Bronson Lee, Champion on netlix insta-watch

[morgoth]

I was wondering what DVD version of Bronson Lee, Champion is on Netflix. I am watching it right now and the picture quality is amazing.

[Chinatown Kid]

Never have seen this flick, any good? I've only seen Tadashi Yamashita in two films, The Octagon and Gymkata, and wasn't very impressed despite his great Kama sickle juggling skills. Maybe he looks better in the Bronson Lee film.

[morgoth]

Here is a review I just wrote for it-


Bronson Lee stars as a Japanese who somehow grew up on a farm in the midwest. He enters a karate tournament because he wants to prove his skills. He beats all the fighters, but there is a guy called Black Tiger who he draws with. A twist happens towards the end which I won't give away, and Bronson fights Black Tiger for a second time.

I have only seen Bronson Lee in 2 movies prior to seeing this. He seems to imitate both Bruce Lee and Sonny Chiba. He doesn't come close to matching either in skill, but his screen fighting skills are still a bit above average. But those are screen fighting skills. In terms of real fighting skills he looks extremely lethal. My favorite scene of the movie is watching him train. This guy has some serious power in his kicks and punches. The fight scenes are nothing special, but not bad. The problem is that all the fights feel the same. None of the fight scenes stand out above the rest. They are all equal.

I wanted to see this movie because IMDB says Bolo Yeung is in the cast, but he isn't. I never look to IMDB for information on kung fu movies because half of the time they are wrong, but I couldn't find this movie on hkcinemagic. Probably because it isn't a Hong Kong movie. But with the karate style of fighting this movie uses, Bolo wouldn't have looked good anyway.

2.5/5

I saw this on netflix (the insta-watch thing), and the picture quality is amazing, especially for a movie from 1978.

[kungfusamurai]

Is it in widescreen?

As for the quality, you'd be surprised at the quality of films from Japan well before '78. They were always of the highest quality. Or do you mean you thought the source material would have been degraded? Even then, the Japanese have taken good care of their movies negatives, sadly, unlike many HK companies.

KFS

[morgoth]

It is letterboxed.

And I was surprised at the picture quality. It is almost flawless.

[Chinatown Kid]

Thanks for the info morgoth, I definately want to see this film as I do enjoy watching Karate style fights, it adds variety to the usual Kung Fu style fights that I usually watch.

[morgoth]

It is a lot like a Sonny Chiba movie. The tournament has the best fights in my opinion because it is a points match. Other than that I was pretty bored by all the fights.

And the short fat guy from Streetfighter is in it. He is the man:D

[Chinatown Kid]

Morgoth, did you find out what DVD version this was you watched? I'm gonna pick it up and was wondering which version you watched since you say it had great pic quality and letterboxed, that's the one I want to get. I wonder if HKFlix has this or maybe Amazon?

[Dion Brother]

BRONSON LEE is actually a retitling of a trilogy of Tadashi Yamashita movies sometimes referred to as THE KARATE. The third one is fun with American karateka Donnie Williams in a supporting role. And no, Yamashita is not "Bronson Lee" in the Japanese versions.

[morgoth]

Thanks for the info Dion Brother.

Sorry C-town kid. I havn't found out what DVD version I saw. All I can find are VHS versions. But I figure there has to be a DVD version since it is available to order on netflix.

[Chinatown Kid]

Thanks man, I'll see if I can track this DVD down then. I'd really like to see the original triology The Karate that Dion spoke about as well. I figured the Bronson Lee name was something US distributors came up with to capitalize on the notoriety of the names Bruce Lee and Charles Bronson, like the way Roy Horan came up with the name Conan Lee for Loyd Hutchinson.

[morgoth]

Good point. That seems very likely what they did.

Just so you know the version I watched was an English dub. The guy who dubs Bronson sounds like a cowboy. It is really funny. And it is actually a really good voice job, just way out of place.

[Chinatown Kid]

Yo morgoth, I never could find this flick on dvd but did find a vhs of it from one of the amazon marketplace sellers for only 1 cent! If I like it i'll try to find the dvd somehow if one exists, anyways thanks for posting about this film.

[morgoth]

Let me know how the pic quality is. I am guessing it is the same as the version I watched.

[Chinatown Kid]

I sure will man, it shipped today so hopefully I'll get it by the end of the week.

[kungfusamurai]

The movie was also released in 1975, if I'm not mistaken. Definitely well before 1978. Yamashita's voice in the sequels is his own and isn't some silly southern drawl. He's actually got a slightly high pitch voice, not as high as Chris Tucker, though. And I think his name is Yamashita in the films. I recall in one of the sequels he wears a jacket or robe with that name on the back.

Out of all three "Karate" movies, the first one features the best fighting.

KFS

[morgoth]

Well then for 1975 I guess the action isn't so bad. It seems like they are copying SOnny Chiba's style and it isn't done nearly as well.

Is there a good JApanese site similiar to hkcinemagic? IMDB is usually wrong when it comes to karate and kung fu movies.

[Dion Brother]

They aren't copying Chiba's style, but they are using the same fighting style(karate is distinctively different than gung fu) and the JAC stunt team. Plus the same crews and technicians, so you have the 1970s Toei style.

[morgoth]

Sorry, what I meant is that it seems like they are using the same filming techniques as Chiba movies. The flying jump kicks look similiar in style and also the way Bronson will jump into the shot.

[Chinatown Kid]

I saw a clip on youtube of Yamashita fighting Howard Jackson, I'm not sure if this is from the Bronson Lee film or one of the sequels.

[morgoth]

No that is from magnificent 3. Check this clip out. KUrata goes crazy- www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvyuajg7Sig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvyuajg7Sig)

[Chinatown Kid]

Thanks for the clip, I'd like to see that film as well. Kurata puts Bronson/Yamashita to shame I'm afraid. Check those 70's fashions out, Disco Fever baby LOL! That bright yellow suit Bronson's wearing is especially hard on the eyes....

[morgoth]

:lol

Yeah this movie looks like good cheesy fun.

[kungfusamurai]

If you think Kurata was hot in that clip, check him out in the end credits to the TV series he did in '74 called 'Fight! Dragon':

Fight Dragon End Credits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1rACIWRkI4)

This used to be available in Japan on DVD without subs, but is now out of print. Plus it was probably $300 to buy.

Cliff @ BCI - are you listening?!! If you can get your hands on Fight! Dragon, you'll not only please fans of the japanese karate film genre, but also fans of HK style choreography, which is what this series has. Bolo Yeung even appears in the first episode, and Bruce Liang also makes an appearance.

Another clip from Fight Dragon Kurata Vs Liang (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN9sgf5CL7o&mode=related&search=)

KFS

[Dion Brother]

three episodes of FIGHT! DRAGON were issued by Ocean Shores as THE FIGHTING DRAGON. Great series.

Yamashita was a Shorin-Ryu expert, so kicks were never his forte. I used to have a Yamashita instructional video from Panther Productions. It's a riot.

[kungfusamurai]

Does he talk in the instructional video?

After watching those Karate movies, I get the impression that he's a bit of a clown. Not in a bad way, I mean, it was impressive to see him cut that watermelon in half on the guy's belly blindfolded. But, you know, a guy who can do comedy without feeling self conscious. Chiba wasn't really a guy who did good comedy, even though he did some light hearted moments in the Shadow Warriors series.

KFS

[Dion Brother]

Yes, he did all the talking. And seemed aware how thick his accent was.

"Yamashita technique is relaxidation and concendwation."

I wish I still had it. His hands are fast. Obvious how wasted he was in THE OCTAGON.

[Chinatown Kid]

Yeah Yamashita's kicks don't look to hot but from some of the clips I've seen he does have some extremely fast hands, he's pretty good with those Kama sickles too. I wonder what style of Karate Kurata studied? He is an extremely good kicker that can hang with some of the best like Bruce Liang.

[morgoth]

Definitely one of the best kickers. I love that one kick he does in the kids fight in Legend of a Fighter (the one where he jumps in the air with leg fully extended upwards). I love all of his kicks! The guy is amazing.

[Chinatown Kid]

Have you seen Call Me Dragon? If you haven't seen it man you need to check it out, Bruce Liang and Kurata go at it in a great finale dishing out some awesome kicks! ;)

[morgoth]

I think I saw it a long time ago. I really need to see it again.

[Chinatown Kid]

Just watched Bronson Lee tonight and have to say I wasn't impressed. Compared to Yamashita, Sonny Chiba looks like Bruce Lee! The choreography was very stiff and bad but the dubbing was rather amusing in a cheesy way. Morgoth, just wanted to let you know the pic quality wasn't to hot on this VHS, it was a former rental and looked blurry at times but I expected as much sense it only cost 1 cent. The freaking shipping and handling was more than the item! :b

[morgoth]

hmmm, well that brings it back to my original question, I wonder what DVD version I saw on netflix insta-watch, because it is crystal on there. And I knew you would like the dubbing:D

[AlbertV]

I liked Yamashita in American Ninja as the "Black Star Ninja". I don't remember seeing Bronson Lee, Champion. Will probably check it out in the near future after me move to Florida in 2 weeks.

I have Call Me Dragon...Bruce Leung and Yasuaki Kurata are top notch in the finale.

I think if I remember right, Kurata studied Shorin-Ryu Karate. He had it mentioned on an old version of his official website: http://www.kurata-pro.com

Click English at the top right corner for the English translation of the site. He even has an English name: David Kurata.

[Chinatown Kid]

Thanks for the link Albert! :)

[Nuk3m]

Hello! Can anybody share Bronson Lee? In russian you can't even find a screenshot :(:(:( I can share some interesting russian karate-movies...Need help :(

[Nuk3m]

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2764/bronsontx1.th.jpg (http://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bronsontx1.jpg)
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1889/bronsonleechampioncdcovab2.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bronsonleechampioncdcovab2.jpg)

Find few scans...

[Alex]

i've heard that the karate/bronson lee series was heavily cut in all western releases, similar to Sister Streetfighter and Dragon Princess. is this true? is the uncut version available anywhere if it is?

[KUNG FU BOB]

i've heard that the karate/bronson lee series was heavily cut in all western releases, similar to Sister Streetfighter and Dragon Princess. is this true? is the uncut version available anywhere if it is?

Hey, it only took 4 years and two months to get a reply to your question Alex! :smile:

As far as I remember, plus after discussing this question with fellow fan Wigsplitta, there are only two brief scenes missing from THE KARATE in it's English dubbed release BRONSON LEE, CHAMPION. These scenes are completely intact in Jamal's release of the film, which uses the uncut Japanese print but has had the English dub added (except on the two brief scenes mentioned, where the audio reverts to Japanese for a few lines).

To my knowledge, the two sequels- THE KARATE 2 and THE KARATE 3 were never released outside of Japan, so there aren't any dubbed versions. But these two films have just been professionally translated and custom subtitled by one of our own here on the forum! :nerd: Both of them are uncut, letterboxed, and very nice prints. We aren't allowed to do fundraisers anymore, so if you are interested in getting these, send me a PM. :wink:

BTW- I just tried to do the Netflix thing to check out the print quality, but they are no longer offering this title. :sad:

[KUNG FU BOB]

Okay, upon checking, I was shocked to find that in the US English dubbed print, a shitload of good stuff was missing/edited out of the uncut Japanese print! Lots of stuff throughout.

For those looking to see it, here's the rundown:

The FLK version uses the CUT US English dubbed version and is only slightly letterboxed (cropping on each side is severe), fuzzy, and looks like a VHS source was used.

The version by Jamal is totally UNCUT. It is letterboxed, but the image is a bit compressed horizontally. If your machine can adjust this, you do have about 90-95% of the full image. The English dub was added to this print, so ocassionally there will be a line of two of dialogue that is spoken in Japanese without subtitles. But of the 5 extra minutes that this version has, almost all of it is fight action! :nerd: