Severin Films
Release Date: June 25,. 2024
Bruce Lee is simply a legend! Although I wasn’t even born when the movies he made played at cinemas, I did find his works broadcasted on television. Also, because Bruceploitation was everywhere, I wondered how could a studio even advertise a work when I knew he was dead! Thankfully the release of The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol 1 helped answer all my questions, even though I had to wait more than thirty years to arrive. As a kid, I was scratching my head!
When I found films at a mom-and-pop video rental store in Chinatown that claimed to be new, I laughed. I at least knew the likeness was not perfect. But for the operation bootlegging everything they could get their hands on, they didn’t care. It was business as the love for Lee was still big; and even my local television stations were showing dubbed versions which I ate up like being at the movies on a Saturday night.
To capitalise on what he did to make martial arts movies films mainstream is not “just business,” but the industry is cut-throat. I get that. But the damage was done, and all we as fans can do is look back at the good, bad, and ugly.
I’ll have a written review of the new documentary about this craze posted very soon, and it will include my five cents on the films included in this package. Some are surprisingly quite good, and others very hilarious. All I can say is that you can’t help but crack up laughing at The Dragon Rises Again, because he’s sporting a huge erection while he’s sleeping. The spirit girls were no doubt aroused, and all I can surmise is that what’s crafted is a product of the times. It’s a film that answers the question of what his afterlife must be like.
But please stay tuned, as I will have a comprehensive review of the set rather than just the new documentary posted as soon as I can. In the meantime, please enjoy this unboxing video where you can see what’s in the 100 page booklet that’s rich with images from what I believe is every movie made after this phenom’s death.
