Arriving for Black History Month is The Best of Soul Cinema, a five-disc boxed set. (Notably, the folks at MGM have avoided using the term blaxploitation, presumably because it was first coined as a pejorative.) As per usual, anthologies like this attach mediocre or sub-standard titles along with excellent, more worthy ones, as a way of moving as much product as possible.

The standouts are the Pam Grier entries, Foxy Brown and Coffy (the latter boasting the most glorious catfight sequence ever filmed), and Keenen Ivory Wayans' hilarious blaxploitation spoof, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. There is less to enthuse about with Hell Up in Harlem, the sequel to Black Caesar. Despite the best efforts of star Fred Williamson and none other than horror icon Larry Cohen in the director's chair, this film manages to feel dreary even during its sporadic action sequences. But the final entry, Cooley High - dubbed the black American Graffiti - gets a better-than-average grade, if for no other reason than serving as the inspiration for TV's What's Happening!! » Matthew Hays