Shi san tai bao

First Let me say there is a real valid arguement that if you like serious good kung Fu movies you must own a region free DVD player. It's worth it. The celestrial picture re-issues alone make the money well spent. The heroic ones one of the films in this series that I was lucky enough to rent today.

The recent region 3 re-issue is remastered so well that my friends who watched it with me did not believe me that the film was from 1970.

Heroic ones is a must see for fans of high quality martial arts epics. The director was clearly trying to a eastern western feel with the opening credits,even the music. This brutal epic has massive battle scenes that are the size of big hollywood epic. Great half an hour battle with one man fighting hundreds. Good stuff.

THE HEROIC ONES (1970) is a large-scale 2-hour historical costume adventure set at the time of the Tang Dynasty in which the 13 sons of Tartar King Id fight on the side of the Emperor against assorted rebels. Directed by Chang Cheh, it's less a kung fu film than a fast-paced swashbuckler with a higher body count than any similar Hollywood epic. King Id is played by frequent Shaw Bros. villain Ku Feng, while his two favorite sons are played by David Chiang and Ti Lung, who would pop up as a team in several later near-epics also directed by Chang.

The action centers around a campaign by the 13 sons to wipe out a rebel faction. The family is undermined, however, by treachery within the ranks when two of the sons, jealous of the 13th prince (David Chiang), make a secret alliance with a court member in league with the rebels. The twists and turns which follow culminate in a tragic and bloody ending. It's a spectacular, fabulous-looking production with a large cast, massive sets, lots of action and bloodshed, and a compelling story.

While they weren't the Shaw Bros. studio's greatest kung fu stars, Ti Lung and David Chiang were both agile, athletic and energetic, twirling their swords, lances and spears with great flourish and fervor, and making superhuman acrobatic leaps with the help of convenient stuntmen. Other familiar Shaw Bros. actors appear in smaller parts, including Billy Tang, Lily Li and strongman Bolo Yeung (who is subdued and captured by the slender David in one far-fetched encounter).

Be aware that subtitled prints have dramatic scenes and extended dance segments missing from the English-dubbed version, while the English-dubbed version has action scenes missing from the subtitled print.

You can smell the testosterone from this Chang Cheh celebration of masculinity. The ladies are sprayed with wine in the first scene. The sexuality of the squirt cannot be mistaken. Then the swords come out as bare chested Bolo Yeung fights his way to the fortress. I have to give top credit for Bolo Yeung as the best sport in the history of martial arts movies. This was his second movie and the second time he got the snot beat out. I cannot recall any fight scene that Bolo ever won. He made a complete career by being a muscle bound pushover. He certainly had no self-esteem issues to keep getting knocked down. The fight should have been way longer but that was not done in 1970. The movie also could have been a lot shorter. There were too many scenes of ladies walking around in circles as if they were dancing. Overall, simply on the effort behind the film, I have to rate it just above average for the year and genre and it is mandatory viewing for all fans.

Or as it is called in many regions too: The Heroic Ones. I think this is the title it is best known for outside of Hong Kong or China in general. One of those Shaw Brothers movies, although some do argue not just one of them. One of the better ones. And I do think you can make the case for that. There is a lot to like overall in this movie.

And while it had been a while since I watched this, I did re-watch it and it did held up. It also was a longer version that I watched back in the day. At least half an hour longer than the one I saw as a kid. And while it may have some editing choices that may seem curious to say the least, it still has some very fine action sequences. Of course you can't compare them to the very latest in the stunt choreography. But there is violence, there is blood and the fighting is overall good.

The ending may split a few or rather what leads up to it. There are choices that may seem weird to say the least and you may be furious, but then again the movie made you feel something ... that you can salute or be angry about

As mentioned in another review, the quality of the remastered Celestial DVD is truly astounding. And it's no less than a fine movie like this deserves. The Heroic Ones doesn't try to be a kung fu movie in any way shape or form. It's a brutal swords and spears epic on a grand scale, with enough carnage to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty viewer. The body count must be in the high hundreds at least.

Without wanting to give too much away, the swoop from victory through treachery to tragedy is carried off with real panache by everyone involved, with enough strategic twists and turns to hold the interest throughout. All in all, a gripping historical drama, finely shot and acted, with great stunt work and battle scenes, and well worthy of repeat viewings. I was reminded of a few classic 50s and 60s westerns, with the noble warrior(s) battling incredible odds amid breathtaking scenery and stirring soundtracks. See it if you can. On the Celestial DVD if you can feasibly manage it.