Plot: What’s it about?
A diamond has been stolen in Hong Kong and if it is to be recovered, it will take the skills of a top agent. So the CIA decides to send their best man, the martial arts master Lucas (Jim Kelly), who is charged with getting the diamond back into the proper hands. The assignment is a tough one, as Lucas has to infiltrate the harsh streets of Hong Kong, but if anyone can pull it off, its this dude. So he begins his search for the diamond and his luck soon improves when he is approached by someone on the inside, a disgruntled former thief. The man was involved with the diamond theft, but when his boss went over the edge, it forced him to have a change of heart. He is a criminal, but he has a heart and doesn’t want to see such violence. With the help of his new contact, Lucas is able to find people and places with ease, since the man knows his way around. And with Lucas’ help, the man hopes to bring some peace back to the streets, something he could never manage to do on his own. The two battle against numerous foes, but their eyes are focused on the crime boss behind the operation, the fierce Luk Sam-Kwong. Not only is Kwong himself a formidable enemy, but he has countless men who do whatever he orders. As Lucas faces off with the forces of Kwong, will he manage to survive and recover the diamond?
The original Black Belt Jones was an American production, but for this sequel, star Jim Kelly was brought to Hong Kong. The Shaw Brothers were behind this picture and while it is as bad as you can imagine, Black Belt Jones 2: The Tattoo Connection is still a fun movie. Kelly is the star and doesn’t even show up until a substantial amount of screen time has passed, if that tells you what you’re into with this one. Its fun to see Kelly back on the same screen as Bolo Yeung, but without question, the movie is owned by Flash Legs Tan. His scenes are the best in the entire picture, as his incredible skills are put on full showcase. Some of Kelly’s scenes have been sped up, but he is solid and if nothing else, fun to watch here. The fight sequences are well crafted and a blast to watch, as this movie has a kind of no holds barred feel to it, as if the action workers were allowed to do whatever came to mind. There is also a ton of nudity involved, none of which relates to the storyline, save for the locations where it often happens. So we have some cool fight scenes and scads of naked women, sounds like a winner to me. The hilarious dub track makes this one even more fun to watch, as even Kelly’s voice has been replaced. I would recommend this movie to fans of bad cinema without hesitation, but Pathfinder’s transfer is unacceptable. As such, even fans will pass this by, as we wait for a proper presentation.
This was a Shaw Brothers production, but the star is an American, as Jim Kelly returns to the role of Black Belt Jones. The martial arts master of the Blaxploitation era, Kelly used his fists and feet, while guys like Fred Williamson and Richard Roundtree relied more on guns. So for fans of Bruce Lee and the kung fu movement, Kelly was a more bankable star, even though most of his pictures found little success. He starred in just over a dozen movies total, but some became cult hits and of course, one was Lee’s masterpiece. Kelly might have been the martial arts expert as far as Blaxploitation cinema was concerned, but to most audiences, he seemed out of place, especially in movies where his costars were skilled workers. Yes, he had some moves and a great grasp of karate, but he was often outdone and in the case of this movie, his scenes were sped up, to make up for the lack of speed he possessed. His presence is a welcome one and he is fun to watch, but the holes in his cinematic martial arts game are more than evident here. Other films with Kelly include Enter the Dragon, Black Samurai, Black Belt Jones, Three the Hard Way, and One Down, Two to Go. The cast also includes Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport, Five Fingers of Death), Chen Sing (Mad Mission, Caged Beauties), and Tan Tao Liang (Flash Legs, Duel with Devils).
Video: How does it look?
Black Belt Jones 2: The Tattoo Connection is presented in full screen, which is bad news all around. I can’t be certain, but I believe this was a 2.35:1 widescreen release, which means we’re given a pan & scan treatment here. I know Pathfinder is a small label, but we have to expect proper presentations, even from the smaller labels. I can accept that this movie will look worn and tattered, but at least give us a widescreen edition. But we’re stuck with this pan & scan treatment, which is sure to keep sales down. The image is laden with grain and print debris, which is expected, but when zoomed to fill the screen like this, these defects are even more obvious. As I said, I could deal with the inherent flaws of the material, but I cannot overlook a cropped visual presentation and of course, neither can anyone else. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, in case you find a need for those at some point.
Audio: How does it sound?
A pair of audio tracks are available, one in Mandarin and one in English. As both seem to be dubs, I see no reason to grab one over the other, as neither is the original language source. As such, I think most folks will choose the English soundtrack, if just because that’s what most of us are used to with this movie. Aside from the hilarious choice in voice talent, the track is solid and offers a passable experience. The same holds true for the Mandarin track, but I do think the English track offers a more sound option, on a technical basis. I found both to be basic and unmemorable however, so don’t expect too much in either case.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary track is found here, as film critics Luke Y. Thompson and Gregory Weinkauf discuss the production. This has to be one of the worst commentaries of all time, as neither seems to have any knowledge about this movie, the genre, or cinema on the whole, as their comments are lame and unimpressive. The two even give up at times and resort to poking fun, but even then, they’re unable to be effective. So unless you like poor attempts at humor or bland, common facts, you can skip this miserable session. This disc also includes some talent files, a selection of still photos, and the film’s trailer.
