Rating: 
Summary: Shaft as an American rather than a brother
Review: The theatrical release of this last film about the New Jack version of Philip Marlowe had a humorous cuture shock gag in one scene that I wish had made it into this version. While in Africa trying to bust a slavery ring, Shaft happens upon a handful of local men, who glare at him and chant; "Yan-kee-go-home, yan-kee-go-home!" His reaction is one of hurt feelings, of course. Like any other American of immigrant roots who goes back to the Old Country, he expects to be made to feel like he's come back home. Instead, he's just another tourist. There's other interesting material that did make it this far, though. Like the gendarme in Paris that pleads with Shaft to let the police do their job--you don't have to be Vic Anrozzi ("Shaft") or Pete Bollin ("Big Score") to have huge problems with a civilian like Shaft. Like Shaft's contact in Addis Ababa who responds with confusion to Shaft's "give me five" handshake: "What is the meaning of this gesture?" Like a great car chase with Shaft behind the wheel of a pregnant-rollerskate subcompact--a far cry from his thundering Mopar in "Big Score". The producers resist the temptation to flood the streets with dozens of Citroen cop cars blaring "NEH-neh-NEH-neh" and plowing into each other, thank God! Shaft protests that he's more Sam Spade than James Bond when given a Q-type hidden gizmo, only to later wind up in bed with the oversexed mistress of the top man in the slavery racket in the hottest bedroom scene of the whole trilogy. Plus he's more like 007 in the way he responds to the deaths of friends and allies with as much grief as anger. Over this trilogy, Shaft has developed as a person--we've already seen hints of that in his role as a mourner at the funeral of his friend in "Big Score". In the first film, we knew that he was a bad mutha shut-your-mouth, but now we know he has a heart. Good for you, Mr. Shaft--if you'd carried the hardboiled Marlowe number too far, that can swing over into cold-blooded.
Rating: 
Summary: A CHANGE OF PACE FOR SHAFT
Review: THIS TIME, JOHN SHAFT [RICHARD ROUNDTREE] IS FORCED TO GO TO AFRICA TO INFILTRATE A 20TH CENTURY SLAVE CARTEL. I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THEY TRYED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE SERIES. THOUGH IT STILL PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL, IT'S STILL A DECENT ACTION FILM.
Rating:
Summary: John Shaft Plays James Bond in Africa
Review: Though the second sequel to "Shaft," there's no remaining trace of the first two "blaxploitation" films. "Shaft in Africa" looks more like a big-budget 007 film, and instead of Roger Moore, put Richard Roundtree in the hero's role. The pair of director John Guillermin and writer Stirling Silliphant will definetely reminds you of "Towering Inferno," pinnacle of the "disaster movies" in vogue in the 70s, and "Shaft in Africa" has the same feeling -- it is packed with actions and violence, plus costly set (or shots on location). This time Shaft, in order to stop the modern-day slave trading in Africa, has to endure a chains of brutal attacks from enemies and the scorching heat of Afraica. The globe-trotting story leads him from NYC to Ethiopia, and then to France. And Shaft doesn't forget that he is THE sexy guy; Shaft's love is played by beautiful princess Vonetta McGee, and he even spends a good time with a white girl in bed. If you expect "blaxploitation" films in "Shaft in Africa" you may be diappointed. It is no longer that. The total tone is nearer to films of James Bond (to which Shaft refers briefly) and actions never stop coming on screen between Shaft's one-liners. As far as the actions are concerned, it never lets you down, and you will see unique things here and there that you can find only in the 70s: in one scene Shaft, completely naked, proves that he can do stick-fighting (!). Overall, "Shaft in Africa" is a good action film. Often its violence is excessive, but the film's pace is always slick and Roundtree plays convincingly the cool and sexy hero. There is no more Isaac Hayes theme song, but Four Tops's great song will make you forget that. And don't miss the airport scene in which Shaft has to take a photo with a lion. This lion (of course, he is a real one) is audacious enough to give him a quick, threatening look to him. Shaft (or Roundtree) doesn't look happy about that.
Rating:
Summary: John Shaft Plays James Bond in Africa
Review: Though the second sequel to "Shaft," there's no remaining trace of the first two "blaxploitation" films. "Shaft in Africa" looks more like a big-budget 007 film, and instead of Roger Moore, put Richard Roundtree in the hero's role. The pair of director John Guillermin and writer Stirling Silliphant will definetely reminds you of "Towering Inferno," pinnacle of the "disaster movies" in vogue in the 70s, and "Shaft in Africa" has the same feeling -- it is packed with actions and violence, plus costly set (or shots on location). This time Shaft, in order to stop the modern-day slave trading in Africa, has to endure a chains of brutal attacks from enemies and the scorching heat of Afraica. The globe-trotting story leads him from NYC to Ethiopia, and then to France. And Shaft doesn't forget that he is THE sexy guy; Shaft's love is played by beautiful princess Vonetta McGee, and he even spends a good time with a white girl in bed. If you expect "blaxploitation" films in "Shaft in Africa" you may be diappointed. It is no longer that. The total tone is nearer to films of James Bond (to which Shaft refers briefly) and actions never stop coming on screen between Shaft's one-liners. As far as the actions are concerned, it never lets you down, and you will see unique things here and there that you can find only in the 70s: in one scene Shaft, completely naked, proves that he can do stick-fighting (!). Overall, "Shaft in Africa" is a good action film. Often its violence is excessive, but the film's pace is always slick and Roundtree plays convincingly the cool and sexy hero. There is no more Isaac Hayes theme song, but Four Tops's great song will make you forget that. And don't miss the airport scene in which Shaft has to take a photo with a lion. This lion (of course, he is a real one) is audacious enough to give him a quick, threatening look to him. Shaft (or Roundtree) doesn't look happy about that.
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