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Region 4 Winners and Losers

Region 4 Winners and Losers

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Explanatory Notes
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Title Best
Fist of Fury (Jing wu men): Special Collectors EditionR3

    This transfer seems to be the same as that on Hong Kong Legends UK Region 2 release, and overall seems to differ only by the inclusion of different trailers for other releases. It is also available in a box set with The Big Boss, Way of the Dragon and Game of Death. This set also has a bonus extras disc and a hardback book

    There has been a previous Region 4 release from Avenue One. While in the original aspect ratio, this release was not 16x9 enhanced and had an English-dubbed soundtrack only. One to avoid I think.

    A release from Mega Star in Region 3 is the source of the audio commentary by Bey Logan included on this release. This release also includes footage shot for Game of Death which was not included in the eventual film. This transfer is also in 2.35:1 but not 16x9 enhanced. A Mandarin surround track is also included.

    Mega Star also released a slightly different package which appears to be no longer available. This had a DTS Cantonese soundtrack, a second audio commentary by Donnie Yen (but in Cantonese without English subtitles), a set of miniature nunchakus, and a bonus VCD with music videos and clips from other Bruce Lee films. Again this release was not 16x9 enhanced.

    Saerom Entertainment in Korea have released an All Region disc with a DTS Cantonese soundtrack but again no 16x9 enhancement and merely a trailer as an extra.

    The US Region 1 comes from Fox, with the original 2.35:1 presented with 16x9 enhancement. The soundtrack is the English Dolby Digital 2.0 dubbed version. This release is also available in a box set with three other Lee films.

    The definitive Hong Kong Region 3 release comes from IVL but is only available in a seven-disc box set with all of Lee's kung fu films, including the two put together after his death (Game of Death and Game of Death 2). The seventh disc in this set contains a number of extras. The film itself has five audio tracks: DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 in both Cantonese and Mandarin, and Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 mono. There are two drawbacks to this release when compared with the Region 2. Firstly, the opening titles in Chinese and English that set up the story are missing, and secondly some new sound effects have been added to the surround mixes. This Foley tampering has also blighted some of the Shaw Brothers remasters coming out of Region 3.

    The Region 3 has one major advantage over the Region 2, and that is the picture quality. Compared to the Region 3, the Region 2 has a slightly less detailed image as well as a less realistic colour transfer, as evidenced by screen caps I have seen. The Region 4 appears to have the same reddish transfer as the Region 2, so it would have the same issues.

    On the other hand, the Region 4 has much the better extras, so one's choice here will be governed by whether picture quality or overall package quality is more important. Also price, as the IVL release is only available in a seven disc set. I doubt whether too many people will be disappointed in the picture quality on the Region 4.