Blu Tuesday: “Enter the Dragon” and More

Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.

Pick of the Week: “Enter the Dragon”

Bruce Lee only starred in five movies before his untimely death, but his influence on the world of cinema and martial arts still lives on today, primarily through this 1973 classic, which not only marks the pinnacle of Lee’s career but remains one of the best martial arts films ever made. “Enter the Dragon” is by no means perfect — the villain is lame and the acting is a bit dodgy — but it more than makes up for its shortcomings with some well-crafted fight scenes and captivating visuals, which look better than ever on this new 4K release. The climactic showdown in the mirror room is an all-time great that (much like the movie itself) has been imitated and parodied countless times, while the fight against Han’s henchmen is an excellent showcase of Lee’s abilities. “Enter the Dragon” is pure entertainment from start to finish, perfectly capturing the charisma and confidence that made Lee such an incredible screen presence.

Extras include an introduction by Bruce Lee’s wife, Linda Lee Caldwell, and an audio commentary by writer Michael Allin and producer Paul Heller. FINAL VERDICT: BUY

Also Out This Week:

“Fast X” — The “Fast and Furious” franchise has been running on fumes for a couple of films now, and though “Fast X” does little to reverse that, it’s at least better than the last two installments. Admittedly, much of the movie’s enjoyment comes from Jason Momoa’s larger-than-life villain. His deranged performance is the only thing holding together the otherwise messy script, which not only tries to cram too much into the story but makes the ill-advised decision to split up Dom’s “family” for most of the film, thereby eliminating the very essence that makes the “Fast and Furious” series what it is. Though “Fast X” is not without its moments — the helicopter chase is a lot of fun, and it’s always great to see Charlize Theron in action — it’s become increasingly clear that the sooner this series crosses the finish line, the better. Extras include an audio commentary by director Louis Leterrier, a behind-the-scenes look at making the movie, a gag reel and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT

Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.