"Bruce Lee 4K Revival Festival" in Japan

[Takuma]

Japan is getting a "Bruce Lee 4K Revival Festival" that will tour the country this summer. It's been booked to 36 theatres already.

The films are The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Game of Death.

4K DCP and blah blah, but what is interesting is that they will be the original Japanese theatrical release versions. They are all listed as being in English.

Of course I'd much rather see these in 35mm, but I'll go see these anyway.

http://brucelee4k.com/

 

Edited June 3, 2020 by Takuma

[Takuma]

This makes me laugh every time

 

[Takuma]

I had a bit of a Bruce Lee day today. The Criterion BD set arrived in the morning, and I went to see The Big Boss in theatre in the evening. The screening was part of the Bruce Lee re-releases that are playing nationwide here in Japan.

As I mentioned earlier, the soundtrack was the original Japanese theatrical audio, which was actually an ENGLISH language track. This track appears to have been included on an earlier Japanese BD, I don’t think is present on the Shout or Criterion releases. Hardcore fans surely know more about this matter than I do, but I can summarize the Japanese English track in three points:

1) The Peter Thomas score is NOT present in the opening credits.
2) The Peter Thomas score is, however, used frequently during the film, the famous theme tune popping up at least 4 times.
3) The film’s last 45 seconds feature the Mike Remedios song.

I don’t know the film well enough to tell what other differences there may be compared to the standard English track.

As for audio quality, it was comparable to the English / Peter Thomas tracks on Criterion and Shout BDs, meaning it doesn’t sound quite as good as you’d wish.

As for picture quality, I can’t give a very detailed report, but it looked like the Fortune Star 4K master without the kind of colour correction done by Shout and (to lesser extent) Criterion in USA. So, a green / blue push, though there are parts that look perfectly natural as well (e.g. the ending fight).

Edited August 4, 2020 by Takuma

[Takuma]

I caught Fist of Fury in cinema yesterday (part of the Japanese theatrical re-releases). This was advertised as a DCP re-construction of the Japanese 1974 Theatrical Version (based on the Fortune Star 4K masters), but that info appears to be partially incorrect. It was the standard 106 min cut unless I’m completely mistaken, and not the shorter Japanese theatrical cut (which I've never seen).

I was rather anxious (scared shitless) because the flier ad said the film would be presented with 5.1 audio. I believe the Japanese BD release was also 5.1. What I can say is that it did not sound like a 5.1 track, and there was thankfully no Fortune Star junk on it. It was an English track with the glorious Mike Remedios theme song at the beginning and end, though audio quality left something to be desired and the track sounded like it was stitched together from more than one source.

Sadly, this audio track is not included on the Criterion BD, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s not on Shout’s BD either? Though bizarrely it can be heard playing in the background in the Mike Leeder commentary.

Oh and sorry for a noob question, but who exactly was this great man Mike Remedios and how did he end up on the Japanese (only?) prints?

[DragonClaws]

22 hours ago, Takuma said:

Oh and sorry for a noob question, but who exactly was this great man Mike Remedios and how did he end up on the Japanese (only?) prints?

 

 

Good question, he had his own band Hong Kong during the late 60's/early 70's. I'm not sure if he released any songs in Japan?. Before he recorded the alternative Fist of Fury score.

 

[Killer Meteor]

There's an odd trend in Japanese versions of HK films to have English songs. FEARLESS HYENA has the song "Crazy Monkey" and SPIRITUAL KUNG FU a cover of Euro-disco hit "China Girl".

[DragonClaws]

 

22 hours ago, Takuma said:

It was the standard 106 min cut unless I’m completely mistaken, and not the shorter Japanese theatrical cut (which I've never seen).

 

Has the shorter Japanese theatrical Cut ever been released on Video, DVD or VCD?. Shame this version wasn't included in the recent Blu-ray box-set from Criterion. 

[Takuma]

15 hours ago, DragonClaws said:

Has the shorter Japanese theatrical Cut ever been released on Video, DVD or VCD?. Shame this version wasn't included in the recent Blu-ray box-set from Criterion. 

The Japanese 2012 Extreme Edition BD release should include it.

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=17334#6

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B008U2H21A/

[Takuma]

I went to see The Way of the Dragon yesterday (part of the Japanese theatrical re-releases). Now, this was interesting because not only did it have the English dub with the great Mike Remedios songs, it was a slightly longer cut with about 2 minutes of new title and logo screens at the beginning and end to allow the songs to play in full.

- In the beginning there was a Japanese language title screen and a credits screen (about 1 min in total) before the standard opening credits. The theme song would play throughout the new screens and the standard opening credits.

- At the end there was a “dragon logo screen” (about 1 min) after the closing credits. Again, the song would play throughout the closing credits and the new logo screen.
 
This version of the film is not present on the Criterion or Shout BDs, which do have the Japanese theatrical audio track, but in cut form since we are missing the above mentioned footage.

Curiously, I don’t think there was a Fortune Star logo at all, unlike in the earlier films. Maybe they omitted it by accident?

I had a blast with the film, as it’s my favourite Lee film. I also took my girlfriend to see it (her first ever kung fu film!). I figured The Way of the Dragon would be the most beginner / girl friendly of Lee’s films since it’s rather humoristic, features some nice Rome scenery and if nothing else, she could rest her eyes on Chuck Norris’ hairy chest  Much to my surprise (and delight), she loved the film! “One of the best films!” I agree! 

I also couldn’t resist the temptation to put on my Sister Street Fighter t-shirt, and have her wear my Return of the Sister Street Fighter t-shirt. There’s a Japanese word that might be useful here… bakappuru. It’s a combination of the words “baka” (stupid or silly) and kappuru (couple) 

[DragonClaws]

On 8/6/2020 at 5:37 AM, Takuma said:

The Japanese 2012 Extreme Edition BD release should include it.

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=17334#6

 

Thanks @Takuma, always enjoy reading your contributions to Kung Fu Fandom Forums forums.

[Takuma]

I went to see The Way of the Dragon  again, since I love it so much. Here are corrections and additions to my previous post:

Quote

I went to see The Way of the Dragon yesterday (part of the Japanese theatrical re-releases). Now, this was interesting because not only did it have the English dub with the great Mike Remedios songs, it was a slightly longer cut with about 2 minutes of new title and logo screens at the beginning and end to allow the songs to play in full.

- In the beginning there was a Japanese language title screen and a credits screen (about 1 min in total) before the standard opening credits. The theme song would play throughout the new screens and the standard opening credits.

Actually the theme song plays only during the new title and credits screens (about 1 minute). Then the original Mandarin score plays during the standard opening credits that follow.

Quote

- At the end there was a “dragon logo screen” (about 1 min) after the closing credits. Again, the song would play throughout the closing credits and the new logo screen.

This was correct alright.

Quote

This version of the film is not present on the Criterion or Shout BDs, which do have the Japanese theatrical audio track, but in cut form since we are missing the above mentioned footage.

The Criterion / Shout version has also another change: it replaces the opening credits score with the Mike Remedios song, even though in the DCP Japanese version the Remedios song played before the credits and the credits retained the original score. Dammit.

Also, the audio quality on the BDs is inferior, with evident hiss. The DCP sounded much better. I guess I will have to buy this new Japanese version on BD if they ever put it out...

The image quality was quite nice as well. Some (only a few) shots had some blue tint whereas the same scenes have a greenish tint on the Criterion. Shout probably has the best image quality, but I think all three look good and considering the audio, I think the DCP had the best overall presentation.

Quote

Curiously, I don’t think there was a Fortune Star logo at all, unlike in the earlier films. Maybe they omitted it by accident?

No Fortune Star logo, but also no Toei logo. It only has Concord and Golden Harvest logos (brief still-type logos, not the usual long Golden Harvest fanfare).

Edited August 13, 2020 by Takuma

[Takuma]

I went to see Game of Death, the last one of the Japanese theatrical re-releases. Quite an awkward Frankenstein job indeed, but it does have a fantastic score, great Lee footage at the end, and a heart-warmingly exploitative touch throughout. It was certainly the right choice to make the film… just not to make it this way. Surely they could have done it with a better plot that doesn’t need the lazy Lee insert shots, and without the constant confusion about whether we are supposed to be seeing Bruce Lee or Billy Lo on the screen. And whose idea was it to make Hugh O'Brian the final opponent after Kareem Abdul Jabbar?  

The version screened was again (advertised as) a reconstruction of the Japanese theatrical cut. It had the full opening with the John Barry score over the Golden Harvest logo before the Bruce yells. However, the audio was NOT the same Japanese Theatrical track that is on the Criterion BD. This version played the Ji Han Jae fight without the John Barry score, and also had some audio issue in either the Ji Han Jae or the Dan Inosanto fight (I forgot which) where the audio source clearly changed to something inferior for about 10 seconds. There may be other differences, but I wouldn’t know since this was probably only the 3rd time I’ve ever seen the film.

A diehard Lee fan might find this version interesting (if it comes out on Japanese BD later), but the opening aside I think the above mentioned changes are to the worse, so I’ll be quite happy the US BDs. And I don't know if those changes are correct or an accident (how is the Japanese print on the Shout disc? Barry in the Ji Han Jae fight?).

Anyway, I must say I had a blast with this “Bruce Lee 4K Revival Festival”, going to cinema every week for 4 weeks. The local (4 screen) theatre also honoured Lee by putting all the films on their biggest screen and having the original Japanese posters on display. I’d say this was the coolest thing to hit mainstream multiplexes in Japan since Nikkatsu’s Roman Porno reboot.

[DragonClaws]

 

Great work @Takuma, I really enjoyed reading your reviews and comments regarding the 2020 4K Bruce Lee Festival in Japan.

 

Will you be picking up this release?, and does this set include BL:The Man & The Legend(1973)?.

 

 

 

[Takuma]

4 hours ago, DragonClaws said:

 

Great work @Takuma, I really enjoyed reading your reviews and comments regarding the 2020 4K Bruce Lee Festival in Japan.

Will you be picking up this release?, and does this set include BL:The Man & The Legend(1973)?.

Thanks.

No, it's too expensive for me even though I'd love to have the JP EN audio tracks. Well, I might pick up The Way of the Dragon if they do a stand alone release later. And hell, Fist of Fury if I suddenly got rich. But for Boss and Death my Criterions shall do.

I don't think Man/Legend is included. Those extra discs (in addition to the four 4K discs) are the same BD discs released in Japan before.

[DragonClaws]

On 11/5/2020 at 7:26 AM, Takuma said:

No, it's too expensive for me even though I'd love to have the JP EN audio tracks. Well, I might pick up The Way of the Dragon if they do a stand alone release later. And hell, Fist of Fury if I suddenly got rich. But for Boss and Death my Criterions shall do.

 

I'm sure there will be some stand alone releases in the future, Japan is still a big market for his films. The recent 4K Theatrical re-issues are proof of this, how many other countries have done the same kind of tribute in recent year's?.

[BillyLo]

On 11/5/2020 at 11:06 AM, DragonClaws said:

 

Great work @Takuma, I really enjoyed reading your reviews and comments regarding the 2020 4K Bruce Lee Festival in Japan.

 

Will you be picking up this release?, and does this set include BL:The Man & The Legend(1973)?.

 

 

 

I don't even have a 4K player, so this set wouldn't be of much use to me. It would be interesting to see how the picture quality compares with the Criterion discs though. Are the Japanese prints going to be made available with new scans? From what I can see, it's cheaper to buy this box than all of the individual Japanese Extreme Blu-ray releases.

[BillyLo]

On 6/3/2020 at 1:14 PM, Takuma said:

Japan is getting a "Bruce Lee 4K Revival Festival" that will tour the country this summer. It's been booked to 36 theatres already.

The films are The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Game of Death.

4K DCP and blah blah, but what is interesting is that they will be the original Japanese theatrical release versions. They are all listed as being in English.

Of course I'd much rather see these in 35mm, but I'll go see these anyway.

http://brucelee4k.com/

 

You're so lucky that you had the opportunity to watch these films on the big screen. I much prefer the Japanese versions of Way of the Dragon and Game of Death. Haven't watched Fist of Fury yet. What did they remove in order to get a shorter running time?

[Takuma]

7 hours ago, BillyLo said:

You're so lucky that you had the opportunity to watch these films on the big screen. I much prefer the Japanese versions of Way of the Dragon and Game of Death. Haven't watched Fist of Fury yet. What did they remove in order to get a shorter running time?

That's the thing. Instead of the shorter Japanese cut, they actually showed the full Hong Kong cut of Fist of Fury. It did have the English audio and songs inserted, but I think the audio was created combining more than one source. So I still don't know how the shorter cut is supposed to play in terms of cuts since I've never seen it. It's included on the Japanese BD, I believe.

Does Game of Death feature any other differences than the full opening, battle cries and some music changes?

 

7 hours ago, BillyLo said:

I don't even have a 4K player, so this set wouldn't be of much use to me. It would be interesting to see how the picture quality compares with the Criterion discs though. Are the Japanese prints going to be made available with new scans? From what I can see, it's cheaper to buy this box than all of the individual Japanese Extreme Blu-ray releases.

The 4K DCPs did NOT have the new colour correction, so I think it's safe to say the new UHD discs will be the same. They are the Fortune Star masters. Boss and Fist clearly looked inferior to the Shout and Criterion versions. I think Way looked inferior too, but it didn't look all that bad. In fact, I was wondering if it was a Fortune Star master at all since it didn't have the FS logo or copyright displayed at the beginning or end. Anyway, I'd be happy with the Way master if I can get the JP English audio and full version of the film in exchange.

Oh, and I should note that the Standard BDs that are included in the 4K set are the same old BDs that were released years ago. Only the 4K discs have the new masters.

[DragonClaws]

21 hours ago, BillyLo said:

I don't even have a 4K player, so this set wouldn't be of much use to me.

 

I'm the same, still catching up with Blu-Ray releases, I might one day invest in a 4K player if I can.

 

 

[BillyLo]

20 hours ago, Takuma said:

So I still don't know how the shorter cut is supposed to play in terms of cuts since I've never seen it. It's included on the Japanese BD, I believe.

I’ve just ordered the Japanese Blu-rays (found some second hand - they’re too expensive to buy brand new), so I’ll be able to check out the differences for myself. 

 

20 hours ago, Takuma said:

Does Game of Death feature any other differences than the full opening, battle cries and some music changes?

The differences are very minor from what I remember. The Japanese version uses Bruce Lee’s actual battle cries alongside the English dub. The rest of the music is identical with the exception of the fight scene with Ji Han Jae. Instead, we get the additional dialogue that was used in the original Hong Kong version with some alternative footage showing Bruce make his way to the staircase. The editing is smoother than in the international cut and it’s surprising that they didn’t use this for the international cut instead. The music that plays over this sequence is absent in the Japanese print.

 

20 hours ago, Takuma said:

Anyway, I'd be happy with the Way master if I can get the JP English audio and full version of the film in exchange.

It’s available on the Japanese Ultimate edition re-release only, not the older release. I’m curious whether the 4K discs have new scans of the Japanese prints or whether it’s just for the Golden Harvest versions. I guess someone will be able to confirm it. I’m not sure whether I can justify buying the box set since I don’t have a 4K player and I’ve just ordered the older Blu-rays like I said. I wish Criterion would have released more versions of Bruce’s films. It was great getting the theatrical cut of Enter the Dragon but they failed to make it a “definitive” Bruce Lee set. More than anything, I want to see a Blu-ray of the original Hong Kong version with Ji Han Jae fight in the middle. Surely someone has a 35mm print out there!

[DragonClaws]

16 hours ago, BillyLo said:

I’ve just ordered the Japanese Blu-rays (found some second hand - they’re too expensive to buy brand new), so I’ll be able to check out the differences for myself. 

 

Look forward to reading your comments on the differences, between the Japanese theatrical cuts and the regular prints.

[BillyLo]

The Japanese disc of Fist of Fury finally arrived. It appears the only reason for the shorter time is because of some jump cuts due to print damage. The striptease scene is cut entirely, so I’m guessing that was the work of the Japanese censors.

[Takuma]

 

Here in Japan Lee's Golden Harvest films are having a nationwide theatrical re-release... again.
https://wblc.jp/

The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon and Game of Death also had a full theatrical run three years ago when it was 80 years from Lee’s birth. They were DCP reconstructions of the Japanese versions of the films (English dubs, Mike Remedios theme songs, Lee's battle cries inserted from Mandarin prints, and extended version of The Way of the Dragon) though not entirely authentic as there were numerous “errors” like computer generated text screens in The Way of the Dragon. They also lacked colour correction as they used the Fortune Star 4K masters. I saw them all in theatre back then (and “Way” twice because it’s so damn good)

I assume what’s in theatres now are the same DCPs, except they’ve added Tower of Death to the line-up. I went to see it today as it was advertised as the Japanese Version of the film. This was quite an unexpected presentation. The first 40 minutes (till the funeral scene) and last 40 minutes (roughly from when our hero goes on a rampage) were clearly scanned from a dirty and somewhat faded Japanese 35mm print, complete with Japanese side-titles. In between them was roughly 20 minutes of SD upscale footage from a completely different digital source. I don’t know why it was so. Missing / damaged reel perhaps?

The running time was listed at 100 min, which is probably accurate. I briefly checked my Criterion BD which is the 96 min International Version and looks more or less the same content wise as the Japanese Version. However, the Japanese version comes with a different soundtrack with songs by Brute East Family used throughout the film, and much longer end credits that run 5-6 min with two English language songs.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8MKxCrfHP8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWcynb6k5rY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh_a6n6Vfu8

The ending credits are the same as this, but with different music:

Unfortunately I don’t know what else is different in this Japanese version, if anything.

I’ll be receiving my Arrow UHD set tomorrow, but it doesn’t seem like it includes the Japanese Version of Tower of Death. In fact, I’m not sure if it has been released in BD or DVD anywhere in the world, including Japan.

[PandaPawPaw]

WBLC World Bruce Lee Classic sounds like a boxing/martial arts tournament.

[saltysam]

Those VHS end credits are an extra on the Arrow set