Good concept, poorly executed.

Absolutely amazing

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

I will consider it a blood sequel to Black Caesar and Hell Up In Harlem always been a big fan of Larry Cohen the stuff wicked stepmother the ambulance Q Bone and the private files of J. Edgar hoover but having an ensemble cast from 70s blaxploitation films makes this film brilliant

I watched "Original Gangstas" for the first time on BET many years ago. At first, I didn't know what to expect. But when I saw Fred Williamson, I knew I'd be in for a real treat. This is a film that tackles inner city violence and poverty. The narration in the beginning of the film gives viewers a wonderful insight on the lives of the old and new generation of Gary, Indiana and the problems that led to the deterioration of the city. The film revolves around the classic actors of the blaxploitation genre; a couple of OG's who team up to rid their town of crime and gang violence bought on by a ruthless gang called The Rebels. Most of the action happens after a promising athlete gets gunned down in a phone booth after a hustle gone wrong. The drama continues when the elderly owner of a grocery store is severely beaten and hospitalized shortly after. That's when the legendary football player John Bookman (Fred Williamson) shows up to kick ass and take names. The film also stars Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Paul Winfield, Ron O'Neal, Isabel Sanford and Christopher B. Duncan of "The Jamie Foxx Show". All of the actors are really good to watch and the dialogue is simple and straight forward without seeming too over the top. Although not a groundbreaking film, "Original Gangstas" is, in fact a poignant film with a great message. It definitely reminds you of the importance of fighting for a cause and standing up for what you believe in no matter what. And who better to learn that from than a couple of OG's who still got it like that ! Two thumbs up !!

"Original Gangstas" is a movie written by Aubrey Rattan and directed by Larry Cohen, released by the now-defunct Orion Pictures (now part of MGM) and Po' Boy Productions.This movie leads with an all-star cast staring Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Pam Grier, the late Paul Winfield ("Sounder", "King"), Charles Napier, Wings Hauser, Robert Forster, the late Ron O'Neal ("Superfly"), the late Isabel Sanford (Louise on "The Jeffersons), and Richard Roundtree of "Shaft".With Christopher B. Duncan ("The Jamie Foxx Show"), Eddie Bo Smith, Jr., and Dru Down.In an urban Gary, Indiana. From a drive-by-shooting, to a attempted murder of grocery-store owner Marvin Bookman (Oscar Brown Jr.), John Bookman (Williamson) comes back and reunites with his friends and gets revenge on the gang they created years back.I give it 10/10.

It has always amazed me how the star of this film, Fred Williamson, has gone to such great lengths to badmouth this flick and the work of his former friend, writer-director Larry Cohen. I've read it and I've heard it on DVD audio commentaries--"Hiring Larry for Original Gangstas was a mistake," Williamson says. Yet he has nothing but praise for his own work as a writer-director.Is the Hammer on crack, or what? This is a very slick, very cool little low budget action flick that shows the old time stars to great advantage. Cohen did a great job. In fact, if you took all the good parts from every movie that Fred Williamson produced and directed himself and put them together, the film you'd end up with would still be 1/100th the film this one is (of course a compilation of "good parts" from Hammer's self-directed flicks would only be 15 minutes long).I love Fred Williamson. His pre-1976 movies like "Black Caesar" and "Bucktown" are classics, and I like him as a performer. I'd LOVE to see him work in more mainstream movies, as a lead. But the man has only been in three halfway decent films in the past quarter century: "Starsky and Hutch," "From Dusk Til Dawn," and "OG." And "OG" is the best of the three in my opinion. His self produced-directed efforts, his Italian-Euro cheapazoid flicks--they ALL rank as some of the absolute worst movies of all time.So, don't listen to the star of the show, just watch the movie. "Original Gangstas" is a solid flick.