Movie: Shaft
Director: John Singleton
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Jeffrey Wright, Vanessa Williams, Christian Bale
What it's about: The nephew of the original John Shaft is a police detective following in his uncle's footsteps. He's cool, he's smart, and he ALWAYS gets his man. He takes a case where a white rich kid kills a black man. After making the arrest the kid is out on bail and skips the country to avoid prosecution. Shaft keeps the memory of the one who got away fresh in his mind and re-arrests the kid when he returns to the U.S. two years later. The kid is set free again and Shaft quits the force to take the kid down on his own terms.
What I thought: Well having never seen the original Shaft I really can't compare it to this one. But I do have a little knowledge about what the original is like. And I don't think that this Shaft is like that Shaft. I always thought John Shaft was a slick talkin', face bustin', woman lovin' kind of man. You know, one bad mother....

Now there were some really cool scenes, like when Shaft beats the crap out of that drug dealers face to get help from the waitress, and there was really only one really cheesy pick up line "It's my duty, to please that booty." *ugh* but other than that it wasn't all that great. The only thing that really carries the movie is Samuel L. Jackson's ability to play street smart, pissing-ice- cubes-I'm-so-cool guys. I can't wait for him to get a meatier role in the upcoming Star Wars movies. He should kick ass as Mace Windu.

One of my big pet peeves though is that Vanessa Williams got starring credit in the movie but was in it for maybe 30 minutes, and even then she didn't really have that big of a screen presence. I hope they didn't blow a lot of money on her because it wasn't nearly worth it. It would have been a better role for a Hollywood up and comer. Either Vanessa Williams was desperate for work or the casting person owed her a favour. She should NOT have been in that movie at all.

So why the rating? Well as much as I like to see Sam beat the crap out of people and talk tough, I think flowing robes and a bright green lightsaber is what I'm waiting for. The Shaft of the future as it were.

Rob's Rating (out of five bags)

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