Plot: What’s it about?
When a retired Chinese soldier (Eddy Ko) is asked to return to active service, he has no idea what lies in store for him. The mission seems simple at first glance, he is to lead a force into northern Thailand and capture the head of a drug cartel that resides there. If he succeeds in his mission then this would be a large step toward ending the drug problems in the area, as well as making the place a little safer for the residents that live there. As the soldier and his team of mercenaries engage the mission however, they soon learn there is much more to this trek than they imagined. The battle is tough and brutal, but the team manages to march away from it with their man in custody which they think signals the end of the mission. But when the members of the drug cartel decide to forge a mission of their own to regain their leader, all hell breaks loose. The retired soldier and his band of fighters must hold off the drug cartel and retain their prisoner, all while trying to avoid the ire of the Vietnamese forces in the area as well.
If you haven’t seen this movie and consider yourself a film buff, you should be ashamed. This is a rock solid and highly influential war movie which not only delivers brutal action, but also serves as the genesis to John Woo’s intense gun battles in films to come. This is one harsh and memorable movie to be sure, but the battle scenes might be a little much for the younger crowd since the action can get very violent at times. Several scenes have been used several more times in war movies, even Saving Private Ryan borrows from this film at times. This isn’t just mindless action by any means however, as director Woo explores the human sides of these characters as well, which makes the battle sequences that much more powerful. I mean why should we care when someone dies unless we know them and like or dislike them, right? This disc is very nice although I would loved some more bonus materials, so I am pleased to be able to recommend it without a hitch. I recommend this movie to all fans of war movies and John Woo films, but a rental could be in order for first time viewers.
This film was written, produced, and directed by John Woo and I am pleased with the overall results on all fronts with this movie. While this isn’t Woo’s most famous film by any means, it serves as a glimpse of where Woo’s future in movies was heading at this time. This is where Woo focused on the art of gunplay first and it stands as a quite brutal and memorable film. If you’re well versed in film you’ll notice several scenes which were later copied in other movies, such as the sniper scene which has been reused countless times. While this is a war movie and violence abounds there is also a human edge to all this, as some of the more personal scenes display. Woo has created a solid effort here in terms of a war movie, but I feel it has some flaws like all movies do. Even so, if you’re a fan of Woo’s movies I think this is one you should check out. The acting in this film is quite good whether the characters are engaged in battle or just talking about their lives. The strong cast includes Eddy Ko (Kung Fu Cannibals, Lethal Weapon 4), Lam Ching Ying (The Chinese Ghostbuster, Slickers vs. Killers), and many more.
Video: How does it look?
Heroes Shed No Tears is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This film is well over ten years old and shows some wear signs, but still looks terrific in this transfer. I did see some edge enhancement at times, but this never distracted me from the movie at all. The colors seem bright and natural in tone with no distortion evident, with flesh tones looking normal and refined. The contrast is solid if a little bright at times, but shadows are usually well defined and detail is high. This isn’t a perfect transfer, but I am pleased with the results.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release contains a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 track which makes all the glorious sounds of war come to life in fine form. While this track doesn’t pack the same punch as a non remastered surround track, it still makes for an excellent audio experience which I am sure is better than the original mix the film had. When the battles scenes rage in action you’ll notice the surrounds working hard, which is a must for war movies I feel. Languages included are Cantonese, Mandarin, and English, with subtitles available in traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, and English.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll find a synopsis of the film and talent files on this disc, which are available in both English and Chinese. Also included is the film’s theatrical trailer and four bonus trailers for other Tai Seng releases.
