Watch Welcome Home Brother Charles For Free

Sadly Over-hyped

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It's a damn dirty shame that it's impossible to see the uncut version of Welcome Home, Brother Charles, because what's left of it is tantalizing indeed. Long considered a trash anti-classic, its reputation is well deserved--but there's much more to it than just a giant stunt penis. The first half hour of the film is as good as anything done by Melvin Van Peebles in his overrated Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, and there are moments that are the equal of Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep. Really. The tone changes in the second half of the film, but Fanaka's message--that the white man has spent the last few hundred years trying to emasculate the black man--couldn't be clearer. That said, the second half is damaged by what appear to be severe cuts, and Charles becomes a less interesting character when revenge becomes his primary goal. Regardless, this is a film well worth seeing, if only for the amazing score, which blends elements of funk, blues, jazz, and avant garde music to sometimes brilliant effect. Let's hope that Jamaa Fanaka has a complete print safely stashed away in his basement.

Don't believe the hype! This film is boring and dull as dirt. I love films of this period/genre, but this one has no redeeming value. If you're simply waiting to see the infamous "prop" -- you're in for a disappointment: it appears (only once!) during the final five minutes of the film, and even then it's non-eventful and (excuse the pun) anti-climactic. The story is poorly conceived, written and executed, and overall the film brings nothing new or fresh to the table for this type of film. Trust me, you've seen it all before in much better films of the period. This dull and dated dud isn't worth your time -- avoid it at all costs! Check out the director's under-rated and almost ignored gem, "Black Sister's Revenge" instead -- it'll surprise you.

DVD release of the Original Blaxploitation Film, which I saw in the theater the day of its releas, is badly edited and cut. There are bleeps. Worse, several of the murders are excised. Xenon Productions can do better. In its original release as Welcome Home, Brother Charles this film was surely the most tasteless film ever made in the history of film-making-----the acme of the Black Phallic Worship begun by Kyle Onstott in his book, Mandingo and culminating in Scott Poulson-Bryant's recently released study, "Hung!" Since the Edits, the film renamed Soul Vengeance has been reduced to being only ONE of the most Tastelessfilms ever produced. Mr Fanaka ought to be ashamed of himself and demand that the original film be re-issued--UNCUT and UNDILUTED. Yours in Blaxploitation films, Ebony Ivory.

This film is a gem! Everything within Brother Charles (or Soul Vengeance as I saw it) adds to its effect-- jittery camerawork, sound so murky that most dialogue can't be understood, some really out there dancing and of course, weird action. And boy do I mean weird. Fanakaa obviously was trying for some kind of visual metaphor in this film, but its comic effect overshadows any pretense of seriousness the film may or may not contain. Fans of the genre MUST NOT miss out on this one.