SHAFT RETURNS

Directed by John Singleton. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams,

Christian Bale, Richard Roundtree, Toni Collette

For the more clear-sighted among us, Hollywood's blaxploitation output over the course of the Seventies (Foxy Brown, Coffy, Car Wash) may possess some faint traces of kitsch value, but can hardly be considered to constitute a golden cinematic era.

The most popular of the lot, 1971's Shaft, always seemed to be more fondly remembered for its soundtrack than anything else - but its cult appeal has endured nearly three decades, and it would seem that there still lurk individuals for whom the prospect of a remake represents a particularly sacred cow. Hence, the film-makers are at pains to point out that this is, strictly speaking, a sequel, and includes the original John Shaft character (Richard Roundtree) who is now an uncle to our updated and imaginatively-named protagonist John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson).

The events that unfold, however, cannot be said to deviate all that wildly from Shaft the original, except that the bullet-count is up and the gratuitous inter-racial sex is out the window. Then again, we're dealing with a film which is trading almost entirely on iconography over substance, and never falters for a moment in its presentation of a particularly hollow brand of cool.

Which is not to suggest that it doesn't have its satisfying moments: for long stretches, it's as enjoyable as you could dare to hope, and with a shaven-headed Jackson striding around in leathers and shades to an appropriately tacky soundtrack, it's fun for the most part. The plot's no great shakes: hideously spoilt Ivy League WASP brat Walter Wade (Christian Bale in a near-reprise of his role in American Psycho) kills a black student, only to find himself incurring the wrath of black super-cop John Shaft, who promptly arrests the snot-nosed villain. However, before you can say 'trust fund', Daddy's money has Walter back on the streets and skipping town - two years later, he's back and looking to put Shaft out of action on a basis that precludes the possibility of future sequels.

And Walter's not alone: two no-good bent-cop types and a Dominican drug-lord are also looking to hunt our hero down for sport, which renders his task of seeking out the only witness in a murder-case (Toni Collette) that bit more difficult.

However, our hero is one almighty bad mother etc. etc., and it's merely a matter of watching him put the world to rights, which Jackson manages with characteristic coolness and authority.

Otherwise, Shaft Returns is basically one big soundtrack-cum-pop-video, of no serious artistic merit but plenty of curiosity value - recommended, if far from essential.