Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 25, 2020

Robert Clouse' "Enter the Dragon" (1973) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional materials for the film; new program with biographer Matthew Polly; documentary films; archival interview with actor and action choreographer Tung Wai; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

In the United States, Enter the Dragon was previously released on Blu-ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. For an in-depth analysis of the film, please see Kenneth Brown's review of the 40th Anniversary remastered edition of the film here.

Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Enter the Dragon arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

This release features the 99-minute 1973 theatrical version of the film, which is sourced from a brand new 2K restoration. The slightly longer 102-minute 'special edition' version of the film was also restored in 2K and is included on Disc Seven. (We will have a separate review of it).

The release offers the second best overall presentation of a Bruce Lee film in Criterion's seven-disc box set. In terms of density consistency and depth some very minor improvements can still be made, but the 2K restoration is color-graded very carefully and as a result it produces some of the best ranges of fine nuances in the entire box set. I spent some time comparing it to Warner's 2013 release of Enter the Dragon and I think that in quite a few areas highlights are noticeably better managed as well. I also like the overall temperature of the color scheme, which is warmer than the one seen on the 4K restoration of Game of Death and with healthier ranges of supporting nuances. Unsurprisingly, the 2K restoration actually ensures a more convincing dynamic range than the 4K restoration. (Obviously these are different films with different visual styles, but I am comparing their presentations because the 4K restoration should have produced a superior technical presentation. It does not. The opposite is true). There are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Image stability is excellent. Finally, the entire film has been cleaned up and now looks spotless. In summary, I think that the 2K restoration of Enter the Dragon is very strong and in various ways actually quite a bit more convincing than at least one of the new 4K restorations that are included in Criterion's box set. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The audio is very clean, sharp, and boasting wonderful ranges of dynamic nuances. If you wish to quickly test its dynamic potency, I suggest listening to the music theme around 00.27.20 and then choosing any of the prolonged fights, On my system the quality of the audio was exceptional for a film from the early '70s. There are no encoding anomalies to report.

Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Promotional Materials - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Electronic Press Kit (8 min, 1080i).
  2. Vintage Trailers (10 min, 1080i).
  3. TV Spots (6 min, 1080i).
  4. Radio Spots (1 min, 1080i).

• On Enter the Dragon - in this new program, biographer Matthew Polly (Bruce Lee: A Life) discusses the conception of Enter the Dragon (as a Chinese James Bond film) and Bruce Lee's involvement with it. There are also some quite interesting observations about the different changes that were made to have the original script work for Lee as well as Robert Clouse's direction. The program was created for Criterion. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 1080p).

• Blood and Steel - this archival documentary examines the production of Enter the Dragon and Bruce Lee's film career. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with producer Fred Weintraub, writer Michael Allin, cinematographer Gil Hubbs, actors John Saxon and James Coburn, and others. The documentary was produced in 2003. In English, not subtitled. (31 min, 1080i).

• Bruce Lee: In His Own Words - this archival documentary combines vintage footage with Bruce Lee in which he discusses his martial arts philosophy and approach to acting. The documentary was produced by John Little in 1998. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080i).

• Linda Lee Cadwell - in this archival program, Bruce Lee widow and bibliographer Linda Lee Cadwell discusses her relationship with the martial arts star and his activities as a performer and educator. The program was produced in 2003. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080i).

• Tung Wai - in this archival interview, actor and action choreographer Tung Wai recalls his first encounter with Bruce Lee. In Cantonese, with optional English subtitles. (4 min, 1080i).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Jeff Chang as well as technical credits.

Enter the Dragon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The upcoming Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits box set offers two new 2K restorations of Enter the Dragon -- one for the original theatrical version and another for the slightly longer 'special edition' version of the film. I like how the theatrical version is graded quite a lot and I think that it is one of the best looking presentations in the box set. The other version of the film is placed on a different disc with additional bonus features, so we will have a separate review of it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.