Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Anonymous Heroes Blu-ray Movie Review

The Anonymous Heroes is a terrific action-adventure with a good dash of comedy. Executive produced by Run Run Shaw (The Rebel Intruders, Human Lanterns), The Anonymous Heroes is one of the biggest box-office hits of 1971. A massive hit with audiences and a crowd-pleaser, too. A classic of the Shaw Brothers martial arts studio.

A grand adventure with comedic antics and plenty of action-packed riffs, The Anonymous Heroes showcases the exciting battles between two sides – the warlords and rebels. The rebels are on a spectacular mission to steal armed weapons and deliver guns to one of the local armies.

These escapades cause chaos and adventure but the stakes lead to dangers and unexpected battles. Confrontations between sides unfold. Can the rebels emerge with their lives intact?

David Chiang and Ti Lung deliver excellent performances. The two leads are fantastic in the feature-film. The actors do a terrific job with the production. The performances are entertaining and energetic while working well alongside the supporting cast members.

The supporting cast of characters for The Anonymous Heroes includes Hung Yin-feng (Li Ching), General Chin (Miao Ching), Brother Wan Tai (Ku Feng), Liu Da Ma-tzu (Tang Ti), Adjunctant Wang (Chih-Ching Yang), Chen Hsin (Lei Cheng), Commandant Hung (Ching- Ho Wang), and Yen Wang (Sing Chen). The actors had a lot of fun with the production. In both the action scenes and comedic moments, the ensemble shines.

The production showcases excellent art direction by Johnson Tsao (Two Champions of Death, Fists of the White Lotus). The art direction by Tsao is something to cherish. Wonderful art and there is so much to appreciate about the designs.

The costumes by Chi Li (The Deadly Duo, Five Shaolin Masters) are impressive and add to the style of the filmmaking, too. Li is a gifted costumer. The costuming capably brings to life the characters.

The cinematography by Mu-To Kung (The Shaolin Avengers, Duel of Fists) is one of the best elements of the production. The visuals by Kung are incredible. Kung is gifted and the style of the cinematography highlights the filmmaking in spades.

The stunts coordinated by Tang Chia (Shaolin Intruders, To Kill a Mastermind) and Chia-Liang Liu (The Shadow Boxing, Legendary Weapons of China) are exceptional. The stunt-work is unmissable. This is certainly the showstopping reason to see The Anonymous Heroes. The Anonymous Heroes has great action.

The score composed by Yung-Yu Chen (The Deadly Breaking Sword, Invincible Shaolin) is engaging, fun, and moving. The music fits the style of the filmmaking and elevates the material. The score is also a perfect backdrop to the spectacular fight scenes.

Edited by Ting-Hung Kuo (The Shaolin Avengers, The Deadly Duo), The Anonymous Heroes flows well. There is plenty to enjoy about the editing. The pace and rhythm work exceptionally well during the feature.

Written by Kuang Ni (Ten Tigers of Kwangtung, Avenging Warriors of Shaolin), The Anonymous Heroes strikes a good balance between character moments and action-packed fun. The character moments highlight some particularly impressive comedic aspects. The comedy is top-notch and audiences of classic Shaw Brothers films will be pleased in spades.

Directed by Cheh Chang (Avenging Warriors of Shaolin, Vengeance!), The Anonymous Heroes is one of the most charming films by Cheh Chang. A must-see classic from Shaw Brothers. The Anonymous Heroes has a nice balance of comedy and action – even more-so than some other Shaw Brothers films.

The Anonymous Heroes has an old-school whimsy and charm behind it that is reminiscent of both classic Hong Kong and Hollywood cinema – the balance between genre elements made it a standout for Chang and a good showcase for his ability as a director to not only handle incredible action set-pieces but comedic sequences as well. These deft genre capabilities showcase the mastery of director Chang. Incredible. Don’t miss it.

The Anonymous Heroes Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Anonymous Heroes is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The video is excellent on the release. The high-definition transfer shows good detail and clarity. The scan is impressive and capably handles the cinematography. The colors are well-preserved, too. The encoding is well-done. Shout Factory did a good job with the material provided to them.

The Anonymous Heroes Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (with English subtitles) and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. The lossless audio was crisp and detailed. An engaging and enjoyable presentation. The score is a nice highlight. Dialogue is clear throughout. The English subtitles on the release are well-done and free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

The Anonymous Heroes Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by James Mudge

Original Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3:53)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:01)

Still Gallery (HD, 00:52)

The Anonymous Heroes Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Anonymous Heroes is exceptional fun. The action and comedy elements blend together so well. The filmmaking is top-notch. Chang is a master director and the film has so many impressive stunts and thrilling action scenes. The Blu-ray release features an audio commentary, photo gallery, and also trailers. Highly recommended.