Bruce Lee movies, which Blu-ray version to get? Help! - Blu-ray Forum

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 04:48 PM

Huge fan of Bruce Lee here and would like to finally own these movies on Blu-Ray:

The Way of the Dragon
Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection)
The Big Boss (Fists of Fury)

The Blu-Rays must be either Region A, or Region Free. Can anyone kindly point to the best versions of these movies out there at the moment?

The movies in question have numerous worldwide releases, they include single discs and also discs part of a collection. Germany, France, Korea, and Japan all have different versions of these films using different masters, etc.

I know that the Korean and the Japanese versions are Region A. But I'm not sure about the others (like the German boxset, or the French boxset). What I'm looking for is advice from someone who has actually seen, or owns any of these Blu-Rays. Which versions are Region A, or Region Free, which are the least cut, which have the best PQ, etc.

Thanks for all of the help!

benricci · 08-13-2012, 04:54 PM

The Hong Kong versions are region A, uncut and feature the original Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks. PQ is about as good as you'd expect, since these films have never been particularly cared for.

You can get them pretty cheap at dddhouse.com. Ignore those who claim these are upscales, I can assure you that they are most certainly not. I can't speak for other Kam & Ronson/Fortune Star blu-rays, but the Bruce Lee films are taken from HD masters. And they don't look half bad...

drees5761 · 08-13-2012, 04:58 PM

Sorry they are not original audio tracks. Firstly they were originally released mono,the 7.1 mixes are really bad and worse of all they have awful added sound fx dubbed over the original. There are no decent releases of these films on Blu ray yet , at least not for the audio, the picture quality is ok, Big Boss being the best. Apparently the Region B German box set has the original English dubbed tracks, but not heard them myself.

Prim · 08-13-2012, 04:59 PM

Don't know which are the best ones, and I don't own any of them, so I can't offer a personal opinion... Just wanted to let you know (in case you didn't already), there are some screencaps of the German editions here. In case if you wondered how they look. Some of the comments mention them having identical PQ as the HK discs.

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drees5761

Sorry they are not original audio tracks. Firstly they were originally released mono,the 7.1 mixes are really bad and worse of all they have awful added sound fx dubbed over the original. There are no decent releases of these films on Blu ray yet , at least not for the audio, the picture quality is ok, Big Boss being the best.

The new mixes aren't that offensive, and those FX were added years ago. The audio tracks aren't as bad as you're making them out to be, and at least they feature the original Mandarin and Cantonese voice tracks. Considering we're not likely to get anything better in the near future, these are the best to go with for now.

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:02 PM

Thanks for your response. I think I will do just that and get the Korean versions. I have one additional question, are there any Blu-Rays which have the raw Game of Death footage in high definition? Other than the supplemental on the out of print US release of Enter the Dragon.

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:03 PM

Are the German discs region free?

drees5761 · 08-13-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benricci

The 7.1 mixes aren't that offensive, and those FX were added years ago. The audio tracks aren't as bad as you're making them out to be.

They are bad, especially if you are used to the original. The remixes were done in the 80's. Surely Any altered soundtrack is bad if its not original.

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

are there any Blu-Rays which have the raw Game of Death footage in high definition? Other than the supplemental on the out of print US release of Enter the Dragon.

Why not just buy the Game of Death blu-ray? You can get the HK version cheap from dddhouse.com. It's region A.

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:06 PM

I think the actual raw footage is much longer than what was edited into the full Game of Death movie, but I'm not sure...

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:07 PM

Were there ever any releases with the original soundtracks? On DVD?

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drees5761

They are bad, especially if you are used to the original. The remixes were done in the 80's. Surely Any altered soundtrack is bad if its not original.

Considering most people watching these films today will have never heard the original mono soundtracks from Hong Kong (and will likely never have the opportunity to do so), they're not that bad.

By your reasoning, we should boycott pretty much any older film on blu-ray, since MOST don't include the original soundtrack. They've all been remixed and re-encoded for surround channels over the years. I see very few older films in my collection with an original mono track as an audio option.

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Were there ever any releases with the original soundtracks? On DVD?

EDIT - sorry, answered wrong question.

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:16 PM

Bruce Lee a Warrior's Journey on the Enter the Dragon Blu-Ray, was it in HD? I only have the newer Blu-Ray without that documentary.

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Bruce Lee a Warrior's Journey on the Enter the Dragon Blu-Ray, was it in HD?

No.

nagysaudio · 08-13-2012, 05:22 PM

In that documentary, they showed 30+ minutes of Game of Death footage. How does this footage differ from what is on the Korean Game of Death full length Blu-Ray movie?

And thanks again for all of the responses!

Prim · 08-13-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Are the German discs region free?

Some specifications... No mention of region free-ness, but if you don't have a region free player, I wouldn't risk it, tbh.

Way of the Dragon

Fist of Fury

Big Boss

benricci · 08-13-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

In that documentary, they showed 30+ minutes of Game of Death footage. How does this footage differ from what is on the Korean Game of Death full length Blu-Ray movie?

And thanks again for all of the responses!

Not all the footage they shot made it into the final theatrical release of Game of Death, if that's what you're asking.

drees5761 · 08-13-2012, 05:45 PM

Some of the original DVD releases had mono. Im not against remixes, if it uses the original sound elements and doesn't add stuff that was not there originally, The Hong Kong Legends DVDs did this and they were fine.
If you listen to the Hong Kong Legends dvds and then the Blu ray the audio tampering is obvious and badly done.
As for older films released on Blu ray, many have original mono as an option, its not as if there is no room on a Blu ray to do this.
Psycho is a good example. The 5.1 remix on the blu ray is well done because it does not add anything sound wise that wasn't there originally. But you also have a mono option. If you don't notice things like this then fine go ahead and buy it.

Malice · 08-13-2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Were there ever any releases with the original soundtracks? On DVD?

yes there is a release with the original sound effects... the original dvd releases by fox in the early days of dvd http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Lee-Coll...lee+collection

08-13-2012, 04:48 PM	#1
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	Bruce Lee movies, which Blu-ray version to get? Help! Huge fan of Bruce Lee here and would like to finally own these movies on Blu-Ray: The Way of the Dragon Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection) The Big Boss (Fists of Fury) The Blu-Rays must be either Region A, or Region Free. Can anyone kindly point to the best versions of these movies out there at the moment? The movies in question have numerous worldwide releases, they include single discs and also discs part of a collection. Germany, France, Korea, and Japan all have different versions of these films using different masters, etc. I know that the Korean and the Japanese versions are Region A. But I'm not sure about the others (like the German boxset, or the French boxset). What I'm looking for is advice from someone who has actually seen, or owns any of these Blu-Rays. Which versions are Region A, or Region Free, which are the least cut, which have the best PQ, etc. Thanks for all of the help!

08-13-2012, 04:54 PM	#2
benricci Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	The Hong Kong versions are region A, uncut and feature the original Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks. PQ is about as good as you'd expect, since these films have never been particularly cared for. You can get them pretty cheap at dddhouse.com. Ignore those who claim these are upscales, I can assure you that they are most certainly not. I can't speak for other Kam & Ronson/Fortune Star blu-rays, but the Bruce Lee films are taken from HD masters. And they don't look half bad... Last edited by benricci; 08-13-2012 at 05:02 PM.

08-13-2012, 04:58 PM	#3
drees5761 Expert Member Member since:Nov 2009 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews: 6	Sorry they are not original audio tracks. Firstly they were originally released mono,the 7.1 mixes are really bad and worse of all they have awful added sound fx dubbed over the original. There are no decent releases of these films on Blu ray yet , at least not for the audio, the picture quality is ok, Big Boss being the best. Apparently the Region B German box set has the original English dubbed tracks, but not heard them myself. Last edited by drees5761; 08-13-2012 at 05:01 PM.

08-13-2012, 04:59 PM	#4
Prim Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Apr 2010 Location:Norway Blu-ray collection:639 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:2	Don't know which are the best ones, and I don't own any of them, so I can't offer a personal opinion... Just wanted to let you know (in case you didn't already), there are some screencaps of the German editions here. In case if you wondered how they look. Some of the comments mention them having identical PQ as the HK discs. Last edited by Prim; 08-13-2012 at 05:02 PM.

08-13-2012, 05:02 PM	#6
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	Thanks for your response. I think I will do just that and get the Korean versions. I have one additional question, are there any Blu-Rays which have the raw Game of Death footage in high definition? Other than the supplemental on the out of print US release of Enter the Dragon.

08-13-2012, 05:03 PM	#7
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	Are the German discs region free?

08-13-2012, 05:06 PM	#10
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	I think the actual raw footage is much longer than what was edited into the full Game of Death movie, but I'm not sure...

08-13-2012, 05:07 PM	#11
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	Were there ever any releases with the original soundtracks? On DVD?

08-13-2012, 05:16 PM	#14
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	Bruce Lee a Warrior's Journey on the Enter the Dragon Blu-Ray, was it in HD? I only have the newer Blu-Ray without that documentary.

08-13-2012, 05:22 PM	#16
nagysaudio Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2011 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:8	In that documentary, they showed 30+ minutes of Game of Death footage. How does this footage differ from what is on the Korean Game of Death full length Blu-Ray movie? And thanks again for all of the responses!

08-13-2012, 05:45 PM	#19
drees5761 Expert Member Member since:Nov 2009 Blu-ray collection:274 Blu-ray reviews: 6	Some of the original DVD releases had mono. Im not against remixes, if it uses the original sound elements and doesn't add stuff that was not there originally, The Hong Kong Legends DVDs did this and they were fine. If you listen to the Hong Kong Legends dvds and then the Blu ray the audio tampering is obvious and badly done. As for older films released on Blu ray, many have original mono as an option, its not as if there is no room on a Blu ray to do this. Psycho is a good example. The 5.1 remix on the blu ray is well done because it does not add anything sound wise that wasn't there originally. But you also have a mono option. If you don't notice things like this then fine go ahead and buy it.

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