SHAFT

2000

Director John Singleton

Starring Samuel L Jackson, Richard Roundtree, Vanessa Williams, Toni Collette, Busta Rhymes, Christian Bales.

Who's the cat who won't cop out when there's danger all about......Shaft, Dig it!

If you do then check your brain out for one and a half hours of pure adrenaline done the old fashioned way as Shaft is back! ****Samuel L Jackson dons the leather jacket and title as the nephew of the original John Shaft in this update remake/sequel to the original 1970s classic.

When a 'brother' is murdered by a racist white Walter Wade (Bales) it is up to Shaft to find the witness (Collette) and bring Wade to justice (with the help of Cop Vanessa Williams and buddy/Chauffeur Rhymes).

This is not so much of a movie but a series of set pieces out to showcase the bad mother (hush your mouth up) and to this extent it works brilliantly.

Samuel L is the only actor who could pull this movie and character off (that isn't a young Richard Roundtree) and he succeeds in bringing Shaft to a new generation, while respect is given to the Shaft Snr with a great cameo by the original Shaft himself.

With a great score by David Arnold and soundtrack by the other Bad Mother of Shaft, Isaac Hayes, this adds to a movie that wreaks of coolness.

All this aside, the plot is wafer thin, most of the whites are racist and the ending is too much like New Jack City.

Wade is a distasteful character, but not menacing enough, but then we are not here to watch anyone but Jackson.

If Shaft is an indication of things to come, I'll look forward to Shaft 2, as this is one movie that does deserves a sequel.

Extras:

Trailers, Interviews, Shaft: Still the Man (making of), Isaac Hayes and R Kelley music videos. Shaft may be the coolest Private Eye it's a shame that it has been packaged on a standard DVD. Commentary, DVD-ROM Material, out-takes, Deleted Scenes would have all been welcomed.

Ratings:

Entertainment:*** (add one if you think Samuel L Jackson is Cool)

Extras:**

Menu Screens:***

Overall:***