Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Shaft's Big Score! Blu-ray Movie Review

Always bet on black.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 17, 2019

Gordon Parks’ original Shaft (1971), based on the 1970 detective novel by Ernest Tidyman, continued the momentum started by Melvin Van Peebles' Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song to cement the popularity of blaxploitation films. Its first sequel, Shaft’s Big Score!, was released less than a year later with a budget roughly four times that of the original. It’s also much closer to a spy thriller than a down-to-earth action/drama, but one that boasts a few familiar faces and places: Richard Roundtree (John Shaft) and Moses Gunn (Bumpy Jonas) are still top-billed, Parks returns as director, New York City looms in the background, and original novel author Ernest Tidyman once again wrote the story (albeit independently this time). Even though the running times are almost identical, Shaft’s Big Score! is a much bigger film than the original...but it’s almost too big in a lot of ways, with a reach that occasionally exceeds its grasp.

The story goes like this: Cal Asby (Robert Kya-Hill), a funeral home director and respected member of the Harlem community, is killed one night at work in a fiery explosion...but not before stashing a shopping bag’s worth of cash inside a casket. At his funeral, Shaft exchanges words with Harlem mob boss Bumpy Jonas; his presence doesn’t sit well with our hero, who suspects Jonas has been making deals with Asby’s former partner Kelly (Wally Taylor). It’s all but confirmed after Kelly takes over the business and Shaft’s apartment gets trashed. Once the exact nature of the shady business deals comes to light, Shaft must find the person – or persons -- behind Asby’s death.

Doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, but Shaft’s Big Score! feels awfully overstuffed at times. Whereas the original Shaft had arguably too little plot to fill a 100-minute film, this sequel boasts ramped-up ambitions closer to that of a full-blown saga without the patience of a well-paced production schedule; it’s a rushed gamble that almost works, but not quite. It doesn’t help matters that Shaft has suddenly graduated from skilled detective to full-blown action hero who, during the film’s enthralling but way over-the-top final act, manages to hold his own against several assailants at once (including a sniper perched inside a helicopter). It’s as if this bad mutha was given his own cheat code, which makes Shaft’s Big Score! fun and entertaining from a purely visceral perspective but awfully predictable at almost every intersection. Still, this is an enjoyable follow-up that, if nothing else, at least doesn’t feel like a cheap rehash of the original; it’s pretty remarkable that it feels so different, especially considering the quick turnaround time.

Warner Archive Collection serves up Shaft’s Big Score! in two separate Blu-ray options: as a stand-alone release and as part of the compact and modestly-priced Shaft Triple Feature, which also includes the original 1971 film and its surprisingly effective second sequel, 1973’s Shaft In Africa. Both options feature a top-notch A/V presentation but very few extras, although I can’t imagine that even the most casual fan would buy these movies one at a time.

Shaft's Big Score! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio (the packaging rounds it up to 2.40:1), Shaft's Big Score! looks outstanding on Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray. As with most of their recent releases, this is advertised as a new remaster and appears to be a 2K scan of a high-quality interpositive with additional cleanup. What's great is that, like the original Shaft, this is an extremely clean image free from excessive dirt and debris, but one that retains all of the film's natural grain; in turn, this protects fine details captured under favorable lighting conditions. Of course, some of the nighttime sequences don't have that luxury and thus display something of a hazy, less defined appearance. This is especially true in the film's opening scenes...but once it switches to daytime (especially outdoor locales), the level of detail jumps dramatically. For the most part, Shaft's Big Score! is a much glossier-looking film than the original with more than a handful of scenes that look as if they could have been shot within the last two decades. Colors are well-saturated and enjoy that era-specific 1970s tint, which extends down to the more outlandish outfits and interior design choices. Skin tones are likewise accurate within reasonable boundaries, while black levels are rich and deep without succumbing to excess crush. As usual with WAC Blu-rays, Shaft's Big Score! enjoys an overall great-looking transfer with a healthy bit rate that looks very true to its original source material -- a purist's dream come true.

Shaft's Big Score! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The original Shaft always had trouble in the audio department due to its limited source materials, but the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix for Shaft's Big Score sounds much more polished from top to bottom. (Bear in mind that this film had roughly four times the budget of the original, so it's likely that better equipment and ADR were actually possible this time around.) The dialogue sounds great with very little hiss or distortion, although a handful of scenes slightly dip in quality due to shaky on-location recording. The music is also fuller and more refined in direct comparison with very few limitations that plague most soundtracks from that era. Overall, it's a well-balanced track that, while mixed a few decibels louder than my normal listening level, sounds exceptionally good for a film nearing the 50-year mark.

Optional English SDH subtitles are included during the main feature…but like most recent WAC Blu-rays, are formatted in ALL CAPS. One day, my constant complaining will be seen by the right person.

Shaft's Big Score! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Theatrical Trailer (3:07) - As entertaining and over-the-top as you'd expect. This still looks to be in pretty rough condition but has been re-encoded at a higher bit rate than the one on Warner Bros.' 2012 Blu-ray.

Shaft's Big Score! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gordon Parks' Shaft's Big Score! is like most sequels: it's bigger, louder, and more action-packed than the original, which ramps up the entertainment factor but takes away some of its down-to-earth charm in the process. It's almost too much too soon: Shaft is a near-untouchable action hero and, as such, his comically overpowered skills make this sequel a lot more predictable for first-time viewers. Still, if you're willing to take the ride it's an enjoyable one, as the leads and supporting performances remain grounded despite some of the cartoonish set pieces and Sam Peckinpah levels of bloodshed. As usual, Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray prioritizes a great A/V presentation over bonus features, but I'd have still loved to see a retrospective interview with Richard Roundtree (sadly enough, the only key cast member still alive). Although Shaft's Big Score! is clearly a solid enough film and Blu-ray to recommend on its own, WAC's separate Shaft Triple Feature is the way to go for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.