I am assuming, but having been told the backstory of the making of the movie ... and the remaking of it too in a way, I can only imagine. Also he allegedly does not like to talk about this movie. And again given the way this was treated it is kind of understandable. In a time where people demand different/director cuts of movies they like, this would be one to look out for. Especially since there seems to be a source with a cut that seems to be way closer to what Woo delivered back then, than the movie we get served here.

And still as you can see I was more than entertained by it. Yes there were weird moments (and nudity, which almost threw me off, just because I am not used to see any in Woo movies),but the action as silly as it sometimes seems (bad guys lining up to be shot at) is really powerful.

Wonderful extra on the disc I got showed the differences between the "Heroes" cut (as they called it) and the "Warrior" cut from South Korea - the latter being the one closer to Woos vision ... but not in a good quality at all.

The one thing that is amazing here, where I believe no one can disagree with: the kid! That actor really was very well cast - or they had tremendous luck. Whatever the case, it is amazing to see him go at it and he is the heart and cornerstone of the movie. Not an easy task considering kids mostly have not much to do in war movies like this ... but he is scene stealing to say the least. Fake blood has aged badly, but all the other effects are still decent. Watch at your own peril and don't be surprised if this does not meet your Woo standards (if you have some)

A team of tough mercenaries attempt an extremely dangerous mission: enter the 'Golden Triangle', kidnap a drug lord and bring him to justice, all the while pursued by the drug lord's men, and the forces of a corrupt Thai officer (Lam Ching-Ying) seeking revenge for the loss of his eye. At the same time, one of the team, Chan Chung (Eddy Ko),tries to escort his young son, Little Keong, to the safety of the Thai border.

My first experience of John Woo's film-making brilliance was in 1989, when I caught a trailer for one of his 'Heroic Bloodshed' films—possibly The Killer—at a horror film festival; it opened my eyes to a whole new kind of entertainment, the crazy Asian action flick. I've been a fan ever since, but for some reason, I have rarely delved into Woo's earlier work (my only experience of his pre-Killer repertoire being A Better Tomorrow and Hand of Death). Having just watched and thoroughly enjoyed Heroes Shed No Tears, I now realise my mistake.

An extremely violent, gung-ho men-on-a-mission movie, this hugely entertaining action flick is like a cross between one of my favourite '80s martial arts movies, Sammo Hung's Eastern Condors, and the brilliant Lone Wolf & Cub series. If you've already seen those films, then you'll understand what a great combination that is: stylish action, cool martial arts, explosions, slo-mo stunts, bullet squibs and excessive bloodletting, with some overwrought drama and just a couple of quieter moments to allow the viewer to catch their breath (and if you haven't seen them, I strongly suggest that you rectify that situation ASAP!).

8.5 out of 10, rounded up to 9 for the guy who is skewered by multiple spears, and for the sexy naked Thai chick who gives one of the soldiers of fortune a soapy full body massage (yup, this film even finds time for some gratuitous female nudity!).

Saw this for the first time recently after reading some glowing reviews, esp that of Ba_Harrison. The name John Woo was another factor too but this film is nowhere close to the director's other films. This film doesn't deserve the glowing reviews.

A group of mercenaries capture a drug Lord n r retreating but r met with fierce reciprocation by the drug lord's men, along the way they save a girl n injure a sadistic Vietnamese colonel, thereby creating more enemies on the trail.

The film has tons of action, lots of explosions, bullets, machine guns, grenades, etc but the film is filled with atrocious acting n horrendous editing.

There is a scene where the crime lord keeps throwing pieces of a pendant while being driven in a jeep a la Hansel n Greetel style, where his men somehow catches with him on foot. In one scene a person is seen holding a woman's body then suddenly in another he is busy shooting. Before a grenade hits the ground/target, people jump as if they r blown away. The film has two lousy sex scenes that too directly out of the blue. The child's idea of burrowing himself when engulfed by fire all around is lol. I felt sad for the American soldier who was living peacefully in the middle of nowhere, that too with three beautiful chicks.