Movies

An enjoyable but nevertheless quite silly and average remake of the classic television show has the new John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) beating up a white racist (Christian Bale) and getting booted off of the police force. Everyone in this film is a racist - primarily the whites - and this whole idea is way too forced. The language and violence is rough, yet the film itself is quite goofy, with not many good scenes and only a few mediocre action sequences. The moral is somewhat depressing: if someone wrongs you, or someone of your race, then beat them up and kill them once they reappear. Richard Roundtree's cameo helps a bit, but regardless, this SHAFT is still only "good" at best.2.5/5 stars.

We are not talking classics here, but guilty pleasures. I've watched it three or four times. I am surprised I haven't written it up.The Richard Roundtree role of John Shaft is taken by none other than Samuel L. Jackson. Christian Bale is his nemesis as Walter Wade, Jr., who is a racist, spoiled rich kid.Wade hooks up with Peoples (Jeffrey Wright) and Shaft has his work cut out for him trying to find his witness (Toni Collette). He doesn't know he has crooked cops to deal with also.The action ramps up hot and heavy after People's little brother gets killed. Bullets fly and lots die while cars get shot up and smashed in a run through the streets.With Vanessa Williams backing up Shaft, this is worth a couple of watches.

"Shaft 2000" is a reasonable successor to the original Shaft of 29 years ago. The film shows restraint by keeping Shaft big, but not bigger than life, as it tries to be a human story first and an action flick second. Unfortunately, in spite of good performances (especially by Wright) and good production talent, the story fails on the human level and hedges on the obvious alternative of exaggerated good and bad guys and a profusion of gratuitous violence, sex, and action. Worth a watch but keep expectations low.