Superfly

A waste of time.. theres is not one thing that is worth losing your time. It is absolute trash

The original Super Fly is credited as being one of the original Blaxploitation movies along with Sweet Sweetback's Baadassssss Song and Shaft. All of which are considered essential movies in the genre.

This remake hits all the right notes and it updates it for today's audiences but it doesn't really bring anything new or noteworthy to the mix. It's stylish and honestly feels more like an extended music video in some parts. Now part of that could very well be because of the director and his background. But that's good for music videos and not for a feature length movie.

But the real issue is this movie has no real reason to exist. It's a remake that really is the same exact story as the original. I get why they wanted to make it but it doesn't bring anything really new to the mix.

As a stand alone movie it's just kinda okay. As a remake it's just a tepid retelling of a much better story.

Priest is a cool, careful, calculating drug lord in Atlanta. He has operations and connections all over without the unwanted attention like his two girlfriends, Georgia and Cynthia. He has a respectful rival in Snow Patrol leader Q although Q's right hand man Juju is itching to take him down. After Juju's failed shooting, Priest's brother Eddie tries a drive-by without Priest's knowledge. Meanwhile, Priest goes around his source Scatter (Michael Kenneth Williams) by connecting to the Mexican source Adalberto Gonzalez (Esai Morales). He returns to a looming gang war with Snow Patrol and corrupt cop Detective Mason (Jennifer Morrison).

I like the opening scene which sets up Priest's character really well. After that, he needs to do an exposition of his life and his operation. The movie tries to be slick. At times, I find the attempt fun but other times, it seems unnecessary and silly. For example, Morrison is overplaying the role and she's not capable of the attempt. It's silly to try unless it's done right. The other problem is that Priest is presented as a calculating smart dealer but he misses several obvious things in his plan. It's obvious that Scatter would figure it out and come after him sooner or later. A smart man would take him out right after making the connect with Mexico. As for Q, he knows that his lie could never hold up especially at the gallery. He should have offered him a piece of the action since he needs the sales anyways. Also I don't understand the exact calculations of the third act. Wouldn't a shoot out at his furniture store draw attention to him? Wouldn't it be better to go after Snow Patrol at their mansion? It would have been great action to have a shoot out at the mansion. Speaking of action, there is one big car chase scene in the movie which reminds me of a 90's action B-movie shot on the streets of Toronto. That's to say it looks dated and doesn't have the intensity of the top rank modern car chase. It also looks like they tried their best with limited resources and skills. There is lots to like about TV and music video Director X but he may need some help making the jump to full length films.

It's Entertainment. A comic book story made into a movie, with all the comic trimmings. I guess the other reviewers really didn't like Priest's over-the-top hairdo... and they're kind of right: it is excessive. But then again, he's supposed to be a combination of dangerous, sharp, slick, & smooth, all at once; so I'll give him that. Besides, the movie is entertaining. That, and I wasn't expecting a blockbuster; but it's nicely done. Wastes no time. What happened to people just watching movies and expecting to be entertained? That's what I expect from a movie: "Will it entertain me, and how much will it entertain me?" All the other niggles about script, technical qualities, and what not, are just that: niggles. If you're down with going on a fantasy gangsta trip for 116 minutes... see expensive cars, gals, guns, gratuitous T & A; cool martial arts, and a hail of bullets, with a sprinkling of love to round it all out... Go see this movie.

It's like the ultimate male fantasy come to life!

Priest is the king of the drug game in Atlanta, his head so strongly connected to his shoulders he does not need to bring a gun to a gun fight (And that's why it was so important to advertise it's from the producers of the matrix). He has the perfect life running the game with his boy and sharing his bed with not one but two hot chicks who don't mind sharing at all, as he runs his house like a true king, but one day he realizes he no longer has the mind set for the game and needs to do one last big score and get out before he gets got.

It's like if Disney was making a movie about a drug dealer. This dude Superfly is so perfect. In that way it's the perfect homage not just to the original movie but to the blaxpolation era altogether (both positive and negative) with their imagery of a brother who's near perfect.

But I have to admit, I would not have expected a movie like this in the times we are living in. It appeals so heavily to a male psyche the world is trying to change. Obviously mine has not, because I loved this flick. The producers of the Matrix (as the poster advertised) loaded it with so much Style and action (plus hot naked women) that I can't help but to enjoy.

Something tells me this is going to be my guilty pleasure.