Synopsis: Jackie
plays Chien Fu, a hapless young orphan who lives at a martial arts
school, where he is abused by the cruel instructor, and used as sort of
a human practice dummy by the students. One day he helps and then
befriends an old beggar, played by Simon Woo-Ping, (who in real life was
one of Jackie’s instructors at the Peking Opera school) and in return
the old man agrees to teach Chien Foo his Snake Fist style of Kung Fu.
But, alas, the head of the rival Eagle Claw clan wishes to destroy the
old man, who is the last of the Snake Fist clan, and before all is over,
Chien Foo, inspired by his pet cat, invents the entirely new Cat’s
Claw style, and is able to defeat the Eagle Claw dude.
Debbie's Review: This
is the movie that propelled Jackie to stardom in Asia. It was filmed
while he was still under contract to Lo Wei, the director who had
“discovered” Bruce Lee, and was now trying to mold Jackie into the
second Bruce. Wearied of his repeated failures at the box-office, Lo had
loaned Jackie out to Seasonal films, and here for the first time,
director Yuen Woo-Ping (of Matrix and Crouching Tiger fame) gave Jackie
the freedom to create his own comic style. This is a fun movie, full of
great training sequences and exciting fights. Allowed creative freedom,
Jackie was at last able to create an engaging, sympathetic character
totally unlike the wooden stereotypes he had been forced by Lo Wei to
play in imitation of Lee. The instant he was able to display his own
natural charm, Jackie became a huge star, and it’s easy to see why in
this film.
The first fight involves Chien Fu being used by
the instructor to demonstrate punches to the students. Chien Fu,
ignorant of Kung Fu, is helpless against them, so it’s really not much
of a fight. The second fight scene, however, is the first to demonstrate
Jackie’s great comic choreography. When he rushes up to help the old
beggar against a rival school, the old guy uses Jackie’s body as a
weapon, pushing and pulling him into various comical fighting positions.
The next major fight in the middle of the film has Chien Fu’s head
master fighting the master of a rival school, and Chien Fu, now
proficient at Kung Fu, must step in to save his si-fu. A little more
serious, but still with some clever comic elements. The final fight
scene is a classic extended fight scene, not really much comedy, but
with the additional treat of seeing Jackie get a tooth knocked out…for
real! Although Jackie began in this film to use humorous elements, the
rhythm and movements of the fights in Snake in Eagle’s Shadow are
definitely still in the classic Kung Fu style of his other early films.
I think what really set this film apart from his Lo Wei films, besides
the introduction of comedy, was the naturalness of his acting, and his
ability to create a likeable, sympathetic character when allowed to let
his own personality shine through.
Score: 8/10
Reader Reviews
Darrell's Review: With hindsight I
came to this movie with the wrong expectations, having never seen a
Jackie movie from the 1970s. However, the film is growing on me. The HKL
DVD isn't up to their usual standard. Since the film is set in rural
China, don't expect fighting with props (apart from a stick), guns,
stunts off buildings, special effects or car chases.
Chan
Fan1986's Review: Whoever said that this movie is better than
Drunken Master 1 is full of crap. Although this is a really good movie,
it doesn't compare to the original Drunken Master, which has one of the
best fights of any movie ever. The final fight in this movie is far to
short compared to Jackie's 'Come Drink With Me' fight in DM1. My hats
off, although, to this being the original, with DM1 sort of being an
imitation. But DM1 is still better.
Score: 8.5/10
Chan-o-rama 's Review: I found this
movie on dvd at a cheap store for about $4. I had heard good reviews
about it so i was curious. I was totally impressed. The story is fresh
and the fight scenes are magnificent. If you love chan, you'll love this
one.
Score: 9.5/10
Emos Tayong's Review: This was the
first Jackie Chan's film I saw when I was a lil' boy. I became a jackie
chan's biggest fan from that day till this present day and I think the
movie was heavy. Jackie was young and very energetic. from the movie,
you could tell that jackie was gonna be the future stunts king. I loved
the traditional kungfu but was not a knock out. Jackie is the best
person on earth. I love him to death.
Score: 9.5/10
Savas's
Review:It is difficult to find this kind of kung fu movie , they dont
make èm at this caliber anymore,the best jackie chan movie .
Score: 10/10
Steven Richardson's Review: Hella
Hella Hella dope. Word. This is da flyest picture you is ever gonna see
in a long time. The laugh attacks will hurt your body with gusto. Hwang
Jang Lee is one my favourite martial artists alongside jackie. This film
is better than drunken Master, it's not as crude. Altogether this film
posesses the certain niceness that we love and know jackie has, the
fight scenes are excellent and the story is excellent. Get it on DVD if
you can- I reccomend the HKL version. Straight up word.
Score: 10/10
Jonas's Review: One of the best
kung fu movies that i have seen. Me and my friends have seen this
several and several times when we was kids.
Score: 10/10
Tiger's
Review: I think that this is one of the best Jackie Chan movies because
of the good sense of humour and the kung fu stile. At that time it was
something new and never seen before.Whit the strange elements that
Jackie used he won the peoples attention and made avery good movie. To
think and to make something that has never been done is exellent, Jackie
has proved with this and many other movies, that he is very capable to
do such things.
Score: 9.5/10
The Drunken Master's Review: Here's
the movie that brought Jackie Chan to the attention of the audience.
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is classical kung fu mixed with comedy
(unlike Drunken Master, the comedy is not vulgar). The entire cast
plays their roles unforgettably. This is a really great movie, one
no martial art fan can miss.
Score: 8/10
Ninja's Review: The Best Old School Kung Fu Film of All Time!
Seen it so many times that I've lost count! Yuen Siu Tin is pure magic!
"The Eagle Claws have hired me... I'm to destroy the Snake
Fist!"
Chanspirit's Review: What can I say, This is my all time favorite movie of
Jackie's! I love all (well almost all) of his movies, but there is something
very touching about this one that makes it stand out for me. I know not a long review and didn't even talk about tech. stuff.
Just plain out love this film.
