Description
Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more signing fun!
Family, Feelings, & Fun teaches ASL signs for family members, feelings, and things you find outside.
FAMILY SIGNS
• House • Home
• Family • Sister
• Brother • Son
• Daughter • Uncle
• Aunt • Cousins
OUTSIDE SIGNS
• Tree • Wind
• Leaf • Grass
• Cloud • Rain
• Snow • Coat
• Boots • Gloves
• Hat
FEELINGS
• Feelings • Grumpy
• Surprised • Silly
• Scared • Excited
• Sick • Love
• I Love You
Customer Reviews:
Signing Time Volume 4.......2007-09-09
Great. Great. Great. These dvds are the BEST. My twins can watch them over and over. And they are so educational! If you are looking for a way to teach your children ASL these are the dvds to buy!. The songs are so wonderful you just can't help but to learn right along with them. Also check out her website. There are many activities to go along with her dvds!
K-Wise.......2007-07-19
My son is 2. He is not deaf but I feel learning sign language will help expand his vocabulary. These products have helped tremendously.
Great Family Fun.......2007-07-08
I get chills every time I hear the song about families in this Signing Time volume. It is such an uplifting program. Our entire family enjoys all of the DVDs is this phenomenal series. As a SAHM and former kindergarten teacher I highly recommend them for their educational value, in addition to their entertainment value. They have greatly enhanced my two year old's ability to communicate.
We love signing time.......2007-06-11
My kids love signing time!! My daughter Emma loved them so much she included Rachel, Lean and Alex in her prayers.
My daughter Anna has down syndrome and it has helped so much for her to know signs. It helped Emma learn to read and spell (by 2 1/2!) And helped my son John communicate before he started speaking.
Well worth it! Here is our business dedicated to my daughter Emma: [...]
AMAZING.......2007-05-17
These DVD's are amazing. My children (3) have all been signing from the time they were a year old. These are fun, lots of good songs.They are so engaging they teach the parents as they play them over and over. We love them and and given them as special gifts to all the new babies we know. I purchasesd these to increase the ability for my children to communicate and reduce frustration before verbal words were able to be expressed and these DVD's did an incredible job. They are all hearing with no special needs and these really helped them increase their commincation it gave them the abiltiy to express words before they knew how to talk. When my children were ready to talk their vocabulary increased faster than their peers as they already had words for so may objects and had put them together so just adding the verbal pieces was the only thing to master.Great item truly the best for teaching young children sign.
Description
Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more signing fun!
My Favorite Things teaches ASL signs for fruits, vegetables, colors of the rainbow, and activities.
COLORS
• Rainbow • Red • Orange
• Yellow • Green • Blue
• Purple
Song: Rainbow Song
FRUITS & VEGGIES
• Vegetable • Fruit
• Carrot • Corn
• Beans • Potato
• Lettuce • Grapes
• Peach • Banana
• Pear • Strawberry
• Watermelon
Song: 5 A Day
ACTIVITIES
• Dance • Walk
• Sit • Swim
• Sing • Run
• Swing • Jump
Song: I'm Really Good
Finale song: Shine
DVD version includes special features and ASL tips.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful for teaching children and adults!.......2007-08-23
My granddaughter who is 2 loves these and she can now sign well over 100 words and is learning her alphabet. She can say her alphabet and try's to sign them as she says them. It has created a wonderful bonding time for her and I. We will talk to each other in sign. It is so fun!She has been learning with these since she was 6 months. Never to early to start.
WONDERFUL!.......2007-08-14
My 2 year old loves all the Signing Time videos we have, and the sign language has helped us out 10 fold since he was about 5 months. I would recommend all the signing time videos to ANYBODY if you are interested at all in learning sign language, and especially if you have children at home. A super easy to learn format, lots of music and fun visuals for kiddos. Signing time has got to be the best product I have ever come across for my family.
Fantastic.......2007-07-29
My 2 1/2 year old son has PDD and this entire series of DVDs has helped tremendously in our efforts to learn sign language. My son's attention span is generally limited, but he'll sit down and watch an entire Signing Time DVD. What's move important, he retains what he learns. This series is not just ment for people with special needs, it's for anyone who wants to learn ASL and the combination of music and demonstration is just wonderful.
Our Favorite.......2007-07-08
We are huge Signing Time Fans! We own almost all of the Signing Time Videos, but this is our very favorite! We have given it as a gift several times. The music is catchy and makes the signs very easy to learn. My son is two and knows all the words to all of the songs! I highly recommend this DVD!
Fantastic.......2007-02-01
My daughter (now 20 months) just loves signing time. Because she is in a dual language household (her grandmother speaks only Japanese), her language skills have been slow to develop. Signing has helped immensely with helping to communicate with her. All of the shows are her favorites.
Description
The first in the Signing Time! series. Cousins Alex Brown (who can hear) and Leah Coleman (who is deaf) invites babies and children of all ages to "Come sign with us!" My first Signs presents 18 basic American Sign Language (ASL) signs to your family in a fun and memorable way. It's Signing Time: My First Signs - ASL signs you can use everyday!
The ASL signs taught are:
Eat, Milk, Water, Ball, More, Bird, Dog, Cat, Fish, Car, Airplane, Want, Shoes, Flower, Mom, Dad, Baby, Sleep
The DVD version includes an ASL sign review.
Customer Reviews:
great video, but it's definitely the first.......2007-07-28
this video doesn't have the fun songs nor does it feel as put together as the later ones. Still, she loves to watch it and has learned to sign "Cat" and "ball", etc. from watching this. We love to have her watch these videos. I just wish they weren't so expensive so I could buy more of them!
Signing Times.......2007-07-09
This DVD is very good at demonstrating the signs. What it doesn't do however, is talk about how to introduce the signs to your baby. I wish there was a section that described how/when to use the signs with your baby. The DVD only shows how to make the signs.
Thrilled Grandma.......2007-07-04
I purchased this DVD for my grandson who is autistic. While not every autistic person responds to signing, my grandson does. so far, the results are fantastic! In three weeks his vocabulary has increased by nearly 50%, using both the signs and speaking the words. His parents are completely thrilled by the results. Another plus, his 2 year old sister's vocabulary has increased as well. I will eventually buy the whole set for them. Thanks so much Rachel and company!!
My toddler can't get enough of signing time!.......2007-06-23
We have had the Signing Time videos for a year and a half. We own 8 of the videos. My son loves to watch these videos, and he asks me through signing to watch them often. My husband and I use the signs during the day as well. My son started signing at 13 months. He is now almost 2. At a recent family gathering I got many positive comments on my son's use of sign language. Many people told me that they have heard of babies and toddlers using sign language, but my son was the first baby they had actually witnessed using it. I really credit Signing Time for that.
You are certainly not going to become fluent in sign language by watching these videos. You will learn signs that your child will actually use such as; milk, water, dog, cat, mom and dad. If you continue with the series you will learn many more food signs, family signs, colors, numbers, animals, and feelings. These are all common words in a toddler's vocabluary.
Also, some people have expressed concerns that children who sign may not speak. This has not been my experience. My son says the word as he signs it. I highly recommend the whole Signing Time series to anyone who wants to learn basic signs to improve communication with theri baby or toddler.
Signing Time Vol. 1 ,2 & 3.......2007-05-24
We love the Signing Time DVDs! It grabs your attention right from the beginning. The music is great and hearing the children's voices keeps my granddaughters attention. While at the grocery store, she signed apple which is not a word we taught her, she had learned it from the Signing Time DVD. I just ordered Volumes 4&5.
Description
Join Alex, Leah, their frog Hopkins, and Signing Time's Rachel Coleman for more "Signing Time" fun!
ABC Signs teaches the alphabet in American Sign Language, and introduces more than 50 signs for words corresponding to different letters.
Sign and sing along with the fun and fabulous new songs:
A is For Alex and Alligator
LMNO
Lonely Letter X
DVD version includes special features, ASL tips and a sign by sign walk through of "A is for Alex and Alligator"
Customer Reviews:
ABC Signs.......2007-09-09
I love all the signing time videos. My twins are now 21 months and they can sign 50 signs each. This video is fun just like all the others. However, I do feel that it is a little too hard for the right now. This is the only video they can't really sign. I think the alphabet dvd should be a higher number so we would have ordered it when they get a little older. This is why I gave it 4 stars.
Great!.......2007-09-02
This DVD was used at our daughter's preschool and picked up the signing and songs very quickly. We will be adding to our collection at birthdays and holidays. All of our children love to watch this DVD, ages 6,9 and 1.
The ABC's are fun to do with the kids, great music and they watch it over and over.
A Daughter with Down Syndrome.......2007-08-27
This DVD has been our summer project and has not only helped my daughter learn sign language but has helped me learn as well. There are other signs embedded in the fun and has helped too. It is time for us to order more of the Signing Time videos.
good dvd.......2007-03-25
Not bad, but not as effective as the first 3 in the series. My son, after a while, was able to learn the alphabet in sign, he just was not as interested in watching the dvd as he was volumes 1-3.
Signing Time is PERFECT for learning ASL for Autistic Kids.......2007-02-01
When my child was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 19 months, we decided that ASL would be a great 'visual support' for her and gave it a try. We own several DVD's in this series and LOVE them.
I have spent these recent trying (and succeeding) at understanding and communicating with my own child and ASL and visual supports have been the cornerstone of our therapies. When I could not find materials to help educate her, I made them myself. My name is Laura Behrendt and I have a website [...] where I have made available items that have successfully helped my child and other children with Autism.
Product Description
Come join Rachel, Alex, Leah and their frog Hopkins as you learn more songs and signs for all your favorite barnyard animals and critters.
DVD version includes special features and ASL tips.
Farm
Chicken
Horse
Goat
Mouse
Rooster
Sheep
Cow
Donkey
Pig
Turkey
Pet
Cat
Dog
Fish
Customer Reviews:
Fun up beat music.......2007-03-30
Oh our family just loves this dvd. It is colorful and the music is so alive and upbeat. We have so much fun learning the signs for all the animals down on the farm. Their website is also fun,colorful and informative vist them online [...]
Great for your classroom.......2006-08-16
Our school is currently using Signing Time in an after school program to introduce and teach American Sign Language to children ranging in grades K-6. Rachel does a good job of desribing and demonstating the signs. The music and songs create an enjoyable way to reinforce the new signs learned.
Entertaining and Educational.......2006-05-30
As the mother of twins, one hearing and one deaf, I have had the opportunity to check out many programs for teaching ASL to small children. This is by far the best series out there. Most other products are so boring that parents must struggle to stay awake during the production, and there is no way a toddler would tolerate a viewing. My 2-year-old twins request Signing Time all of the time. At home they want the DVDs playing almost constantly. In the car my hearing daughter starts asking for the Signing Time CD before I even have her strapped into her carseat. My 2-year-old deaf daughter is using 5-sign sentences, which is almost unheard of for the deaf child of hearing parents. My extended family owns a total of 6 sets of Signing Time. Whenever my daughters' cousins have a birthday they ask for the latest Signing Time DVDs. Children of all ages love this product.
My son loves this DVD!.......2006-03-09
My son has Verbal Apraxia and we are teaching him sign. This video is a great asset to our learning all the farm animals!
Product Description
All Aboard! Let's get on the Zoo Train with Rachel, Alex, Leah and Hopkins and learn signs for all your favorite animals that you see (and sometimes don't see!) at the zoo.
DVD version includes special features and ASL tips.
ASL Signs you will learn:
Rhinoceros
Bat
Seal
Panda
Hippopotamus
Zebra
Tiger
Lion
Shark
Dolphin
Whale
Octopus
Crab
Lobster
Starfish
Shrimp
Monkey
Kangaroo
Camel
Gorilla
Crocodile
Elephant
Penguin
Giraffe
Customer Reviews:
So many animals, so many signs .......2007-07-03
For our animal loving child, this is a huge hit. Needless to say we were quite thrilled when this one came out, so we could finally learn the signs to some of our favorite animals. Our 5 year old loves to sign and sing to all the songs on the video, especially Guess What I Am. We try to make a game out of it and it can go on and on and on... My 5 year old and I highly recommend Signing Time.
ASL for children, it's GREAT.......2007-01-13
My adult son is an ASL interpreter and I wanted a program that taught children ASL. It is great! The two main children are Leah, who is Deaf and Alex, who is hearing. They are cousins and do a great job. Emilee does a fabulous job of teaching children ASL, in a fun and musical way. I researched lots of programs searching for a fun ASL program. This is it!
Whole family loves it!.......2007-01-06
This is by far one of the best videos in our house right now. My two boys, age 1.5. and 4 both enjoy watching it as does my husband! The songs are catchy and well done. I'm assuming if you're reading this, you're already well aware of the benefits of teaching hearing children ASL, but I can't say enough positive things about it.
We started signing with our first son when he was one (without these videos) and around 15 months he "got it" and starting picking up signs everyday. Eventually he could do about 50 signs and recognized others as well. It DEFINITELY reduces or eliminates the frustration many toddlers feel when they can't communicate their wants and needs to you. We never experienced that as he would just sign whatever was on his mind.
We did the same with our second son but also bought a few of these Signing Times videos. He's 18 months and already knows well over 50 signs. He'll pick them up just watching the video! They are so much fun to watch and both kids are mesmerized watching the other kids sign. The animation is well done, songs are fantastic, clips of each animal are enjoyable and the entire concept is wonderful!
This particular video (zoo train) is better than our other one (Great Outdoors), mostly in terms of songs and "games" (guess what animal I am). The game is my older son's favorite part. I've taken two ASL courses and even learned new signs here! Definitely recommend this video whole heartedly!
Great Product ever made for kids.......2006-11-10
We were introduced by our son's child care giver. He was 20 months old when he first started with signing time in Daycare. Ever since then he came home signing and singing the melody of the songs from the DVDs. When he started to speak all the alphabets and numbers and words from the books, me and my husband were surprised and happy. When he was two years old, he already knew all the colors, number 1-10 and A to Z in additon to a lot of vocabs. Until today, he watches signing time everyday and continue learning.
We think this is a great fun learning product and we love it!
We love Signing Time.......2006-08-16
Our school is currently using Signing Time in an after school program to introduce and teach American Sign Language to children ranging in grades K-6. Rachel does a good job of desribing and demonstating the signs. The music and songs create an enjoyable way to reinforce the new signs learned.
Description
Everyone loves playtime! Alex, Leah and friends share playtime ASL signs with your child. "Playtime Signs" is the perfect building block for your growing ASL sign vocabulary. More of everything you love about Signing Time! More music and more ASL signs!
Signs in this volume include:
* Friend
* Play
* Train
* Doll
* Bike
* Bear
* Please
* Share
* Your turn
* My turn
* Book
* Read
* Socks
* Yes
* No
* Drink
* Thirsty
* Dirty
* Clean
* Potty
* Bath
* Hurt
* Sorry
* Stop
* Go
* Wait
* Wash hands
* Thank you
* Grandma
* Grandpa
DVD version includes ASL sign review and ASL tips.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful videos.......2007-08-13
I taught my now 3 1/2 year old son baby signs w/ the help of a book with little success, but both he and my 1 1/2 year old daughter have picked up ALL of the signs from the first two videos and just a couple of months. It's been amazing to watch and my daughter now actually asks for the videos by signing "signing time" - way cool! My son loves "teaching" his little sister the signs and he gets very focused on doing all the signs completely correctly, while my daughter just enjoys being able to communicate a little bit better. I highly, highly recommend this series.
so much to learn from.......2007-07-28
My 15 mo. old daughter loves these videos. she's actually learned signs from them! I'm always impressed that these videos can be that effective. And I don't feel bad when she watches these videos, like I'm turning her into a tv junkie. This video has some cute songs & my husband and I like to watch them with her, actually.
Excellent.......2007-06-02
Since he was three months old our son has really enjoyed this DVD. While he's not old enough to start signing, it's easy to tell that he is picking up on activities displayed on the screen. He loves to watch Hopkins the frog. No doubt that once he is old enough he will pick up the signing quickly. Highly recommend.
its ok.......2007-05-19
The dvd is very easy to learn but its is one of the oldest dvds so it is a lot different than the ones my daughter is use to. It is a lot slower, not as many songs, and it doesn't catch my daughters attention as easily as the others. It does have some good signs in the dvd that really come in handy but I'm hoping signing time comes out with a new dvd that has these signs in it.
Great for the entire family.......2007-05-18
My [..] asks to watch "Alex and Leah" almost every day. She has learned all of the signs on this dvd in no time. They keep her (and me) entertained. We watch and learn together - they are just the right speed. Fast enough that I don't get bored, but they review each sign enough that you really learn them! The songs are cute and catchy too. My infant son watches sometimes. I think he likes to see all of the children. Love these dvds!
Description
Signing Time! Volume 3: Everyday Signs
Watch, enjoy and learn as Alex, Leah and all their friends share everyday ASL signs. This award winning video will teach babies and children the ASL signs that they'll use every day. ASL Sign language made fun for the whole family. You won't be able to resist trying your hands at the Silly Pizza Song!
ASL Signs you will learn:
* Hungry * Apple * Cookie * Cereal * Banana * Bread * Cheese * Cracker * Ice cream * Candy * Help * Full * Hot * Cold * Wet * Dry * Like * Don't Like * Day * Sun * Night * Moon * Stars * Happy * Laugh * Sad * Cry * Boy * Girl
DVD version includes ASL sign review and ASL tips.
Customer Reviews:
learn to sign.......2007-07-27
I have a daycare and we watch this video several times a week. The kids love this video. Even the one year olds watch it with great interest. The kids have already learned so many signes. Very well done.
I learned a lot and It was SO EASY!.......2007-06-24
If you have a desire to learn sign language with your kids, this is an amazing treat! I liked that every word that was being taught was somehow related so it wasn't an attack on the brain. I also liked that there were songs after every few words. This is great fun and a nice way to learn a few words to a new language.
Rachel is our family's new American Idol.......2007-06-18
The music is fun, the production keeps getting better, and the little ones are spellbound by it.
Great learning tool for small children.......2007-05-17
Loved Volume 3 of Signing Time. My children ages 18 months to 6 years loved the Pizza song. Can't wait to get Volume 4. My 18 month old is always asking with sign language to see 'Baby Signing Time'. She now can tell us what she wants and doesn't get frustrated in the process. I recommend this highly to give your little ones a voice.
Totally recommend.......2007-04-04
Love it, love it, love it! The 'Signing Time' series is wonderful. Fun music, songs and sceens. Our son is 19 months old and has been signing basic signs since about 12 months. We first bought Baby See 'n Sign (don't waste the money) and he wouldn't even pay attention to them. I couldn't even stand watching them, extremely boring and a lot of the signs are not correct ASL. Then we went to 'Baby Signs'...excellent, great for beginners, easy for babys to relate to Bebo the bear and the characters, however not enough signs on each video otherwise I would have kept buying them. I decided to try the 'Signing Time' series and he really enjoys watching them. He even does the sign and says the word with Leah & Alex. He will watch a whole video. I really like the review section for my husband and I because we don't always get to watch the entire video (cooking dinner etc). I plan on buying the rest of the videos.
Product Description
Rachel, Alex, Leah, and their frog Hopkins invite you to explore The Great Outdoors. You will go on a singing and signing adventure as you learn the signs for animals, bugs, activities, and objects you encounter in your 'great backyard'.
DVD version includes special features and ASL tips.
Backyard
Explore
Tent
Trail
Bridge
Stream
Forest
Mountain
Porcupine
Raccoon
Deer
Bear
Owl
Skunk
Beaver
Wolf
Eagle
Fox
Bug
Ant
Fly
Spider
Bee
Worm
Mosquito
Caterpillar
Butterfly
Customer Reviews:
So many animals, so many signs, more great fun. .......2007-07-03
This video teaches signs for outdoor animals and things seen in nature. My 5 year daughter loves this volume and volume 9 since they have lots and lots of animal signs. The video has Rachel (host) say and sign the word and then the children will demonstrate the sign. To help practice the signs there are more great songs to sign and sing to. Definietly worth the money to own all the videos.
My Favorite Series for kids of all ages.......2007-06-28
Between the songs, the signing, the adorable kids, the animated backgrounds, and Rachel, this dvd is a hit! Our family loves it as well as the rest of the dvds in the Signing Time! series. My youngest child knows all the signs in this, and an added bonus is that he has learned to read the words associated with the signs. Get ready to explore The Great Outdoors with Signing Time!
Cute video.......2007-04-11
Cute songs and easy to sign along with. I use this with my apraxic son and he really enjoys it!
Valueable educational products for kids ever made.......2006-11-10
We were introduced by our son's child care giver. He was 20 months old when he first started with signing time in Daycare. Ever since then he came home signing and singing the melody of the songs from the DVDs. When he started to speak all the alphabets and numbers and words from the books, me and my husband were surprised and happy. When he was two years old, he already knew all the colors, number 1-10 and A to Z in additon to a lot of vocabs. Until today, he watches signing time everyday and continue learning.
We think this is a great fun learning product and we love it!
We love Signing Time.......2006-08-16
Our school is currently using Signing Time in an after school program to introduce and teach American Sign Language to children ranging in grades K-6. Rachel does a good job of desribing and demonstating the signs. The music and songs create an enjoyable way to reinforce the new signs learned.
Average customer rating:
- fox in a Box-bring back good time
- Boppin'n BuSStin' Fox
- clumsy filmmaking, but not without their prurient charms
- at least the price is right
- A trio of fun exploitation flicks from the Queen of the genre
|
Fox in a Box - Featuring Pam Grier (Sheba, Baby / Foxy Brown / Coffy)
Starring:
Pam Grier ,
Austin Stoker ,
D'Urville Martin ,
Rudy Challenger , and
Dick Merrifield
Director:
William Girdler , and
Jack Hill
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Pam Grier
| Action Stars
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Grier, Pam
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Martin, Durville
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Stoker, Austin
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Girdler, William
| ( G )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Hill, Jack
| ( H )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All MGM Titles
| MGM Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( F )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Cleopatra Jones
-
Gary Cooper MGM Movie Legends Collection (The Cowboy and the Lady / The Real Glory / Vera Cruz / The Winning of Barbara Worth)
-
Scream, Blacula, Scream
-
The Sidney Poitier DVD Collection (For Love of Ivy / In the Heat of the Night / Lilies of the Field / The Organization / They Call Me Mister Tibbs!)
-
Blacula
ASIN: B000B5XOTI
Release Date: 2005-12-06 |
Description
"From Blaxploitation to Hip-Hop" Featurette "Pam Grier: Super Foxy" Featurette
Customer Reviews:
fox in a Box-bring back good time.......2007-03-14
yes! just watching this box set bring back the good old day
Boppin'n BuSStin' Fox.......2007-02-16
Man, this is just alotta fun - got this a coupla wks ago and seen "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" thus far. Obviously, the production team got a good deal more cay'sh fer doin' "Foxy Brown" (made a yr after "Coffy"). I actually preferred the earlier film - seemed like the actors were more focused, less sure of their success. Make no mistake, this is not top-of-the-line film, but it's premium B-Movie stuff, and a real treat (in my opinion) jus' takin' a step back into 1973, '74. Not to mention the Rubenesque charms of Ms Grier (tho' I must admit I think she looks much more attractive some 24 yrs. later in Mr Tarantino's film "Jackie Brown" - like some wines, she improved with age).
I also enjoyed the director's commentary on "Coffy" - interesting to hear Jack Hill describing his trials/tribulations with the studio - they wanted more sex'n violence, he wanted some more character development, more laid back scenes, eg, drivin' through Los Angeles - those are some sweet takes - like drivin' thru my childhood, hulkin' 'Merikin automobiles cruisin' along.
So if yer up for some majorly jigglin' action, clad in some stylin' 1973 attire... get this Fox in your Box...
clumsy filmmaking, but not without their prurient charms.......2007-01-18
Blaxploitation generally makes me uncomfortable, probably because I'm a white guy - blaxploitation is not really made for me. The granddaddy of them all, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (a film I can't help believing is awful even as my white guilt demands I think otherwise), begins with a rather unsubtle pronouncement of purpose: "Dedicated to all the Brothers and Sisters who had enough of the Man." But what if you are the Man?
The genre is also so difficult to critique is because it walks a very precarious tight rope; how much of blaxploitation is exploitation for blacks and how much of it is exploitation of blacks? Sweetback is important, historically-speaking, for having been written, directed, and produced by a black man, making money, and bringing black issues further into the national debate. It's also shoddily-constructed, trades on racial stereotypes (principally those that involve black sexual potency), and opened the door for cynical, money-grabbing garbage even worse than it was, pictures that glorified pimps, drug dealers, beating women, and killing people.
Coffy and Foxy Brown only glorify killing people (as long as you do it in an interesting way, like with the prop of a single-engine airplane or driving your car into their living room), so they're considerably more innocuous than their blaxploitation contemporaries. Between the two, there are some superficial differences in plot (Foxy Brown was actually developed as a sequel to the earlier film), with Coffy being the more subversive (and better) picture, but they are essentially the same movie.
In each, Pam Grier stars as a woman wronged, seeking vengeance on a criminal syndicate she deems responsible for the death/hospitalization of a loved one. Using her wits and shapely form, Grier goes undercover as a prostitute to gain access to the bad guys, ultimately delivering Biblical justice and leaving a trail of bloody bodies behind her.
Once you get past the graphic violence and bare bosoms, they are also peculiarly conservative (not that there is anything intrinsically anti-conservative about violence or bosoms). In marked contrast to films like Super Fly and Dolemite, the pushers and pimps are the villains of the piece, jackals who prey on the black neighborhoods, undermining them from within. There is a strong distrust of government and traditional authority figures, like police officers, politicians, and even civil rights leaders (in Coffy, a black politician uses racial issues to cynically advance his career and line his own pockets); Coffy/Foxy Brown instead advocates personal responsibility, even vigilantism for the betterment of one's life and community. Sexual predators suffer cruel death and literal/figurative castration at Grier's hands - no fancy trial by jury required here.
Coffy/Foxy Brown are not without their prurient charms. Grier's voluptuous assets are on frequent, extrinsic display (more so in Coffy if that's what you're interested in); one doesn't so much leer as marvel at her unique proportions. Action set-pieces are generally entertaining with the villains (such as the hillbillies of Foxy Brown's "ranch") carrying a genuine sense of violent menace.
But let's not get carried away. Quentin Tarantino once called Jack Hill "the greatest living American director," which is a fairly silly thing to say as nothing truly complex is attempted, much less conveyed in any of his pictures. Others have labeled Coffy/Foxy Brown as some form of revolutionary piece of feminism; that kind of praise is likewise misplaced. Lesbians are treated with a dated, reactionary gusto - they are coercive (even rapists) with large thighs and should be avoided (Hill and Grier treated the subject of sapphic love with equal sensitivity in The Big Doll House, The Big Bird Cage, and Black Mama, White Mama). Even if Pam Grier is capable with a gun, she is still a sex object along with every other woman in both films. Like Russ Meyer, Hill doesn't empower women so much as act out his fantasies about large-chested women who can beat him up. Pam Grier in the cathouse, wrestling with the other whores and tearing off their clothes is hard to call erotic; rather, it possesses the absurd existential dilemma of your grandfather's porn. People masturbated to this?
Interesting footnote: Jack Hill was a USC classmate of Francis Ford Coppola - the two worked together as apprentices under Roger Corman on 1963's The Terror. Shot in only four days, the picture also marked an early screen appearance by Jack Nicholson. Hill admits he thought Jack was a terrible actor at the time.
at least the price is right.......2005-12-01
Well the best part about this set is that you can get Coffy and Foxy Brown cheaper than buying the single DVDs. Sheba Baby isn't that great of a film. It's a shame they didn't include Bucktown which while Pam is a supporting actor (as The Hammer's love interest), it's a great film. Or even complete the Pam on MGM DVDs with Friday Foster. What's wrong with giving the complete Fox in the box?
The bonus DVD is pretty forgettable. It doesn't include Pam talking about her early days. Just modern rappers doing a VH1 bit of jabbering.
But if you're curious about Pam and you want a deal, this box is for you.
A trio of fun exploitation flicks from the Queen of the genre.......2005-11-28
This could be subtitled "Pam in a Jam". These three black exploitation films from the 70's feature Pam Grier in top form and probably provided erotic dreams and inspiration for Quentin Tarrantino. The first of the set "Coffy" features Grier as kind of a superhero without the costume. She's an a nurse during the day time but at night turns puts people into the hospital. When Coffy discovers that her sister has been fed drugs by a local drug pusher, Coffy goes in for revenge only starting with the pusher. Ultimately she plans on going to the top and taking out the guy that heads the drug syndicate himself! Coffy quickly discovers that enemies are interchangeable with friends in this fun and often funny action adventure flick.
"Foxy Brown" was originally conceived as a sequel to "Coffy" but when the director/writer Jack Hill realized he couldn't get the funds for a sequel he rewrote the film changing minor elements of the plot and characters names. Once again Grier stars (she could be playing Coffy instead of Foxy in this film and it wouldn't matter). Foxy (Grier) thinks she's found the man of her dreams when she falls in love with an undercover narcotics cop. When he's murdered she goes out for justice and swears she'll take down the crime syndicate that assassinated him. Foxy goes undercover playing the role of a high priced call girl to find out who was behind the murder of her boyfriend and exact revenge!
"Sheba Baby" features Grier as the title character Sheba Shayne a private eye who runs to aid her father. It seems he's being muscled by the mob and they are trying to take over his loan business. When the mob try and take her out with a car bomb, Sheba is out for mob blood. Packing a colorful array of guns, she takes them out one by one. The mob though has plans of their own for Sheba and she may go down before she finishes exacting her revenge! It doesn't quite hold up as well as "Coffy" or even "Foxy Brown" but it's an enjoyable guilty pleasure.
These three Pam Grier classics have been available from MGM before. These editions appear to be gussied up editions for this boxed set. The print used is extremely clean and while there is grain during some of the dark sequences, it's probably due to the film source itself and not due to the digital transfer. The mono sound track comes across with nice clarity and the music although occasionally a bit compressed sounding has nice presence. Overall, the sound track for all three films sound quite good.
"Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" feature a extremely good informative commentary from director Jack Hill. In "Foxy Brown" Hill discusses how he originally had intended that movie to be sequel to "Coffy" but couldn't get the financing. Hill also discusses his involvement in writing and directing a number of blaxploitation films and some of the issues they ran into in making these action/adventure flicks. There's a bonus disc featuring interviews with rappers, etc. that is tied into VIBE Magazine. It's not bad just not essential. Why additional extras for these fine exploitation flicks was not included is beyond me.
A nice collection which features enough action and Pam Grier to entice fans to buy it, "Fox in a Box" is an inexpensive way to pick up three classic B movies in one package. The commentary tracks are quite a bit of fun providing quite a bit of background on the production of each film. So if you're a fan cozy up with Pam in front of a fire and let her do her thing!
DVD:
- Soul Brothas and Sistas Vol. 1
- Soul Brothas 'n' Sistas, Vol. 2
- Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
- Steel Sharks
- Taekwondo by Ernie Reyes Volume 1
- Taekwondo by Ernie Reyes Volume 2
- Taekwondo by Ernie Reyes Volume 3
- Taekwondo by Ernie Reyes Volume 4
- Taekwondo by Ernie Reyes Volume 5
- Tai Chi Cannon Fist Form by Adam Hsu Volume 3
DVD
DVD
Signing Time! Volume 3: Everyday Signs DVD
Signing Time! Volume 6: My Favorite Things DVD
Signing Time! Volume 5: ABC Signs DVD
Signing Time! Volume 2: Playtime Signs DVD
Signing Time! Vol. 1: My First Signs DVD
