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She hao ba bu More at IMDbPro »
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| Index | 20 reviews in total |
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
"Your technique; it's very strange.", 27 March 2001
Author:
KillMe666 from Dorset, England
The very best old school kung fu movie, period.
Never a dull moment in this film with the action happening right from
the beginning. The fight sequences are probably the best I have ever
seen - and I've seen a fair few! Chan is completely convincing as a
kung-fu master, he is incredible.
Take the opening sequence alone for example - Jackie showing of his
skills with various weapons - absolutely amazing, it surely must have
taken ages to produce, and more than a dozen band-aids.
As for the rest of the film, see it for yourself, the characters may be
strange, the dubbing hilarious (adds to the charm) but if you like a
good kung fu flick with action on overload, starring the greatest (in
my opinion) martial artist movie-star of all time, then this simply
must not be missed.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
more fun than a barrel of snakes and cranes, 27 July 2006
Author:
(winner55) from United States
having just about butchered more old Hong Kong action films than i care
to mention, Columbia-Tristar actually did something right with the DVD
re-release of this film - they restored a brief snippet towards the end
that had long been lost to the standard American video release of it.
The snippet is only about a minute of film, but it explains the
emotional upheaval shown by one of the characters, and why he decides
to aid Jackie in the final battle.
This is one of the better pure chop-socky 'fu films of Chan's early
period, while still under contract to Lo Wei. Chen Chi Hua is really
only directing a typical chop-socky, but he does allow Jackie to try
out some mugging for the camera as well as some shtick. most of the
actors are quite up for their supporting roles, and although the script
is pretty standard fair, Chen and Chan rarely let it get beyond their
capacity to have a good time, and to share this with the audience.
By no means a classic, but a thoroughly entertaining 'fu film.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Jackie Chan is pigtailed wanderer, 4 June 2002
Author:
abentenjo from Swindon, UK
When the Eight Steps of the Snake and Crane manual disappears along with the Shaolin masters who devised it, the martial arts world is said to be in disarray. Hsu (Jackie), a pigtailed wanderer (you know the sort), claims he possesses the coveted book and summarily every goddamn scoundrel wants a piece of it, and a piece of Hsu. That's more than enough to go on in this rather tame yet fulfilling chopsocky. The most redeeming factor: a straight Chan performance that's convincing and barely pretentious, featuring some of his best traditional choreography ever put on celluloid. Back in reality, though, the movie proved yet another major flop for the Lo Wei Motion Picture Co.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
You fools, you must be tired of living., 3 May 2005
Author:
Shawn McKenna (srmckenna@hotmail.com) from Modesto, California
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin is mostly known for being a
transitional movie for Jackie. He did not play the grim Bruce Lee
archetype that Lo Wei tried to mold in him, but was the start of a
comedic and lighter hero for Chan. Snake and Crane was a box office
failure in Hong Kong, but it got Jackie recognition in Hong Kong. It
also showcased his increased intricate and atypical fight choreography
with an increase of humor and props.
There is really much to like in this film. Chen Chi-hwa (Half a Loaf of
Kung Fu) did an excellent job of direction with beautiful wide-screen
shots of gorgeous scenery and elaborate placement of camera position. I
wish he directed more films. Jackie's choreographed fight scenes are
also very good. Like many of the martial art films of this time, the
plot is the rub. Though I did like the first half of the plot.
The film starts with Jackie displaying his various knowledge of weapons
including the spear (I cannot believe they lifted music from Monty
Python and the Holy Grail for this scene.) The aerobatic display that
Chan does (along with others) is far superior to any martial art action
done later in the film.
Jackie stars as Su Yin Fong, a sarcastic and most excellent Kung Fu
practitioner who has possession of the book "The Eight Steps of the
Snake and Crane." A manual of techniques that was thought, along with
the Dragon Spear, to be in the possession of Master Lin. It was created
and collaborated by eight masters of Shaolin who mysteriously vanished.
Or did they? Being in possession of such a prize and openly flaunting
it, Su finds himself the target of many ruffians. He is jumped by the
Ting Brothers while fishing. He is attacked by the Wu Tang Clan while
eating. Later he is attacked by various members of the Black Dragon
Clan, Beggar Clan and the Flying Tiger Clan. His only ally is Fong Sie
Pin of the Ere May Clan who killed Lady Suon and her minion after
Jackie Chan had already defeated them.
Su is also looking for a shoulder-scarred man. He will not let anything
stop him from this goal. This includes advances from Tang Pin Nhur
(Nora Miao) and her offering of a treasured golden peacock! Now that is
a lot of fortitude (or else he is eunuch.) Nora actually has some
decent fight scenes in this film. But the plot winds down with too many
obvious turns (like who the shoulder-scarred man is and what happened
to the Shaolin monks.)
I do feel like this film is worth watching. In addition to the
beautiful photography and the actors I have mentioned there are great
characters like Lu Lo Qui (with his cursing match against Su), Hong Tu
(Gam Ching Lan) who is a pretty petite female pretending to be a male,
and Chien Tse (Kam Kong.) If only the plot was stronger (and possibly
Lo Wei had less influence on the story) then this film would be
mentioned more often and I could create a more cohesive critique. But
for historical purposes it will always have its place as a transitional
movie in Jackie Chan's illustrious career.
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
, 23 February 1999
Author:
Sal Murakami from Japan
One of the most coolest Kung-Fu movie ever made. I saw this one on the Japanese movie theatre when I was a kid and I thought it's cool, and I saw it again today on video and it's still cool!! This is definitely one of Jackie's best movie. It was shot mostly outdoors so you'll enjoy beautiful winter landscapes of somewhere in Asia as well. If you like Jackie Chan or Kung-Fu movies, you MUST see this!!
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
A Lot More Fun Than It Looked, 21 February 2000
Author:
Edwin Bailey from Orange, CA
This movie's actually really good, especially considering how old it is... There's a wonderful cast of characters, each with their own particular weapon/style, and it doesn't dwell too much on plot like some earlier pics. Jackie Chan refers to this in his book as his "First Dream Project", and it shows, because it really looks like he's in control with the action and story. Not bad at all.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Who can stand against the Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin?, 25 March 2005
Author:
cloudhands_1
To start with, this is one of the best old skool Kung Fu movies out
there! and now to the nitty gritty...
Every year, the Masters of all the Shaolin divisions gather for
combining and developing the best technique based on their supreme kung
fu knowledge & experience, now they have formed the ultimate kung fu
technique making "The Book of the Eight Steps of Snake & Crane".
but mysteriously hereafter, the 8 Masters of Shaolin disappear along
with the most valuable book, and chaos reigns in South China Until one
day, when a young stranger comes to town named Hsu Yin Fung, or better
known to us as Jackie Chan, carrying the precious book. Now this
definitely means action, and in big quantities - all the kung fu clans
want this book for themselves, but Hsu Yin Fung has mastered the art
which is written there! even more, not only that Hsu Yin Fung does not
keep the fact that he has the book very secret as you would expect him
to do, he also has a bad habit: he likes fighting people who fight
well, as he puts it in the movie.
yes ladies & gentlemen, this movie is loaded with fighting scenes!
there are heaps of them to surely satisfy any kung fu movies fan, while
the plot itself is also interesting, it is not the usual formula of
kung fu movies, a lot of colorful characters appear in this film, and
there are no dull moments, the story keeps it's rhythm fluently.
There is also some humor weaved in the story although not exactly the
kind of humor you might be used to from other Jackie Chan's movies,
note this - Jackie does not do any slapstick like humor by himself,
here he is the toughest guy around and he has no problem showing it.
most of his films, Jackie is not reluctant to kick ass, nor to straight
forward declare that he can, but here it's a whole different tale...
one last thing, in the opening scenes of the movie (and later on) The
Dragon Spear is mentioned: a weapon which is given to The ShaoLin
Master Lin who was given the book at first to assist him in this, but
we never get to see this spear in the movies it is only mentioned so
don't build up expectations.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
One of the best from this era, 2 March 2000
Author:
discostu-14 from Kansas
This is definitely one of Jackie's best movies from this era. A lot of his films from this time are sub-par, and a lot of the "Jackie Chan" movies in the video stores aren't even Jackie movies. However, be assured that this is probably the most butt-kicking Jackie movie from the late 70's. I have it about tied with Fearless Hyena. The fighting really never stops, and we see Jackie fight groups of people numerous times. This is also one of the few Jackie movies where he fights women. Overall, definitely worth at least a rental, I liked it enough to buy it.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
You'll love this!!!, 22 January 1999
Author:
blackman from preston
His character is arrogant but likeable. This is Jackie Chan at his early best. From the opening credits you know that there is something very special about him... and the film! The Kung-Fu is superb and at the odd occasion very funny. This is a must see for all Jackie Chan fans.
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
A Hybrid of Snake & Crane!, 5 November 2006
Author:
Guardia from Brisbane, Australia.
This Kung Fu film has some really good ingredients. The thing that
doesn't quite come through for it are the production values. The action
sequences, the plot, the characters, the settings are all interesting
and worth filming, but the actual cinematography and audio quality are
quite poor, and so I found it unusually difficult to watch.
If you can put these issues aside, the film is great for it's time.
Jackie Chan really begins to show his immense talents for what is
probably the first respectable time. His acrobatics are great, as are
the Snake & Crane styles he employs further on in the film.
Interestingly, his character is a little bit cocky, and his body
language is a little unusual for him, as if he was told to act a little
more American or something. Also, his back-hand strikes seem a little
odd and over-used. One of the other great things is the appearance of
all the different clans in the film. Th Black Dragons, the Flying
Tigers etc really add some colour and interesting rivalry - not to
mention the opportunities for various back-stabbings and
double-dealings.
I would give everything in this movie an A, but the production values a
C.
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