Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1982)

The Worst Film Ever

hyped garbage

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Snake In The Eagle's Shadow is for those movie buffs who are kung fu wannabees. It is also for those who are die hard Jackie Chan fans and for those who love action movies. The film does clip along at a fast enough pace so that one does not get bored. I can see the kung fu wannabees practicing their moves along with the movie. This is not what I consider a typical Jackie Chan movie. His movies usually have more humor in them. This reminds me of the old westerns whereby you have shoot 'em up scenes throughout the movies, however, this is karate chop 'em up instead. This is not my kind of movie even though I am a fan of Jackie Chan.

This movie is my childhood Favorite. i like it when i was a small boy but when i grow up i thought watching the movie again might ruin the taste of movie, but i was surprised that i still like it very much.. The martial arts training and the way Jackie introduce another martial art style into traditional snake fist style is gr8.The enemy Eagle fist were more stronger than Snake fist. But by Jackie Chan's invention he become able to defeat the master of Eagle fist. The bottom line is that this movie is very good for 1978's standards... The Jackie's master is also very interesting personality.. for me the movie is worth watching and time spending. One never gets bored that's the quality of the this movie....

In a brief prologue we learn that the practitioners of the Eagle Claw technique of kung fu are trying to eliminate those who use the Snake Fist technique; the Eagle Claw master kills the Snake Fist master leaving only two people who know the skill. One is an old man who is frequently mistaken for a beggar; we soon learn how skilled he is when he escapes from a group of debt collectors and fights off the students at a kung fu school. The story's protagonist is Chien Fu; the cleaner at another of the town's kung fu schools. Here he is used as a punch bag by the trainers and students alike. When he meets the old man he gradually learns the Snake Fist technique that will enable him to defeat some of the best kung fu practitioners in the town; but not the master of the Eagle Claw... to do that he will have to learn from a cat!This early Jackie Chan film is a lot of fun; he does a great job as Chien Fu. The fights are stunningly choreographed even if one can often see that a blow doesn't actually hit when we hear it... the sounds that accompany the fights are funny because they are so over the top; the slightest touch sounds like planks being slapped together and his new Cat's Claw technique is always accompanied by the sound of an angry moggy! The story isn't complex but is good enough... who needs a complex story when we have aged kung fu masters and a Russian missionary who has a blade in his crucifix! While Chan is the obvious star of the film there is also a fine performance from Yuen Siu Tien, who plays his elderly mentor. Fan's of Jackie Chan's later work are sure to enjoy this; it might not be as polished but nobody watching this will be surprised that he went on to become a star.

Have to give this film 10 out of 10 because it one of the great classic Kung Fu films that I can watch over and over again, along with the Bruce Lee films and Secret Rival films.Jackie Chan is at his peak physically and for the first time is allowed to break the mould and introduce his comedy character into a martial arts film. His comedy does not take away from the phenomenal skills shown by Jackie and the great Hwang Jang Lee ( who went on to become the white haired man and silver fox of the Secret rival films. The kicking skills alone are worth watching this film for.The skill and physical abilities displayed in this film are easy to overlook as Jackie hams it up but make no mistake these are REAL skills, not the wire effects type kung fu or many other and more recent Martial Arts films.There are a few negatives but none that distract to much. The priest is a bit useless and even out over acts the Chinese ( which is saying something ) The cat technique is silly in the extreme and the cat sound effects really stupid! Also some of the old man's fight scenes are very obviously being done by stunt doubles.But over all if you like good 'real' martial arts action do not miss this film. It would also be a good edition to any kung fu fans DVD collection.