Uriah43 Although he has a lucrative business dealing in counterfeit dollars, a Mafia godfather by the name of "Don Steffano" (Andre Philippe) decides that he wants to purchase some land where a huge civic center is about to be built so that he can make a hefty profit. The problem is that on this land is a karate school run by a man named "Papa Byrd" (Scatman Crothers) who has no interest in selling it to anybody. So Don Steffano gives the task of obtaining this parcel of land to a black mobster named "Pinky" (Malik Carter) who doesn't dare to cross him. Unfortunately, Pinky goes a bit too far one night and accidentally kills Papa Byrd and this results in the karate school going directly to Papa Byrd's daughter "Sydney" (Gloria Hendry) who not only wants to keep the school but also wants to find out who killed her father. And one of the few people who can help her do both is a student of Papa Byrd named "Black Belt Jones" (Jim Kelly). Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that I was slightly disappointed in this movie for a couple of reasons. First, although I didn't mind the fact that this martial arts movie also doubled as a Blaxploitation film, I thought the romantic scene between Sydney and Black Belt Jones was rather clumsy and the fight scene at the very end was much too long and boring. Likewise, most of the humor throughout the movie needed some serious improvement as well. Having said all of that I suppose this movie was still somewhat entertaining and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Scott LeBrun "Black Belt Jones" is one of the most fun movies to come out of the 1970s. It's a rousing and funny mixture of martial arts action and blaxploitation as the cool-as-can-be title character (Jim Kelly) takes on all comers. BBJ works at a karate school run by cheerful Papa Byrd (Scatman Crothers, as wonderful as he's ever been). The Mafia wants the property, and one night they go too far and murder Papa. His long estranged daughter Sydney (Gloria Hendry) comes home to join BBJ and help him fight the good fight.Film director Robert Clouse, who'd worked with Kelly on the martial arts classic "Enter the Dragon", doesn't try to reinvent the wheel here. He just serves up a lot of nifty combat (choreographed by Robert Wall) and other assorted set pieces, while combining all of it with a great deal of comedy. There's no graphic violence to offend some viewers, just a lot of good thrills and laughs. The movie is rated R mostly for profanity. The unqualified highlight is undeniably the amazing final battle because it's set at a car wash and many of the combatants end up covered in suds.The characters are all very damn entertaining, too. Kelly is not a great actor but he is a great action hero. Sexy Miss Hendry is a feisty leading lady, and holds her own all the way through. You have to love her reaction when it's suggested that she "do the dishes". Eric Laneuville, Alan Weeks, Andre Philippe, Vincent Barbi, Mel Novak, and Nate Esformes are fine in support, but the show is largely stolen by Malik Carter as aggressive bad guy Pinky. At one point, he launches into a priceless rhyming routine about his love of money. Crothers is such a hoot as the rascally Papa. You haven't lived until you've seen him with that rug on his head, and watched him attempt to bust out karate moves. Marla Gibbs, Henry Kingi, and Ted Lange have uncredited bits.A lively, invigorating diversion, underscored by superior music by Luchi De Jesus.Now let's all go to McDonald's!Eight out of 10.

dworldeater After appearing in Bruce Lee's blockbuster hit Enter The Dragon, Jim Kelly(who had a bit part as the ultra cool Williams)returns with ETD director Robert Clouse in Black Belt Jones. Black Belt Jones is 70's action camp at its best. Jim Kelly(RIP)was not the most talented actor, but more than made up for it by having a good build, great karate moves and one amazing afro. Jim Kelly was definitely one cool cat and in this film totally invincible against out of shape Italian mobsters and Pinky's gang of goofballs who are after Papa Byrd's(Scatman Crothers)karate school. BBJ has great colorful and entertaining characters, hilarious quotable dialogue and an awesome score by Luchi DeJesus. Black Belt Jones is a great blaxsploitation film that turns the camp to eleven. No matter how many times I watch this classic, it always makes me laugh and puts me in a better mood no matter how crappy my day was up to that point. So do yourself a favor and watch Black Belt Jones and have yourself a great time.

MartinHafer "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.