The greatest movie ever made..!

Better Late Then Never

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

"Black Belt Jones" is a rather poor blaxsploitation film, but it does have a couple things going for it. First, the action is very good--even if the celery-cracking is a bit over the top and Kelly's vocalizations sound like Curly Howard is playing the lead! Second, the film never takes itself too seriously. Because of these factors, it's worth a look if you like the genre or want a good laugh.The plot is a VERY generic and familiar one with Black Belt Jones working for some unnamed government agency out to bring down the mob. It never gets any deeper than that, folks! And you wonder why a group of mobsters are interested in taking over a martial arts studio....but it's funny. The funniest part is when the owner of the studio, Scatman Crothers, kicks mob butt! Think about it, Crothers is elderly AND sporting one of the cheesiest toupees in movie history and he's pretending to be a kung fu genius!! But he's not the only silly guy in the film. ALL the bad guys have one thing in common--when covertly attacked they NEVER call out for help or yell! There also is the GREAT foreplay scene at the 66 minute mark--as Jones and his lady love do the weirdest stuff en route to some nookie! The sum total effect of all this cheese is a fun picture that you like but you also can't take at all seriously--even if Kelly was very good with his kicking and punching.Very silly but actually a bit endearing as well.

I was in a specific mood when I sat to watch this and as a result I found it to be a particularly enjoyable genre film – and a genre film is indeed what it is as it fuses martial arts with all the hallmarks of the blaxploitation films of the period. The plot is a little messy but, in its basic blocks actually plays fairly straightforwardly since all that matters are that the baddies are trying to get their hands on some land currently housing a martial arts school run by Pop. The mafia and local hoods are behind it all but nobody reckoned on the involvement of one Black Belt Jones. What follows is a series of fight scenes punctuated by swagger and funky jive talking from our hero and his friends.If you are in the mood for it it is actually pretty enjoyable and sticks in my mind as one of the better "fun" blaxploitation films I have seen mainly because it does enough to make me go with it and accept the genre standards rather than see them as limiting factors. And this is a good thing because the usual weaknesses are all there. The characters are pretty much paper thin caricatures from start to finish. My favourite of them being the Italian mobsters, who give it plenty of the "mama mia" whenever anything goes wrong and eat spaghetti and are only missing moped scooters to complete the stereotype! The black characters are mostly sassy and cool of course but all the clichés work when you are in the right frame of mind.The acting leaves a little to be desired though. Some of the Italian guys are awful while some of the black hoodlums are typically gruff. Kelly himself is a pretty good presence with an easy manner and impressive body/looks. His fighting has perhaps dated a bit but he still holds court well – although I wasn't too keen on the faces he pulls and noises he makes while fighting! Scatman Crothers was a very strange find early on in the film, while his on screen daughter Hendry adds a tough sexiness that she brings with a real nice charm and smile. The action is a bit silly at times but it is well done and is quite fun considering the limitations. At times it is clever (I loved the "3 seconds light on/off" fight) while at others it is plain goofy (the car wash at the end) but they are all fun and engaging to watch even if they are not always that impressive. Having Kelly as a great presence helps them. The direction is pretty good as well and the while film is well put together with the well used and kicking soundtrack that one expects from the genre.Black Belt Jones is not a great film of course – mainly because of all the qualities that mark it out as a blaxploitation film from the 1970's. However it is actually quite fun if you are in the mood for it – not in a "so bad its good" way but just in a way that requires some acceptance of it being what it is. Good funky fun from start to finish – I'll be seeking out Black Samurai on the strength of this.

What can I say? – This is simply awesome stuff! From the super cool Jim Kelly in the main role, the numerous chop-socky fights, car chases and general mayhem to the absolutely side splitting humour throughout this is an absolute gem and a true pleasure to sit through from start to glorious finish.Director Robert Clouse who also directed Kelly in the classic Bruce Lee opus Enter The Dragon takes a far more light hearted approach here and delivers a film that blatantly doesn't take itself at all seriously (which proves to be a most sagacious decision). Just check out the utterly hilarious scene for instance in which Kelly single handedly beats up a whole room of thugs by having his pal (played by the ever likable Alan Weeks) turn the lights on and off – the dialogue from the villains is guaranteed to leave you on the floor with laughter for sure!Other scenes of particular note (every single scene is great in fact!) include a number of funny brawls in Papa Byrd's (played by the welcome face of Scatman Crowthers who actually joins in the fight!) karate dojo, an amazing punch up in a train carriage during which Kelly manages to smash every opponent through separate windows in turn(!) and last but not least the classic soapy finale!A great assemble cast of highly recognisable faces including the aforementioned actors in addition to the likes of the lovely Gloria Hendry (Rosie Carver from the James Bond classic Live and Let Die), (Earl Jolly Brown - Whisper from the same film!), Malik Carter as Pinky (a character of comic genius!) Mel Novak (who also appeared in Bruce Lee's final unfinished Game Of Death as Stick) and keeping in with the Bruce Lee connection a brief appearance by Tang Soo Do champion Bob Wall (O'Hara from Enter The Dragon and Carl Miller from Game Of Death) who also choreographs the fight scenes in this film.What more can I add? Fans of seventies fashions (including a majestic display of solid looking Afros!), groovy seventies beats, kung fu and indeed comedy would be well advised to boogie on down to your local video outlet and grab up a copy of this veritable classic!

Well, I can easily say that this is my favorite movie ever. Ever! Jim Kelly provides non-stop kung-fu-rific action with a style of the 70's no-one can match. Filled with tons of creative fight scenes including a crutial battle, fought in a rising bed of BUBBLES! Black-belt's female counterpart Sydney also provides a mean ass-woopin throughout this masterpiece. One warning though, its as full of off-color, non-pc dialog as it is great fight choreography (just keep in mind, its a 70's "B" movie, so just take them as funny, "i can't believe they said that" humour and you're set).So ya, basically its a must see in my eyes. It's so great i own a sealed copy of it! Enjoy.