The Tattoo Connection

Rating:
Summary: that's not jim kelly's voice!
Review: after seeing jim kelly in 'black belt jones' i was looking forward to seeing this. this ended up being one of the worst movies i've ever seen. if you're bored, try counting all the cheesy zooms (after the first 20...it starts getting tedious.) the music is appropriately bad and the sound effects during the fight sequences seem to keep time like a metronome. all the voices are dubbed and you'll probably ask yourself why you're still watching.

good for a laugh with a bunch of friends over.

Rating:
Summary: what do i remember about THE TATTOO CONNECTION?
Review: i remember watching this 70s jim kelly classic on saturday afternoon tv in new york when a local tv station played kung fu movies every week. ah those were the good ol' days of the late 70s/80s. THE TATTOO CONNECTION sticks out as the best of those kung fu flicks i have seen. i remember jim kelly ... as an agent named lucas sent overseas to find some diamond. i remember some goofy disco theme song titled 'diamond'. i remember a good car chase scene with kelly at some lumber or junk yard. i remember kelly making love to an asian girl while switching drinks where 1 contained a drug meant for him but the girl wound up drinking it and got high. i remember jim kelly telling his bosses that he's "the black six million dollar man". i remember in the bad dubbing 1 of the bad guys called kelly not lucas but "black man!" racist! i remember the climax on a ship and kelly kicking rear. what else? that's all i know. i am just happy that TATTOO CONNECTION will be out on dvd in april (why so many delays after original dates of feb., march 25 and now april 22?!) and i will buy it. hope it will be widescreen and remastered. i will have a good time. congrats to pathfinder video for releasing this treasure, ok 3 1/2 stars. if only they can put out other old kung fu classics like STREETS GANGS OF HONG KONG, STONER (w/ george lazenby post-007), DUEL OF THE IRON FIST. A HARD WAY TO DIE, SLAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO with chuck norris, & ROOTS OF EVIL (with christian anders---who?).

it is june 9, and FINALLY, i bought THE TATTOO CONNECTION which sadly it isn't letterboxed and it is in need of windex w/ its filthy film prints. still, i had a good time. the fighting is surprising ly terrific and jim kelly is very good. to my surprise there is a lotta (A LOT! ) nudity that wasn't in the U.S. print when it first came out in theaters. there is commentary by 2 film critics who sound like a combo of beavis and butthead, dennis miller (one of 'em sounds like him) and MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000. and it is helpful and hilarious. 4 stars! if only those 2 critics can poke fun @ george lazenby's awful acting and kung-fu-ing in STONER.

Rating:
Summary: In my opinion the film was pretty good.
Review: Jim Kelly has been one of my long-time favorite American martial artists,and there aren't many.However,I do have a problem with the voice dubs.Kelly does not sound like the guy that voiced over this movie at all,and it is kind of annoying.It contains a pretty good star cast that features Bolo Yeung,Chiang Tao,Chen Sing,Tan-Tao Liang & Jim Kelly. I have heard by few that this film was one of Kelly's worst,But one who is a true Kelly fan will enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: TYPICAL 1970'S........ CHOP SOCKY!!
Review: PATHFINDER PICTURES?,NEVER HEARD OF THEM.WHILE I'M PLEASED THIS MOVIE WAS RELEASED ON DVD,I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THE PICTURE AND SOUND.THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST VIDEO TRANSFERS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND THE SOUND IS NOT FAR BEHIND.OBVIOUSLY NO MONEY WENT INTO RESTORING THIS MOVIE FOR IT'S RELEASE ON DVD AND THAT'S ASHAME.MAKE NO MISTAKE,THIS MOVIE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MARTIAL ART'S CLASSIC BLACK BELT JONES.KELLY HAD A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ENTER THE DRAGON AND HE DIDN'T REALLY SHOW US WHAT HE HAD.IN THE TATOO CONNECTION HE IS THE MAIN GUY,BUT THE MOVIE DOESN'T REALLY SHOWCASE HIS TALENT EITHER.I STRUGGLED TO GIVE THIS MOVIE 3 STARS ,BUT HEY IT'S JIM KELLY.IT'S A TYPICAL 1970'S CHOP SOCKY MOVIE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER.BUT THE FIGHT SCENE BETWEEN KELLY AND BOLO YEUNG IS STILL PRETTY GOOD.WHILE IT'S STILL AN ENTERTAINING MOVIE,I THINK THE PRICE IS TOO MUCH CONSIDERING THE PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY.

Rating:
Summary: The Tattoo Connection for Kelly fans!
Review: This film is for die hard Jim Kelly fans! "The Tattoo Connection" (TTC) is promoted as "Black Belt Jones 2" although it has no connection with the original Kelly classic. The producers of this title probably used the tie in to entice the casual fan to check this DVD out based on the popularity of "Black Belt Jones." The plot is sketchy as Kelly's secret agent character Lucas is given the assignment of retrieving a stolen diamond some where in Asia. The film never really gathers up enough steam to be considered as a top rate martial arts offering. However, TTC is at its best when Kelly is on the screen (as the star Kelly is notoriously absent during several rather long sequences) chopping up guys and laying down that ultra smooth soul brother rap. The highlight of the film occurs during the climatic fight on a ship were Kelly goes toe to toe with fellow "Enter the Dragon" alumni Bolo Yeung in a fight to the death. Kelly is fit and in fine form through out TTC. It's a shame that he wasn't given more to do in this effort it might have raised the over all quality of the film.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: This movie, although made back in 1978 is a explosive action movie with adrenaline rushing scenes. Not much of a plot, as a gang-type group steel diamonds worth millions of dollars. Forcing the US to pay a ransom for their precious diamond. The Us sends a lone warrior [Jim kelly] to investigate the mischevious work of the gang leader[chen sing]. As Jim kelly get's closer to solving the case chen sing sends his hitmen [bolo yeung] to stop anymore info. Very good action movie with a little bit of comedy like Bolo Yeung singing.An allstar cast to say the least. Starring Jim kelly,Bolo yeung,Chen sing. Rated R for Martial arts violence,nudity,and profanity

Rating:
Summary: BLACK BELT JONES 2 ? NEVER HEARD OF IT
Review: This typical Hong Kong 1970's kung fu flick has now been re-released as BLACK BELT JONES 2, although originally released as THE TATTOO CONNECTION.Obviously the distributers have called it BBJ2 to tie in with the popularity of the original movie.This movie is no BBJ but it's quite entertaining if you are a Kelly fan.The film is let down by a scene where a rather choppy fight scene goes horribly wrong,the illusion is ruined and the fight looks fake.What's more, Jim Kelly is hardly in this movie and looks a bit of a fool surrounded by all those unknown Chinese actors.