Black Dynamite – DVD Review

The Film:

The hood is going to feel you on this one, Black Dynamite, and all those cracker-azz haters will finally respect the good man. With the absurdity of writing a review for a modern ‘blaxploitation’ film aside, it’s the fact that this film is more than a one-note joke, proves that there’s more to do in send ups than the wanna-be Tarantinos had us to believe. Black Dynamite is a strict love affair with the ‘blaxploitation’ genre, that if it wasn’t for the winks and nods,  one would fully believe Black Dynamite is a long-lost 1970′s film. Now, that’s sumthin’ I can dig.

Director Scott Sanders walks a fine line, as does the script. Go too far to one side, and the film is a pure one-note joke that will wear out its welcome. Too far in the other direction, and Black Dynamite loses its satirical elements and becomes a cluster. That’s the beauty of Black Dynamite; it never loses its steam, luster, or fun. But to fully enjoy the film, I would recommend revisiting this short-lived genre of ‘blaxploitation’. The genre was a flash-in-the-pan; quickly rising to popularity, only to fade away all in the 1970′s, with the likes of Shaft, Coffy, Superfly, and countless others devoted to ghetto heroes trying to wipe away honky injustice and crime in the hood. The genre controversially focused on stereotypes, now long associated with naive-minded people, with blacks as pimps, hustlers, and criminals. Hip-hop wouldn’t be what it is without these films, in my opinion, for better or for worse, but one of this genre’s best elements is wonderfully carried over to Black Dynamite: a strong, good black hero whose life is laced with some funky soul music.

It’s kind of hard placing one’s finger on what exactly makes Black Dynamite succeed on the levels it does, since the script perfectly juggles a variety of tough elements to make the film work, but one would have to say, if anything in the film, Black Dynamite succeeds because of Michael Jai White (Universal Soldier: The Return, Spawn, The Dark Knight) as the title hero. The in-jokes, the satire, the goofiness, is all played with a straight-laced performance by White. His character is an amalgamation of some classic ‘blaxploitation’ stars, like The Hammer and especially Jim Kelly. He carries his lines with some pizazz, you’ll be instantly hooked. I have always enjoyed White in his film appearances, but Black Dynamite will make him a star.

The fact that this film is an ode to the ‘blaxploitation’ films of yesteryear, chose an interesting time to be made. In the 1970′s, African-Americans lived in a post-MLK/Malcolm X assassination, Civil Rights era, but an era also that showed them promise in America. In the 2000′s African-Americans now live in a post-Obama elected era, an ‘elephant-in-the-room’ feeling when we see Black Dynamite in the ultimate honky house, and it’s this added subtle punch, that truly makes Black Dynamite a great film. To me, that’s outta sight! Dynamite!

The DVD:

Audio/Video: Sony Pictures DVD is a great one. First of all, recognize that the film is intended to look like it was shot on a dime and with 16mm, so don’t expect a visual assault, but rather a retro look. It’s a blast to experience it like this, as it’s just another nod to how those films look now days on DVD. The audio sounds modern, with a solid presence in bass and ambiance. I can’t imagine the Blu-ray being better for what this film is, so the DVD is a just looking/sounding Sony Pictures release.

Commentary: The director Scott Sanders, Michael Jai White and the screenwriter Bryon Minnis give us a solid yak track. Funny, personable, and laced with knowledgeable tidbits on the film, the genre, and the idea, makes for a great listen.

Lighting the Fuse: This 22-minute making-of is a nice little watch. Devoid of those pesky EPK interviews, we get real insights into the film, making for a nice companion piece to the commentary.

The Comic Con Experience: This is footage from the film’s Comic Con panel discussion, but if you went through the previous extras, little is new.

Deleted Scenes: Over 30 minutes of some actual good material, even though one can see why they were cut.

Conclusion: Black Dynamite is ghetto fabulous; a smart, hilarious ode to a bygone genre on a solid DVD release.

The Film: Rating:

The DVD: Rating: