Chien Tse, le dragon noir

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.

This film is one of Jackie's best old movies!! People say "Jackie Chan's" old films suck, well they are wrong about this one!!! In this film Jackie kicks people from left to right till the end!!! This film has the usual story were everyone want's to find the stolen book with some style in it!! When I brought the film I wasn't expecting much, but I got too much after all. This film has like 11 action scenes!!!! I haven't seen any old Jackie film with soo much action!! I like how Jackie uses the thing around him as props. Also there are no real stunt's in this film but the action is good. The action is sometimes slow and sometimes fast. Like for example when there was a sword fight, you can call that a fast action scene. But when there was hand to hand action that's slow but not alway's. And the story itself is pretty good. Because in other Jackie film the story is the same and it just get's boring after a while. So I think I sad enough about this great action packed film. So go rent or buy it today!!!!!

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.

Nora Miao and Jackie Chan stars again since New Fist of Fury (1976) in this classic martial arts movie.

Eight masters of snake and crane combined their skills and wrote the book containing all their secrets. They entrusted it to master Lin along with the Dragon Spear, and disappeared. Hsu (Jackie Chan) is carrying that book. Everyone seems to know that and wants the book. Unfortunately Hsu turns out to be very well learned in the techniques, and nobody is able to take the book away from him. He's letting everyone know he has the book, because he's looking for a man.

Three different clans, Tang, Black Dragon, and Flying Tiger are after his book. Leader of the Tang clan Tang Sei-Chun (Nora Miao) is looking to get the book to find her father. It turns out that man Hsu is looking for is Chan, the leader of the Black Dragon clan and he's after the book also. Wong, head of Flying Tiger clan who's daughter Un-Chu has been stalking Hsu is interested in the book. They feel that with that book, they can rule the kung fu world.

Sei Chun, and Un Chu has feelings for Hsu, and sides with him. When Hsu gets caught by Wong, Sei Chun gathers her troops to free Hsu. But Hsu escapes on his own, and Chan hearing about this, goes after Hsu. The end result is all three clans converging on location where Hsu shows up. Chan wants to wipe out the other two clans, and full battle between the clans including Hsu ensues. Then surprising secret about the Shaolin masters and Chan is revealed.

Surprisingly entertaining movie featuring Jackie Chan. This movie has real plot to the story.

Few months after this movie was shot, Jackie will be filming his crowning achievement from the '70s, the Drunken Master. The two characters he played couldn't have been more apart. In this, he plays dead strait character, and there's no comic element in this story.

This is one of the better Jackie Chan movie from the '70s, and also a very decent kung fu movie.

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.