Death Dimension (1978)

There is something about this Z grade martial arts flick that might make you want to take a shower after you watch it. A seedy, sleazy feel pervades every frame, and if you know about the LA scene of the 70's, and what was going on at the time, it feels even sleazier. Iconic martial arts master, and the "King of Cool," Jim Kelly made a handful of these movies, after his appearance in the very successful "Enter the Dragon," starring Bruce Lee. A lot of fans were disappointed that Kelly's ultra-cool character is killed off so early into that film, because we wanted more of this guy. And movies like "Death Dimension" give Jim Kelly a chance to show his stuff. Among these films, all of which are memorable and great in their own way, "Death Dimension" stands out as one of the cheapest of the lot. Filmed in the Nevada desert, and the glitzy Reno casino strip, on a very small budget, the movie still manages to be atmospheric and entertaining. Featuring a cast of cheap looking women who look like they were borrowed from a hardcore porn movie, as well as some truly mean looking men. There is an evil Haitian thug with a scarred face that will make your skin crawl. He likes to beat women and slice people's throats with his razor-like pinky ring. And the king pin scumbag is just called "The Pig," and he is truly a pig, in his skin tight polyester shirts bursting under the strain of his sweaty, big body. when Jim Kelly is on screen though, everything comes together, and we are reminded just why we are watching. Kelly's martial arts skills are finely tuned and hyper-energetic; the man is truly incredible to watch. Here he is partnered with Myron Lee, a Chinese undercover agent, and the two work very well off each other, kind of like the pairing of Conan and Subotai in "Conan the Barbaian." Some highlights include scenes of Jim Kelly walking around the neon-saturated Reno strip at night. The man is just so cool in everything he does. As far as the plot goes, well it concerns some evil bastards trying to get their hands on a machine that can freeze the weather in a concentrated area. It sounds a bit like the plot from "Black Samurai," another Kelly film that is actually better than this film. Anyway we don't watch these films for their brilliant story lines, do we? I recommend this movie for fans of exploit cinema and martial arts movies of the 1970's. It's good, sleazy fun.

Afro-tastic! When Odd Jobb from Goldfinger forces a scientist to create a freeze bomb to sell to the arms community, the scientist implants the instructions for the bomb into the head of his assistant, sends her off, then kills himself. Odd Job is miffed at this turn of events and sends his cronies off to track her down. Meanwhile, Big Jim Kelly is investigating the murder of a cop (by Odd Job's right hand man) and sets out to find the killer and the assistant, but Odd Job's men are out to get him too. What's a brother to do? Get out them lightening fast fists and beat them turkeys, that's what! Jim visits one of Odd Job's brothels for no reason, but after that he's kicking heads in left and right and centre, sometimes with the help of a sidekick. You get fights on boats, car chases, punch ups, a gunfight between a cable car and a helicopter, Odd Job threatening a woman with a turtle (I mean he's brandishing a turtle at a woman rather than threatening a woman in possession of a turtle), loads of hookers and Aldo Ray (Psychic Killer, Haunts) shouting at the top of his voice. What more do you want? George Lazenby? Well, he's here too! Throw in a very funky soundtrack, non-stop action and that's pure entertainment. Sure, it's all done on the cheap and some of the fights are a bit hokey (especially between Kelly and Odd Job, but that ain't Big Jim's fault), but this is pure seventies gold.The freeze frame of Kelly's triumphant flying kick at the end seals the deal. RIP big man – you'll be missed.

This is one of the films that best shows how silly some exploitation films of the 1970's could be and still be entertaining.The plot has a scientist making a freeze bomb for a gangster who intends to sell it the highest bidder. The scientist implants a microchip into the brow of his comely assistant and sends her off to get the information to the proper authorities. The scientist then burns his notes and commits suicide to prevent the weapon from getting into the wrong hands. In police headquarters Jim Kelly is assigned to find the assistant and to get the goods on the bad guy. Of course Jim Kelly is barely on the case when people begin to take a run at him. From there the film progresses in a series of very good action sequences punctuated by dialog scenes that drive the plot into a completely nonsensical direction.In all honesty the film makes no sense what so ever but you won't mind because the film moves along at a good clip. The film's nonsensical plotting also assures that you're going to continue watching simply to see where its all going. Where its heading is toward a truly unbelievable ending that had me scan back and playing it a second time (thankfully its just as funny the second time.) Kelly, co star of Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and well known in some circles as the star of Black Belt Jones is one of the few American stars who consistently made good martial arts action films. He's one actor who could both act well in the dramatic scenes and look like his fights were more than staged fights (Kelly always looks like he could hold his own in real life). I think the reason that this film works at all is simply because he is such a good actor that he sells the utter nonsense happening around him.Is this a great film? No, actually it's probably not even a good one, but its an enjoyable one that's worth a bowl of popcorn and a soda.

Considering the film stars Jim Kelly (from ENTER THE DRAGON), Harold "Odd Job" Sakata and George Lazenby (the one-time James Bond), you'd think that this would be a much better film. Instead, it just slowly slogs its way to the ending--the very, very bad ending. In fact, I couldn't wait for this listless film to end.Well, folks, this should NOT really come as a surprise if you consider who is responsible for this film. It's from the "master" of schlock, Al Adamson--one of the most pathetically bad film makers of all time. In fact, for Adamson this IS a very good film--and that's what makes his career all the more sad. If you don't believe me that this is one of his better films, just try watching Dracula VS. FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS, HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS and FIVE BLOODY GRAVES! Ugghh...to quote Colonel Kurtz, "the horror".This film begins with a lady scientist (is there any other type?) escaping from Odd Job, I mean Sakata, who is working on a freeze bomb. Considering that she has the formula on her, the baddies are all out to get her...fast. To combat them, instead of sending out the Marines, police or FBI, two lone guys are sent to combat this organization of evil (I guess the budget wouldn't allow more). Kelly and a nobody nicknamed "Myron" Bruce Lee go in search of evil and somehow blunder into it by the end of the film. But considering how dull all this is, you really could care less and just want the whole thing to end. And, when it does end, it ends in one of the silliest scenes. Kelly apparently is a HORRIBLE shot with a handgun--missing at least 20,308 times during the last 10 minutes of the film. Yet, once the boss baddie gets on a plane and flies away to freedom, Kelly hits the plane and it miraculously blows up--even though he's hundreds of yards away and it's only a snub-nosed .38 caliber gun! Naturally, I hated the film. Unfortunately, this isn't one of the more unintentionally funny Adamson films, nor is his other teaming with Kelly (BLACK SAMURAI). See it if you are an Adamson completist, but otherwise don't bother.Oh, and a final thought. In the scenes with the "lucious prostitutes", this may sound catty but they seem to be about the ugliest professionals in film history. Where did they get these women? Prison?!