No, you aren't dreaming, Brentwood actually did release a DVD set dedicated to the one of the unsung heroes of Bruceploitation...DRAGON LEE! Of course, given the video quality of these discs, it seems more like a nightmare. After months of searching I was finally able to locate this set. Let's get this over with quick.
Picture quality
All films are digitally remastered and presented widescreen...KEEP DREAMING! The sources for all four movies appear to be VHS tapes. And you know what that means. Scratches galore, poor panning and scanning (if any) and humans depicted in colors they ain't supposed to be (unless they are playing an alien). The CHAMP VS. CHAMP disc appears to be exact same transfer as the Platinum Disc. GOLDEN DRAGON, SILVER SNAKE is the worst of the lot. Believe it or not, everyone in that movie is orange!
Sound quality
Ok, this is where the set gets really high points from me. The sound is just what you would expect (Dubbed, Mono 2.0) but GOLDEN DRAGON, SILVER SNAKE contains a bit extra. At the end of each reel (every ten minutes), a dubbing technician's voice comes on the soundtrack indicating the end of the reel. I AM NOT KIDDING! No doubt the folks at Brentwood didn't check their master source past the 10-minute mark. This takes the top prize for DVD foible of all time.
The Films
Champ Against Chimp - does that say chimp? Oh, sorry, I meant CHAMP AGAINST CHAMP. This one is probably the best of the bunch with Dragon Lee kicking major ass with a metal leg. This is the most reviewed film on this site (3 times!) so check out the reviews in Dragon Lee's section located here.
Rage of the Dragon (aka Mission for the Dragon) - This film costars Carter Wong as a somewhat blind man. The highly convoluted plot centers around a stolen horse sculpture (yup, the exact same plot as A BRADY BUNCH SEQUEL). Dragon Lee comes to town searching for his missing father who was last seen being called out at midnight to evaluate the now missing antique. Everything is missing including logic in the plot! Wong is supposed to be sensitive to light, but walks around in broad daylight sometimes without his glasses. Huh? The best bits have Dragon Lee being randomly attacked by a masked man who always reveals himself to be Lee's teacher. Of course, each time he unmasks himself, Lee is shocked. All of the fight scenes are well done but there is some awful comedy supplied by a guy with what appears to be a big prune on his nose (is it a wart?) The final fight between Lee and Wong is pretty good as well.
Dragon on Fire (aka Dragon, the Hero) - I was a bit disappointed by this one. Not that it is a bad movie, it is pretty cool, but Dragon Lee is only a supporting player in this one. There is a great scene though where he displays his nunchuck abilities and then forces his opponents to crawl between his legs. Definitely worth watching for John Liu (the film's real lead) and some of his fights. You can read Chris Redman's more in depth review here, oops sorry I mean here.
Golden Dragon, Silver Snake - This one is the only contemporary (well, late 70s) set movie in the package and it is quite a change of pace. Seeing Lee in bellbottoms rather than a snug karate outfit took some getting used to. If you can get past the aforementioned sound problems, this one is a lot of fun. Lee plays a dimwitted (or is he?) cook who arrives in town searching for his brother's killers while taking on the local mob. Lee really reminded me of Jackie Chan in this one, busting out some inventive bits in the kitchen. Also, the end fight scene takes place at an empty water park and has some creative choreography. If anything this film will go down in history as having one of the funniest lines I have ever heard. Lee comes across a guy in a wheelchair (or is he?) who states, "I am just a blind cripple. They only keep me here to look after the garden."
Packaging
Brentwood houses the DVDs in one of those nice dual DVD holders that opens on both ends. Yes, that does mean you only get two discs total (they are double sided discs). The front and back contain stills of Dragon Lee from some movie not included in this set.
RATINGS
Films 8/10
Picture Quality 2/10
Sound Quality 2/10
Packaging 7/10
Overall Disc Score 4.5/10
Man, when this set was first announced over the summer, I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait for it. As each day passed, my hopes grew higher and higher. But, in the end, all I got was the same old stuff (poor transfers, horrible dubbing) just in a new format. Yup, this is Bruceploitation for the 21rst century. Damn, I love Brentwood! Recommended for the Vschaslav Yaksysnyi diehards only.
Reviewed by William.