Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin

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.

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.

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.

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!