Shaft

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Christian Bale, Toni Collette, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Roundtree (cameo), Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya, Toni Collette, Pat Hingle, Mekhi Phifer, Elizabeth Banks
Directed by: John Singleton
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Crime
2000

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: This film picks up where the early 70's Shaft with Richard Roundtree left off. Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) investigates the death of a young African-American, and kills butt like you'd expect him to.

Review:

Tim: Remaking Shaft is such a great idea that it would be hard for this movie not to succeed. However, it does just that. Now, Shaft does have very good qualities to the film. Samuel L. Jackson is very, very good as John Shaft. The film contains many humorous scenes and lines which are very memorable. The film did manage to hold my attention and entertain me. However, the film plodded along, containing many slow moments. If you enjoy cops and robbers types of films, then I definitely recommend this one.

What Shaft does right is combine the updated, modern story all the while paying tribute to the original Shaft of 1971. Richard Roundtree, the original Shaft, plays Jackson's uncle, and brings a good touch to the film. The 70's music in this film adds to the mood. If you remember being alive in the 70's, then you will appreciate this film far more than someone younger than yourself.

Shaft is not a very bad movie, but it's not a very good one either. Busta Rhymes does add a little flavor to the plot, but not much. Samuel L. Jackson does an incredible job, but can't carry the film much higher than being mediocre. I do recommend Shaft, but I also warn viewers to be cautious. This is an entertaining film, and you will enjoy watching Jackson in action, but if you are looking for a movie that will entertain you immensely and blow you away, this one will not be it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Pulp Fiction, Shaft (1971), Shaft in Africa, Eraser