Black-belt Jones (Jim Kelly) takes on the mob and some treacherous brotha's when his karate alma mater and his former sensi Pop Boyd (Scatman Crothers) are threatened. Made just after the massive success of 'Enter the Dragon', Kelly seems to be almost parodying his former co-star Bruce Lee's characteristic martial mannerisms (notably the odd little chirps and hoots while dealing destruction), and the semi-comic villains, ridiculous sound-effects (blows sound the same no matter where, or with what, you strike a person), and over-the-top fight-choreography are straight out of the silly low-budget kung-foolery that was popular in the early 1970s. The script is quite humorous (although now would be considered offensive in some quarters for (ill-)liberal sprinklings of the 'N-word') and there are some really funny scenes (the best IMO is the scene where Black-belt performs a few classic fighting moves leading up to pushing an elevator button). Tall, lean and topped by a bulbous afro, Kelly is fun to watch as he flattens, and reflattens, a score or two of inept henchmen and, Sidney (Black-belt's main squeeze, played by Gloria Hendry, a 'sacrificial-lamb Bond-girl in the previous years 'Live in Let Die') is a kick-ass ass-kicker herself. Scatman Crothers makes the most of his limited screen time and his banter with his much larger main-squeeze Lucy (Ester Sutherland) is priceless ("I'm gonna slap the black off you!"). The whole cast is perfect for the film and the athletic stunts, however improbable, are well done and fun to watch. A pleasant surprise, 'Black-belt Jones' was much more entertaining than expected and I suspect that unlike most of its ilk, I was laughing with the film, not at it. Light-weight, retro fun.
Review of Black Belt Jones
