|
buy this title
Jackie Chans Breakout Hits! 4K UHD box |
In the UK (June 29, 2026) and the U.S. (June 30, 2026), Arrow Video released the set “Jackie Chan's Breakout Hits!”, which features the worldwide 4K premieres of six films starring the action legend, all made around the time of his international breakthrough in the 1990s. Once again, this is an absolutely must-have box set from the collector’s label, which also includes all different cuts of each movie (the original Asian versions, in particular, were of course highly sought after by fans in the past) and plenty of new bonus material. In our news article (German), we broke down in more detail what this means for each film, and the updated report for Drunken Master II already provided a first impression. Rumble in the Bronx is arguably the title in the box set most eagerly sought after by fans, since this blockbuster has not even been released on Blu-ray worldwide in the original Hong Kong version, which is about 20 minutes longer. The soundtrack differs significantly from the international version, and the DVDs released by Warner in Japan have likely been sitting on the shelves of most interested fans until now. Included here is the original “mixed audio track” with on-set sound, in which American and Chinese actors mostly speak in their respective languages. In Asia, two additional audio variations were also in circulation: The DVDs from Taiwan featured a virtually continuous Mandarin dub, and on the (slightly censored) VCD from Malaysia released by Speedy, a few characters were dubbed in Cantonese. Arrow now offers the two main versions on separate discs. A look at the bonus material is particularly exciting, because on the first disc you’ll find “Alternate Footage” - which actually refers to the material previously available in Malaysia - where Angelo insults Keung in various takes. The limited amount of exclusive material found in the international version has also been bundled here. On the second disc, you’ll find the two scenes that were reinserted from the Hong Kong version for the American TV cut and for which English dubbing was therefore provided exclusively here. Our detailed comparison reveals, however, that both scenes were still significantly edited - and that is only the tip of the iceberg, as a separate comparison with the U.S. TV version shows, which was censored in numerous small or curious places. Of course, this is merely a kind of special report, as we’re not comparing a complete version - though we do begin by presenting the (unspectacular) results of an actual full comparison with the best release to date of the uncut version on the Japanese DVD. Nevertheless, the censorship-related alternate footage from Malaysia is certainly worth documenting here, and above all, it once again offers a good insight into how wonderfully meticulous Arrow Video is (similar to, for example, the Bruce Lee Box or the Dollar Trilogy) in preserving every exotic detail in their releases. Regarding the Japanese DVD, it should be noted that the new Arrow restoration now reveals more visual detail on the sides. This is a clear advantage right from the opening credits, as several text overlays on the old DVD were noticeably cropped.
JP-DVD 45:04 / Arrow HK Cut 45:05 Minor master error on the Japanese DVD: The gang chases after Keung for a moment longer, and in these still frames, their heads are no longer visible at the top of the screen. 0.4 sec
Otherwise, there is (unsurprisingly) no difference whatsoever between the versions. On Disc 1 (HK Cut), the bonus features also include an alternate take of the “Kiss my ass” scene. This appears (as with all subsequent timecode references: based on the Hong Kong version from Arrow Video) at... 45:34–45:37 When Angelo Keung sticks out his butt, the Malaysian version features an alternate take in which he keeps his pants on. No time difference (2.5 sec)
45:41–45:42 After a reaction shot of Keung, here is the eponymous moment when “Kiss my ass!” is said. No time difference (1.6 sec)
45:45–45:48 The exposed buttocks remain visible as Keung attacks. No time difference (3.7 sec)
45:51–45:53 A rude hand gesture by Keung has been completely removed here. The follow-up shot of the bad guys running off also starts a moment earlier. 1.8 sec
Note: Incidentally, in the U.S. TV cut, the scene was heavily edited (without the alternate footage as a replacement) to remove all shots of the buttocks and, of course, the rude hand gesture. As is well known, both tend to be viewed more critically there than scenes of extreme violence. On Disc 1, which features the Hong Kong Cut, a clip less than a minute long also compiles three instances where the international version is longer. Using timecodes for Arrow’s Hong Kong version, this breaks down as follows: 46:39 The gangsters’ car pulls up in an additional shot. 2 sec
61:49 After a chase shot from above inside the club, only the international version includes a scene in which Keung and Nancy make their escape. Nancy knocks over all the motorcycles with a single kick. 23.5 sec
86:51 Before the phone is handed over, a shot of “White Tiger” playing golf is missing. 6.5 sec
The outtakes credits are also available in the bonus material without on-screen text. Incidentally, this is the case for all films in the box set.
For comparison, here’s how this looks in the two film versions.
Disc 2, featuring the international version, includes a 5-minute featurette that bundles two scenes that were actually removed from the HK Cut for international release but were reinserted in the U.S. TV version and were therefore only available there with English dubbing. Arrow has reconstructed these in 4K, including the edits, since both scenes were incomplete compared to the Hong Kong version. As mentioned, more on this later in a separate report on the complete U.S. TV version (not included in the box set). The first scene is Bill’s wedding, specifically, him singing with his wife, at the 17-minute mark of the HK Cut. While this scene is still shortened by nearly half in the US TV version, the cuts are made through several small edits rather than having the scene completely removed, as in the international version. As such, the scene is still easy to follow. 17:17–17:19 vs. 00:08 in the bonus clip At the end of the shot, Keung says something else to Elaine. Although this cut is part of the clip in the bonus material, it is in fact “only” part of the international version. This last shot before the actual scene was already shortened there. 1.5 sec
17:23–17:25 vs. 00:13 in the bonus clip Another shot from the crowd. 1.7 sec
17:32–17:39 vs. 00:20 in the bonus clip The singing is slightly longer. 7.4 sec
17:42–18:01 vs. 00:23 in the bonus clip Additional vocal shots were trimmed. 18.4 sec
18:09 vs. 00:31 in the bonus clip Minor trim. 0.5 sec 6:12–6:21 vs. 00:34 in the bonus clip The next shot begins significantly earlier. 9.4 sec
18:33–18:35 vs. 00:46 in the bonus clip The final shot of the scene is also slightly longer. 0.7 sec The second scene begins in the HK Cut at 36:06: Keung is talking to Elaine in the store, and the gang is causing trouble again. Unlike the first scene, this one remained almost unedited, with only a few minor cuts toward the end. 38:21–38:28 vs. 03:19 in the bonus clip There was also some censorship within the scene: Elaine is snapped at a bit more directly by the guy with long hair. 6.9 sec
39:32–39:35 vs. 04:24 in the bonus clip And one more: Elaine gets slapped. Keung briefly scolds the gangsters; they look unimpressed. 3.1 sec
40:28–40:39 vs. 05:17 in the bonus clip At the end of the scene, her colleague helps the battered Elaine to her feet. 10.5 sec
|
