Customer Reviews

Shaft (Special Edition) [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I actually cringed when I saw the trailer to this movie. It didn't show much except shot after shot of Samuel L. Jackson removing his designer sunglasses and staring at the camera. I thought it had the potential to be awful.

I was very wrong. The movie is not without plot holes and implausibility, but it still works thanks to great acting and solid direction. John Singleton takes on a genre film with this almost-sequel to the famous blaxploitation series of the 1970s. Jackson plays John Shaft--nephew of the original Shaft who appears here as the wise old uncle. It's Richard Roundtree himself doing the honors, getting screen time in a theatrical release for the first time in decades.

The story concerns a cold murder of a young black man by rich and twisted Walter Wade, son of wealthy New York society. Christian Bale comes right off the set of American Pyscho and plays the demented Wade with a more outwardly tough guy persona. Think Bateman and the Preppie Murderer, and you get the idea. (Even the faux-Brooklyn accent is funny.)

There's not a whole lot of mystery around here. Shaft basically swears to get this guy, and we know he will, no matter no long or how many people he has to shoot. Things get complicated when Wade hires a Dominican drug lord to whack out the sole witness to the murder. The drug lord is then linked to dirty cops who get contracted to kill Shaft and the girl.

In the end, a lot of people die. Shaft has the best marksmanship of any cop in the country as he guns down countless low-rent drug dealers and various minions. And clad in Armani, the coat alone costing half a cop's yearly salary, Jackson is the ultimate in cool.

Why does it work? For one, the writing is slick, even if it's (trouble sign) done by a literal team of writers. However, it all comes together once we realize who was hired for what. Richard Price, author of Clockers and Freedomland, clearly lends some street credibility to the dialogue, although apparent on-set tensions meants Jackson was unwilling to read everyone's lines.

Also, the main difference between the old and new Shaft is the decided absence of sex. Jackson is a man of action. Matter of fact, the lone sexual encounter (implied and not seen) is forced, as if the audience needs a reminder that Shaft can, ahem, deliver. Also, the strangely blue-lit title sequence features quick flashes of nudity and implied sex, though we never see who with. Again, inserted by the filmmakers after production. (They couldn't get Jackson back for reshoots.)

But it doesn't matter. Shaft has the best lines, the steely stare, and a fast Glock. The other highlight is Jeffrey Wright as Peoples Hernandez, the drug lord who longs to be able to travel out of his neighborhood and still get respect.

This has a very New York feel to it, and there are tons of Manhattan locations. David Arnold, who updated the James Bond scores so well in the Brosnan films, does a very nice job of supplying detective music. (Issac Hayes' original Shaft is redone by Hayes himself, though hardly different.) Too bad the score is not widely available on CD. You have to hunt for the limited edition disc that contains the entire score plus tracks not used in the final film.

The DVD is competent, including interviews, featurette, and music videos.

Highly recommended for those who like foul-mouthed tough cop movies where bad guys pay in the end.

I have to say this movie isn't that big on plot. Its ok but thats not the high point of the film. Its pretty fun to watch Samuel L. Jackson go around in his suave stylish ways and fight crime in New York City. Jackson plays John Shaft, the nephew of the original John Shaft played but the man himself Richard Roundtree. Shaft is trying to get a man who two years ago killed another man over a racial issue into jail for good. All in all the plot is average but its just fun to sit and watch the fun. You don't have to see or even like the original Shaft movies which I haven't seen to see this. Jackson is great as Shaft. Isaac Hayes' theme is great, this time its redone. The dvd is half decent, it has the Shaft theme music video, a half decent featurette and some other features like cast interviews, a trailer, and other music videos. Rated R for violence, profanity, some nudity, and sexual innuendo.

This was an entertaining movie, which is more than I can say for some other movies that get rave reviews. I guess everyone sees things differently, therefore, form different opinions. Compared to Shaft of the past, this one doesn't stack up, but I don't think the intent was to compare.

Answer to L. Gontzes comment...I would assume the reason for there not being a nude scene with the lovely (not so lovely in this film) Vanessa Williams would have something to do with the fact that she was very much pregnant during filming! notice they tried not to shoot any shots of her from the waist down?

N-E-Wayz...this film had several different elements to appeal to a diverse audiences. I would recommend to others.

This is the second posting of my review. My first review was accidently given **. I deleted and reposted, in order to keep the low rating from affecting the overall average........

Jackson is the king of cool. He leaves no room for doubt: He is the man. If you want to see a movie where Samueal l. Jackson just absolutly dominates and tools on people, definetly see this movie.

a great remake with Jackson being the man Shaft. good action with some unexpected turnabouts. Christian Bale is menacing as the racist who kills Mehki Phifer then has to answer to Shaft and Jeffrey Wright is a spectacular badguy as well. a good ride

This movie was completely off the hook! Samuel L. Jackson was as usual, smooth. He's just been getting better since his 'Gator' role in "Jungle Fever". He didn't once break out in a sweat while handing out countless 'l's [eventhough he was wearing a leather trench coat]. Busta Rhymes did a banging job portraying `Shaft's' sidekick `Rasaan', though I am not surprised, as many of the rap/hip-hop artists have turned out to be decent actors. It goes without saying that Richard Roundtree was a completely suave as `Uncle John'. Vanessa also turned out a great performance as `Carmen'. Actually, the entire cast was off the hook, however, `Peoples' (Jeffery Wright) stole the show. I would say that he has to go down as one of my all-time fav 'bad-..., even surpassing 'Nino Brown' from "New Jack City", but not quite as good as 'Tony Montana' from "Scarface".

I loved this movie. But this is not a remake of the original Shaft. Its not even quite the same character. This Shaft is more angry and driven then the original. You dont get the vibe that this is a cool mother with a badge like the other Shaft. If you are a purist this might rub you the wrong way.

All that being said, I loved it. It is a great movie with good action, acting, and shoot out scenes.

It's good, but not the original shaft. It's an easy watch. Nothing too special.

Boring movie. The term generic action flick comes to mind.The ending was really stupid. I like Sam Jack, but this movie was awful. John Singelton has fallen alot since Boyz in the Hood.

.. DID you know that the difference in age between the old "original" shaft :Richard Roundtree and the new shaft: Samuel L. Jackson is ...only 6 YEARS!!! so,when you think of it,considering there is a whole 30 years between the two shaft's movies,..you see that if you had to give us an older hero now,,then why not the original guy???

Nevertheless samuel done a very good job ,,and if you were a kid in the 70's,you 'must' have heard the excellent score of Isaac Hayes and then you 'must' see the show now to enjoy the nostalgia of it !!