I agree, for those of us who are completely new to Bruce Lee's work, I think this is the perfect set to introduce us to the man, his work and ultimately his philosophy and the impact he made on the world. For me personally, I had never seen any of his films before and knew very little about him when I decided to purchase this set. I invested in this set for a few reasons, but mainly because I trust Criterion enough to deliver the goods and I knew I was going to get a quality product that did justice to Lee and his work. Last night I watched THE BIG BOSS and tonight I plan on watching the supplements on Disc 1. So far, I'm impressed both with the film and its restoration - the visuals were crisp, clear and quite vivid. The audio was also very sharp. I look forward to exploring this set with you and hearing what you have to say in your upcoming videos, my friend.
Thank you so much and yes, it is such a great place to start for anyone who is new to the world of Bruce Lee's cinema. I am glad that you are enjoying your journey through his films so far. When you have finished, please let us know which films were your favorites. I would love to know! Cheers my friend and have a nice rest of your day.
I'm pretty happy with this set. Sampled a few scenes from each film a few days ago and the 2K and 4K scans look fantastic. Very much on par with the Shout Select releases. I personally love when Criterion steps out of their comfort zone for more populist releases like this. And I'm a big fan of genre film, so it's always great to see it get the loving Criterion treatment. Anyways, looking forward to this video series. Think I'll watch each film in order to keep up with each of your videos. Cheers!
Thank you! Yes, I too think the visual presentations look great, and especially when compared to the Shout Select releases (which I think are very good too). Yes, based on anecdotal information, this set seems to be such a big hit already for Criterion. I am so happy about that.
I was lucky enough to have seen all the Bruce Lee films theatrically back when they were released in the UK. Dubbed into English of course, but they were/are wonderful films. My favourite will always be Enter The Dragon, but Fist Of Fury is a close second. Have ordered this set, despite having the excellent Shout Select edition's. It looks superb. And like yourself, the original US ( and UK) cut of Enter The Dragon is the version I originally saw and consider the 'true' version. But the 'special edition' is definitely worth owning too. I certainly look forward to your further insights into this release. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much! And yes, the theatrical cut of Enter the Dragon could be one of the big reasons why this set from Criterion is worth owning. Cheers my friend, and I hope you are well.
I'm half way through the set and I love it so far. I've only ever seen Enter the Dragon in the past. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, his name was mentioned consistently as I grew up. My dad was a huge fan and was part of the big martial arts movement in the US in the 70s. Hopefully I will get to watch this with him one day.
@@DaisukeBeppu my pleasure sir. I have only been watching a short while, but I realize that you have a very genuine care for Cinema. I'm happy to encourage you.
Just purchased it for the intent to see it’s original Mandarin / Cantonese version (never seen it) and that it’s my first Bruce Lee blu ray collection. As a long time Bruce Lee fan; I’m so happy with it!
Thank you so much for your comment. I think you will enjoy the set very much. Please let me know what you think of it when you have explored it. I would love to know your thoughts any time my friend. Cheers and I hope you are well.
I recently bought this. I was hesitant at first, due to me already having the Shout Factory Legacy Collection, then Enter The Dragon on a collectors edition DVD. I didn't need this, but I did want it. The sale making it $55 is what made me pull the trigger. And I'm so happy I did, such a great way to watch Bruce Lee films, and all the extras that come with it.
I ordered this for Unobstructed View, Criterion's Canadian distributor. They've been having a 40% off sale (runs till the end of July). You can buy backordered items. It's just arrived today. I still haven't opened it. I don't want to do so until I've time to watch at least one film. I think it's great that they've done this set. Bruce Lee was an incredible influence on action films to this day. There may be some snobs who sniff at this selection, but it definitely belongs in the collection. I think it gives younger people a chance to get to know Bruce Lee from good sources. I also think it's great that this is a set that could bring people into the Criterion Collection for the first time.
Thank you so much for the comment, and I am so happy that you were able to get the set in Canada. Yes, that was a great thing that Unobstructed View did, especially considering that B&N was not shipping outside of the US this time around. It is a great set. I hope you enjoy it my friend.
I definitely will be purchasing this. I just hope that one day a 4k version of Bruce Lee a Warrior's Journey. To me that is the greatest documentary of all time with the 35 minutes of the unseen original footage of "The Game Of Death".
We await these next videos with bated breath!! Can't thank you enough for your thoughts on and guidance through this incredible release! Hope you and your family are doing well, as always.
I haven't check out the set just yet but I can tell you that I'm pumped! I was going to go for this set for two main reasons: 1. It's a Criterion Collection release and I'm a fan of the label! I have a lot of them. Why should I not? 2. It is an upgrade over what I already have by leaps and bounds. I had briefly alluded to owning Bruce Lee DVDs however I did not elaborate. I own the Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection on DVD which features 5 Bruce Lee films. At first one would think it has all the typical films that Bruce Lee starred in and that is correct...to a point. The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon and Game of Death are all in that collection. But in a bit of a twist instead of Enter the Dragon (Bruce's most famous film) being in there they put Game of Death II on the set instead. So this comes as a bit of an irony and a little bit of deception. This resulted in me having to buy Enter the Dragon separately (it wasn't much money but it's the principle of the matter). And this is how things were...until now. The Blu-Ray release of Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits is a massive improvement over what I have. Both sets do have the films in their original 2.35:1 aspect ration but the picture quality is going to be sublime on the Criterion version. I also like the fact that they stick to the original soundtracks for the films as well which wasn't the greatest on the DVD set. And the two different version of Enter the Dragon are nice for comparison reasons. The one I bought was the typical 102 minute version. It will be fun to go over this and see what is different and what is the same, especially with special features. There's a couple I'm wondering about with Enter the Dragon. Can't wait to see more!
Just grabbed this at B&N for $55 before the sale was over. Beautiful release and beautiful start to your review sir. This set definitely deserves an 8-part series and can't wait to soak it all up. Just popped in The Big Boss and love the picture quality.
One big strength I like about this set is that it brings the best of into one box. I have been meaning to collect more martial arts films but it's been within the last year that we are getting boxsets of them instead of just standalones. I am really looking forward to that Shaw Bros boxset that Arrow is releasing with like 12 highly loved martial arts films from the 70's. If we could have a huge Jackie Chan boxset I would sell my soul XD
Hello my friend! I am currently working my way through this set. I’m was watching Enter the Dragon when I saw you published this video. As always and amazing video. This is my first real approach to Lee and I couldn’t be more excited!!! I’m loving it
@@DaisukeBeppu I think I would have to say Fist of Fury. I really like the classic dojo vs. dojo idea as well as the historical aspects of the film. I also very much enjoyed The Way of The Dragon, I think it stands out because of how involvement Lee had in making it. The other three films were also amazing, it is said Lee was a perfectionist and you can definitely see that in his work. Hope all is well, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series on this box set!
I am late to this discussion. I received this as a Christmas gift and will soon watch it. I have gathered wonderful insights thanks to your reviews. Thanks for your passion and insights.
Was blessed enough the sale and set coming out on my birthday. Also fortunate enough to own the shout coffee table book blu ray edition of the lee films. And the new scans blow that set out of the water by far!
Daisuke Beppu it really is! Coincidentally I also watched Way Of The Dragon on the day of his death which I didn’t plan on purpose. Come And See is coming tomorrow and gonna pick up my copy of Marriage Story, hopefully we can do some last minute hunts haha
Hi Chris, may I ask what the title of the coffee table book on Lee's films is called -- and what connection does it make to specifically "blu ray"? Thanks!!
All are classics! A personal fave is Way of the Dragon. Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris! Two titans at the Colosseum! It’s Beautiful! (This is before Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat)
I’m glad to see you’re making a video on this set. Saw you got it awhile back and I can’t wait for the other parts as you get more into the set. While I may not get it this time around for the sale, there is always next time or the time after next. This set looks fantastic and I hope to get it one day. I hope you’re having a great day as always Daisuke. Take care!
You too Daisuke! I’ll say that I’ve seen many Bruce Lee films and enjoy them quite a bit, yet I’ve never bought a single DVD or Blu-Ray. Not sure why that is. Seems to be a sort of trend at times with me. I see some films with a particular actor or actress or even made by a certain director, yet for whatever reason I don’t ever get said film or films. I don’t know why I never bought Enter the Dragon in any capacity when I love that film. I did take my mom to see it in a theater on Mother’s Day and she enjoyed it quite a bit. One thing I noticed with Bruce Lee is there are people who are fans of his, yet never saw a single film he was in. I guess that goes to show how popular he is. People like him without seeing any film he was in. He seemed to be quite a personality and a great guy that has ensured his popularity that goes beyond his films. I think this would be a great set for me to get as I enjoy a number of his films that are in this set. Thank you again Daisuke!
I subscribed as soon as I saw that you’re reviewing Bruce Lee movies. I saw his movies as a kid with my family-at the drive-in in my hometown of Memphis. ☺️
Thank you so much for subscribing. That really means so much. And so you are a Bruce Lee fan! That is so great. Which film is your favorite? And by the way, many many years ago I had the great honor of visiting Memphis. It was such a wonderful trip. Cheers.
Daisuke Beppu That’s awesome that you got to visit Memphis! 🤔 which is my favorite? That’s a tough question-I may have forgotten which one is which. But I’ll say the one that comes to top of mind right now: that is the one where Bruce must ascend a tower, fighting opponents on each level of the tower. Kareem is the ultimate opponent at the top of the tower (if I recall correctly). This will be good for the coming weekends- to rewatch the movies ☺️
Got a copy during the sale. It was a blind buy. It's kind of crazy I've never seen any of his films. I live near Seattle, and it's very much a movie lover's town (Scarecrow Video is an absolute Mecca). Bruce has always been near and dear to the city's heart. Anyway, I only have Game of Death left to watch. The first four look and sound fantastic, as to be expected from Criterion. I've made it a point to go visit Bruce and Brandon once this pandemic slows down so I can pay my respects.
@@DaisukeBeppu That I'm not sure. I think I'll have to re-watch them somewhere down the line before I can properly assess them. They all have their intrinsic qualities. Speaking of first impressions, they were pretty different from the type of films I'm accustomed to watching nowadays. I haven't seen many martial arts films in my life, so I wasn't really expecting anything beforehand. As soon as The Big Boss got going during the first big fight, I was hooked. It reminded me of days when I would sit around and watch the Showa Godzilla films in my youth. Bruce's films emit a very similar aura, and incite similar feelings. It made me feel warm inside. Fist of Fury is a somewhat routine revenge story, but Bruce's presence makes it great. It was especially delightful seeing the different personas he had throughout the film. He would have made a pretty good character actor. Now, The Way of the Dragon... I must have been either been completely oblivious to the title sequence or was distracted by something when it was playing, because Chuck Norris' appearance caught me way off guard. As soon as he got off the plane, my jaw hit the floor and I audibly said "What the f*ck". I wish someone caught my reaction on video. A similar reaction happened during the zoom onto Norris in the Colosseum. Pure gold. I'm not sure if it was my favorite film, but it elicited more reactions and laughs than anything so far. It's saddening that this was his only big film as a director. He showed great promise and it makes me wonder what else he could have achieved if he had lived longer. Enter the Dragon was probably my least favorite, although I anticipate Game of Death might take it's place if the things I'm hearing about it are anything to go by. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike it. It's still quite enjoyable. However, the bouts of joy that I experienced in the previous three where not as abundant here. It was a much bigger production than what came before, and I feel some of the charm of the earlier films was lost in translation. I still respect the film, though. It has plenty of great moments. The mirror scene of course, as well as the "fighting without fighting" bit. I would be remiss to not mention how important and trailblazing the film was for helping change the way that Asians are presented in film, American productions specifically. I know this isn't a insightful dive into the films, but this comment is already way too long. Anyway, I wish you well.
@@samuellayton3539 "I would be remiss to not mention how important and trailblazing the film was for helping change the way that Asians are presented in film, American productions specifically." Excellent observation among the many you offer.....consider too Keanu Reeves and the impact he is currently having on the image/stereotypes on Chinese, specially, but the Asia-Pacific peoples in general. There is a great article by Marjorie Liu called "The Hero We Need: Keanu Reeves is Demolishing All Our Dumb Stereotypes." (link: lithub.com/the-hero-we-need-keanu-reeves-is-demolishing-all-our-dumb-stereotypes/)
Hey Daisuke, hope you are doing well my friend!, I received my copy of the Bruce Lee Criterion Collection set and I'm currently making my way through it, I must say, I'm really really enjoying it!. I don't want to say it yet, but this is probably my favourite Criterion release thus far, along with Hitchcock's Rebecca and The Cranes Are Flying. I'm looking forward to your upcoming videos on this release!
Thank you so much... it is such a great release from Criterion! I hope you enjoy your journey through the films. And when you are finished, please let me know which film in particular is your favorite. I would love to know! Cheers my friend.
Wow just found this! I haven't seen the special features but realllyyyyy enjoyed this box set. I had seen most of them when I was maybe 8 or 9? They were all really good times and Bruce was such a great martial artist! He, Jackie Chan, and Tony Jaa (an amazing current martial artist from Thailand in some of the most brutal movies The Protector) have the most rewatchable and fun movies that are just so easy to rewatch any time. Gonna go through this series and hear your thoughts!
Am excited to get into this set. Next week am telecommuting for work, that will give me a good opportunity for this. Have only seen Enter the Dragon out of these films. Looking forward to seeing your next video on this set.
I was hoping you would do a overview of this set. I have bought Bruce Lee films in many formats over the years. I haven’t bought this set yet. I have the Shout select releases which have the new remasters from Fortune Star. I thought and still think that’s probably the best those films excluding Enter the dragon will look in my lifetime. I am definitely not a expert in restoration so this is my humble opinion. I still believe WB will eventually release Enter the dragon in 4K. I base this off their history with the film and how well it has sold over the years as one of their signature catalog titles. I was a bit surprised the Bruce Lee library wasn’t option for a 4K release in the states. I don’t think that will be possible anymore if Criterion owns the rights at least in the US. And Criterion doesn’t see the need to upgrade to the format anytime soon. A friend of mind did mention like you that Criterion may have tweaked the picture quality a bit on the previous version. I will look forward to your reviews on the big boss, etc. Thank you and take care...
Definitely planning on getting this one when I'm able to get a region free player! (UK viewer here) I'm a huge Bruce Lee fan, his films rank among some of my favourite action films ever made, so I'm glad to see that they've been given such a good treatment. Just wondering as well, which of the films is your favourite? I personally find Way of the Dragon and The Big Boss to be the most entertaining films, but they're all great in their way.
Thank you so much. So yes, just in case, let me say that the back of the packaging indicates "region A". And as for my favorite, it really depends on my mood. However, I can say that the first film I can remember seeing, when I was a kid, was Way of the Dragon.
I held out on buying this for a few weeks but decided to pick it up at the last minute tonight, before the sale ended. I've taken a real shine to martial arts cinema in recent years, but when it comes to Bruce Lee's filmography, I've only seen "Enter the Dragon." Based on what you've said, this set seems like the perfect entry point for a neophyte like myself. I'm really looking forward to receiving this.
Thank you very much for the comment, and I am glad that you were able to get the set during the sale. Yes, I think this is ideal for anyone who wants to start a journey into the world of the cinema of Bruce Lee. Please let me know what you think of the films when you get a chance. I would love to know. Cheers.
Enter The Dragon is slightly diffrent both cuts. Example now theres no music when Jim Kelley fights the cops on both versions of Enter the Dragon. Other music cues are diffrent as well.
Matt Merritte Reelcuts_Productions so this is as I understand it the theatrical cut version of the film that had been prevalent up to 1998. Indeed this is the version that I grew up with watching. Then in 1998 the special edition was released and from then the special edition became the prevalent version. But this Criterion release brings back the theatrical cut, and for the first time, as I understand it, for the first time on blu. Indeed this seems to match the theatrical version, including all music cues and sound effects as they were with the theatrical cut. So my guess is that this is the theatrical cut that was available on VHS and laserdisc up to 1998. And indeed it seems to match (unless there are details that i am missing and in that case I’ll be happy to hear others). In any case my understand therefore is that this is not any kind of redux version. I hope that helps.
I have seen, I think, Enter the Dragon when I was a kid. I'm glad you gave this set such a glowing review. I will probably pick this up sometime, hopefully before this BN sale is over. I look forward to your upcoming vids on this box.
I have the older 20th century fox release of the Bruce Lee ultimate collection, it has the big boss fist of fury way of the dragon game of death game of death 2 with really no special features. so this is a big improvement for me.
My apologies, Daisuke, but I had to stop your discussion about midway through, so my questions that follow may be answered/addressed interspersed through your commentary -- without being called out in your very helpful "Table of Contents" provided in your description section. I apologize if I miss something but I needed to capture my thoughts before they slipped my mind. I have followed the work of Bruce Lee with awe, delight, wonder, and illumination through mainly old VHS tapes and TV releases, supplemented by the odd documentary here and there over the years. Let me list my concerns, if I may, below based on everyone knowing my experience-level with Lee's work and the presentations I've seen of them....and I'm hopefully using myself as a representative of a wider set of people in Lee's audience. 1. I think there is a great(?) gulf between a devoted fan and the type of knowledgeable cinephiles that you represent. I've been put off often by the "industrialization" of Lee's works by distributors/producers who, I felt, were or might be offering "anything that sticks to wall" type content, edits, cuts, dubbing, etc. -- more specifically meaning they wanted product that filled the format they were selling, quality/completeness/etc. be damned. I am too much of a novice to know how to tell when I'm being "sold" a load of rubbish versus when someone is making a good-faith effort to provide me with the best that they could for the time I watched/bought their product. Therefore, it is a little disheartening to hear that even the CC could have done better by Lee. 2. I lack the expertise (and perhaps resources) to uncover the minutiae of data surrounding issues of quality/completeness/all supplemental materials available at the time/etc. For example, I Googled the Shout Factory Bruce Lee films you mentioned and was disappointed to get prominent results that were mere sales-blurbs, with dead links to other, deeper information -- the info was also dated 2016 at the latest. Even a Search of Shout Factory's website literally provided no results! I have no way of searching eBay or other sites/sellers to gain more info or even purchase the releases, based on yours and other people's recommendations. 3. Your video title contains "(1 of 8)" -- does this mean you will stick solely with the CC release or will you include hints/recommendations to other, perhaps subjectively(?) "better" releases, with explanations for why you made each recommendation -- again, IF that is part of your plan? This is Comment is long enough. I hope you get the idea I am grasping to express -- and why it may be important to an enthusiastic viewer of Lee's work and the small. mountain of materials produced after his untimely death....specifically, information for non-educated, non-cinephiles of what is seriously lacking in CC's releases and where (or at least from whom if the releases are older and hard-to-find). Eight parts of just CC's release is a mountain of labor for you, Daisuke, so please please please disregard my comments if it is just not possible for you (or any one person!) to "fill out the picture" of Bruce Lee-related releases and supplementary to look for...and which to avoid! Thank you for your patience. Thank you, Everyone, as well, for yours, as well. Edit: Without reading the Comments yet, which is my next task/search for info and opinions....I give three cheers to anyone who mentions the absolutely eerie/creepy/superb "shouts" that Lee uses throughout his fight scenes as one of the most remarkable aspects of watching his work....no one else I know of in the genre has utilized his vocalizations to such tremendous effect as Lee did....and I can probably include in all of film that I've seen, perhaps only SFX like the gunshots in "Shane" even compare.
Thank you so much! And yes, I think I understand perfectly what you say. The issue with all these releases, even the ones that have come before, is ultimately, what will be the releases that will ultimately satisfy all the customers and consumers and film fans. This is a question that I think we all must ask ourselves whenever we encounter any new release or the like, and whenever we make the decision as to which version or release to purchase, and which ones to skip. And this choice will ultimately depend on our own personal needs and wants and our experiences. And there is never any wrong answer. Now, I make these videos, but one of the reasons I do so is because I enjoy these sets. I don't make videos about every title that I purchase, because that is not what I do here. I don't consider myself to be a film reviewer or blu ray critic. I am just very fond of these releases. And during these videos, I always do my best to show where this set is lacking (and for example, regarding the Big Boss and Fist of Fury, where I have already made videos, I talk about, for example, the fact that the Criterion release has some but not all of the audio tracks that have been made available elsewhere). During these videos also, you will see that, for example, I focus on direct comparisons with the Shout releases, because these are the most immediate prior releases, and in fact the Criterion set seems to be the most similar in comparison with the Shout releases (except for the film Enter the Dragon, in which case I will address different issues). So, all I can ask of you is that you check out the videos going forward. As for the indication of "(1 of 8)", this means that I plan to do many videos on this set. I have done this in the past with many other event releases (such as the Bergman box set, or the Godzilla set). This is what I would call "my style" (or, to borrow the words from Bruce Lee, you can call it the art of fighting without fighting). Finally, I hope that during these videos I can show you and everyone just how much I love these films. I have loved them truly since I was little. They mean so much to me, very deeply. And so I don't consider myself to be any "better" or anything like that. I don't "look down" on these films. I truly love them and I hope that as many people can watch them as possible. I think that this set overall preserves and respects the philosophy and spirit of Bruce Lee. Is it perfect? No it is not, and I acknowledge this many times. However, it is still very respectful of Bruce Lee and what he means for all of his fans and admirers. It may not be what all Bruce Lee fans are looking for, but it is not required for everyone to get the set. If fans are able to enjoy the films of Bruce Lee outside this set, then of course I support that 100% and that makes me happy. Ultimately, there are so many fans who have his or her own ways of celebrating his cinema. They may not all be the same, but I think that they are all sincere and truly lovely ways to celebrate his cinema. And I have my own way of celebrating his cinema, and I really hope that this comes through in the way I speak about his films. In any case, please believe me when I say this: I am a true fan of his films. I always have been, and I always will be. So, in your comment, when you say " I think there is a great(?) gulf between a devoted fan and the type of knowledgeable cinephiles that you represent. " I admit that I don't quite understand this comment. Why is there a gulf between you and me? On the contrary, I respectfully disagree with you, as I think there is no gulf between you and me, at least on this point about our mutually shared admiration for Bruce Lee's cinema. I think I have shown that on this channel, or at the very least, I have made many efforts to show this. I have always tried to be open and inclusive, and I have always listened to many people. I would like to think that people would in turn see that I really mean what I say. I hope this makes sense. And I truly appreciate your passion for the cinema of Bruce Lee. As a fan myself, believe me, I really appreciate my friend.
@@DaisukeBeppu Thank you for replying, Daisuke! My deep respect for the quality of your analyses AND that of your Channel followers is such that I that I made the comment about the "gulf" -- put it down to my own insecurities as you have always explained your philosophy for film, analyses, and this Channel very clearly, and your attitude and actions are always as you describe. The "gulf" I perceive is my own Ignorance and Inexperience compared to you and all the other here....and on other film forums I read/watch. I cannot -- yet, maybe??? -- not feel my own sense of inferiority, my fear that my comments are stupid/banal/etc.....DESPITE your tremendous Acceptance even if I am being "stupid or banal or whatever." Please overlook my fault. My criticisms are directed solely at myself. And it is your deep appreciation for film -- "flaws" and all -- that I find so satisfying about your Channel; also the way everyone respects everyone else's opinions. I learn about films but I also AM learning -- it is a process -- of being as Accepting (of myself, in this case) as you are towards yourself and others. (Unrelated note: My "nerves" have been so strained and shattered by "events" in America.....AND the excitement of seeing so much serious appreciation of Bruce Lee as an Artist and much more, as opposed to the usual way -- and, as you say, it is completely acceptable and satisfactory for everyone to enjoy Lee and his films as they want -- many viewers "just" (I sound very pompous here in my word-choice and a diletante for putting the word "just" in quotes -- perhaps another fault of mine I need to work on changing/eliminating) enjoy Lee beating on people, the action, the more Action/Kung-Fu/Martial Arts genre features. I am tired, soul-weary, these days and misused your Channel to try and find a "better," "happier" avenue to heal... Please accept my apologies -- and this must be the 4th time(??) I've apologized to you and Everyone here...I hope no one thinks I'm going for a Guiness Book of World Records award here for the # of times an apology is necessary in a Single Category!!! **smile**
@@markwarren1672 Thank you so much for the heartfelt response my dear friend! There is absolutely no need to apologize, for you have not done anything that is at all "wrong" or the like. In fact, your comments show a true caring and acceptance and willingness to meet people and hear perspectives, as well as sharing your own. This is a trait that I hold in very high regard, wherever I go. So thank you so much for setting such a great example of a warm and enthusiast film lover. And please, do not EVER feel like your comments or any of your suggestions or participation here are anything less than excellent. Because truly your contributions are brilliant and you should be proud of the thought and care and enthusiasm you have my friend. Please remember that! You are welcome here as always, and you can share with us anything you feel. While I might not always agree with absolutely everything that everyone has ever said here on this channel, all the same, I never want you to feel anything less than welcome here, and please note that I will always do my very best to listen. Again, my efforts might always be enough (because I am only human after all), but at the very least I will make my best efforts to listen to you and others here. Cheers and I hope you are well.
As I already said to you before, I have only watched the big boss and it doesn't have the original English dub track with Bruce's own voice and his high pitched cat calls when fighting, if you check the trailers, ther is actually a little bit of it in one of the trailers, I will have to watch the rest to see if they have not used it again on the other movies, but I love everything about the box.
Thank you so much! So, I'll try to talk about the audio tracks (and my understanding of what they are), when I talk about the Big Boss in a separate video. Cheers my friend and I hope you are well.
Thank you for mentioning Lee's fight "catcalls!!!" For me, an essential part of the films and, I believe, also an essential to Lee's own "style" or "school" of kung-fu.
Hello! This was a fantastic overview. I wanted to ask but I already own the Shout Select versions of Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon and Game of Death, Plus I own the 40th Aniversary of Enter the Dragon by Warner Bros. In terms of Visual quality which is the better set? The previous mentioned? or the new Criterion Collection? and also which set feels more complete to you? thank you
Hello and thank you so much for this comment. So, in terms of visual quality, I think it depends. I personally think that either Shout or Criterion is good. There is no one choice that is head and shoulders better than the other I think. As for the Criterion treatment of Enter the Dragon, I think the inclusion of the theatrical cut is one of the biggest highlights of the Criterion set.
the thing about it is its the only one that add enter the dragon to the set of movies that makes it complete set of his movies that you are buying to get done at last that you do not have to buy it all by itself you can have it with his other movies this is the only one of its kind afther all of the years gone by
Thanks! I’ll talk about this when I get into the films themselves in the next videos, but the Leeder commentary track quality is not so good IMO. The contents I think are fine, but the audio quality is such that it is hard to tell what he says sometimes. Incidentally these commentary tracks are all taken exactly from the earlier Shout releases (there are even moments where you can hear Mike Leeder actually say that this is a “Shout Factory” release on the commentary).
@@DaisukeBeppu I can understand what hes saying but as you said it is a bit difficult. There is so much information to be garnered through the commentaries so I will have to listen closely. The commentaries are always interesting as an supplement after watching the films; but my preference is original audio with subtitles or the dubbed tracks. Commentaries are just an extra supplement for additional information but that being said are valuable imo.
Does anyone know how this set compares to the UK release titled "The Master Collection"? I got that set a while ago, before the Criterion was announced, and it's also loaded with extras. So if someone knows the major differences, I would appreciate it!
I have The Master Collection but my Criterion set is still in the mail so I'll do my best. They both use the same 4k restoration however Criterion's is colour corrected and looks less faded than the Medium Rare release. Criterion has a new 2k restoration of Enter the Dragon while The Master Collection is the same Blu-ray from 2013. (plus Criterion has the theatrical cut which was never been released on Blu-ray before) In terms of sound the Master Collection has the surround sound and mono tracks while Criterion only keeps the original mono. Also there are some exclusive dubs on the Criterion set. There are exclusive commentaries, interviews, and documentaries exclusive to each version and it seems like the Criterion set has the most in terms of extras. Also Criterion has Game of Death II which is one of my main reasons for buying it.
Excellent video! I am looking forward to future installments. I bought the Bruce Lee Criterion set and I'm contemplating selling my Shout Factory blu-ray set and the original blu-ray release of Enter the Dragon. Is there any reason to keep the old blu-rays in my collection?
Thank you so much! I will try to address this point in later videos, but for now, let me say that, for example, I have the Shout releases, and I won't sell them. This is because the Shout releases have, for example, audio track options that are not necessarily included with the Criterion release. Ultimately this will depend on what your needs are. You may find that the Criterion release is what you prefer, and so you may think about selling your Shout releases. Alternatively, you might be thinking that you already have the Shout releases, and you might therefore think you don't need the Criterion release. It really depends on what you are looking for. However, I think where this Criterion set in particular excels is in its handling of the film ENTER THE DRAGON (and in particular, for example, the inclusion of the US theatrical cut). Now, you may feel ultimately that the WB blu ray is enough for you, and if so, that is great. Ultimately it depends on what your needs are as a consumer and fan of these films.
@@DaisukeBeppu I'm eagerly looking forward to hearing the audio track comparisons between releases. I'll have to wait to hear if it's dubbing (either in English/other languages over Chinese? or different English/OL dubs? or what? LOL -- I'm intrigued, can you tell....Lee's vocalizations (someone called them "cat-calls" -- the very eerie and, I believe, essential "vocal fighting" -- or intimidation? to Lee himself as he incorporated them into in his fighting style and not SOLELY for cinematic effect , are such a treasured part of his work to me that details like this matter more than they usually do with me.)
They need to release the rest of the police story movies on criterion which I know there is super cop 1 and 2 which is police story 3 and 4 and there was 1 or 2 police story movies that never came to the states
Does it have Game Of Death with the 2 guys going up the tower with Bruce as well as the part where Bruce breaks out the paper windows because it hurts Kareem's eyes? I want that version to watch as I did as a kid. Not looking for those things in the extra footage stuff but in the movie itself. Please let me know ASAP I really want it that way badly.
So, the release version of Game of Death will always be the one where the footage is edited to show Bruce Lee going up the tower alone. The actual raw footage that Bruce Lee made before he made Enter the Dragon is made available in a version as a supplement called Game of Death Redux.
Hello Daisuke, hope all is well my friend. I recently found your channel around two weeks ago and have been watching your videos constantly since. I recently watched Secret Honor (Spine #257) and enjoyed the concept from Altman, was just wondering about your thoughts on the film. Take care and thanks again.
Thank you so much for your kind comment. And yes, I have not had the chance to speak about Altman works on this channel as much as I would like, but oh gosh.. Secret Honor. What a work. I would love to talk about that in more detail one day. Such an interesting work.
Too bad this wasn't released a few months in the future, because then they could have included the great recent documentary Be Water as a supplement (if that were even possible). But this still looks great!
I received this a week or so early before it came out since i preordered it let me say i have seen just about everything on Bruce Lee and have everything on him this set and picture and audio quality is great but there are other documentaries that arent here like the curse of the dragon documentary thats on the enter the dragon blue ray which i also own on laserdisc when i first bought it also Bruce lee the legend which was a documentary closer to the death of bruce lee is not here plus i also liked the a warriors journey on the enter the dragon blue ray of bruce lees footage from game of death is better on the warner blue ray i didnt love how they changed the voices on that footage sounded better on warners blue ray but ita a greatest hits not a total complete box set with everything available but u knownin the future they'll be one matbe in 10 years but this is still a terrific set.Both versions of enter the dragon are here too but i like the special edition better anyway since it has the cut footage back in more bruce lee is always better especially with the 2.0 audio with bruces own voice.The picture quality is on par with shouts release and some new docs is pretty well done definately worth the money o wouldve paid 200 for it thats how good it is but as i said its not perfect and nothing is but it great to own it has all his films together for the first time in one place so thats great a few docs are missing like i said like I am bruce lee, bruce lee the legend, a warriors journey, and a lot of the backyard bruce footage its stull great and since if u have all this already on other media plus youtube and the shout releases your good to go enjoy my friends.
Hello Daisuke, hope you are well in Tokyo. When I think of Bruce Lee the phrase that comes to mind is «Be water my friend», a famous quote given by him in an interview . What an impressive career he could have had. But it’s a consolation to have at least these few films. (Criterion made an intentional pun with «his greatest hits»? :-) (One of the last depection or impression of Lee was in «Once Upon a time in Hollywood», a movie that I didn’t like for all sorts of reasons. I don’t know why Tarentino did this sequence. From what I read the character played by Pitt was inspired by a stunt man called Gene Lebell. Lebell was friend with B. Lee and the two would often share combat techniques. Apparently, because Lebell was build like a «gorilla» he could have beat Lee in a fight. Maybe that’s what Tarentino wanted to show but I thought he would pay an hommage to Lee instead of showing an arrogant side of him).
Thank you so much for this comment my dear friend. Yes, one wonders what his career would have been like. It was such a tragic loss. However, as you also suggest, he left behind a forceful and powerful and beautiful legacy for the entire world, which is now even further supported by this great Criterion version.
Thank you, Marc (great name by the way!!!), for your Comment. I agree -- maybe for different reasons -- on OUATIH. I also do not believe Lee would have lost a fight to a stunt man, even one with his own kung-fu. The infamous "one-inch punch" Lee developed could knock down man...or man-gorilla...all by itself. It make be "folklore" or apocryphal but their are many sources of Lee being so well-known that he would very often be challenged in the streets, especially in Hong Kong, and he felt some obligation to always take on these challenges (or maybe it is the fighting/kung-fu ethos?) and always won...even some pretty brutal challenges. Personal opinion? I think his accepting these "challenges" MIGHT have contributed to the shortening of his life -- consider the amount of damage he took just practicing and filming! Anyway, my opinions, nothing more...thanks again!
@@markwarren1672 Thanks Mark (yes, great name :-). I’ll have to check what was the intentions of Tarentino for depicting Lee like this. He gave a ton of interviews when OUATIH came out. Yes, i agree that Lee might have won a fight with Lebell; he had speed and agility… and that famous punch (quit impressive when you see it on tape). I probably saw more fictions and documentaries about Lee, then it’s films. I think you are right about these street fights that may have caused health problems. In one fiction film Lee was challenged by a kung-fu master that came to USA just to do a fight with him. Apparently Lee would have been injured during that fight. And I agree also with film conditions at the time in Asia, not a lot of tricks with the camera… it was real hits for most of them. (Lee was incredibly fast, you can see footage of him doing some moves when he came to Hollywood to cast roles. And working in the «Green Hornet » as Kato other stuntman were afraid to work with him :-). (Just curious to have your opinion on OUATIH, did you liked it? The film seems to have very mixed opinions…)
@@marcl4000 Thanks for the comments, Marc. And I shudder at what Lee must have gone through in his "private" life with his skills -- he would be like an American Western's famous gunfighter, always being "challenged" -- fairly and many time not so fairly on their part) -- by lesser gunfighters. I appreciate the cinematic prowess of QT but the times and the events are too personal for me to appreciate his handling of them -- no spoilers, so I can't get into details of any aspect of the film as I see all of it as facets, miniature reflections, of the "central event."
@@markwarren1672 Yes, like old west gunfights they must have been some cheating towards the adversary to come to their ends. (i wrote Tarentino a few times, sorry Quentin) No problem for OUATIH. I like Tarantino most of the time but I was disapointed by this one. Sad to say but I think «the emperor wears no clothes» at this time of is career...
whats your thoughts on the films from the Shaw Brothers studios? I'm a big fan of their catalog! they're available on the dragon dynasty label, not related to Bruce Lee, only he almost made films for run shaw at a time, i believe.
awesomeness!! dragon dynasty has some decent copies of The killer and Hard boiled, from John woo for one. the one armed swordsman,five deadly vemons and king boxer are all excellent films, in genre and I think in the Criterion Collection realm they could be future releases.
@@jbeattie1244 Wouldn't the CC release have the same content wherever you bought it? I was not aware of CC making any region-specific CONTENT changes....but I am NOT an expert. Good luck!
