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Shaft Who’s the cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about? Samuel L. Jackson!! John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood) does a wonderful job in bringing this 1971 classic into the 21st century without losing its smooth edge. While the sexy, blacksploitation comments were (happily) kept to a minimum, the best part of this movie was the use of Richard Roundtree, the one and only, the original John Shaft. Also starring Vanessa Williams (Dance With Me) and Dan Hedaya (The Hurricane), I must say that the 15th precinct of the NYPD had the best looking cops this side of Jimmy Smits. Without giving too much away, I will say this. The story follows Shaft (Jackson) as he is in pursuit of a young, rich and spoiled racist college boy (played by Christian Bale, of American Psycho and Swing Kids fame). Is that enough adjectives for you? When the system doesn’t work one too many times, Shaft decides to take matters into his own hands. This is where the fun begins. I’ve read some reviews of this movie that denounce the message that vigilantism is a good thing. I have two things to say about that: (1) this movie isn’t celebrating vigilantism, and (2) this movie is R, so why would you have your kids with you anyway? All in all, I give it one of my highest ratings: * * * * |