There have apparently been at least two different English language versions of this film previously released on video in addition to the DVD releases. The principal differences are that the US version is in pan and scan and also includes an added voice-over commentary over the first fight scene between Hwang Jang-Lee and his unnamed opponent to explain the story behind the Eagle Claw and Snake Fist rivalry whilst the two are fighting. In the Region 4 DVD version, sourced from the original theatrical version, we simply hear the music over this fight and are left to understand the reasons behind the fight from the dialogue that immediately preceded it.
Also, a scene has been censored from this film for both the previous UK video and DVD releases, and from the Region 4 DVD release as well (but it is not censored from the US DVD release). The scene in question involves a fight between Jackie Chan's cat and a cobra, removed as it offended the UK Cruelty To Animals Act. If you watch Chapter 24 of the Region 4 DVD, you will see the offending scene and the rather abrupt edit to circumvent this animal fight. The edit means this scene now comes across as rather confusing, as one minute you see the cobra facing-off Jackie Chan's cat for a fight and then all of a sudden the cobra is lying dead, with no explanation, whilst Jackie moves in to congratulate his cat. In fact, this is a fairly crucial scene from a plot perspective, as it provides the rationale as to why Jackie Chan's character adopts the Cat's Claw fighting style in conjunction with the Snake Bite style he has been taught. In its edited form, this scene is rather abrupt, but you should still pick up the gist of what is needed to be conveyed.