WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Enter The Dragon
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 30 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Shih Kien & Jim Kelly

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 4
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Warner Home Video
(Catalog Number): 15920
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 102
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1973
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Clouse
(Screenplay/Written By): Michael Allin
(Story): NA
(Music): Lalo Schifrin
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Kurt Hirschler & George Watters, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Fred Weintraub & Paul Heller

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Panavision
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.42:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): Yes
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
In Enter The Dragon, Bruce Lee, in his last complete film, stars as a secret agent drawn into combat with a clever criminal who uses a martial arts academy to mask a career of international crime.

LaserDisc Picture:


LaserDisc Soundtrack:
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition:
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison:
Both LaserDisc and anamorphic DVD show signs of damaged film elements such as artifacts and water marks. Both versions are poorly contrasted with muddy colors that often lack clarity and definition. Some scenes look better than others, especially exteriors, but overall color fidelity is oversaturated with brownish fleshtones. Images are generally wanting in sharpness, clarity and fine detail. Shadow detail is mediocre throughout, though a little better on the DVD. The black and white sequences feature a generally good gray scale with good contrast. Neither version should truly disappoint Bruce Lee fans. The letterbox aspect ratio is framed at 2.35:1, while the anamorphic version is 2.20:1. The LaserDisc aspect ratio is 2.42:1. The Special Edition LaserDisc and DVD feature the remastered Dolby® Digital 5.1 soundtrack, with a matrix encoded PCM version on the LaserDisc sourced from the new discrete printmaster. The new music score is expansive and nicely recorded with a dimensional soundstage and aggressive surround envelopment, with new stereo surround ambient sound effects that are better resolved on the matrix PCM version. Bass response is a bit deeper on the Dolby Digital version, with occasional .1 LFE enhancement. Dialogue sounds completely dubbed with very virtually no spatial integration. Though “manufactured,” the DVD’s soundtrack is the film’s best sonic presentation.