The first issue the detractors have is that these DVD's are not anamorphic. If you don't have a widescreen TV or plan to get one in the future, this doesn't affect you. You will be perfectly happy with the picture quality. I watched this on the 47 inch Panasonic TV and while the picture is good, it could have been even better. I believe the mastering could have been slightly better regardless of the TV setup because shots where the camera pans develop some kind of blurry effect. I saw this while watching it on my computer as well as the TV.

The film print that is used is remarkably free of specs and damage. The colors are also vibrant. I didn't see any artifacts. THE HEROIC ONES is presented in its original aspect ratio which really shows off the elaborate sets and sword fights. THE HEROIC ONES features some great cinematography. Everything is grand in scale and you wouldn't see scenes like these today without the use of computer generated graphics. The picture is good but the mastering could have been better. If you like this movie, the picture quality should be good enough for all but the most demanding technophiles. I would have preferred an anamorphic transfer but I might never see this movie if I wait for one. There is no guarantee if and when these movies are ever released for region 1 that they will be uncut.

Another issue detractors have is that the sound is a remix and on some Shaw Bros. titles, music and sometimes sound effects have been replaced. The original soundtrack is always preferred. I would much rather have an original mono soundtrack than a 5.1 remix with all the bells and whistles. This is the first time I have seen THE HEROIC ONES so I can't say whether there is any music or sound effects replaced. There is nothing out of place that distracts you from the movie. The sound mix is good though it's not necessary. This won't be your demo DVD to show off your sound system but for a film of its age, the sound is very clean and free of pops. From what I have read on various forums, THE HEROIC ONES should have it's original music. Overall, the remix is tastefully done and this DVD sounds better than some more recent movies.

The extras on this disc range from the standard film notes to a commentary by Bey Logan. There are other features that I was a little disappointed with just because I thought behind the scenes meant a featurette instead of text. That's not a big deal, though. What is probably worth the price of the DVD alone is Bey Logan's commentary. The wealth of information is amazing especially about the background of the Shaw Bros. studios. If you are new to the Shaw Bros. films, Logan brings you up to speed pretty quickly. He also gives a lot of information about the actors as well as filming techniques.