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UK Deluxe Edition - 4K UHD Blu-ray with four versions 
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Comparison between the Asian alternative version aka “Extended Cut” and the Hybrid Cut (HD), both included on the British 4K Blu-ray from 88 Films
- 15 differences A few more master errors with a duration of < 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report.
Version chaos for DRAGON LORD by/with Jackie ChanThe version history of Jackie Chan's Dragon Lord, released in 1982, is complex, and the extensive report between the international theatrical version and the Asian alternative version goes into depth here. There is conflicting information about the origin of this “alternative version”: it probably has something to do with the somewhat chaotic production circumstances, as Jackie had just become a star and was still fresh out of his previous contract with Lo Wei. However, he somewhat overused the generous financial resources and freedoms provided by the new studio Golden Harvest, and immediately before the delayed theatrical release, it was obvious that last-minute changes had been made. The “alternative version,” which has been included on DVD first in Hong Kong and then on various releases worldwide, shows that the scene structure (especially at the beginning/end) differs massively and that there is a lot of exclusive material to be found - both here and in the more commonly known international version. Since the “alternative version” is actually slightly longer at 103 minutes, it is also referred to as the “extended cut.” However, it is probably more of a “preliminary version/workprint” before it was re-edited and adapted for theatrical release in Hong Kong and internationally. At some point later, this version was probably restored from the archives and, at least for a short time in the DVD era, basically replaced the “international theatrical version.” As was often the case, some export regions were once again given special treatment. In Germany and the UK, for example, a 5-minute shorter export version based on the “international theatrical version” was released. Years later, Dimension/Miramax in the US created their own cut based on the “international theatrical version.” In Scandinavia, things got even more exotic on Blu-ray, because the only version available on VHS with English audio was the aforementioned export version, but in HD, only the alternative version was available at that time, so they frantically removed material from it to somehow Frankenstein-like adjust the audio. But the last two versions are only of marginal importance: what is important, in any case, is primarily the “international theatrical version” and the “Asian alternative version,” as well as, more distantly, for those interested in English- and German-speaking countries, the “export version.”
British 4K set with 3 main versions in UHD and new “hybrid cut” in HDIn Germany in 2014 (as SD upscales) and in the UK in 2020 (true HD), both the “international theatrical version” and the “Asian alternative version” were released on Blu-ray. Since February 23, 2026, 88 Films in the UK has now moved on to the next medium and released the worldwide 4K premiere with newly created restorations. Lots of bonus material, including several essays in the booklet (also a text detailing the history of the versions by Thorsten Boose, who contacted us in advance for input on some details). In terms of versions, the British label has gone one step further than any previous worldwide releases. On the one hand, the slightly shorter “export version” is now also included as a third option. All three versions are available in 4K. On the other hand, as with Righting Wrongs and Millionaires' Express, for example, they have also taken the opportunity to offer a 111-minute longer “hybrid cut” that combines the exclusive material from the two main versions. After it initially sounded as if this version would also be available in 4K and for the first time ever, we have to correct that slightly: Unfortunately, it is “only” an HD bonus and, curiously, it is still based on the previous HD image masters that were released on the 2020 Blu-ray from 88 Films and the set “The Jackie Chan Collection Vol. 1” released in 2023 in the US by Shout. And it was on this US set that the very same hybrid cut of Dragon Lord could already be found, inconspicuously hidden as a hidden Easter egg on Disc 1 (next to Killer Meteors). Either way, it's exciting for fans. Since the Asian alternative version contains many more individual additional scenes, we have also compared it with this version for the sake of simplicity. The “hybrid cut” largely follows this editing sequence, expanded even more by the mostly longer scenes that were exclusively shown in the international theatrical version. However, in the case of one very significant difference between the two edited versions (the pyramid game that occurs either at the beginning or end), the scene sequence of the international theatrical version was used as a guide, so that the film starts with this and the credits also appear here. In addition, a few scenes where the versions briefly diverge or where credits appear over the exclusive scenes from the Asian alternative version, which would be out of place in the other scene sequence, caused a few further deviations.
Running times are listed according to the following scheme The Asian alternative version, aka “Extended Cut,” has 1 second more black screen at the beginning.
Re-ordered scene 00:55 resp. 90:33-101:55 / 00:54-12:19 The hybrid cut starts (like the international version) with the pyramid game - except that here, almost all of the additional moments in the Asian alternative version, aka the extended cut, are now also included. However, the following passages still differ slightly: Exclusive material in Extended Cut
90:43-90:52 / 01:04 Cowboy comes running up to the guys and Dragon wants to know where Uncle Wang is. Cowboy replies that he is with the officers and that they will meet later. + 8.5 sec
Exclusive material in Extended Cut 91:03 / 01:16 Here, again, the hybrid cut shows the longer take of the boys from the extended cut, in which they sing a song, or rather the entire one-minute scene from there. However, this meant that the last shot immediately before it in the extended image master was insignificantly longer. While such small snippets were taken into account frame by frame in the rest of the film, this seems to have been overlooked here. + 0.3 sec
Hence, exclusive material from the international version is missing, because there the boys walk towards the camera in an alternative take without singing.
Alternative / Exclusive material in the extended cut 91:53-91:56 / 02:05-02:08 The shot of the pyramid (or “bun mountain”) from a distance, which follows directly after this take of the guys in the international version, was again added to the hybrid cut for the scene change. Strangely enough, however, the beginning of the subsequent shot of the gift table starts a bit later. Extended 0.3 sec longer
Shortly thereafter, only the hybrid cut (as well as the international version) has credits over otherwise identical footage.
97:28 / 07:40-07:44 The next scene with some alternative shot has been cleverly connected to show both exclusive parts of the scene. First, we see the scene in which Dragon rescues two children, which only appeared in the Extended Cut. Then, the scuffle that only appeared in the International Cut is inserted. 4.4 sec
97:32 / 07:48-07:54 An additional shot in which the ball is thrown back and forth. 5.6 sec
100:09 / 10:31-10:36 A slow-motion shot in which two players fly through the air and Dragon catches one of them. 5.2 sec
Speed change 101:30 / 11:58 When Dragon catches the ball, the Hybrid Cut (like the international version) switches to slow motion for a brief moment in the middle, while the Extended Cut runs at normal speed. 0.5 sec
Exclusive material in the Extended Cut 00:55-01:02 / 12:19 In the alternative version, the scene begins with a pan from further to the right over the rooftops. Here, credits appear, which would no longer have fit with the other sequence at the start of the Hybrid/International Cut, so this shot is missing entirely. + 7 sec
The rest of the camera pan was included in the international version, so it could also be used in the Hybrid Cut without the credits:
Exclusive material in Extended Cut 01:07-01:14 / 12:24 Shot of Dragon's buddy holding guard, where the title appears in the extended version – so this could not be replaced either. Jackie's follow-up shot also starts a little earlier. + 6.4 sec
Even after that, only in the Extended Cut are there further credits:
Here are a few more impressions from the other image master, because the Hybrid Cut (as mentioned in the intro) uses the older HD scans from 2020 throughout.
19:19 / 30:29-30:30 Dragon adjusts his shoe with the cheat sheet in a brief close-up. 1.5 sec
31:24 / 42:35-45:17 After Dragon shoots a hole in Cowboy's roof, there is an additional scene with the bandits in the international version, which was added in the hybrid cut. This means that Tiger's departure from the gang is introduced very differently in the two versions. Here we see Tiger packing his things. One of the men says that he should sell the art treasures first. Tiger refuses, saying that he is not interested in that kind of money. The men agree, saying that the treasures belong to the Chinese people and that they do not want to sell them either. The right-hand man comes in and wants to clarify a few things, adding that they have been robbed. They actually find a box in Tiger's corner, but it is obviously a setup. After a short discussion, a fight breaks out outside, in which Tiger is at least partially supported by the men, but which the boss ultimately declares over – if Tiger returns the rest of the allegedly stolen antiques. Tiger then throws a spear, which lands close to the boss's head, and jumps over the wall. 162.2 sec (= 2:42 min)
Exclusive material in Extended Cut 31:24-31:26 / 45:17 The start of the following dialogue in the courtyard begins a little earlier. This small section was also missing from the International Cut. This moment does not actually cause a continuity error; it was probably just overlooked when putting together the Hybrid Cut. + 1.8 sec
35:32 / 49:24-51:31 After the pheasant hunt and the first encounter with Tiger and the boss, the international version included a scene with Dragon and his entourage unsuccessfully searching for the girls. They stand in front of the gate behind which the girls are hiding and want Dragon to meet his crush. However, the girls are a little uncooperative and greet Dragon's two companions by throwing tomatoes in their faces and pouring water over their heads. Dragon finds the whole thing a little uncomfortable anyway, so he tries to mediate. But the other two are now in a rowdy mood and are soon chased away. The trio stops briefly at the wall to discuss what to do, when suddenly the girls appear above them and throw a few more eggs. This is when Dragon gets hit for the first time, and the boys finally admit defeat, although Dragon's friends continue to blame each other. 127.5 sec (= 2:42 min)
Alternatively / Exclusive material in Extended Cut 69:11-69:13 / 85:11-85:12 In the International Cut, for better clarity, there is a close-up of the chopstick that corresponds to Dragon before she announces the result. This was also implemented in the Hybrid Cut, while the Extended Cut starts earlier with the following shot. Hybrid Cut 0.1 sec longer
90:33 / 106:32-109:26 While in the alternative version, as mentioned at the beginning, the rugby pyramid scene (“bun mountain”) follows the fight as the actual finale, in the international version AND the hybrid cut there is a cross-fade: We get to see a completely different final scene with more mischief from Dragon and Cowboy. Dragon and Cowboy's fathers meet. The former thanks the latter for his good work in arresting the bandits, but Cowboy's father says that this is mainly thanks to Dragon. After a few words about the otherwise naughty Dragon, his father wonders where he is at the moment. Then we see Cowboy and Dragon in the yard, up to their usual mischief, experimenting with fireworks. Dragon wants to blow up an old jug, and Cowboy resists at first, but then lets himself be persuaded. Even Dragon's confession that he stole Cowboy's father's porcelain quickly loses its interest. Ultimately, he wants to show Dragon something special. The two fathers now come home. Cowboy has brought out an old cannon barrel and is explaining to Dragon how it works. When the fathers come in and find the two boys, the ball is in the barrel and the boys are waving candles around. They insist that everything is under control, but behind their backs, Dragon's candle finds its target. The fathers run away behind a wall, while Dragon and Cowboy try unsuccessfully to blow out the fuse. Of course, a shot is fired and the wall does not protect the two fathers - completely covered in dust, they return angrily, Dragon and Cowboy apologize with banners and then run away. The credits begin with a freeze frame of this scene, and the following outtakes are then synchronized with those that appear in the extended version after the pyramid scene that concludes the film. 173.4 sec (= 2:53 min)
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