7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
The true story of martial arts superstar Bruce Lee that dwells not on his mysterious death but his inspirational life and improbable rise to stardom from the streets of Hong Kong.
Starring: Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, Robert Wagner, Michael Learned, Nancy KwanMartial arts | 100% |
Biography | 10% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
English, English SDH, French, French SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Bruce Lee's filmography isn't extensive, at least not when considering his prime. The acclaimed martial artist died far too young at age 32, just entering his peak years following the filming of the monumental hit Enter the Dragon and several years after his headlining television role as the sidekick "Kato" in The Green Hornet and starring roles in a handful of feature films which eventually helped earn him top billing in Warner Brothers' aforementioned 1973 picture. But he lived a lifetime in three decades, experiencing a life that few could match, a rise to stardom in a new world that offered him not necessarily a new beginning but rather new opportunities and an outlet to demonstrate his extraordinary talents, God-given talents honed not only through dedication but an unending drive to achieve personal perfection. Lee's extraordinary, and tragically brief, life is the subject of Director Rob Cohen's (Dragonheart) Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, an exceptional biopic that's engaging, charismatic, and polished, in many ways a reflection of its star and a fitting tribute to one of cinema's -- and the world's -- greatest treasures.
Reflections of an icon.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer that's far from perfect but proves more than serviceable. Though a bit flat, soft, and poorly defined near its open, the image tightens up a good bit as it moves forward. Details, sometimes appearing hindered by light noise reduction but frequently accompanied by very light grain, prove largely satisfying but are absent that intricate, up-close intimacy and finely preserved nuances that define the best film-quality presentations. Still, basic skin and clothing details, in addition to various background odds and ends such as brick, concrete, and wood textures seen in the back alley restaurant brawl scene, appear nicely defined and sharp. Colors are even and pleasing, with a light warmth seen in spots but otherwise never much of an unnatural push towards either excess brightness or dullness. Black levels are decent, though sometimes struggle with minor paleness and hints of noise. A few speckles appear here and there, but they're largely of the blink-and-miss-them variety. On the whole, this is neither the best nor worst catalogue transfer on Blu-ray. It's a serviceable image, one from which videophiles will want more but that should pass the casual eyeball test for quality.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story kicks out a solid, though imperfect, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. If anything, this one isn't wanting in terms of spacing and utilizing every channel available to it. Whether music or effects, the entire stage is frequently doused in sound, and generally to good, precise placement and balance. Music noticeably flows freely around the listening area, spreading energetically to both the sides and rear. Peak definition, however, is sometimes wanting, though certainly the track enjoys a good, robust body and adequate clarity throughout the range. Heavy sound effects prove likewise aggressive but lightly muddled, whether crushing blows, crashing tables, shattering blocks, or more rumbly nightmare effects in some of Bruce's more violent visions. Chapter 22 enjoys some big, spacious, and immersive -- though not perfectly defined -- applause. Chapter 28 sees some excellent lighter ambient effects inside a theater where the projected film's dialogue lightly echoes through the stage and the projector's whirring sound is heard lightly, and constantly, in the background. The track, then, is capable of delivering all variety of sound effects with some level of precision and nuance alike, though it's clearly lacking in terms of absolute pinpoint realism. Dialogue is largely satisfying and presented firmly in the center. On the whole, this is a quality listen from Universal that, at the very least, doesn't shortchange listeners when it comes to full-film sonic immersion.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story contains a large assortment of extra vintage content, including featurettes, photographs, and a director's
commentary. The disc contains no "top menu;" all settings and bonus features must be accessed in-movie from the pop-up menu.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story rises to the challenge of recreating a legendary figure thanks to the charisma and skill of its lead. Jason Scott Lee's performance makes the movie, and all of the quality supportive pieces -- strong technical craftsmanship, terrific fight choreography, and even Randy Edelman's score -- mean nothing without Lee's impassioned turn as the martial arts legend. This is a rich, complete film that, even with some questionable historical accuracy and omissions, makes for a movie that's as entertaining as it is enlightening and inspiring. Universal's Blu-ray release of Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story holds up well, but it isn't perfect. Fair video, good audio, and a recycled supplemental package make it a somewhat underwhelming technical presentation, but fans would be remiss to leave this one on the shelf and newcomers owe it to themselves to experience one of the more underrated movies from the 1990s. Recommended.
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