Shaft

The movie “Shaft” starring Samuel L. Jackson as Shaft and Jessie Usher as Shaft’s son, JJ, is a continuation of the 2000 version of Shaft. Samuel L. Jackson leads in the title role. I never saw the 2000 Shaft. I know about the original 1971 version.

“Shaft” is one of the first Blaxploitation films from the 1970s. It is about a private investigator who is hired to rescue a kidnapped girl, and he brags about having sex with different women. This modern day follow up to the 1970s film is the same idea, only with more sexuality and with more obscenities.

The story begins with Shaft, Mrs. Shaft whose name is Maya, and JJ being hailed with bullets in 1989. Maya chooses to leave Shaft in order to keep their son away from the violence. JJ grows up with his mother who tries to raise him in a peaceful environment. However, Shaft does send gifts to his son on his birthdays and special occasions, but many of the gifts are highly inappropriate, like condoms for a 10 year old boy—and more.

Despite not having his father around, JJ grows up to be a decent young man. He works for the FBI in the cyber-security department as a data analyst. When his best friend turns up dead from a supposed heroin overdose, JJ tries to become a sleuth in Harlem. As he hits dead ends in his search to find the truth, JJ asks his father for assistance. Shaft is willing to help his son because he feels there might be a link to the man who tried to kill him in 1989. The two embark on a journey through the heroin-infested streets of Harlem to solve a murder.

Unfortunately, the theme of the father/son relationship and family dynamics are lost, because this picture is a plethora of foul language, inappropriate sexual talk, and gun violence. It starts with guns ablaze, and a woman using the f-word incessantly, before the opening credits are shown. In fact, I think that the subtitle of this show should be, “How many times the f-word can be used in a scene.” Samuel L. Jackson is known for his infamous “MF” word. So, he freely utters that throughout the picture. The f-word is the main obscenity used throughout the entire movie. I think it might have been about 150. I lost count, because it is also in the songs that play in the soundtrack.

The Lord’s name is taken in vain several times. There were about 50 forms of the “sh**” words. Several times the d-word is stated. A derogatory word for a man’s privates is verbalized numerous times.

Shaft is into porn. The father and son talk a lot about getting “P-ssy”… and describing it. Every version of the female dog is stated. A vulgar term for breasts is used. It is offensive hearing a prostitute asking someone to lick her’s for a fee. A man makes an obscene gesture with his finger. The “N” word is used in the background songs, and the characters say it also.

My husband, who is Spanish-speaking, found several vulgar Spanish words that I never would have known. Since I will not write those words in a Christian movie review, I want to advise that the supermarket owner yelled these vile words at Shaft. Spanish-speakers will know what the woman is expressing.

Alcohol and drug usage appear as if they are glorified. There is a naked woman in Shaft’s apartment. The movie also has dead bodies, people getting shot, and fighting shown many times.

There is a scene where they go to a Mosque, JJ’s friend converted to “Allah, not Jesus” while he was in jail. In that scene, men are praying to Allah.

Overall, for me personally, I feel that the profanity, sexual talk, and abundance of gun brutality cloud the true storyline. The story is difficult to follow. As stated previously, 1970s “Shaft” is originally about a private investigator who is hired by a Harlem mobster to rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by Italian mobsters, and he brags about his profuse fornication. This modern day version is the son of Shaft asking his father for help in solving a murder. They talk about a great deal of sex. There is a voluminous amount of violence and drug and alcohol abuse throughout the film.

This film is adults only—certainly not suitable for young people. In all sincerity, this is a meaningless, hopeless movie where the mind and thoughts are filled with obscene words, vulgar sex, glamorizing violence and drugs..

• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Violence: Very Heavy to Extreme— with brutal murder and splattering blood
• Profane language: Heavy
• Sex: Heavy (heterosexual couple) + Very Heavy sexual dialog, innuendoes and comments
• Nudity: Heavy— • upper female nudity • rear nudity
• Occult: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.