Rating:  Summary: An early 70's must-see Review: After her younger sister dies (offscreen) of a drug overdose, surgical nurse and one-woman vigilante army Pam Grier sets out to punish those she believes responsible for her sister's addiction. Masquerading as a for-hire call girl, Coffy infiltrates the supposed hierarchy of the city's dope and sex trade in what starts as vengeance for her sister but turns into a crusade to rid the city of all its filth, murdering all along the way, from a small-time pimp and drug dealer (who gets his head blown off shortly after the opening credits) to her congressman lover, who turns out to have a piece of the action as well and is as corrupt as the rest of the bunch. Despite the sober description, this is not an "important" film per se; actually, it's pretty trashy, but fascinating when trying to examine who this movie is made for. I guess we're supposed to root for Coffy as she goes on her murder spree, but, as her "good cop" friend (who naturally is murdered before the end of the first reel) explains to her, the drug problem is already widespread, and who is ultimately to blame? Factor in also that our heroine is also asked to disrobe a number of times for the camera and act very promiscuously, and that instead of the "black heroes" that this genre supposedly provided to the minority audiences, we mostly get pimps, dealers, addicts, chauffeurs :)... At the end, we see Coffy, having recently snuffed out her boyfriend and dejectedly thrown her trusty shotgun on the floor in front of him, walking down a beach alone, almost certain to be picked up by the cops eventually (though the closing credits song proclaim Coffy as "a shining symbol of black pride")...Very cynical filmmaking and confusing stuff--the general message seems to be "everything and everyone around you is polluted--you can try to fight the system, but ultimately, you'll lose." How's that for uplifting the race? Strangely enough, I like this movie for all of its negatives and excesses, and it is an emblem of a time when "blaxploitation" producers and filmmakers were trying to tap into something different, however misguided; reflects a lot of backlash from the supposedly idealistic 60s. Incredible amounts of violence and gobs of gratuitous nudity in this one. A HEAVILY edited version of this was recently shown on TV with Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, who awkwardly tried to promote this stuff as quality Black Heritage cinema. Add some sleaze to your life and rent this one.
Rating:  Summary: THE Movie That Set the Style of 70s Review: All of Pam Grier movies in the 70s, "Coffy" is the most famous. She deserves it; watch this movie, and you see what so-called blaxploitation films are all about.The fast-paced "Coffy" starts with a dynamite opening, in which Pam's character Coffy lures her enemy into a nasty surprise, and she blows away poor fool's head with a shotgun literally. Then, her mission of eradicating drug racket goes on until a very bitter ending. There are actions, fighting, nudity, and battling girls at a party where Pam uses most unexpected weapon -- salad! Frankly they look rather bland by today's standard, but good soundtrack by Roy Ayres is still wonderful. Probably the most interesting thing about "Coffy" is its gorgeous 70s fashion: music, clothes, and hairstyle. even if you find its story a little stale, you never get tired of watching dresses, glasses, hats, and everything -- they are so big! And surprising thing is that the film to certain extent reflects the political condition of those days (see how a black congressman address a speech about drug issues among Afro-Americans). "Coffy" is one of the movies that set the style of the 70s. Those who are interested in that period should watch it (and the original "Shaft") once.
Rating:  Summary: Errors and omissions Review: From the information from other sites I am to believe that this is not an 'Anamorphic/16:9 enhanced' DVD. Foxy Brown is. All Region 2's in the MGM Blaxploitation-series are...
Rating:  Summary: Vigilante action with Pam! Review: Pam Grier is Coffy, an inner-city nurse whose younger sister's life has been destroyed by illicit drugs, and who is now out to avenge her by killing the drug dealers. Her method is to lure the dope pushers by offering them her sexual favors, and then blasting them with a sawed-off shotgun! And what man can resist such a statuesque beauty? Many a dope pusher meets his Maker after making it with Coffy. Pam Grier has some outstanding nude scenes in this movie, and that alone makes this DVD worth the price, but director Jack Hill's commentary is an interesting bonus. This DVD is a must-have for every Pam Grier fan!
Rating:  Summary: One vengeful mama. Review: For a blaxploitation movie this one isn't too bad, thanks largely to Pam Grier. She is one tough lady in this interesting retooling of "The Bride that Wore Black," only in this case it is little sister who Coffy is seeking vengeance upon. There is plenty of violence and nudity to thrill, but the movie actually develops a story and posits the moral question whether vengeance is justified if criminals can't be brought to justice. Ultimately, Coffy enters the world of prostitution, posing as a sultry Jamaican bombshell, to get the top crime boss in the city. The movie is vintage 70's with luscious babes lounging around swimming pools, garish interiors and love-inducing fireplaces. Too bad Pam Grier had to wait such a long time to get the plum role of Jackie Brown, building her fame on Jack Hill movies.
Rating:  Summary: THE Movie That Set the Style of 70s Review: All of Pam Grier movies in the 70s, "Coffy" is the most famous. She deserves it; watch this movie, and you see what so-called blaxploitation films are all about. The fast-paced "Coffy" starts with a dynamite opening, in which Pam's character Coffy lures her enemy into a nasty surprise, and she blows away poor fool's head with a shotgun literally. Then, her mission of eradicating drug racket goes on until a very bitter ending. There are actions, fighting, nudity, and battling girls at a party where Pam uses most unexpected weapon -- salad! Frankly they look rather bland by today's standard, but good soundtrack by Roy Ayres is still wonderful. Probably the most interesting thing about "Coffy" is its gorgeous 70s fashion: music, clothes, and hairstyle. even if you find its story a little stale, you never get tired of watching dresses, glasses, hats, and everything -- they are so big! And surprising thing is that the film to certain extent reflects the political condition of those days (see how a black congressman address a speech about drug issues among Afro-Americans). "Coffy" is one of the movies that set the style of the 70s. Those who are interested in that period should watch it (and the original "Shaft") once.
Rating:  Summary: One vengeful mama. Review: For a blaxploitation movie this one isn't too bad, thanks largely to Pam Grier. She is one tough lady in this interesting retooling of "The Bride that Wore Black," only in this case it is little sister who Coffy is seeking vengeance upon. There is plenty of violence and nudity to thrill, but the movie actually develops a story and posits the moral question whether vengeance is justified if criminals can't be brought to justice. Ultimately, Coffy enters the world of prostitution, posing as a sultry Jamaican bombshell, to get the top crime boss in the city. The movie is vintage 70's with luscious babes lounging around swimming pools, garish interiors and love-inducing fireplaces. Too bad Pam Grier had to wait such a long time to get the plum role of Jackie Brown, building her fame on Jack Hill movies.
Rating:  Summary: They call her Coffy and she'll cream you! Review: This was a pretty enjoyable movie, but I have to admit that I enjoyed Foxy Brown just a little more. This movie is basically about Pam Griers' character getting revenge on those who have hurt her and her family. She starts out with lower level pimps and pushers, and workers her way up the power structure to the head sleezebags. The one thing that didn't really sit well with me was the way she portrayed the moments of remorse her character felt about what she was doing. I am not saying that a person who becomes a vigilante wouldn't have these feelings, but I just didn't really buy it coming from her. I know, I know, maybe I am delving too deep into the character, but if they're going to go there...anyway, it didn't make me enjoy the movie any less. And it's always nice to see as much eye candy as there was in this movie. Pam Grier is really hot and made most of the other women in this movie look kinda dumpy. To sum it up, it's a fun movie, some minor slow points, but it kept me interested throughout. If funk with a dash of groovitude is your bag, then this movie is for you.
Rating:  Summary: Actually, a VERY GOOD movie for its class and time! Review: I like this show. It bites. Pam is superb in it, and proves she can act as well as do the physical end of really wild and rapid action scenes. In the multiple-girl fight scene, she easily flips and tosses two blondes, a redhead, and a brunette around like rag dolls. Watching this particular scene, you can see that the women were trying to be as realistic as possible with the grappling and struggling they were doing with one another. Of course the blows were faked and "pulled", but Pam's lifting, flipping, and tossing of her opponents was very well done indicating that she had the physical strength and prowess to pull it off. She kicked butt ABSOLUTELY! The whole show is well worth seeing just for that one scene itself! As for the rest of its content, it has grit, that low-grade 70's crime drama "feel", and a nice pace to it. Not bad at all on its own and with Pam in it, really good!
Rating:  Summary: To call it "blaxploitation" is an insult Review: You do this movie such an injustice by giving it silly trendy lables. Screw lables. The boobs and violence are only there because in that lifestyle there's plenty of both. Ya know what? This is how many cops and politicians operate folks - sorry, I didn't make it that way, they did. You'll find that the most unknown/unpopular movies often tell the truest stories...hmmmmmm I wonder why that is. It might take you a nanosecond to realize that movies that show the reality of our corrupt government are ridiculed with lables like "blaxploitation" so that many people will reject them sight unseen. Buy this movie, you won't regret it. It's exciting yet depressing, if you have enough sense to know this is how our "leaders" truly operate. And yes, they do. Deal with it.
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