Bruce Lee At Golden Harvest Arrow Video 4K UHD and Blu-ray Limited Edition Review
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- #brucelee #arrowvideo #4kuhd #bluray #physicalmedia
I review Arrow Video’s absolutely stunning boxset Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest. This set finally gives Lee’s films the golden treatment with superlative 4K restorations, audio restorations, beautifully encoded discs, 65 hours of supplements, fantastic artwork, deluxe packaging and the astounding Mandarin Cut of The Big Boss AND The Final Game of Death documentary which is both a film school on a disc and the best film documentary I’ve seen in nearly 20 years.
The only downsides are that Arrow wasn’t able to acquire US rights making this an import release and they weren’t able to use Warner’s new Enter the Dragon 4K master. The disc in the set is a placeholder copy of the 2013 WB Blu-ray. You will need region B capability for the Blu-ray discs in this set.
The limited edition has sold out and the standard box is almost gone but Arrow has announced standalone special editions for each film that include most of the box contents.
Here’s the comparison I mentioned between the Korean cut of Game of Death II/Tower of Death and the slightly longer version on VHS: www.movie-censorship.com/repo...
00:00 Trailer fight
01:40 Boxset Discussion
05:17 Disc 1-The Big Boss 4K UHD
09:22 Picture Quality and HDR
15:41 Audio Quality
18:50 Packaging and Artwork
20:34 Supplemental Features
35:52 Summary
36:34 Disc 2-The Big Boss The Mandarin Cut 4K UHD
41:27 1080p raw print scan
42:55 Packaging and Artwork
43:31 Supplemental Features
45:13 Disc 3-Fist of Fury 4K UHD
46:51 Picture Quality
50:44 HDR grading
54:15 Audio Quality
56:19 Packaging and Artwork
56:47 Supplemental Features
01:04:20 Summary
01:04:27 Disc 4-The Way of the Dragon 4K UHD
01:06:54 Picture Quality and HDR
01:11:35 A note about the subtitles in HDR
01:12:56 Audio Quality
01:13:46 Packaging and Artwork
01:14:09 Supplemental Features
01:22:31 Summary
01:24:52 Disc 5-Enter the Dragon 2013 Warner Brothers UK Blu-ray placeholder
01:30:50 Packaging and Artwork
01:31:55 Supplemental Features
01:33:54 Disc 6-Game of Death 4K UHD
01:39:37 Picture Quality and HDR
01:46:16 Audio Quality
01:47:14 Packaging and Artwork
01:47:37 Supplemental Features
01:57:23 Summary
01:57:29 Disc 7-Game of Death Alternate Versions Blu-ray
01:58:14 Packaging and Artwork
01:59:01 Region B Blu-ray Locked note
01:59:45 Supplemental Features and discussion of the alternate versions
02:03:50 Disc 8-The Final Game of Death: The finest film documentary I have seen in nearly 20 years.
02:25:44 Packaging and Artwork
02:26:13 Supplemental Features
02:30:25 Summary
02:31:40 Disc 9-Game of Death II Blu-ray
02:34:48 Picture Quality
02:39:51 Audio Quality
02:40:18 Packaging and Artwork
02:41:13 Supplemental Features and Alternate Cuts
02:29:59 Summary
02:51:24 Disc 10-Bruce Lee Documentaries Blu-ray
02:51:59 The Man and The Legend
02:55:23 The Legend
02:58:14 Packaging and Artwork
02:58:51 Supplemental Features
03:01:55 Summary
03:02:03 Limited Edition Boxset Packaging, Artwork and Design
03:08:29 Boxset Exclusive Hardbound 200 Page Book
03:13:27 Double sided poster
03:14:05 Extensive Lobby Card Reproductions
03:17:35 Promotional Photo Reproductions
03:20:09 Final Summary
03:35:44 Outro goof - Krátké a kreslené filmy
![Eminem - Houdini [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22tVWwmTie8/mqdefault.jpg)
Viewing Notes:
The Big Boss Mandarin cut
Worn original golden harvest custom logo
Original opening titles a bit worn but look good but their sound cuts abruptly
Little noise in generated white subtitles
Degraded footage back in but looks good more natural if a bit faded they put subtitles over the burnt in ones
Expertly goes in and out of print and 4K master for random frames inserted
Some light marks on frame vertical when James town goes into gambling house 13:55 and inside some shots
One restored scene is missing some frames
Some inherent side scope lens distortions
54-50 slight picture blip spot as red bus pulls out after fight
1-04-09 small mark as Bruce goes to drink, tiny brown mark on face very small
Some slight artifacts in scene with prostitute very minor
1-41-00 small spot under subtitle
Some damage poking in final fight lines and movement inside the frame but they dialed it out as much as possible
Missing frames jump as cop car comes in
Has degraded original the end card
This SO shows how the Ritrovata and Criterion color was off
Includes full print line surviving copy scan in 1080p with hardcoded subs. Looks darn good to be honest. Has hdma mono.
The extras have that frozen grain low res effect in the extras clips to save space again
Alternate credits are as upscaled and have end credits if unique
Loads of trailers old scans upscaled sd
English subtitles for dialogue added nicely when necessary
The funny baked in captions with grammatical errors
Fist of Fury
Noisy opening logo
Opening shot has slight lines vertical down center on rain maybe
Some light vertical tall lines in title card
Subtitles on titles
Same light noise in white subs they’re a little bright
Hair on lower left in music by credit it stays though titles
And lower center one at end
Hum seems gone in audio very clear has some inherent noise minor
My goodness the detail and grain and color here wow
Occasional soft shot like wide shot of interpreter coming into funeral
15-30 slight speck of dirt center right when walking out
It’s like the hdr pushes lights and some colors to pop slightly when they don’t need to inherently and it gets to my eyes
Damage across frame when Bruce first comes into dojo I’m here for your master yellow spot across
Speck tiny and some lines poking in when first guy gets up in dojo to confront Bruce
Couple specks or dirt in Dojo fight
Scene at city gate still really breaks period setting as does geisha dancer in bikini
35m flash of a mark across center in long shot
Some specks or dirt flashes throughout occasionally
Some marks flash when Lo wei inspector shows up
Hair upper left barely poking when Bruce repairman leaves office
Some Dirt and marks on final end shot
Has the old sd archive interviews
USA opening is super old sd upscaled with noisy audio
US trailer new noisy film transfer
HK trailer on all three languages has English subs for Chinese captions old sd it looks like
US tv spot hd film scan noisy
Uk radio spot
Trailers for other Chen films all sd upscales varying in quality wildly
The way of the dragon
Internegative 4k scan source
Has English language optional end credits in hd some slight credit wobble intrinsic and those tiny line poking in center still there. Credits continue onto silent black screen from end shot
Has original logos and the original concord films logo
Opening white titles a little bright white
English subs for non English titles
Very light marks instability opening zoom shot some lines trying to poke in center on zoom out
Shot of kid ice cream in airport still out of focus
Restaurant airport also still focus issues some instability barely but looks darn great if softer and grainier because not negative
Very occasional bare tiny mark starts to pop up barely here and there
Some noise in the subs again
Lines or damage on left when they get to car airport trying to come though may be Inherent
Some inherent light fluctuations occasionally
Occasional small lines or marks pop in for a brief flash here and there
The dub is slightly off intrinsic
Fluctuations running though dark building after assassin
Some scope lens distortions
Whole image almost shakes on center when Bruce does his silent fists at boss or it may be just the force of his shaking that makes it look like that
Some light left side instability when Bruce walking around coliseum
Slight jump missing frames Bruce gets up and starts his jump stance
Slight line trying to come though in graveyard goodbye
They’re they’re in center of frame on final shot barely trying to come through
Think all of this was baked into the internegative source
Textless opening credits hd print scan
English export credits old sd low res
English 1974 reissue titles is film scan return of the dragon titles with original exporter logo
1980 usa rerelease low res sd
Alternate Japanese version has unique theme song and slightly tweaked English mono dub this is 4k and lossless mono too
Enter the Dragon is WB 2013 disc of se cut with 5.1 and a few new featurettes plus all old extras except warriors journey docu
Transfer looks ok 25mbps shows some lines center popping up when Kelly gets onship and through mantis fight like on criterion may be source inherent
Has the missing frames
Looks good but flatter than criterion 2k scan but also more balanced video master color maybe some dnr and lower res
The old docu has outtake footage in sd with time code plus super 8 on set footage
Game of death UHD
Opening titles a bit soft and reused footage degraded duped of course
This is shameless
Some occasional light fluctuations or minor damage on stock footage etc
One or two very light marks when she’s singing in studio
The mono can be off due to the dub and low quality production
Some very light flecks specks and marks barely there
Some black crush maybe because of using a cri and image degradation
Grain coarser at times
Burned in subtitle
Some very light fluctuation on night cemetery exhuming
Original game of death footage duped more grain off dupe and some marks etc
Inherent damage on last shot of falling down neon signs line mark
End credits a little white text is indistinct etc and has some inherent light wobble fluctuations
Japanese version has alternate edit of Ji Han Jae fight with burnt in subs and sounds like original fight yells 1080p damage marks wobble but feels great
Japanese version has unique opening card, alt fight edit and ending conformed to 4k master in English
Deleted and alternate footage and credits from Cantonese and mandarin versions some is sd best that survives
Game of Death II BD
2k scan
International cut
HK cut
Korean cut no Bruce footage and shorter tower of death version different story and edit. This cut removes almost all Bruce footage. Starts with landing on plane to see master see master is dead and it’s the friend who picks him up at airport who is clinging on and drops from helicopter and does then side is told to go to the tower of death,
This looks like sd of lower res noise that seems frozen lower bitrate.
Some marks and damage and graininess and light bleed on side and dupe footage in titles
Lines on opening fight
Blue line mark in greenhouse fight duped in obviously
Lines and marks light throughout but constant
Light flickering fluctuation when going to see master
Some sections have quite a bit of damage inherent
Hair bottom center 34.5m
Some softness some out of focus and lens distorted shots look inherent
Final Game of death
Bd 2k scan
223m docu and reconstruction broken up into 8 chapters, reconstruction is final chapter
Reconstruction is wonderfully done just audio on dialogue a bit modern and sticks out wish they had degraded it a little bit to match. But it’s a labor of love and they tried with no money available. The new intro footage is a bit wonderfully cheesy as are some of the voices. The new titles are amazing and have concord logo
This is astounding, magnificent, awe inspiring, touching, breathtaking and a testament to the man’s spirit and work to such a degree that it is truly a fitting tribute
I couldn’t have done it better myself. Simply put. One of the finest tributes to a film, let alone a never completed one ever done. I want to teach classes with this
And acknowledges John Little’s docu and book warriors journey at end
Extras include older 2000 game of death revisited cut of footage from 2000 in standard def widescreen-has slight frozen noise effect because low bitrate source old master etc. it’s pretty good and Dan Inosanto dubs his own voice
Documentaries disc
The man and the legend 1974
It’s so morbid and awful and of that exact moment. It’s so tactless and invasive feeling still makes me cringe and the narration is so tactless.
Scope, Has sort of lower quality frozen grain noise effect but minor that kinda goes away overall think it’s baked into fortune star master.
The legend 1984
1.78 mix of sources film clips cropped to 1.78 docu footage looks like upscaled sd and hd mix
Reuses done footage from old doc, will go super low quality upscaled lowres standard def then hd then film based then back it’s all over
Overlays very dated music over game of death footage like the opening of an 80’s sitcom or exercise video.
Recut with new 4k master film clips by hand to replace old sd clips in provided master except game of death footage is original to master. Maybe they used 2013 ETD Blu-ray for those clips?
End bit of GoD footage in the legend is from 1978 4k master cropped I think
Alternative version of the legend from 1983 with some different footage clips released in some countries on vhs, standard def transfer 4:3
Trailers are standard def upscale
Enter the dragon HK credits in scope new scan hd!
I LOVED THAT INTRO!!!
Outside of the big boss, this was the first time I've seen these films, it's amazing that arrow went above and beyond to include every notable version of each film.
I worked on the set! I brought my freebie copy of the set with me to Canada when I visited my long-time best friend for the first time this year. First thing we did at her place was watch the untouched Mandarin print scan. Now she's my girlfriend! :D
That’s fantastic! Congratulations!
I guess it’s the power of Bruce bonding time…😂
I enjoyed your review immensely, thank you.
Thanks for the amazing review! Super cool
Worth the price of admission just for the stop-motion intro alone.
It was such a goofy idea that occurred to me...so I just HAD to do it...even though it took a while to get the frames just right and there I was an adult playing with Blu-ray and UHD boxes like action figures...
Fantastic deep-dive into the set! I've been watching your videos for a good while now and realised I've never left a comment, so I wanted to say thank you for putting in the effort to review titles as in-depth as this. From the glimpses I've had at the set (I picked up the regular limited edition), it's a stunner and your video has convinced me to get around to checking out the extras soon. Arrow Video is probably my favourite label working right now, for the sheer variety in titles they release and their commitment to going all out on extras, physical goodies and more. Keep up the great work and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on whatever titles you pick up next!
Just scored a “scratch and dent” copy of this set at retail, after you putting it on my radar, with this presentation, a couple weeks ago. Was bummed that I didn’t discover it until it was all sold out; super excited to have found one after all. Thank you.
Glad you were able to get one! It’s such a stupendous set that even a scratch and dent copy is well worth it.
Same! So glad I saw that thread earlier.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader That was the impression I took away.
@@wadesadler8247 Nice! Glad you were able to get one. They went quick!
Regarding what we talked about in the chat, the It's A Wonderful Life UHD looks truly fantastic whenever it's the original negative, it's the opticals and dupes that can look a bit too processed with grain management, but it's very far from ruining the overall presentation, it's still a great-looking disc. There is also a nice bonus feature going in detail about the restoration.
Great epic overview of the Arrow set. I’m going to receive my box tomorrow (had a friend keep it for me in UK) so it’s great to listen to your very in-depth analysis. Nice job!
Yet another fantastic review! :)
I’ve just ordered the individual releases from Arrow. I’ve actually only EVER seen the Japanese language version of Game of Death which includes the greenhouse fight. It was on TV over here in the UK and I recorded it. Very much looking forward to seeing this intriguing oddity in 4K.
I'm stunned Arrow included so many alternate versions of GoD in the boxset.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader Absolutely! Can’t wait to dive into this flawed but fascinating film. I was a little devastated to find that the Final Game of Death documentary wasn’t on the disc but it IS included with (confusingly) Way of the Dragon and I can’t WAIT to get stuck into that
The Final Game of Death was my top film of 2023.
I'm happy that you're happy ! I don't have this boxset myself but I'm looking forward to picking up the individual releases of "The Big Boss", "Fist of Fury" and "Way of the Dragon" in November 👍
Exceptional video - thank you. Definitely the best physical media review on ye olde interweb. I suspect that your long-form reviews are not what your "typical" reviewer is searching for, but I absolutely appreciate them. Was able to snag one of the eight remaining editions at Diabolik after watching this, so many thanks you damned fool
Oh, I also have the CC version and am very enthusiastic about seeing how these two editions compare and complement each other.
Thank you!!! I'm glad you were able to get a copy! Thanks for the extra vote of confidence. I know I'm atypical here on youtube with these videos but I've always tried to be as detailed as possible. If only to provide an alternative kind of video review.
I hope the stand alone releases will have all the extras. I need this.
Thankfully they retain almost everything and have custom art, booklets and the same disc contents!!
You lose the physical printed goodies, but get slimmed down booklet versions for each film. You get all the same discs with the same extras, but lose out on three discs from the box: the extra copy of enter the dragon, the alternate cuts of game of death disc, and the disc with the vintage documentaries.
I like your indepth analysis. Can you please look at the exorcist new 4k?
Happy New Years,Mr.Hector Martinez, I Must Truly Thank You for Your Wonderful Positive Opening Statement on The A View of Life....This Was Very Touching. PLUS Your Choice background Music. To Me l like You and The Podcast of you& Charles D. And The KFG..I Thank and Follow your Quality Shows. I Thank You All for Your Care in Presenting Bruce Lee,In A Passionate Way,I Think Bruce Would Approve of. ALL The Best!,A Fellow Bruce Lee Enthusiasts,Truly Jibril Bey.
This what a physical media release by those who LOVE physical media looks like.
Edit: it took 3 days to watch this and thanks so much for a passionate and in depth review. Lol at the end
Spence, You make a compelling case to get what is a clearly monumental release. Before plunking down approx $300 I watched Enter the Dragon. I completely recognize how great Bruce Lee was but I'm having a tough time getting into it which considering how much I love the Kill Bill films seems strange. Please help...I am.I missing something...?
Go for the standard arrow editions since the boxset is OOP. Much cheaper and you get most everything that was in the box. Enter the Dragon is actually my least favorite because it’s more of a US studio film in ways and I prefer the Golden Harvest films.
Thanks Spence.
Impressive as usual, Spencer. Thank God it's already sold out. I haven't even gotten to my Criterion box yet 😂
If GAME OF DEATH were an Inspector Clouseau film it would have been TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER, which was released after the death of Peter Sellers, and like GAME, also combined outtakes and unused scenes from previous films with newly shot but awkwardly inserted bridging material.
The main bit of "Brucepliotation" I remember seeing as a kid was the posters for the theatrical release of a GREEN HORNET "movie" cobbled together from episodes of the TV series which practically screamed "STARRING BRUCE LEE" and, in extremely miniscule typeface " with Van Williams as the Green Hornet"...
Trail is probably the closest comparison but at least they relied on outtakes and deleted footage only. It's still awkward as heck.
You show at first a close up to the camera of the back of The Big Boss set and on the Special features section it states "A 99min 1983 version" what exactly is a "1983 version"??????
Big boss and way of the dragon above enter the dragon and fist of fury. Totally disagree. But your entitled to your opinion. Don't forget these films are 50 plus years old arrow done an amazing job. Can't believe people complaining about grain and quality here and there pississ all over the criterion.
I have a piece of news that is really annoying. The Hollywood Professional Association announced their nominees for Outstanding Achievement in Restoration. The nominees are Casablanca, Cinderella, Cimarron, Winds Of Chance and...
THE GODFATHER!
At this point, I'm convinced that The Godfather name is so powerful that people will rave about everything related to the film, even a bad restoration of it.
Oh heck no. Are all of these people complete morons? I think they might be considering all the plaudits and awards that this desecration has earned.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusaderIt's really hard to understand. Maybe what you said is also a reason for why this is happening.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusaderLet's hope they actually bother to watch at least the restorations they nominated when they have to pick the winner.
What’s missing from the individual releases are the Game of Death 2000 cut and the docu disc?
I might need to do a comparison between the criterion (which I have) and this one just to see what I’m missing out. Too late to get the box set, so I’m only left with the individual releases. Already preordered Way Of, because I need, NEED Final Game of Death. Felt like Criterion done me a dirty one because I was truly convinced they did the definitive release back then.
EDIT: Sincerest apologies! I was wondering why you were only doing a 10 minute summary of your thoughts, then I realised I was catching the tail end of the video! Stupid me, I shall go back to the start. THREE HOURS! Let’s begin! 😂
Trust me, this is as definitive as it gets. The only things you’ll want to hold on older releases for is for some of the other various extras that were exclusive to those sets or exclusive older legacy extras.
If you get all of the standard special editions that arrow is putting out you’ll basically get a slimmed down version of the book and all of the disc contents with the same amazing extras, except you won’t get the Enter the dragon placeholder disc, the alternate game of death versions disc, or the disc with the vintage documentaries.
So basically, the big thing you’re losing from the box are the two extra discs with the alternate game of death cuts, and the documentaries.
The older cut of the game of death footage i think is on the final game of death disc extras so you get that included with way of the dragon.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader The box sets are out of stock, so I don’t really have a choice. Now I wonder if I really need The Big Boss and Game of Death. I’ve preordered Way Of and about to add Fist.
Hi pal, can you please create another video showing screenshots of these specific scenes in Fist Of Fury where you feel the brightness is too high, with a screen to screen comparison of previous BR releases? As I am curious how bright these scenes actually are, and if the same issues exist on the Blu ray release of this boxset which I have picked up.
Screenshots are very unreliable in conveying anything but detail. There is still not a good way to do HDR screenshots.
Good evening…
At one point the uploader states that "Game of Death is way better looking now than when it was Originally shown in the cinema in 1978" somehow this sooooo wrong!! It can not be any better looking than Originally shown in 1978.😂
Unfortunate that it’s out of print and cost so much money.
That’s true, but at least arrow did make really good standard editions with the same fantastic discs for the films and main documentary.
So it wasn't accurate as told by the people who purchased it on CZcams, no wonder it's on eBay some what cheaper, I'm quite happy with my collection from Hong Kong legends.
What are you talking about? This set is near-perfection! Have you even seen the video?