Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Heroic Ones Blu-ray Movie Review

The Heroic Ones is an incredibly entertaining martial arts classic. One of the crowning achievement epics of the legendary Shaw Brothers studio. Produced by Run Run Shaw (Five Deadly Venoms, The Sword Stained with Royal Blood). The Heroic Ones is a gem featuring performances by Ti Lung and David Chiang.

Li Tsun Hsiao (David Chiang) and Shih Ching Szu (Ti Lung) both find themselves dueling over the future of China. It is a challenge of sibling rivalry as the brothers must face off against each other with dueling the name of the game. The family drama is escalated by the mission assigned by the King. During the Tang Dynasty, who can come out as a winning leader when the stakes are literally so high as to be the end-game for all of China? Which brother can emerge victorious when other warriors become involved in the high-stakes historical conundrum?

Ti Lung and David Chiang are incredible leading actors. The two performers are superb in their respective roles. There is something magnetic and unmissable about the two actors and their incredible sense of suave charm and cool in the feature-film. Both actors were two of the best in the entire legacy of Shaw Brothers. The Heroic Ones is another great showcase for the two legendary actors.

The supporting cast of characters includes Li Szu Yuan (Han Chin), Tsui Yen (Lily Li), Li Tsun Hsin (Seok-hoon Nam), Li Kang Chun (Chung Wang), Li Ke Yung (Ku Feng), and Minister Chu Wen (Sing Chen). An impressive supporting cast. The cast of supporting actors do great work in the production. There are plenty of great moments with these cast members and that is something to appreciate about the filmmaking.

The production features solid art direction by Kamber Huang (The Twelve Gold Medallions, Dragon Rider). The art direction by Huang is something to behold. The sense of scale on the production is wondrous. There is so much to enjoy about the film and its artistic scope. The end result is truly extraordinary.

The costumes designed by Chi Li (The Wandering Swordsman, Duel of Fists) are well-done. There are wonderful things about the designs. The designs feel perfectly suited for the style of the film. There certainly is a lavish quality to the costuming in The Heroic Ones.

The action is incredible. The stunts coordinated by Tang Chia (Shaolin Intruders, To Kill a Mastermind), Liu Chia- Yung (The Shanghai Thirteen, The Treasure Hunters), and Chia-Liang Liu (Golden Swallow, Heroes Two) are well-done. The action builds and there are some stunning sequences in the film. Anyone with a passion for classic martial arts films and Shaw Brothers will love the action.

The score composed by Fu-Ling Wang (The Big Boss, The Golden Sword) is rife for entertainment with action-packed gusto and energy. The score by Wang is a perfect addition to the production. The fun music adds so much to canvas of the film.

Edited by Hsing-Lung Chiang (Hong Kong Godfather, Disciples of the 36th Chamber), The Heroic Ones is well done throughout. The editing isn’t overdone and the pace flows well. There is a sense of cohesion throughout.

The cinematography by Mu-To Kung (Five Deadly Venoms, The Flying Dagger) is one of the best aspects of the production. Kung is a gifted cinematographer and one of the most talented in the Shaw Brothers studio. The efforts by Kung add a lot to the visual wonderment of the filmmaking and its artistic quality.

Written by Cheh Chang (House of Traps, The Flag of Iron) and Kuang Ni (The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter, Shaolin Intruders), The Heroic Ones is a top-notch script. The script for The Heroic Ones is a lot of fun. Great moments and characterizations. The script has solid dialogue and it flows remarkably well. Absolutely a strong script for the action classic.

Directed by Cheh Chang (One-Armed Swordsman, The Deadly Duo), The Heroic Ones is another must- see gem by Chang. Chang has become one of my all-time favorite filmmakers. In fact, at a recent family meetup over the holidays, I spent a good amount of time talking about Chang and how he is now someone I consider a master filmmaker – a master of martial arts films. There is no one else like Chen Chang.

The Heroic Ones Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Heroic Ones is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The high-definition video looks quite excellent overall. The transfer showcases good detail and clarity. The colors are well reproduced. The print is excellent and free from any egregious print damage or inconsistencies. Impressive encoding by Shout.

The Heroic Ones 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 is engaging. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and well-reproduced. The score is a beautiful highlight of the presentation. English subtitles are well-done and free from problematic spelling or grammatical errors.

The Heroic Ones Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sanguine and Guile – Gilbert Po on the Brilliance of Director Chang Cheh (HD, 32:12)

Celestial Trailer (HD, 1:11)

Still Gallery (HD, 1:04)

The Heroic Ones Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Heroic Ones is an enormously entertaining Shaw Brothers classic. The production features great artistic merit. There is so much splendor to the filmmaking. Ti Lung and David Chiang deliver terrific performances. The Heroic Ones is a gem and well worth seeing. The Blu-ray release provides a video about the artistry of director Chang Cheh. Highly recommended.