Plot: What’s it about?
Youngblood Priest (Ron O’Neal) is a well known drug pusher, but he is better known by his name on the streets, Super Fly. Priest has made loads of cash by slinging cocaine and other drugs, not to mention other illegal practices. His reputation is a hard one, as he is a fair man until you don’t settle up your debts. Then Priest becomes a madman and will do whatever it takes to secure his cash. He might force a man’s wife out on the streets, to work as a prostitute until the debt is settled, or just resort to violence to shake up the slackers. But even with all the money and power his position on the streets has allowed him to possess, Priest has started to look outside the ghetto and think about his long term future. Priest has seen what happens to most of the hustlers and hoods, whether it be time in prison or a trip to the morgue. Few men have done as well as Priest and none have managed to escape the lifestyle, though Priest plans to be the first. In order to make his run, he needs a large amount of starting cash. That means more drug deals, but Priest has intentions of only doing one more deal, though it will be the biggest of his life. If he can make it work and pocket the profits, he should be able to leave and get a fresh start. But with his bosses wise to his plan and unwilling to let him go, will Priest be able to make it happen?
A lot of movies are out on DVD, but for fans of blaxploitation, the pickings have been slim at best, which is a shame. A small amount have been issued from time to time, but numerous high profile titles remain unreleased. Now we can mark one of the highest wants off the list however, as Warner has given us Super Fly. This is one of the crown jewels of blaxploitation, which means that of course, it is one hell of a cool, kick ass picture. Super Fly is not hilarious like Dolemite or in even the same vein as Shaft, but it has the same kind of themes. Ron O’Neal (Red Dawn, The Final Countdown) is superb in the title role here, so much so that his career was slowed because he couldn’t shake this character. The rest of the cast is passable, but O’Neal shoulders the film and carries it throughout. You have to give credit to the writers of Super Fly, as the story is a good one and is well executed. A few shortcuts and leans can be found, but for the most part, this is a very well written picture. A lot of bad language, racial slurs, hot ladies, tricked out cars, and pimped out clothes make Super Fly a blast to watch. Not to mention Curtis Mayfield’s soundtrack, which still packs a solid punch. Super Fly is a must own release for genre fans, but even those who just dig cool flicks should at least give it a rental.
Video: How does it look?
Super Fly is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. There’s no chance of losing the film’s ’70s texture, but then again, I’d be mad if it was gone. So the colors look a little faded and the image is on the dated side, but that is how it should be and as I said, I would be disappointed if it were any different. The print is in solid condition, but grain is evident and can become thick at times. The colors look on the faded side, but that is all good and in terms of contrast, the black levels are sharp and well defined. So while time has taken a toll on the material, the intended visual presence is intact, which is what matters.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not too much to discuss here, as a rather basic mono track is included. I do think the great musical soundtrack deserves more punch, but aside from that, this mono option seems up to the task. The track has no audible hiss, which is nice and the harshness is also minimal, another welcome touch. I had no problems with the sound effects or dialogue, both of which come across in fine form and show no signs of serious flaws. Not all of these older mono tracks turn out well, but thankfully, this one does. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary kicks us off, as Dr. Todd Boyd provides his thoughts on the movie and the genre as a whole. Boyd is a college professor and author, so he knows his stuff, but his session is quite weak. He comes off as too much of a fan, too much praise and not enough substance, as if someone were paid to dole out compliment after compliment. I like the flick too, but I hoped for more behind the scenes insights, instead of a butt kissing festival. You can find some production scoop in One Last Deal, a retrospective featurette that runs about half an hour and has some cool interviews with cast & crew members. Three additional featurettes are also found here, one an interview with star Ron O’Neal, another an audio interview with composer Curtis Mayfield, and the final one is a look at the film’s off the hook fashion. This disc also includes the film’s theatrical trailer, so there is a great assortment of extras here.
