The Tattoo Connection (1978)

A martial arts movie with Jim "Black Belt" Kelly, Dorian "Flash Legs" Tan, and Chen Sing with a side order of Bolo. You can tell it's a 1970's movie by the bad hair, bad clothes, cheesy story, and cheesier dialogue. It's bad, but in the so bad it's funny category. It was a late night, found it on tv watch for me and the cast interested me.

This review is for the sanitized version cut for television. The uncut original version has a lot of cursing and gratuitous nudity. It would probably get a much lower score from me even graded on my old kung fu movie curve.

The story is almost incoherent with terrible editing and of course, the censored cuts. Flash Legs works for big bad Chen Sing who saved him as a child. Chen Sing's gang stole a famous diamond, and they are trying to find a way to fence it. Black Belt Kelly shows up as an insurance investigator whose job it is to find out what happened to said diamond. There are double crosses and lots of high kicking fighting. Jim Kelly, Dorian Tan, Chen Sing, Bolo, and Chiang Tao all did well with their fights even if the fights were cheesy at times.

Tattoo Connection is not a movie I'd recommend unless you're a fan of any of the above. The fights were decent, and it boasted familiar faces to those who watch old martial arts movies. If you find yourself unable to sleep and it's on television, and you're easily amused, you can give it a try. Do not expect good acting, respectful treatment of women, or a storyline that makes too much sense. Bring some crackers and enjoy the cheese.

Read More