Comparison between the British UHD Blu-ray by Arrow Video (= reconstructed original international version) and the Chinese Version (= Version from Fortune Star, verified/identical to the Japanese and American Blu-ray)

• 2 Differences
• Difference: 166.8 seconds (= 2 minutes, 47 seconds) [excluding logos]

In the British 4K UHD box set "BRUCE LEE AT GOLDEN HARVEST" by Arrow Video, we've already summarized the essential details in the report for the Mandarin Cut of the first film THE BIG BOSS and in the report for FINAL GAME OF DEATH. It's practically a must-buy for die-hard fans, especially due to these two significant alternate versions.

As we mentioned in the aforementioned report about the reconstructed original material, the infamous title exists in several versions. Besides the international standard version, there's some alternate material to discover in the Japanese version, and three significantly shorter, Asian alternative versions are also available on disc 2. In the course of comparing the reconstructions, we noticed a little something in the finale of the international "main version" on the Arrow disc, which we've looked into in more detail in the following report.

In the fight between Bruce and Ji Han-jae, which was even completely missing in many early releases or just like in Japan or the Asia alternative versions had small differences, the Arrow version has 2x short alternative material compared to the version that was released on quite a few DVDs (e.g. the British HKL DVD) and Blu-rays (e.g. the German version). What these DVDs/Blu-rays had in common was that Fortune Star was behind them as licensor. In fact, it was confirmed to us from label contacts that the Arrow specifically looked back at earlier releases (e.g. the American VHS/Laserdisc/DVD first edition) before Fortune Star's re-edits. Here, the same two snippets of alternate material could also be discovered. For the Arrow version they were taken from the newly restored 1972 original material. The first credit for Raymond Chow in the opening credits, which got lost over the years, was also reconstructed in the process.

Already in the report for Final Game of Death there were so many different reconstructions of the original material that a numbered listing made sense. Here now is such an overview for the film versions as well:

1. International Original Version - 101:02 min (Arrow Video, main film on disc 1).
Was included on e.g. the US DVD first edition ("Master Collection"), laserdisc and VHS. Has been remastered by Arrow Video.
Often further censored on VHS on this basis, such as on the UK VHS or the German DVD.

2. International version of Fortune Star - 100:20 min (German Blu-ray from Universum).
Two minor differences in the fight between Bruce and Ji Han-jae. Already included on HKL's UK DVD and the US DVD reissue in the "Ultimate Collection", also on e.g. the Blu-rays in Germany, USA, France and Japan.

3. Japanese version - 99:51 min (Arrow Video, bonus on disc 1).
In principle very close to the two international versions, but with further/own deviations in the fight between Bruce and Ji.

4. Chinese version (= Singapore theatrical release) - 89:35 min (Arrow Video, main feature on disc 2).
Shortened by almost 20 minutes for the Asian release, including the complete fight between Bruce and Ji. At the same time, though, there are just under 9 minutes of additional material included here, most famously the greenhouse fight with Casanova Wong. This version has an alternate ending where Bruce is arrested. Was included, for example, on the old Hong Kong DVDs of Megastar and Universe or as a bonus on the Japanese DVD, each in PAL speed. In the case of Arrow, it forms the "main film" of the bonus disc, which is in HD throughout.

5. Cantonese version (= Hong Kong theatrical release) - 92:22 min (Arrow Video, bonus on disc 2).
Similar in principle to #4, but the fight between Bruce and Ji has been reinserted here in the first half of the film, again changing it a bit. Before that there is a small scene that can exclusively be seen here. In addition, one finds yet again another alternative ending, in which Bruce flees with the ship into the freedom.

6. Mandarin version (= Taiwan theatrical release) - 90:11 min (Arrow Video, bonus on disc 2).
Basically similar to #4, but with the same ship/freedom ending as #5. The fight between Bruce and Ji has been reinstated in the correct place in the finale, but actually another time with a few minor differences. Also, the previous fight against Dan Inosanto is heavily censored in nunchaku shots.

Running time information is arranged according to the scheme
Arrow Video UHD Blu-ray in 23,976fps / German Blu-ray in 23,976fps