Operation Hong Kong

"That Man Bolt" is a film situated in that part of videoclubs, far away from new or famous films, and really really far away from classics. I take the box, read the synopsis and look for the cast, no one is known. So, one day I feel very unconscious and rent the film and what is that? A very, very boring film with some pseudo-martial-arts that extende its relaxant effects during two hours. The idea of this film is very, very similar to "Rush Hour 2" (Hong Kong, false money, Las Vegas...) but Jefferson "Hammer" Bolt has nothing to do compared with Jackie Chan martial art style or Chris Tucker sense of humour. Perfectly forgetable.

This is a film that can best be appreciated if you've seen a few blacksploitation (also called 'blaxsploitation') films first. That's because compared to the average film in the genre, it's terrific--perhaps not a great one, but well above average. The only thing you need to remember is that you don't think through a film of this type too much--just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Bolt (Fred Williamson) is an international man of action--and adventurer, tough-guy and beacon for trouble. His job, like that of many blacksploitation heroes, is a bit vague. What we do know is that he's rich, powerful and quite the stud...and NOBODY better mess with him! The film begins with Bolt in jail in Hong Kong. He hasn't really done anything, but some government official (WHICH government and WHICH branch is never clear) has arranged for his arrest. He'll stay in jail unless he agrees to help them with a secret mission. What that mission is, who the baddies are and what happens really isn't particularly important--and the plot is clearly secondary. From the minute he accepts the job until the final frame of the movie, it's Bolt versus EVERYONE! And, like any good action hero of the genre, there's also plenty of hot women, action, killing and martial arts 'fun'.

Among the various blacksploitation stars, Williamson was one of the better ones. The physicality of the role was a natural for the ex-NFL star, he was very handsome and he could act. In many ways, he played a freelance version of James Bond with a slightly less well-defined sense of morality.

Very good stunts, nice international locales and decent acting, this one is cool 'turn off your brain' fun.

This film is rated R for tons of violence and a bit of nudity--and it's probably not a great film for kids or mother-in-law.

Fred "The Hammer" Williamson displays plenty of charisma in this goofy but fun globe trotting adventure. The Hammer plays Jefferson Bolt, a hotshot international courier. He's hired by a mysterious British man (Byron Webster) to transport a suitcase full of money from Hong Kong to Mexico City by way of Los Angeles. As fate would have it, a fair amount of the criminal element are eager to get their hands on this booty. Bolt takes on all comers, and blows up lots of stuff real good, and naturally also finds time to make sweet, sweet love to the ladies.

"That Man Bolt" suffers from a convoluted plot, by Charles Eric Johnson and Ranald MacDougall, which may have viewers scratching their heads. But if one can go with the flow, they'll find that this escapist fare kills time agreeably enough. It's an offbeat mixture of blaxploitation, comedy, international intrigue, and martial arts. The filmmakers are wise never to take things too seriously, which does help a great deal. Even when Bolts' lovely lady friend, singer Samantha Nightingale (Teresa Graves, who gets to belt out two numbers), is written out of the action, he seems to get over it without too much problem. The action is competently executed, and the violence won't be too graphic for some in the audience. (You gotta love it when a hood attempts to gun down Bolt and gets a mirror shard in the neck for his troubles.) Accompanying the various goings-on is a wonderfully lively score composed by the great Charles Bernstein.

The Hammer is just as cool as can be, and is well supported by Graves, Webster, Masatoshi Nakamura as a slimy villain, and Jack Ging as Bolts' Las Vegas buddy, a casino owner.

If you're a Hammer fan, you'll be pleased, even if overall the movie is not one of his best.

Seven out of 10.

In the age of the 1970's,Fred Williamson was the undisputed king of the black cimema,and one of the top action stars of his day,right beside icons as Burt Reynolds,Clint Eastwood,Charles Bronson,James Coburn,Richard Roundtree,Jim Brown,Jim Kelly,Telly Savalas and Steve McQueen. In the 1970's,per se you had the typical action picture that featured a smooth,tough talking,good-looking African-American male who can hold his own against all odds and still gets the girl or a bunch of them at the same time.

Even if the plot was offkey,WE as brothers and sisters would line up around the theatre to see it and we knew the if it was a black feature with a black actor in the leading role,it was a good one and it brought in the business too...and this was back in the day!!!!

In the film "That Man Bolt"(Universal,1973),Fred Williamson displays such a character that suppose to be among the ranks of James Bond,Derek Flint,and not mention John Shaft. Williamson plays secret agent Jefferson Bolt who goes to Hong Kong to stop an international ring of thugs bent on destruction and when things go dismal,Bolt handles things his way and saves the world,with soulpower!!! The picture is good with great photography locational shoots in Hong Kong,but the picture does get a little weak and between the lines with some of the lamest dialogue ever conceived. As far as the fight scenes,and the action part of it as well,it does look like a similiar detail to the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker fare "Rush Hour",but it is not one of Fred Williamson's best,but it is passable. However,Williamson would go on to make several more action flicks in the 1970's and some of them are very good including "Black Caesar","Hell Up In Harlem", "Bucktown","Three The Hard Way","Black Cobra","The Soul Of Charley","The Revenge of Charley",and the one action flick that started it all..."Hammer". He also had a good looking female lead too,who also made a name for herself as one of the top female action hero of her day,Miss Foxy Brown herself,the legendary Pam Grier,who was not in "Bolt",but starred in several films with Fred Williamson.

"That Man Bolt" is available on DVD and Video.

Exactly that is what you get. A somehow black version of James Bond. Blaxploitation star Fred Williamson does a good job, fast story lines and a lot of action. Clearly as meaningless and senseless as in a James Bond movie but I enjoyed it a lot since I am also a bigtime fan of the whole genre. He even uses some special gadgets and travels around the world - of course not to forget - he gets the hot chicks. One of his best one liner - if he just finished some part of his job "charming". Of course not a shaft, coffy or foxy brown but a really nice second line blaxploitation flic. The addition of some martial arts shows also the KungFu heyday - of course not too professional but enjoyable.