Chien Tse, le dragon noir

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.

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.

At first glance this movie is just another one of those old chan movies with the slightly irritating, forgettable title, and equally forgettable movie, but this one's content is pretty good.

It only drags occasionally, and the action (and even plot!) is very good, great to see jackie in control! It does make a change seeing him play someone other then the lovable underdog as well, but although this movies isn't humerous as far as i could tell, it's not deadly serious either.

Snake & Crane is horribly edited, and critisising the dubbing of a jackie chan movie is hardly an original notion, but it is very watchable, and while not a 'must-see' it is definatly one of Jackie's old ones that fans shouldn't be afraid to take a look at!

1978 was one of the most, if not the most, prolific years in the history of martial arts movies. By my count about three of these movies were made every day. If you make a list of the best martial arts movies of all times then these movies from 1978 must appear on that list or you know nothing - The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Crippled Avengers, Heroes of the East, Five Deadly Venoms, Drunken Master, Warriors Two, and Dirty Kung Fu.

So where does Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin fall in among this plethora? We must pretend, to be objective, that Jackie Chan was just another of the hundreds of capable would be star material stunt men of the era. Is there anything about this movie that makes it worth mentioning along with the other seven named? Short answer, yes.

There are two fight sequences. First is a sword fight sequence at about the 45 minute mark. (I'm pretty sure Jackie took many of these same moves and improved the overall sequence in another of his movies. I'll get back and edit this once confirmed.) Second is the spear fighting sequence in the final fight. Those two fights are on the level of Liu Chia-Liang greatness (the Grandmaster of all martial arts movies). The only problem is the rest of the movie is "meh". I will not be adding this movie to the best of 1978 list but it is certainly rated above average and mandatory viewing for fans of the genre.

Since I mentioned it - I will add my list (up until 1978)

1967 One Armed Swordsman, Dragon Gate Inn, Rape of the Sword

1968 Killer Darts, King of All Swordsmen

1969 Killers Five

1970 The Chinese Boxer

1971 The Eunuch, Lady with a Sword, The Brave and the Evil

1972 The Black Tavern, Five Fingers of Death

1973 Enter the Dragon, Win Them All, One By One

1974 The Savage Five, Shaolin Martial Arts

1975 The Flying Guillotine, The Female Chivalry, The Man from Hong Kong

1976 Challenge of the Masters, Master of the Flying Guillotine, Killer Clans, The Secret Rivals, Dance of Death

1977 The Iron Monkey, Broken Oath, Invincible Armour, Shaolin Plot, Executioners from Shaolin, The Lost Swordship, Judgement of an Assassin, Pursuit of Vengeance

1978 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Crippled Avengers, Heroes of the East, Five Deadly Venoms, Drunken Master, Warriors Two, Dirty Kung Fu

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.