Following the phenomenonal success of "Enter the Dragon," director Robert Clouse and co-star Jim Kelly teamed up for this more tongue in cheek martial arts flick, "Black Belt Jones." Released in 1974 and distributed by "Warner Bros," Jim Kelly was given his first and best leading role. He becomes reluctantly embroiled in a war between local businessmen and a Mafia family, after the latter threaten his martial arts school with closure.
It has been said that not all martial artists can "sell" their moves on the big screen by being more larger than life. As a result, it doesn't pave the way for a successful movie career. In the case of Jim Kelly however, he can certainly put on a good show and he does in "Black Belt Jones." One of the best examples of this, is when he takes on a group of corrupt police officers at a car park. Some neat moves are on display.
The ending I found to be a bit too silly for words.
Robert Clouse does a good enough job in the directing but Bruce Lee is sorely missed when it comes to the fight choreography.
A pretty good film on the whole.
Review of Black Belt Jones
