Customer Reviews

Panther [VHS]

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Directed by Mario Van Peebles (also responsible for "New Jack City" and "Posse") comes the story of the inevitable birth of the Black Panthers who the FBI categorised as Public Enemy Number One. But behind all The Man's propaganda lies the truth, another chapter in the Afro-American's struggle for emancipation, superbly summed up by the adopted slogan "if you ain't part of the solution, then you're part of the problem". Make no mistake, the Panthers led by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale weren't formed as a Black Supremist organisation but rather to look after the Black Community and to exercise their Constitutionally protected human rights. Look, listen and learn from this film - why the Panthers were formed, their prime reason for existence, the Community Programmes they instigated and also the response from the Authorities, both public and subversive. Although told from a potentially biased viewpoint, the film does not shy away from recognising the Ghetto had its own share of low-lifes and which the Panthers tried to do something about. Such was their success in mobilising and inspiring the Black community as never before it's no wonder the Authorities ran scared. Their ultimate contingency plan however was not only morally abhorrent but also backfired big time. A superb dramatisation of the humble beginnings of a local movement in Oakland, California illustrating just how it grew into such a political tour-de-force. Like I said, look, listen and learn. An essential film. The Mad Ferret, London, England.

When I was younger, I was told in school, about how the BPP was a racist group of black people who hated white people. When the movie came out, I never knew half of things about the BPP from what I was taught in school, in our history books. I felt Mario Van Peebles did an excellent job on the movie, he obviously could not capture all the events. But, he did capture the main turnkey events. I also did alot of additional research on the BPP, & found alot of Mario Van Peebles story were exactly the same. Alot of people critize Mario for the movie, & I would like to know, how would they tell this story?

The outrageous prices that are being asked for this film should tell you something about it's quality. The fact that the manufacturer has discontinued it should say more. As a former member of this belittled and demised organization i can attest to it's portrayal as totally fact based. There is plenty of literature available on the infamous Co-intelpro operations that will back up this statement. The movie was well played by all involved, well directed and it's impact on the viewer is just as intended. This is a movie about an important part of this countries history that I was able to witness as well as be a part of. To call it a lie is a continued insult to the intelligence of the American public. You don't have to like the movie but please research The Governments Co-Intelpro operations before you call it 2 hours of lies. Great Movie!!

A must see for anyone who ever had to stand up to oppression in there life. Hughie, Bobby, Tyrone, Judge, Cy, Reverend Sloaken.....its all there from start to finish. From the first minute brother Hughie called a pig "a pig" the movie put chills through my body. Let me keep it real for all those reviews that are sleeping on Panther... you see, Panther wasn't about shooting cop's, no no, it was about getting a mans attention. That's what Mario Van Pebbles does, he grabs you and leads you into a story, a place where people have no choice but to put aside their fears and do what they feel in their heart is right. You do not have to wear a dasheeky to be proud of what those young brothers in Panther accomplish. The Panthers set the stage for some control on authorities who are out of control. Police brutality has not ceased, nor will it ever cease, however the more people stand up for themselves as a communinity the more humanity we will all have. Hats off to Mario Van Pebbles who is not afraid to portray to the masses what most other medians of communication are afraid to say. That the government tried to contain the Black Panthers by pumping cheap dope into the gettos. Little did the government know that the dope was gonna spread like wild fire right into the arms of some of their own children. From start to finish Panther beautifully spins a story of people who overcome the overseers and rise as one to accomplish justice. A must buy to watch over and over again. To all the people who gave this prolific movie a bad rating I have one final thing to say, "Like crabs in a barrell trying to bring each other down" ALL POWER to the PEOPLE

"Panther" is a much better movie than the critics think. Though there might be some details left out or slanted, any reasonably accurate depiction of the early days of the Black Panthers fills a big gap in people's knowledge of history.

This movie is like "Malcolm X" in bringing neglected history to life, but more enjoyable to watch. This is an especially good movie to show to teenagers. My African-American stepson was glad to see black people standing up for themselves effectively, especially the Capitol "takeover". So much of the civil rights era history shows or tells about black people being mistreated, beaten, and killed, it was great balance to see what the Panthers accomplished in their heyday.

This is an entertaining and informative movie for teenagers and adults. You can always follow up to get more details by reading if you're interested.

By the way, the R rating is appropriate, but this movie is not a "hard R." I think those 13 and up will have little trouble with it. Adults should watch the movie with teenagers so as to be able to talk about it afterward.

Yo, I've seen this on VHS several times and it never ceases to touch me. Sure, it takes some liberties in simplifying things but people don't seem to make that criticism when it supports their political views ... such are the realities of the narrative form necessary to movies, novels, etc. This isn't a dry, academic account. It asks you to identify with the Black characters in this film, and not with the FBI oreo or the white pigs. There are some elements here of the blaxploitation genre, of which Melvin Van Peebles (with his "Sweet Sweetback's Baaadaaassss Song") was an, or should I say THE, originator. No one would accuse "Sweetback" of being an "objective" account but it does grasp something real in the experience of Blacks in Amerikkka. The soundtrack CD to this movie, and the CD "Pump Ya Fist" (co-produced by Mario Van Peebles) are also essential!!!

It is a great movie. You really can find a dvd copy if you look real hard. Go to some of the dvd resell stores and also I found a copy in the public library. Some pawn shops have plenty of older dvds. It makes me sick that some people try to charge these outrageous prices. If it wasn't illegal I would burn copies for people that wanted them...

this just goes to show you that whenever my folks speak about something other then what was taught to them to say, america gets nervous. the black panters was one of the greatest things to happen to the "real" upliftment" of africans. this movie is just as good as andy kaufman, hoffa, the patriot, and any other good ole' "american" movie. but it just so happens that this movies teaches blacks that together as one we can control our destiny. and that my friends scares amerikkka.

Panther is about education...it is about erasing the brainwashing that has been perpetrated on our people for centuries.

Until we understand and we believe that the conspiracy is a fact and not a theory, we will always be under subjection.

Panther is the beginning of the education. Excellent start.

Malcolm X or Rosewood, but nonetheless, still effective in bring across the injustices suffered by african-americans in the 60's to early 70's. I initially saw this film when I was very young and kind of slept on it. However, after doing extensive research on The Panthers, their coming together, their downfall, and the devilish conspiracies of one J. Edgar Hoover, not only contributing to the Panthers downfall, but the killing of MLK, Malcolm X, and even indirect in the assassination of JFK, I found this movie to be enlightening and a constant reminder of where my people have come from, and how much further we still have to go even today. The one part of the movie that is haunting for me and stands out so much is Hoover's direct or indirect involvement in drugs and heroin being brought into our inner cities to directly make our people commit geonocide on one another (though some may say this was ficticious, but we really know better). Our Black leaders have cried this argument for the past 30 years and doesn't it seem rather ironic that the drug epedemic happened to boom just as the Panthers were being broken up, The Vietnam War ending, and racial tensions between blacks and law enforcement was at an all time high? Coincidence, I think not. The only thing is that those persons responsible for flying that stuff into our urban cities and ghetto's never counted on the fact that it would explode as a nationwide epedemic by the time the mid 80's rolled around and a drug called crack came into existence. I think the movie should have gone a little deeper into the Panthers as a whole but knowing the Hollywood establishment, I'm sure the Van Peebles didn't have the luxurious studio budget afforded their white counterparts to make the movie they probably intended on making. Still a keeper and a collector's item and indeed true American history.