I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's hard to add much to the other comments except to say that this is a very good film indeed. Yes the special effects look as cheap as the back lot sets but the actions ring true and as is the Asian film way heroic deaths seem preferable to a happy ending. David Chiang starts out as a carefree character ('Drunken Brother') but on the way to a bloody death has a touching understated romance, defeats Bolo Yeung in single combat and becomes someone you really care about. Just also to say a big thank you to Celestion for re-releasing this great film in such a good DVD print. Well worth watching. Ti Lung's rescue of his father is a classic fight against overwhelming odds and nearly succeeds. Shaws seem to have half of China as extras in this one scene alone. Production values in terms of interior sets and costumes were high, and a special word for the lovely dancing girls.

A Feudal lord and his 13 sons wage war against rebel invaders and enemy opposition. The two most decorated sons cause jealousy and greed amongst some of the other brothers culminating in a bloody and violent clash pitting brother against brother in one of the most famous Chinese action films ever.Chang Cheh directs this first film in his 'cast of thousands' series of films. Comparable to Shakespearean tragedy, the film features many elements inherent in the Bards works. Cheh was known for his masculine style of movie-making which he became famous for as well as stirring up controversy about the homo-erotic undercurrents in all his films, some more subtle than others. Here, Award winning actor Ku Feng (HAVE SWORD WILL TRAVEL, VENGEANCE!) loves all his sons but pays special attentions to Chun Hsiao (Chiang) and Chun Hsu (Ti Lung). Both are the strongest and most skilled of the 13 brothers but two of the other brothers are not happy about the accolades awarded them.One scene in particular has seven of the thirteen infiltrate an enemy encampment and attempt an assassination on a rebel leader in an effort to force their soldiers out of the area. Chun Hsiao has the plan laid out but the two jealous siblings decide to employ their own plan resulting in a massive attack with the seven brothers fighting against hundreds upon hundreds of men.Without doubt the best scene in the whole movie is when the king (Ku Feng) is invited to a dinner with one of the Ambassadors (Chen Sing, who is secretly in cahoots with the enemy), they get him, Chun Hsu and all their men drunk and attempt to kill them all while they sleep. The plan nearly works and Chu Wan (Chen Sing) has his fortress set aflame(!) to make sure none of them escape. Not to mention employing special assassins under the "Bridge of Peace" to kill them should they make it that far. One of the most suspenseful, bloody and exciting martial arts sequences ever filmed.The scene that led to the above described bit is also good. At the opening, an enemy general (Bolo Yeung) is slaughtering the kings men so the Ambassador demands something be done. All of his sons are assembled as the king proclaims any of his 13 can bring in the general alone. Chun Hsiao is selected by the Ambassador even though he is drunk and asleep. Chu Wan, the Ambassador, bets his royal belt from the Emperor that Chun cannot bring in the marauding General by noon. Chun bets his head in return. Anyway, Chun easily defeats the general and drags him by his neck on a rope with one arm(!) into the Palace ballroom for all to see. Everyone laughs as Chu Wan must now hand over his royal belt. He refuses so Chun cuts the belt in half telling the Ambassador, "I've left you half...be satisfied!" This is an unforgivable embarrassment for Chu and sets in motion his vendetta against the kings youngest and strongest son.David Chiang is superb as the tough and highly skilled Chun Hsiao, the youngest of the kings 13 sons. His performance would mirror others Chiang would undertake in later Cheh martial chivalry movies. With his slight and slender build, Chiang is always shown as an extremely strong and powerful adversary taking on fighters much bigger than he. Here, he uses a very large and thick double spear. It takes two men to carry it but Chiang wields it like it was a feather. Although Chiang studied martial arts, he seldom looked believable in kung fu roles but was perfectly suited to swordplay movies. Some kung fu pictures where he does look good are SHAOLIN MANTIS, LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES and the non-Shaw, THE LOOT.Ti Lung also impresses as the equally strong Chun Hsu. The aforementioned scene where he tries to get his father out of the burning castle alive amidst thousands of soldiers is one of the most thrilling action scenes period regardless of genre. This extended scene goes on for nearly 15 minutes. Ti Lung studied Wing Chun kung fu, a style Bruce Lee practiced. Ti was the more masculine of the mega popular Chiang-Lung double act. The movies these two did with Chang Cheh caused the trio to be known as 'The Iron Triangle'.The action scenes are stupendous and for the time, were considered extremely accomplished. Seeing them now, they're slower than the films from the late 70s on, but they possess a realism lacking in the more choreographed films that (supposed) hard-core fans seem to prefer. The only mis-step in the film occurs at the finale. In an effort to not reveal too much, it involves some of the other brothers who we get to know very little about over the course of the films 120 minute running time. A highly recommended actioner with much emotion and great performances by all.

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.

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.