Game of Death II

Game of Death II
Game of Death II
	UK cover for the H.K.L DVD containing the original theatrical release.
Chinese	Tử vong tháp
Hanyu Pinyin	Sǐwáng Tǎ
Jyutping	Sei2 Mong4 Taap3
Directed by	Ng See-yuen
Written by	Ting Chak-luen; Ho Ting-sing
Produced by	Raymond Chow
Starring	Bruce Lee; Tong Lung; Huong Cheng Li; Roy Chiao; To Wai Wo; Hoi Sang Lee
Cinematography	Leung Hei-man; Cheung Hoi; Danny Lee Yau-tong; Hoh Tin-shing
Edited by	Peter Cheung
Music by	Frankie Chan
Distributed by	Golden Harvest
Release date	21 March 1981;
Running time	96 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	US$349,181

Game of Death II,also known asTower of Death(Chinese:Tử vong tháp) orThe New Game of Death,is a 1981Hong Kong martial arts filmdirected byNg See-yuenand starringBruce Lee,Tong Lung,Huong Cheng LiandRoy Horan.This film was marketed as a sequel to Bruce Lee's last and only partially completed filmGame of Death.Bruce Lee died some years before the production ofGame of Death IIand most of his scenes are taken from Lee's older films, mostlyEnter the Dragon.Aside from the international English dub giving the "Bruce Lee" character the name Billy Lo, this movie appears to have no connection withRobert Clouse's 1978 version ofGame of Death.^[1]

Plot

After a recent number of challenges, Billy Lo (Bruce Lee) and his friend Chin Ku (Huong Cheng Li) begin to suspect that someone wants them dead. Billy later visits his younger brother Bobby (Tong Lung), who is studying with Billy's former teacher, and leaves him a book onJeet Kune Do.Chin is soon killed and Billy goes to Japan to find his stepdaughter, May. May tells him that Chin had visited just before his death, and left a film for her. They are suddenly attacked, but Billy manages to escape with the film.

A few days later Billy attends Chin's funeral, where he is turned away from viewing the body. A helicopter arrives during the burial and steals the coffin away. Trying to prevent the theft, Billy is carried up with the casket but is shot in the neck and falls to his death. Bobby Lo is told of Billy's death by their father, who tells him to find a man named Sherman Lan and avenge his brother. Sherman gives him the film, which shows Chin Ku at the Palace of Death. The Palace of Death is run by a crazed martial arts expert by the name of Lewis (Roy Horan). Any challenger who fails to defeat Lewis is fed to his pack of lions. Bobby decides to meet Lewis, who is impressed with Bobby's abilities. While investigating the Palace, Bobby is attacked by a masked man. Then he informs Lewis that someone is trying to kill him. Later that night, a woman is sent to Bobby's room to seduce and assassinate him. When she fails, one of Lewis' lions attacks Bobby. During the fight, the masked man appears and kills Lewis.

Suspecting Lewis' valet, Bobby seeks him out at the Fan Yu temple, where the underground Tower of Death is rumored to be. After defeating the valet, Bobby spies the secret entrance into the tower. Battling his way through the tower he eventually confronts the operator, Chin Ku. Chin is the head of a global drug trafficking organization and staged his own death to throw off Interpol investigators. He tried to frame Lewis for his death and arranged for the coffin to be stolen to prevent it from being searched. Realizing the only way to defeat Chin's sword skills is with Billy's Jeet Kune Do, Bobby cold-heartedly uses Chin's sword, impales Chin's bodyguard monk (Lee Hoi-San) and Chin together, finally killing Chin and stopping his drug operation.

Deleted scenes

Deleted scenes are available on DVD in both the international and English version as a special feature inHong Kong Legends.One particular scene in the Chinese version ofGame of Death,directed bySammo Hung,was intended for his Asian audiences. In the Chinese version, Hung replaced the action scene in the opera house with another scene from the glasshouse at night with Casanova Wong in his karate clothes. The new fight scene, particularly the flips between Tong Lung andYuen Biao,is reminiscent of Bruce Lee's fighting style.^[2]

Versions

Much like the originalGame of Death,there are several versions ofGame of Death II.

The first main version is the original Hong Kong version, titledTower of Death( tử vong tháp ). Most of this version's music was sourced from Les Baxter's score forThe Dunwich Horror.This was approximately 86 minutes long, and is the version used in the U.K. Hong Kong Legends DVD.
The second main version is the international English-dubbed version, retitled asGame of Death II.This does not remove any footage, but instead uses Bruce Lee and Lee-related stock footage to create new scenes, the most prominent being the above-mentioned greenhouse fight with Casanova Wong. Other scenes include a childhood montage of Billy Lo, taken from Lee's childhood films, and a funeral dedication, which uses footage from Bruce Lee's real funeral. However, it is done more tastefully than its use inGame of Death,since it appears as more of a real tribute to Lee than a movie funeral. The international version also includes a proper end credits montage. This version is more widely available than the original version, even appearing in the Hong Kong Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection DVD set.
The third version is an extremely rare official South Korean print of the film. This uses more footage of the Korean actorsKim Tai-chungandHwang Jang-lee(including an extended version of the sword demonstration with Hwang's character), while downplaying the Bruce Lee angle by cutting most of the stock footage of Lee.

Cast

Bruce Leeas Lee Chen-chiang ( lý chấn cường ) / Billy Lo ( lư bỉ lợi ) in English dub (stock footage)
Kim Tai-chungas Lee Chen-kwok ( lý chấn quốc ) / Bobby Lo ( lư bác bỉ ) in English dub (doubling for Bruce Lee) (credited as Tong Lung)
Hwang Jang-leeas Chin Ku (credited as Huong Cheng Li)
Roy Horanas Lewis (credited as Roy Haron)
Roy Chiaoas The Abbot
Ho Lee Yan as Billy's Father
Casanova Wongas the Korean Martial Artist (Lau Yea-chun)
To Wai-Wo as Lewis' Servant
Hoi Sang Leeas the Bald Monk
Marsas Guard in the Cave
Miranda Austin as Angel
Tiger Yang as Strongman in Leopard Suit
Yuen Biaoas Blue Staff Monk
Bolo Yeungas the Guard

Soundtracks

Dancer - performed by Gino Soccio (only in Cantonese/Mandarin versions)
Jealousy - performed by Amii Stewart (only in Korean theatrical version)

Box office

In Hong Kong, the film grossedHK$1,950,391^[3](US$348,970).^[4]In South Korea, the film's 2016 re-release grossed₩245,000 (US$211) inSeoul City,^[5]adding up to at leastUS$349,181grossed inEast Asia.

Home media

DVD releases

Universe (Hong Kong)

Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) letterboxed
Sound:Cantonese (Dolby Digital 5.1), Mandarin (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles:Traditional, Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese
Supplements:stars' files, trailer, trailers forThe Big Boss,Enter the Dragon,Game of DeathandLegacy of Rage
All regions, NTSC

Fortune Star – Bruce Lee Ultimate DVD Collection (Hong Kong)

Released:29 April 2004
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) anamorphic
Sound:English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (2.0 Mono)
Subtitles:Traditional, Simplified Chinese, English
Supplements:original trailer, new trailer, celebrity interviews, still photos, slideshow of photos,Game of Deathouttakes, unseen footage,Enter the Dragonalternative opening credits, 32-page booklet
Region 3, NTSC

Fox (America)

Released:25 May 2005
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) anamorphic
Sound:English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles:English
Supplements:Original trailer, new trailer, bonus trailers
Region 1, NTSC

Fox – Bruce Lee Ultimate Collection (America)

Released:18 October 2005
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) anamorphic
Sound:English (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles:English
Supplements:original trailer, new trailer,Game of Deathouttakes, bonus trailers, still photos, slideshow of photos
Region 1, NTSC

Hong Kong Legends (United Kingdom)

Released:5 November 2001
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) anamorphic
Sound:Cantonese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Subtitles:English, Dutch
Supplements:commentary by Bey Logan and Roy Horan, original trailer, HKL promotional trailer, biography showcases, bonus trailers, interviews with actors Casanova Wong and Roy Horan, deleted scenes (in English)
Regions 2/4, PAL

Blu-ray releases

Criterion - Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits (America)

Released:14 July 2020
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:30:1) anamorphic
Sound:English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles:none
Supplements:none
Notes:upscaled from standard definition source
Region A

Arrow Video - Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest (United Kingdom)

Released:17 July 2023
Aspect ratio:widescreen (2:35:1) anamorphic
Sound:Cantonese (1.0 Mono), English (1.0 Mono), Mandarin (1.0 Mono), Alternate English (1.0 Mono)
Subtitles:English, English SDH
Supplements:Hong Kong Cut titled Tower of Death, Korean Version, US Video Version
Notes:All cuts of the film are presented in HD from the best elements possible, 4K version also released
Region B

References

^"The Game of Death II".DVD Talk.Retrieved4 February2011.
^Game of Death,Bey Logan audio commentary (DVD featurette)(DVD).Hong Kong Legends,UK. 2001 [1978].
-Game of Death II,Bey Logan and Roy Horan audio commentary (DVD featurette)(DVD).Hong Kong Legends,UK. 2001 [1979].
^"Tower of Death (1981)".Hong Kong Movie Database.Retrieved23 June2020.
^"Official exchange rate (HK$ per US$, period average)".World Bank.1981.Retrieved28 November2018.
^"영화정보"[Movie Information].KOFIC(in Korean).Korean Film Council.Retrieved26 August2019.

External links

Game of Death IIatIMDb

[1] "The Game of Death II".DVD Talk.Retrieved4 February2011.

[2] Game of Death,Bey Logan audio commentary (DVD featurette)(DVD).Hong Kong Legends,UK. 2001 [1978].
-Game of Death II,Bey Logan and Roy Horan audio commentary (DVD featurette)(DVD).Hong Kong Legends,UK. 2001 [1979].

[3] "Tower of Death (1981)".Hong Kong Movie Database.Retrieved23 June2020.

[4] "Official exchange rate (HK$ per US$, period average)".World Bank.1981.Retrieved28 November2018.

[5] "영화정보"[Movie Information].KOFIC(in Korean).Korean Film Council.Retrieved26 August2019.

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v t e Works byNg See-yuen
Films directed	Feng kuang sha shou(1971) Bloody Fists(1972) Kung Fu, the Invisible Fist(1972) Meng hu xia shan(1973) Call Me Dragon(1974) Little Superman(1974) The Godfather Squad(1974) Shi san hao xiong zhai(1975) Lian zheng feng bo(1975) Secret Rivals(1976) Kung Fu Sting(1976) Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth(1976) Kidnap in Rome(1976) Secret Rivals 2(1977) The Invincible Armour(1977) What Price Stardom?(1977) Game of Death II(1980) The Ring of Death(1980) Tiger and Crane Shaolin Kung Fu(1982) The Unwritten Law(1985) The Music Box(2006) Evening of Roses(2009)
Films written	Snake in the Eagle's Shadow(1978, also produced) Drunken Master(1978, also produced) Dance of the Drunk Mantis(1979, also produced) The Sweet and Sour Cops(1981, also produced) Legend of a Fighter(1982, also produced) Ninja in the Dragon's Den(1982, also produced) The Sweet and Sour Cops Part II(1982, also produced) Hao cai zhuang dao ni(1984, also produced)
Films produced only	Hong lou chun shang chun(1978) The Butterfly Murders(1979) She mao he hun xing quan(1980) We're Going to Eat You(1980) Ta Bei wu ai(1980) Shuang la(1980) No Retreat, No Surrender(1986) Hun wai qing(1988) Walk on Fire(1988) Once Upon a Time in China II(1992) Once Upon a Time in China III(1993) Once Upon a Time in China IV(1993) Once Upon a Time in China V(1994) Ren yue huang hun(1995) The Soong Sisters(1997)