Jim Kelly's Opening Scene


Ok, Three The Hard Way is respected as a great action flick, but you must also include this movie in the fantasy/comedy genre. Mister Keyes beats up an entire police force, in broad daylight, on a city street...umm ok. Are cops not supposed to SHOOT TO KILL in situations like this? Then there's the climax to this madness....Kelly has finished them off (them being GUN WIELDING POLICE OFFICERS)and Jim & Jagger come walkin down the street..."Awww man, you at it again, huh? What's happening cat daddy? Gimme some skin.." Like this is the norm for Kelly's character....to beat up 8-10 police officers in broad daylight..and then "tra-la-la" walk away like he didn't just commit 10 felonies. So unbelievable...

reply

You've got to admit that the scene was shot very well using the location of Jim Kelly on a city street. One of my favorite shots withing the opening was the scene, which Jim Kelly rises with the officer in slow motion and you can see this brother in a mustard yellow leather suit preparing to strike an officer in front of a complex that appears to be a city housing building (projects).

If you really want to get into Mr Parks and his directing, think about all of the officers that were attacking Jim Kelly. Out of possibly 7 to 10 officers, one was an African American. When the Black Officer approached Jim Kelly, the camera changed perspective to the point of view of the officer. All you saw was Jim Kelly walking toward the camera as he closelines the brother onto the car hood. Probably the most graphic beating recevied by all of the officers.

reply

Jim also beat up 2 cops in Enter The Dragon. I think it was really a way to indulge the fantasy of “payback” for all the Police vs. Black episodes that have occurred over many, many years. Very reflective of the “angry black man” portrayed in so many “blaxploitation” films made in the 1970s. Let’s face it; there was much to be angry about! Vietnam had just ended and like Rambo, many a black infantry soldier had learned how to defend himself as a man rather than a “boy”.

If anyone remembers, the Watts Riots (1965) were initiated by a Police incident and the riots following the Rodney King verdict echo the same mistrust blacks and other minorities have of Police in general.

reply

It's no more unbelieveable than any of the white action characters even today that get scenes where they beat up an entire batallion of cops, crooks, whatever. Alot more than seen here. In broad daylight and in front of an audience even. But as soon as a black character gets to do it, it's controversial?? Please!!! Besides, this was the 70s blaxploitation. Alot of it was symbolic of the times.

reply

I recognized the location for Jim Kelly's opening scene. It was outside the Presidential Towers building on West 70th Street.

reply

For whatever reason, the cops that took a beatdown had planted what looked like a kilo of heroin under the front seat in Keyes' car. Which made him angrier than he might have been in a "normal" situation.

reply

As opposed to the rest of the movie, which was reality based.

reply

LOL

reply

What? I thought it was a documentary, I'm sure I remember reading about it in the papers, The headline was something like "jive ass dirty cops, get the smackdown from mysterious mustard man" I think that dude is the President now isn't he?

Oh god if only all that was true, Imagine Jim Kelly as the president, "Hey Mr Jong Un, you come straight out of a comic book, been practising huh?"

I come in peace, Shoot to kill!!!

reply

[deleted]