8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A martial-arts expert is determined to help capture the narcotics dealer whose gang was responsible for the death of his sister.
Starring: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly (II), Ahna Capri, Kien ShihAction | 100% |
Martial arts | 98% |
Crime | 83% |
Thriller | 70% |
Drama | 24% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Raise your hand if you fancy yourself a martial arts cinema fan. Good, good. Now keep your hand raised if you haven't watched Enter the Dragon. Look around... everyone with their hand raised is a walking contradiction; a deluded charlatan weened on watered down actioners and Rush Hour all-nighters; a misguided soul who hasn't sampled one of the most influential kung fu delicacies of all time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting everyone who partakes of its gritty goodness will suddenly declare it the timeless classic I obviously consider it to be. Not everyone will gravitate to the late Bruce Lee's charms or director Robert Clouse's unflappable direction. Not everyone will tolerate Lee's American co-stars, or enjoy the visceral simplicity of the film's story. However, I have yet to come across someone who isn't impressed by Lee's swift strikes and bone-shattering attacks, or, for that matter, someone determined to belittle the legend's oh-so-apparent mastery of his art. Make no mistake, whether you walk away from Enter the Dragon with a perpetual case of the warm-n-fuzzies or a pair of shrugging shoulders, you won't feel you've wasted your time.
I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that glare...
Update, 6/10/2013: Having evaluated Warner's newly remastered, AVC-encoded release of Enter the Dragon, I decided it was wise to revisit my now long-outdated review of the initial 2007 release, as a detailed comparison between the two was well worth undertaking. While the bulk of my impressions and comparisons will appear in my 2013 review of the remastered edition, I will say it's amazing how much a new release can render an older release outmoded and inadequate, bringing to light more of the previous version's flaws and revealing the true severity of any issues. Aliasing, pixelation, contrast inconsistencies, macroblocking, remastering troubles and other problems are even more prevalent when compared to the superior 2013 release, and color and skintones aren't as satisfying as they once seemed. Artificial sharpening was also out in full force in the original 2007 release, wreaking its own particular brand of havoc. Ultimately, Enter the Dragon will never look as crisp or clean as modern filmfans might wish, but for the definitive presentation of Lee's classic beat-em-up, look no further than the new 2013 release. The 2007 edition is a bit bloody and battered by comparison.
Original Video Review, 6/29/2009: I have to admit I didn't expect much from Enter the Dragon's 1080p/VC-1 transfer. However, it didn't take long for me to adjust my expectations and immerse myself in Warner's at-times gorgeous restoration of the famed classic. The first thing I scribbled in my notes was the word "skintones." Healthy, natural, and convincing, the actors' faces rarely suffer from overzealous saturation, and are never undernourished by underwhelming contrast. Lee's nighttime assault on Han's compound doesn't pop as brilliantly as some of the film's daylit scenes, but the graceful martial artist glides through the lair's cavernous shadows without a hitch. More importantly, the palette remains authentic, primaries are relatively stunning (Williams' yellow garb is a sight to behold), and blacks are quite striking. Watch carefully when Lee takes on an entire school of Han's underlings -- Warner's transfer handles the furious gale of white and black-clad fighters with ease. Look closely as he advances through a deadly hall of mirrors -- the presentation never wavers, brandishing vibrant reds as readily as it produces revealing fine details. Moreover, edges are sharp, textures are surprisingly crisp, and digital anomalies (like artifacting and source noise) are few and far between. It's even a cinch to look past the lingering scratches and intermittent softness that afflicts the original print. Granted, some digital processing has cursed a handful of shots with an over-processed sheen, but it seldom detracts from the virtues of the presentation. All things considered, Enter the Dragon looks great (especially for a thirty-six-year old film) and should find a fitting home amongst your favorite high definition catalog titles.
Enter the Dragon's dated Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track (640kbps) makes it one of the early high definition discs in need of a re-release, this time with a blazing lossless audio mix worthy of Lee's hard-hitting punches and high-pitched war cries. That's not to say this standard offering is an outright disappointment. To the contrary, it pays fitting tribute to the film's source elements without resorting to the overindulgent antics of many ham-fisted remixes on the market. Dialogue is plagued by the same distinct limitations as every other grindhouse and martial arts picture of the era, but it struck me as being cleaner, clearer, and more meticulously prioritized than ever before. Likewise, everything from low-end whumps to ear-piercing wahaaahs sound a tad flat or pinched, but fans of '70s import cinema will shrug their shoulders and count their blessings. On a more positive note, pans and directionality are suitably restrained (thanks to Warner's faithful remastering efforts), the film's musical score has been given fresh life, and dynamics are satisfying (at least as satisfying as a low budget 1973 catalog classic might afford).
As it stands, Enter the Dragon sounds pretty good, particularly considering it doesn't boast anything more powerful than a standard Dolby Digital audio track. It's far from perfect -- I dare to dream of a future lossless remix -- but it doesn't provide any unexpected distractions either.
Having released Enter the Dragon numerous times on DVD, the Blu-ray edition of the martial arts classic comes packed to the brim with hours of extensive supplements. Anyone still holding a candle for the late Bruce Lee will fawn over the high quality special features on tap -- a pair of absorbing full-length documentaries, three engaging featurettes, and an audio commentary among them -- and enjoy the supplemental package almost as much as the film itself. The only downside is that all of the video content is presented in standard definition.
In case my review hasn't helped you make up your mind, allow me to break it all down into a more digestible morsel. Whether you're a casual or diehard martial arts fan, you owe it to yourself to experience Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon at least once. Warner has even made it easy on the eyes and ears with a faithful restoration, an excellent video transfer, a solid audio track, and a wealth of supplements worth the price of admission alone. It's not only one of the best Blu-ray deals on Amazon, it's one of the best kung fu classics available in high definition. What are you waiting for?
Re-release
1973
40th Anniversary Edition / Remastered
1973
龍爭虎鬥
1973
龍爭虎鬥
1973
Lung zang fu dau | Long zheng hu dou | 龍爭虎鬥 | 50th Anniversary 4K w/40th BD | Ultimate Collector's Edition / Import
1973
龍爭虎鬥 / Theatrical Version
1973
龍爭虎鬥 | Special Edition
1973
2009
2-Disc Extended Cut
2008
1988
2015
The Raid 2: Berandal
2014
Unrated Cut
2012
死亡遊戲 | Collector's Edition
1978
1998
2011
The Way of the Dragon | 猛龍過江 | Collector's Edition
1972
2019
1991
Serbuan Maut
2011
Banlieue 13
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2001
1998
Rogue Assassin
2007
2013
The Big Boss | 唐山大兄 | Collector's Edition
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2010