IF I were to reach as far back as 36 years ago, I would be able to recall some of the movies that fired my young mind. One of Shaw Brothers' best remembered films then was The Heroic Ones.

At that time, it was a movie to end all period movies. This one has all the ingredients of an epic period movie. Of course, there are two of Chang Cheh's favourite boys - David Chiang and Ti Lung.

 Both were then young men. One slightly skinny, the other muscular and handsome. Both were fine actors.

The plot was quite straight-forward. A Mongol King wants to quell some dangerous rivals. So he handpicks nine of his 13 favourite generals.

His favourite was of course his 13th "son" Li Tsun Xiao (David Chiang). Some Chinese may scratch their heads in trying to remember this movie because the English title may throw them off a bit.

The Chinese equivalent of the move title is "Shi San Tai Bao". Heroic Ones is best remembered for its fantastic fight scenes.

 Naturally, compared with today's CGI specials, it is kindergarten stuff but back in those days when there was actually nothing to compare it with, it was like watching the gigantic Blue Whale swimming right in front of you.

If you get your hands on a remastered version (DVD) of The Heroic Ones, forget about the story, just concentrate on the action scenes, and you will be wholly satisfied. I like Ti Lung in this movie. He plays Jin Su, the 11th son of the King.

 Ti Lung was just 24 when he starred in this film and already he showed the potential that would hold him in good stead for the next 25 years.

If my memory serves me correctly, both David Chiang and Ti Lung died heroic deaths but Chiang's passing was truly spectacular.

There's a saying in Hong Kong, particularly in Shaw Brothers actors' studio, and that is "if you want to be remembered by your audience, then a simple death will be bad for your career.

Better make is a spectacular passing." And that, I promise you as far as this movie is concerned, you won't be disappointed.

Ti Lung's deadly weapon in The Heroic Ones was a spear. With his magnificent physique and a fight scene involving hundreds of enemies, it was destined to be a fight to the finish.

 Since that fateful year 1971, I have almost never come across such a death scene that involved Ti Lung, his lethal spear and the scores of dead bodies around him.

What a show. Truly memorable when you think about it and youths can be so impressionable and I truly was. Got to get that DVD one day. Surely, director Chang Cheh deserves a toast on this one.