Jackie Chan apprenticed in a series of straight-faced martial arts revenge films before he found his true calling as the clown prince of kung fu in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and the original Drunken Master. The sprawling clan-war conspiracy adventure Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is one of his best pre-fame efforts, a tale of tenuous alliances and double-crosses, with cocky young warrior Jackie in the middle stirring up trouble. The sly rascal in the den of thieves, however, is actually an honorable young acolyte on a mission of vengeance. It's the usual story, with a little more comedy and plenty of old "strike and pose" fight scenes energized by Jackie's youthful athleticism. The opening theme song was cribbed from the same music library that supplied Monty Python and the Holy Grail. --Sean Axmaker
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Five star movie bad quality DVD!!!! Comment: Love this movie Jackie Chan at his best before the nose job. You see he is the Martial Art Instructor for the movie. And you see he does all the stunt in the movie, and the way they shoot the scenes is classic Hong Kong Cinema, where you actually see all the technics. But the copy is horrible, I saw the original in the theater and I swear it's the same move just copied to DVD, had same 35mm scratch lines in it, I thought they would try to remaster it, but it isn't a Criterian version and I should have known better. And I was ripped off with the price I paid ($65). I see the price has dropped quite a bit now. Customer Rating: Summary: ORIGINAL VERSION IS ALWAYS BETTER~!!! Comment: If you want UNCUT ORIGINAL version, ALWAYS look for ORIGINAL LICENSED Production. NOT US Release. Its a foreign film, it should not be US version to begin with~! HELLO!!!?? Why settle for LESS with US Version where they edit and cut so many excellent scenes especially with Jackie's Fighting Scenes. And US Release ruins the speed and sound as well. I have been collecting Jackie Chan's movies both HK and US Release Version for quite some time now. I found HK Version to be MUCH MORE in enjoyable, and HIGHER in Quality. American Market always like to "Americanize" and "Control". Regional Code Regulation thing is one of the example to CONTROL the Market. Why not let everyone enjoy the same HK Original Release move the same way ENTIRE WORLD enjoys it ?? No one makes Hollywood American movies to "French version" or "Chinese Version" ~! This what Americans are doing~! Well, enjoy the cheap "American version" then~! LOL Customer Rating: Summary: Snake And Crane Arts Of Shaolin (1978) Comment: THis film is boring but the kung fu is brilliant! 8 kung fu masters get together to write a book which contains secrets of each of their styles. When they are murdered somehow Jackie ends up with the book. Everyone tries to steal the book from Jackie but ofcourse they have to fight my hero (Jackie) first! Customer Rating: Summary: excellent style Comment: this movie's plot is weak and steriotypical, the dubbing is [bad] and Jackie barely smiles, but the kung fu, which is what I bought it for in the first place, is excellent.
I study both the snake and the crane styles of shaolin and I must say, aside form all the cartwheels and usuall razzle dazzle of movie kung fu, the coreography, (which Chan was highly involved in) was excellent and mostly true to the real styles of shaolin.
If you like alot of action, blood and childish swear words dubbed in to movie then buy this.
It's excellent
Customer Rating: Summary: Jackie is a GOD! Comment: This is, hands down the best Jackie kung-fu movie ever made! It has some of the best fight scenes ever filmed and the story is actually very good and has somewhat of a twist ending. By far, this is the ULTIMATE JACKIE WUP-[rear]S movie! This film was done before Jackie found a sence of humor, and he lets loose on all who oppose him, even the chicks(they are awesome kung-fu in their own right). All the action leads up to my favorite fight scene at the end.... DO NOT PASS UP THIS MOVIE!!!!! If you are thinking, don't! Just buy it!
