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Released theatrically in 1973 and with it’s main star Bruce Lee dying only weeks before it’s premier ‘Enter the Dragon’ has gained cult status in the world of martial arts movies with some considering it to be the ultimate martial arts film. Warner Home Video have now released a 25^th Anniversary Special Edition DVD of this most popular film The plot centres around the bad guy, Han (Shih Kien) who is a drug smuggler and serial killer of young women (no he’s not very nice). Han lives like a king on his island, where he also plays host to an international martial arts tournament, taking takes place every three years. Bruce Lee who plays a martial arts expert no less is enlisted by Interpol police to infiltrate the tournament and stop Han.

Joining the tournament, Lee befriends two other competitors who each have their own reason for fighting, Roper (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly). Roper has gambling debts that he must pay off, while Williams is a black power activist (has the worst and largest afro known to man, but hey it’s the 70’s remember) wanted in the U.S.

As Lee, Roper and Williams make their way through the tournament, they also learn more about Han's nefarious operations leading to the ultimate showdown between Lee and Han.

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VIDEO
Framed Anamorphically at 2.35:1 the widescreen transfer looks overall to be pretty good. Remembering it was filmed almost thirty years ago it is surprisingly on the whole clean and free of film grain. You can however notice little nicks, marks etc that appear occasionally that must have been present on the film master, also you can also see the ‘cigarette burns’ as they are affectionately called which flicker for an instant (blink and you’ll miss them) in the top right hand of the transfer indicating when the film was shown theatrically that a reel change is coming. However colours are fairly strong and vibrant for this age of film and I don’t think the movie has ever looked so good. You can finally throw away that dreaded VHS copy.

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AUDIO
The audio has been remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 for this DVD. It is not an aggressive mix by today’s standards by any means but is also not harsh or edgy like a lot of older films that have been remixed tend to be. Similarly bass extension is very limited as well as the use of the surround channels which are mostly restricted to Lalo Schifrin's score, which by the way is also able to be heard seperately on a music only track. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand (not like you watch the film anyway for it’s script, come on this is Bruce Lee here, the lean , mean fighting..well you know the rest).

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EXTRAS
Being a special edition there are a number of features that are sure to please fans of the film. At the commencement of the feature there is a nice introduction to the film by Bruce Lee’s wife Linda Lee Cadwell.

Also included is

• audio commentary by the producer Paul Heller and the writer Michael Allin (although they don’t seem to say too much throughout).
• musical score also presented in Dolby Digital 5.1.
• four various theatrical trailers for the film and 7 TV spots
• interview gallery
• "Backyard workout with Bruce"
• "Mysterious Island (3.25),
• "Champion of Champions" (1.09),
• "Island Fortress" (1.36),
• "Deadly 3" (2.35).
  
  The special features are on Side B of the DVD.

Overall if you are a fan of the Bruce Lee martial arts genre then chances are you’ve already seen this many times before and now’s your chance to see it in it’s original aspect ratio and remixed into Dolby Digital in a fantastic special edition.

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T43W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Toshiba 2109 Region Free
Receiver: Yamaha RXV995 (DD/DTS)
Speakers:-
     Fronts: Polk Audio RT55
     Centre: Polk Audio CS350
     Rears: Polk Audio RT/fx 
     Sub: M&K MX125 

- Review Posted 6th November 2001

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