Written by: Michael Den Boer on December 23rd, 2005
Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, March 23rd, 1978
Director: Robert Clouse
Writers: Bruce Lee, Jan Spears
Cast: Tai Chung Kim, Colleen Camp, Dean Jagger, Gig Young, Bruce Lee
| DVD released: | 2004 | 2005 |
| Approximate running time: | 100m04s | 100m06s |
| Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Rating: | NR | R |
| Sound: | DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 English | DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo English |
| DVD Release: | Spectrum | Fox |
| Region Coding: | Region 3 NTSC (Korea) | Region 1 NTSC |
| Retail Price: | OOP | $49.98 |
Spectrum’s Region 3 DVD
There is a syndicate that is blackmailing celebrities with the threat of losing their lives if they don’t give the syndicate part of their action. Billy Lo is their latest victim and they have also been harassing Lo’s girlfriend Ann Morris who happens to be a singer. When Lo refuse to cooperate the mob hire a hit man to kill him and when the hit fails Lo fakes his death as he plans his revenge.
Both DVD releases present Game of Death in an anamorphic widescreen that preserves the films original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Image wise they look nearly identical in quality with nicely saturated colors and solid black levels. There is a difference in quality that is noticeable in both releases when Bruce Lee footage that was not shot for this film is integrated with the newly shot footage. Both releases are dual layer and unfortunately both are also interlaced instead of being set for progressive scan. Overall both releases are on par with each other transfer wise.
Spectrum’s release comes with the following audio options Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS tracks that both are in the films original English language. The dialog at times sounds muffled and there is some minor hiss and distortion present through out. Fox’s release comes with the following audio options DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo English. Overall this release of Game of Death is free of any hiss or distortion that is noticeable in the Spectrum release. Both releases come with English subtitles that are easy to read and follow.
Spectrum release comes with the following extras trailers for Big Boss, Fist of Fury and Way of the Dragon as well as the Game of Death’s original trailer and a newly created trailer for this release. Other extras include Bruce Lee stills photo album and Bruce Lee photo slide show. Rounding out the extras is eleven minutes of unseen outtakes from Bruce Lee’s Game of Death footage. Fox release comes with exactly the same extras with the only new extras for their release consisting of trailers for Fox’s other martial arts releases.
Overall despite being interlaced both releases are pretty good and they are about on par with each other. The bad news is that the film is not that good in fact it is horrible.