The Japanese Bruce Lee 2012 blu-ray thread

[OldPangYau]

UPDATED OCTOBER 3, 2012:

Since the Jackie Chan Japanese blu-ray thread was getting some positive feedback, and I recently "discovered" that new Bruce Lee blu-rays were coming out in Japan, I thought I'd start a similar thread to discuss the four re-releases. Basically, the Bruce Lee films (excluding Enter the Dragon, due to rights issues) were released on blu-ray in Japan in 2010, but Paramount is re-releasing them with new features, covers, and more... look below...

THE BIG BOSS - Extreme Edition:

Main cover: Reversible cover:

Japanese theater pamphlet reproduction:
Slip cover/HK and Japanese theater pamphlets/Disc image:

Specifications (subject to change):
-English 2.0
-Mandarin 2.0
-Cantonese 2.0
-Cantonese 7.1
-Japanese 2.0
-"English version to restore the first time in Japan"
-Subtitles: Japanese for dub / Japanese
-16:9 LB (1080p Hi-Def) / scope size
-Color
-100 minutes
-two-layer
-MPEG-4 AVC

Features:
-Japanese theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-Hong Kong theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-English trailer
-Mandarin trailer
-Cantonese trailer
-Opening A English
-Opening English B
-Opening edition published by the American
-Opening at Revival 1983
-Cut another climax when released in Japan
-Revival ending at 1983
-Deleted scenes
-TV Spot
-Tong Wai Interview
-Photo Gallery

Notes: Now that this has been updated, let me start with what everybody is probably hyperventilating about... "deleted scenes." As I've told others, this could mean anything. Snippets from trailers, tiny shots from international cuts, etc. In other words, don't hold your breath for the saw-in-the-head scene... but I'd love to be proven wrong! Meanwhile, the great thing is that it looks like it has 2.0 tracks aside from the 7.1 Cantonese track, so here's hoping they're proper mono tracks and not just downmixes. The American DVD had Cantonese and Mandarin mono, so hopefully they're the same tracks.

------------------------------

FIST OF FURY - Extreme Edition:

Main cover: Reversible cover:

Japanese theater pamphlet reproduction:
Slip cover/HK and Japanese theater pamphlets/Disc image:

Specifications (subject to change):
-English 2.0
-Mandarin 2.0
-Cantonese 2.0
-Cantonese 7.1
-Japanese 2.0
-"English version to restore the first time in Japan"
-Subtitles: Japanese for dub / Japanese
-16:9 LB (1080p Hi-Def) / scope size
-Color
-106 minutes
-two-layer
-MPEG-4 AVC

Features:
-Japanese theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-Hong Kong theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-English trailer
-Mandarin trailer
-Cantonese trailer
-Opening edition published by the American
-Another English Opening
-Mandarin version ending theme
-TV spot during the 1983 revival
-Yuen Wah Interview
-Photo Gallery

Notes: Well, the specifications and extras seem somewhat similar to the ones for The Big Boss, primarily the audio tracks and the inclusion of the Japanese theatrical realease. What caught my attention the most was the Mandarin trailer, as every DVD/blu-ray that has had the Hong Kong trailer has only had it available in Cantonese. So it should be interesting to see if it actually is in its original release language. As for the two openings, one is most likely the typical "Chinese Connection" opening credits from the US release, while the other is probably the far more dull black background "Fist of Fury" English credits... basically they did everything they could to make sure you couldn't see Chinese symbols in that version!

------------------------------

WAY OF THE DRAGON - Extreme Edition:

Main cover: Reversible cover:

Bonus pamphlet reproduction:
Slip cover/HK and Japanese theater pamphlets/Disc image:

Specifications (subject to change):
-English 2.0
-Mandarin 2.0
-Cantonese 2.0
-Cantonese 7.1
-Japanese 2.0
-"English version to restore the first time in Japan"
-Subtitles: Japanese for dub / Japanese
-16:9 LB (1080p Hi-Def) / scope size
-Color
-106 minutes
-two-layer
-MPEG-4 AVC

Features:
-Japanese theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-Hong Kong theatrical pamphlet reproduction
-"'Way Of The Dragon' 8 mm movie theater" (no idea what this is)
-English trailer
-Mandarin trailer
-Cantonese trailer
-Full English Opening
-Opening edition published by the American
-Interviews with Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, Barry Wong, Flora Chan, Rocky Lai, and Tony Liu
-Photo Gallery

Notes: If this does indeed have the English language Japanese theatrical release, this should be interesting, as this was the only time that Way of the Dragon was dubbed in English, AND maintained 99% of Bruce Lee's actual battle yells. The American theatrical English dub had none of Lee's original yells, while the English dub in other territories kept his real yells for the fight with Chuck Norris, but none of the other fights. Also, scratching my head as to what "Way of the Dragon 8 mm movie theater" is... perhaps a sample of a super 8 version of the movie? Also, here's a sample of what the Japanese theatrical version is supposed to be like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWmKvZcgjWA


------------------------------

GAME OF DEATH:

Main cover: Reversible cover:

Bonus pamphlet reproduction:Slip cover/HK and Japanese theater pamphlets/Disc image:

Specifications:
-English 7.1
-Japanese 2.0
-"English version to restore the first time in Japan"
-Subtitles: Japanese for dub / Japanese
-16:9 LB (1080p Hi-Def) / scope size
-Color
-100 minutes
-two-layer
-MPEG-4 AVC

Features:
- Opening & Ending public version of Hong Kong (Taiwan public version) / Cantonese (Mandarin ()
- public version of this story Hong Kong and Taiwan (voice: Cantonese, / subtitle: Mandarin Japanese)
-ending another Hong Kong Version
-"Starring Scenes scene ... Chi Hon-tse that existed only in the first public version Japan (Japanese dub version)"
- Legacy of Dragon Again "Game of Death"
- Scene Unreleased
- Trailer (Hong Kong version, U.S. version, UK version)
- Photo Gallery (/ Slide Show Photo Album)

Notes: Now, this is the one that'll keep me on my toes... I honestly don't know what the Japanese theatrical version would entail, but I assumed it'd be similar to Way of the Dragon in that it would be in English but with Lee's real yells. Not sure though. Meanwhile, it looks like it also comes with the Hong Kong cut... so, like the Japanese blu-ray of Jackie Chan's The Protector, this may potentially be a three cut blu-ray.

Anyway, until these get released there's probably little more I'll be able to add. I've read rumors that the Japanese theatrical versions of Fist of Fury and Game of Death are actually taken from film scans as opposed to reproductions, but we'll see... if the confusing translation for the end of Game of Death is anything to go by ("Complete recording of the whole volume of the miracle by HD telecine film premiered at the English version of the Japanese sound strange bird echoing Lee further."), then it may be true!