Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 23, 2024

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of Severin's The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol. 1.

When Severin Films released Kung Fu Trailers of Fury and Return of Kung Fu Trailers of Fury several years ago, I'm sure I wasn't the only one initially thinking, "Well, that's a stupid idea for a release", only to have the sheer lunacy of the trailers assembled in both collections "fight back" against that assessment, as if to say in response, "Yeah, well who's stupid now?" In fact, both Kung Fu Trailers of Fury and Return of Kung Fu Trailers of Fury were kind of deliriously enjoyable in their own slapdash way, and those releases evidently were one of the inspirations for a full on collection of so-called "Brucesploitation" films, this time offering the actual films in addition to their trailers. The goofily affable Michael Worth, who has contributed so many fun commentaries through the years to various kung fu films on Blu-ray, is your "host" of sorts here, offering introductions to all the films and commentaries for many of them. If none of these films is ever going to be acclaimed as an unappreciated masterpiece, and if both video and audio on many of the films in this set might be charitably termed problematic, merely having these films in high definition will be alluring, and an absolute glut of other supplemental material is included as well, making this a probable "must have" for a certain demographic.

Michael Worth seems to relish his role as what might be called a "Bruceploitation apologist", but he's not immune to the cash grab aspects of the whole subgenre, but in that regard, it was actually evidently Bruce Lee's own family that embarked on a cash grab of sorts when they sued this film, according to Worth's introduction. This was the first supposed biographical film about Lee after Lee's death, and it also debuted Bruce Li in what is probably his most famous "role", but any perceived connection to the actual historical record may be disabused by that aforementioned lawsuit mentioned by Michael Worth. Worth also overtly if briefly discusses how Li this early in his career really hadn't "evolved" as either quasi-Lee or his own action star, and that, combined with the film's precarious connection to "reality", will probably make this a tough sell for what Worth terms "diehard Bruce Lee fans".

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Michael Worth's introduction omits the source for this transfer, but it shows some of the same qualities I've addressed in other reviews of the films in this set. The palette is one of the strong points, though the entire presentation has the look of a secondary element, with a just slightly faded quality and with contrast that may not support shadow detail. This is another transfer that can show some obvious anamorphic squeezing, especially at the edges of the frame, but also as with some other transfers, a bit further in than may be normal. Damage is pretty recurrent, and can vary from at least relatively minimal in the form of flecks and speckling, to more serious issues like apparently missing frames and rather bright flashes, along with some scenes that are kind of littered with white blotches.

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that matches many of the others in this set with an overall boxy, hollow sound that is quite noticeable in the already goofy sound effects in the battle scenes. The score is decently rendered, and dialogue is never hard to follow. Optional English subtitles are available.

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Partial Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth


• Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth (HD; 1:34) offers a brief introduction. This is accessible as either a standalone supplement or under the Play Menu, where it's authored to lead directly to the feature.


• TV Spot (HD; 00:31)


• Trailer (HD: 2:09)

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story has a number of undeniable historical firsts to its credit, but historical firsts don't necessarily translate into historical accuracy, so to speak. Once again video and audio encounter some hurdles, but Worth's introduction and partial commentary are both very enjoyable.