He's tough, he's smart, he's cool, he's John Shaft.

Shaft's nemesis this time around is Walter Wade (Bale), a cocky, wealthy white kid who kills a young black student, gets out on bail and flees the country.

Two years later Wade and Shaft are reunited but, upon making bail for a second time, Wade is back on the streets again.

By quitting the police force Shaft takes the law into his own hands and, with no lawyers, politics, rules or regulations, he's determined to get Wade his own way.

Shaft knows the one person who can help him put Wade away for good is Diane Palmieri (Toni Colette), a witness to the murder.

Wade forms an alliance with powerful drug lord Peoples Hernandez (Wright) and so receives help in his attempt to track down the hard-to-find girl before Shaft.

The race is on - but who will reach her first?

Director John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood, Higher Learning) appears in a brief cameo, as does original Shaft director Gordon Parks.

There's some terrific acting, particularly Wright's unforgettable, hilariously dark Peoples, and Busta Rhymes provides some great comic relief as Shaft's streetwise assistant.

With plenty of action, gunfire, car chases and an Oscar-winning soundtrack from Isaac Hayes, you certainly won't be bored during this funky remake.

Dominic Bloch