-ins at Woolworth's, and countless of other historical incidents which created a ripple in changing times of America.

This is a movie that should be watched by all - a movie that should be mandated to be viewed in the schools, and taught as part of the curriculum of the civil rights movement. I treasure this set of videos and believe many others will as well.

Less a review than a plea...
...to PBS Home Video to (re-)release this remarkable set on accessible, affordable DVD. This is one of the most intelligent, affecting, & stimulating things I've ever seen on television. I had taped the original programs onto homemade VHS tapes when it was first aired, but, as quality TV has not, technology has advanced and many viewers would snap this series up in a heartbeat on DVD. Rent it from your local library, show it to your children, show it in schools--- and then let's get 'em to make 'em on DVD so we can own 'em! Shout it out loud!

Probably the best documentary handling of this subject...
I remember first seeing this documentary on PBS in 1987 (though I had not recalled that Mr. Burns produced it).
This same subject matter has been handled before and since (in both dramas and other documantaries) but never so effectively, so comprehensively-- or so hauntingly.

Wish I was blind...
Saw THIS when I was a teen. I remember turning around and telling my Mom - "wish we were all blind, we could love any or everyone or even if we do - it would be the color black." Mom gave a silly smile and I know it was a silly statement - Today I don't... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The brutal roots of the American slave years are brought vividly to life in Africans in America: The Terrible Transformation. From the earliest years of temporary bondage for African captives and European indentured servants alike to the gradual racialization of servitude to the industrialization of the slave trade, the story is a long and fascinating one. Voices of modern historians mix with those of our ancestors, both slaves and owners, to show how the political and economic forces of the day settled upon slavery as a solution to their labor problems. Exceptional production values give a feeling of gritty reality to the stories of fear and bitter resignation, creating a package that is at once both scholarly and deeply humanistic. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Amazon.com

This ambitious mixture of dramatic reconstruction with traditional documentary affords excellent insight into legendary bluesman Robert Johnson's life, the enduring power of his music, and the myth which surrounds him. Can't You Hear The Wind Howl transcends its genre of "docudrama," providing the well-researched information we'd expect from a conventional documentary with the dramatic impact we could hope for from a Hollywood film.

Contemporary bluesman Keb' Mo' (Kevin Moore) plays Johnson, and Danny Glover narrates, but the real star is Robert Johnson's music. The film's strength is its power of suggestion; we never see the Johnson character up close, never hear him talk. As if in a dream, he flits in and out of scenes, whether courting his girlfriend or stirring a juke joint to mayhem. But you'd be hard put picking him out of a police lineup. We never see him such that we can know him, which is an accurate representation of the elusive musician, according to the interview footage with Johnson's proteges and peers--among them Johnny Shines, Robert Lockwood Jr., and Honeyboy Edwards. Keb' Mo', who has included Robert Johnson songs on each of his three CDs, says that portraying Johnson had a lasting effect. "It's an internal thing," says Mo'. "In playing him, you pull in some of the spirit. The spirit of a juke joint, the spirit of the south at that time." This film falls nicely between an homage and an explanation. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Can't You Hear The Wind Howl? A Vision of Robert Johnson
I would reccomend this film to any Robert Johnson fan as well as to anyone just getting into the blues who wants to know where its really at. It includes some great interviews with Johnny Shines, Robert jr Lockwood and others who knew Robert. Its worth it just to hear Lockwood play an unrecorded song of R.J.'s! The parts where Keb' Mo' re-enacts segments from R.J.'s life are well done and effectively illustrate what life would have been like back then for a traveling bluesman. My only criticism would be that there are few extra DVD features,however, that doesn't stop me watching this film again and again! A very informative insight into the life of one of the greatest Delta bluesmen.

Every true Robert Johnson fan should own this film!
This film is worth it's weight in platinum just for the rare photo's of Johnson and the people in his life. The majority of the photos are the same one's you see in the liner note booklet of the "Complete recordings" box set. There is also a rare performance by legendary bluesman: Son House!The major thing that sets this documentary apart from the documentary:"The Search For Robert Johnson" is that "Wind" had a much larger budget, which obviously is why you hear many of Johnson'sactuals recordings, and see many of the photos and actual props from Johnson's era in this film. "Wind" also has interviews from a few people who knew Johnson who didn't appear in "The Search" and a few very significant facts that I didn't know. I think it's safe to say that whatever is not covered in "Wind" is covered in "The Search". Also, "The Search" is more personal than "Wind" in that it adheres more towards a traditional documentary style while "Wind" leans a little more towards the docu-drama style. I think this will probably be the last documentary we will ever seeon this subject because mostly all the info has been covered between these two documentaries and many of the people who knew Johnson may not be around for another interview. There are only two things I didn't like about "Wind". 1) I didn't particularly care for the stand up segments by Danny Glover as the Narrator, I thought the film could have stood on it's own without these. 2) I was very disappointed in the quality of the footage that was shot on film on the segments outside. All these segments were very grainy. I own the DVD and don't know if something happened in the transfer, or if the error was made by someone else. It is a sad testament to Johnson'slife because all those segments were key figures who will probably never be captured on film again to tell their story about Robert Johnson!

I heard the wind howl!
This video is easily a 5-star two-thumbs up production -- Professionally done, excellent real footage, reasonable re-enactments, lots of photos, interviews, and music.

Like most who watch this video I bought the 2 CD Robert Johnson set and read the in-depth booklet that comes with the CDs. The booklet is good, and I'm a good reader, but my retention was not that high and I much prefer this DVD as a medium to the booklet. The DVD is fascinating from so many perspectives: a good biography, a glimpse back at early 20th century culture, and as an attempt to understand the signifigance of this musician.

For people who love documentaries, biographies, or music...highly recommended.

Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?
This is another example of Black History that few people know about. The music is raw because mixing didn't exist in those days. But it is not just about the music. The message here is if a black man can survive back then without advertising, agents and the like and be known as one of the greatest artists of all times; What excuse does most young black men have like him today?
Example: This man played and danced on the back roads of Arkansas to earn money to buy a guitar that was lost in a fire. He became so popular for Sunday afternoon drivers even the police had a hard time directing traffic. How many black americans had cars then? Then we know who loved his music too.

A TV Movie
This was originally done for the Discovery Channel. Part of the reason it's lacking certain things is the limitations for commercial interuption on the air. I felt it could have plunged a little deeper, but what I really appreciated were Robert Johnson's contemporaries and friends remininsing. Being that there's very little material around on the historic Robert Johnson it's these sorts of interviews that are going to preserve the biographical aspects on a man whose life and image are just as fascinating as his music. Be forewarned, you'll want it to be longer. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Synopsis From The Back Of The Video
BASEBALL'S FIRST BLACK MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER. Jackie Robinson stars in the autobiographical story of his historic, ground-breaking entry into major league baseball. Against all odds, Jackie stood tall in the face of prejudice and hatred. Thanks to his courage, the door to major league sports was opened for young black men. You've got front row seats as we follow Jackie's meteoric rise from his early days as a 3-sport college star, to his days in the Negro league, through the minors and

right into baseball's Hall of Fame with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Jackie Robinson Story is one hit you won't want to miss! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert Townsend has managed to build an entire career on the basis of one funny movie (The Hollywood Shuffle)--even though he hasn't had one that was anywhere near as funny since. Case in point: This would-be comedy about an unwilling black superhero. Townsend plays a schoolteacher in a bad Washington, D.C., neighborhood that is controlled by a vicious drug gang (recognizable by their blonde-dyed hair). Then he is hit by a meteor and suddenly finds that he has super strength and can fly (and can read the minds of dogs). But Townsend's writing is surprisingly weak and, despite a cast that includes a mugging Bill Cosby, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, and sadly miscast James Earl Jones, this movie is never able to get off the ground. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great movie, great fun
... sure it's not the best movie ever, but great if you like this type of comedy...
It's been years since I last saw this movie though, but I might buy it next month (Depends on if I get enough money to buy it)

Good ideas. poor execution. Meteor Man is very very rocky.
Robert Townsend's the Meteor Man was supposed to be a satire of Comic books and Superheroes. Unfortunately, it's a poor copy of the Batman TV show of the 60's without any of the humor. Townsend makes a ton of mistakes here and all of them make the movie one of the worst you'll ever see.
Meteor Man could have been a lot of fun to watch; a black superhero satire film is really an interesting premise. While Townsend is very good at satire he doesn't know that the method of acting in this type of satire is actually "Camp." In order to make fun of Comic books and Superheroes you must understand the mechanics of comedy and what style works best to tell the jokes in. Superheroes are already farfetched and the only way to poke fun at them in their world is for the characters to take themselves seriously. Unfortunately, Townsend tells to cast to take their roles for a joke and that's a big mistake. "Camp" only works when the actors play their roles seriously. The serious performances working in tandem with the satiric jokes pokes fun at the ridiculousness of the situations the hero involves himself in as opposed to how it's seen in the real world and that's what makes it funny. When the actors are aware of the joke we can't laugh with them or at them. Contrast MM to the Batman TV show, Wild Wild West, or Sam Raimi's Hercules, Xena, or even the Tick TV series. In each of these shows the actors take their roles so seriously that we laugh at how absurd the situations are as opposed to the real world. We know about the jokes that the characters don't.
Townsend's second mistake was casting big name stars in the film. To make Camp work you need to cast unknown actors in the roles so they blend into the characters. People Like Bill Cosby, Luther Vandross and James Earl Jones stand out like sore thumbs in this film and look so ridiculous that we can't laugh at the jokes they tell. The use of then rapper Big Daddy Kane, commedian Sinbad and the group Another Bad creation wearing bad blond fades just look cartoonish. Smaller actors taking their roles seriously would have made this work.
Townsend's third and final mistake in this film was the script. It's not serious. It makes comic books look cartoonish. On top of that it's preachy and shallow; it's clear that he didn't research comic books or superheroes at all before writing it. The origin and the powers of the meteor man come together so poorly that we can't suspend our disbelief at his superhuman abilities. A meteor slamming into a man would kill him, not give him powers. Him toching a meteor rock and getting powers would make sense. On top of that his powers are inconsistent. Flight and Super Strength make sense but the ability to read any book by touching it had me scratching my head.
I don't see this film as a creative failure for Robert Townsend. I'm glad he tried to do something different and original with a Black film. Meteor Man had the potential to be something great, however, Townsend didn't do the necessary research to make this type of comedy work. He might have watched the old Batman show for reference, but didn't take the time to dissect the jokes to understand what made them funny like he did in his great first film Hollywood Shuffle. I'm hoping someone tries another film like this because I think someone who understands the style of humor that camp is could make a truly great film.

Worst movie I have seen in a long time.
There are dozens of clever, offbeat films worth watching, but this isn't one of them. Makes Pootie Tang look like an Oscar winner.

One of my Favs.
I Thought this movie was good maybe not the best but i thought it was good. many cameo appearances many celebs. Even though some people thought the movie wasnt that funny i thought it was. Especially the last scene. I cant wait til it comes out on dvd february 18th. Im definetly getting it and i think you should too.

What can you say?
Even though actors like Bill Cosby appear in this movie, Robert Townsend's acting and directing of humor is sadly unfocused and becomes little more then sad at trying to be funny, when it is not. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Peninsula Campaign and the Battel of Shiloh in 1862
McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in the East and Grant's military successes in the West climaxing in the Battle of Shiloh dominate the second episode of Ken Burns celebrated documentary which focuses on 1862, the second year of the war. Although David McCullough's narration supplies the voice of this documentary, it is Shelby Foote, relating anecdotes about the Battle of Shiloh and its importance in transforming beliefs about the war, that stands out in this particular episode. Other notable moments cover the clash of Ironclads with the Monitor and the Merrimac, the fall of New Orleans to Farragaut's Federal fleet, as well as the introduction of Nathan Bedford Forrest (the other authentic genius of the war besides Abraham Lincoln according to Foote). Again, the use of hundreds of still photographs, contemporary film shots of locales, the recognizable voices of noted actors such as Morgan Freeman and Jason Robards, Jr., and the simple but evocative music are powerfully woven together. "A Very Bloody Affair" begins with George B. McClellan's rising star and the cry of "On to Richmond," but by the end of 1862 it was Robert E. Lee who was being recognized as a military genius. No wonder people think of the Civil War as the American "Iliad." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Jazziest Blues.
I think this video is a must have for your blues and jazz collection. The short musical movies, are well put together. I especially like Duke Ellington's Bundle of blues, I didn't know the song stormy weather, was writen and sung before the 1940's. Ivie Anderson sung the song different or as good as Lena Horne. And the dance team right after, was very good. They did dances back then in the 1930's, the way ethnic nightclubs do now. The women were thin, but looked healthy. This video is a must see, some of the vidoes were a little boring, but the rest will make up for it.

Best of the Four Volume Set
If you're not ready to roll out the bucks for the complete fourvolume set of HOLLYWOOD RHYTHM, this is the one to buy first. The mainreason is for the first short in this volume -- "Symphony inBlack." This marvelous short features Duke Ellington at the pianocomposing a new work. Intercut between those scenes are vignettesrepresenting the different movenents of the piece. One of whichfeatures a young (and uncredited) Billie Holiday as the scorned woman.Another features the provocative dancing of (also uncredited) Earl"Snake Hips" Tucker. Contemporary music video directorscould learn a lot from this piece with its stylish use of black &white photography and wonderful art direction.

Another reason tobuy this video is to see Bessie Smith's only film appearance in theshort "St. Louis Blues." Her power as a vocalist is evidentin this piece, which is also about a woman abandoned by a lover.Jimmy Morcedai is cold-blooded in another rare film appearance. Hisdancing is not half-bad either.

The other shorts don't quite rise upto the level of these two shorts. Some also feature some verystereotypical images, which were typical of this period. However,don't let that stop you from buying this video. "Symphony inBlack" alone is worth the price. It is an absolute masterpiece ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great! But somewhat unfinished
In a prelude to the forthcoming bio-opic of his assasination film by oliver stone. This video features some great footage of Dr. King after his transformation in 1965 to the war on poverty, discrimination, and unequal distribution of wealth in this great country. Although I felt that it could of contained info and footage of James Earl Ray's confession and the Senate Commitee Hearings on his killing in 1977. But very good video

Great And Informative Piece. Very Important.
"The Assassination Of Martin Luthor King Jr." is a great documentary that presents the truth with enough evidence to back it up. The same guy who made this film also made the equally effective documentary: "The Assassination Of JFK." Both these pieces are filled with film, information, and intriguing narration that makes it's point clear. There is no doubt in my mind that King was killed by a conspiracy. And that it was most likely J.Edgar Hoover. This film is effective, informative and important. I think it should be shown in schools all over America. This is a great film.

good
this is a very good video. i encourage each and every one of you to veiw this video.what a mighty man king was. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Rock On!
Chris Rock follows up his 1996 hit "Bring the Pain" with another hilarious 1-hr routine. As always, Chris serves up his brutally honest opinions on the social and political nightmares we live in today. In this performance you'll find him tackling school gun violence, the plight of Native Americans, Ricky Martin, delinquent parents, racism, police brutality, incurable diseases, taxes, and a host of other issues. What makes Chris Rock so hilarious is that his commentary not only rings true but hits upon feelings and thoughts most of us have but are often afraid to express in today's "politically correct" atmosphere. Plus, Chris' naturally funny-looking physical appearance adds color to his performance. As with many other comedians, Chris Rock ends up spending a great deal of time on cliche comedian fodder such as sex and man-woman relationships. Thankfully, Chris Rock has managed to avoid tired old jokes and put hilarious new spins on these topics.

If you want intelligent comedy, this is the video for you! However, be forewarned that Chris Rock has a penchant for using the "f" word when emphasizing points, which some may find annoying after a while, and he is bound to say something that may offend someone. Nonetheless, I think that's what makes Chris Rock great and universal. Although Chris caters to an African-American audience, he ultimately has ideas that speaks to all segments of society- conservatives, liberals, white/black/asian/latino, homosexual, religious, non-religious, etc. A view that one segment of society finds appealing is bound to be held in disdain by another.

I must admit, in the past year that I've become a Chris Rock fan, I've found it difficult to watch other comedians. Few are as hard-hitting as Chris Rock. Get this video to see what I mean! While you are at it, get "Bring the Pain"- this one packs even more punch than "Bigger and Blacker".

Chris Rock Rocks!
While humor isn't universally the same, this DVD appeals to a broad audience. If you can't handle swearing then it isn't for you. Others have said it is too much but in my opinion it doesn't stand out as over the top like some comedians (Martin Lawrence comes to mind). Chris Rock has excellent delivery and material in this performance. While some of the material is somewhat dated (Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinski, and the woman that put the free world in jeopardy, Hillary Clinton) you will still laugh hard at his take on it. This is one of those performances that you catch yourself thinking about and going home and watching and laughing at yet again. The material is well thought out, the delivery is great, and the physical presentation by Chris Rock is outstanding. Truly one of the thinking comedians of this time. What you get with this DVD is Chris Rock performing his standup, which is great, but don't expect a long list of extras because they aren't here.

Funny Hee Hee, not funny, Ha Ha
This is a strong HBO special, full of hilarious bits of satirical comedy, but I didn't feel it was nearly as strong as his earlier stuff. I watched "Bring the Pain" repeatedly-- I belly laughed every time. I made my friends watch it. We'd recite the best bits over and over. With bigger and blacker, there weren't moments to be taken away. Sure, it was funny but not resoundingly so. While I would not argue that C-Rock is this generation's Pryor, this is not his Mudbone.

King Chris
Forget the editorial review above. There is no weak spot in this hour long presentation. Chris Rock is the most brilliant contemporary comedian I know of and he's at the top of his game in Bigger and Blacker. Let's get real...this is 2004....post Richard Pryor, post Eddie Murphy, Dice Clay etc....four letter words shouldn't be offensive to anyone at this point so it is not a valid argument to say that this wasn't enjoyable because Rock curses too much. Like any great, he can get the laughs without the swearing but this is his special and he comes out with both barrels blazing. The cursing isn't for cursing's sake....this is intelligent, razor-sharp, ADULT comedy. Put the kids to bed and kick back. Like any great satirist, Chris' jokes reflect a probable truth. In regards to his bits on family, love and relationships, I have LIVED his jokes. It's frightening in a funny way and I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced that sensation of Rock peering into their lives and dragging out all of the dirty laundry. Any aspiring comic writers and stand up comedians need to study this; it's a gem. Rock did his homework studying Woody Allen and Richard Pryor and it shows. The torch has been passed.

Disappointed in Chris....
I have to say that I purchased this dvd and I wasn't very happy with it as I usually laugh at his material. Most of his material on this dvd wasn't funny at all. I found myself somewhat speeding up the dvd to the next joke just so that I could get a laugh. In my opinion, if you're going to buy it, then buy it used so that you won't feel like you paid too much for it if you're disappointed. I'm hesitant to buy his "Bring the Pain" dvd due to I don't know what to expect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everyone starts somewhere, even the greatest golfer in the world. Ofcourse, Tiger Woods's start came much earlier than most of us. From his initialtime on the greens as an 18-month-old, his appearance as a 2-year-old on TheMike Douglas Show (with Bob Hope!), and his 30 junior tournament wins,Heart of a Champion traces the beginnings of this champion player. This40-minute video recounts Woods's short but illustrious career, including hismany victories as an amateur and his historic victory at the Masters in 1997.Woods's coach at Stanford University, Wally Goodwin, and his professional coach,Butch Harmon, as well as several of his peers (including Jack Nicklaus and BenCrenshaw) analyze Woods's game, and the '97 Masters is discussed, not just forthe dominating victory it was, but for what it meant for a person of color towin in what has traditionally been a country-club sport. Other highlights ofWoods's professional career are covered in this 1998 video (which obviouslydoesn't cover his major victories in 1999 and 2000). This video is "notauthorized or endorsed by Tiger Woods," so there are relatively few commentsfrom Woods himself; those included appear to be from press conferences. Still,someone had to authorize all the choice footage used here--perhaps hismother, Kultida, who makes a few on-camera comments. So even if this isn't the"official" word on Tiger Woods and the production values may not be lavish, ifyou want to see some good footage of a champion in the making, Heart of aChampion will fill the bill. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (1)

what the deal is
I thought this movie was preety good. Fred did a great job with his charater Jefferson Bolt,and the story board was as good as his former 70's movies' like hell up in harlem, and black Ceaser. If your a Fred Willaimson fan, then this is difinitely one of his movie's you should add to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The music
I over the years have become a big fan of blaxploitation films. I have nothing negative to say, because if it weren't for them there would be no Eddie Murphy and so on.

The only reason I gave this picture 4 stars is because I can't for the life of me find out the name of that song that plays at the end of this movie. If anybody anywhere can tell me the name of that song and who sings it, I would greatly appreciate it. Send me an e-mail and I will reply with great thanks. Maurice

Crazy Movie!!
This movie had me rolling in laughter, but there's an important message behind this movie. The production is quite low and the acting will not win any Oscars, but this is one of the best Blaxploitation movies I have ever seen.

Blaxploitation at it's finest
This is my favorite movie of all time.. it has the best dialogue,"hip 70's phrases", music.. the characters are believable.. I've watched this movie a thousand time and it gets better every time.. this has got to be blaxploitation at it's finest!!!!!

country girl enters the big city
Wow! This movie is wild. The acting and even the directing and edting isn't the best, but it keeps you hooked in once you're out the gate.

I enjoyed the music and hints of black militancy. Like at one point when the main character Anna Mae(?) says the same line as Jonathan Jackson when he attempted to liberate his brother George Jackson.

All and all, it's good for laughs and jokes.

This movie did not have the best acting but it was truly fun
I think that this movie needs to be republicized ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Insightful look at American 60s radicals
In some ways, the group known as the Weather Underground (originally the Weathermen, an offshoot of Students for a Democratic Society) were more a symbol of 1960s radical idealism than a real revolutionary movement. Although they planted many bombs during a decade-long period, they never did anything that seriously threatened the government or power structure. Their goal, of course, was to spark a mass movement and inspire others to follow their example, but they remained essentially marginalized. The film, The Weather Underground does a good job at letting members of this group explain their motives and, in some cases, misgivings about their foray into revolution. Directors Bill Siegel and Sam Green seem to be sympathetic with the movement, and most of the material is told from the point of view of members. Leaders of the group Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers have retained their radical views and are anything but apologetic about their past actions.

Most members of the group, despite the bombings, were committed to not harming people. This brings up a rather blatant omission in the film -Kathy Boudin, perhaps the group's most notorious member (for her participation in a robbery where a man was killed) is not mentioned at all. This was an unfortunate decision, apparently done to portray the Weathermen as essentially nonviolent. To leave out such a well known chapter in the group's history leaves a gaping hole. Still, the parts that are included are fascinating and give a glimpse into the idealism and naivete of these leftist radicals.

In retrospect, it is (at least from one perspective) a little sad to see how little long term effect the 1960s counterculture had on society. It seems that they were no match for the propaganda machine of the government and mass media. This film, of course, employs propaganda methods of its own, as when brutal footage from the Vietnam war is shown. Propaganda it may be, but it does serve to almost trivialize the violence committed by the Weathermen compared with that perpetrated by the government it was opposing. The other side to this argument is that the fact that these radicals are still alive and that a film like this has been allowed to be made is proof that America is not as oppressive as some would have us believe. Yet, this is only true to some extent; as the film explains, the FBI made a concerted (and mainly illegal) effort to destroy radical movements. There is also evidence that the government murdered members of the Black Panthers.

How you react to The Weather Underground depends on your political and cultural perspective. Regardless of this, this film is a compelling study of a radical group and gives us a glimpse into their world.

Nominated and should have taken the Oscar
Looks like McNamara won again with his anti-war doc. film. The insight and proggressive beliefs that the Weather Underground stayed true to act as a legitamite foundation for the liberated America we live in. If you are enticed by politics but are sick of corruption in America check out this film about a group derived from the SDS that took its war with the government to an extreme that had to be recognized. I never knew they busted Timmothy Leary out of jail and attacked symbols of American injustice without using murder (the tool those in power use to stress their point) don't think you've seen a film like this before, it left me energized with a tendency toward learning about political struggles of today! Who'd think a gen-Xer could look at a film about revolutionairy soldiers of the past and wonder what he could do today to maintain the liberation sparked by students from the 60's. A must have for any leftist, documentary fan, or anyone interested about the origins and movements of the "New Left"

Not Bias
Weather Underground doesn not seemed to be a bias look at the organization. It doesnt say their actions were good, they let the people speak for themselves. An interesting film on US history.

An excellent historical treatment
I am absolutely opposed to violence as a form of protest so the Weather Underground was not a group I agreed with, yet, one could agrue that they did play a role in the Vietnam protest era so this film is a good review of that.

The film is well done. I feel the Todd Gitlin, Mark Rudd and Brian Flannagan were the more realistic people on this DVD. Clearly they had come to see that the Weather Underground's methods were not ultimately the most effective and said so. They also saw the orgies as self indulgent and stupid.

In the end, all would truly admire a man of peaceful protest like the late David Dellinger for his methods as his were better than their methods.

This film should be seen as a great period piece. It should also be seen to affirm that violence wasn't the answer then and it isn't in Iraq now.

This is an educationally significant film that should be seen by all who are interested in the 60's.

Spoiled Brats
Where do I sign up for the FBI? And if a few rules are broken - shock! - to break these guys up, so be it. And if they use their rich connections to get out of jail time... the system can't be that bad, right? Most rich kids backback through Europe, and these guys went to Cuba and came back to blow up buildings... before going back to booshy comforts. If Hoover had went over the top to nail these guys, I'd have looked the other way. They are very, very, ugly. ... Read more