Popular Film - Blaxploitation an analysis of Shaft

Between 1970 and 1980 there was a cultural film explosion, there were over 200 films released by major and independent studios that hyped major black characters and themes. Prior to the Blaxploitation era black actors had been relinquished to playing small parts that usually presented stereotyped images of the black race with roles such as waitresses or shoeshine boys. This however all changed when in 1971 when the first successful black film "Sweetback's Baadasss Song" showed a black man …

…While the new and updated Shaft was set for the new 'bling-bling' world, it failed to have the same impact that the original had on the audiences. Although 30 years apart, each movie has catered for what they perceived their audiences wanted, and delivered. In an overall comparison the updated Shaft just seems to be lacking an essence that was so abundant in the original, I guess there is no replacing the original in this case.