Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)

One of the biggest classics of martial arts cinema, the film that started a new subgenre in kung fu cinema , the comedy kung fu cinema and the breakthrough fim for its star, the legendary Jackie Chan...

Directed by the legendary Yuen Woo Ping and co-starred by his father Yuen Siu Tien, playing his eternal role as the old beggar drunken master, this film is an example of how a perfect kung fu movie should be made, from the badass opening sequence with Jackie training with a red background behind him , accompanied by a catchy music until the final epic final fight against the great Hwang Jang Lee , the film is a succession of outstanding and very original martial arts sequences accompanied by great doses of humour ..Although that Lau Kar Leung already had used this formula in his directorial debut "The spiritual Boxer" made three years before, however, it was this film the one that gave a new direction to Hong Kong kung fu movies becoming in an instant classic..

MASTERPIECE

Fmovies: It's not hyperbole to say that Yuen Woo Ping - and as an extension the entire Yuen Clan - really left a long-lasting, significant and impactful legacy in action film cinema, and truly, Drunken Master 1 as well as Snake In The Eagle's Shadow are shining examples of this legacy.

I'm really pleased how well Snake In The Eagle's Shadow have aged over 40 years (WTF, HAS IT BEEN 40 YEARS??) It is still watchable today as it was then, without cringe, without embarrassment, fully immersed in the spectacle carried by a simple storyline.

Yes, the story is simple, but you don't need a sophisticated story to be entertaining. You just need the story to be believable and coherent. Fortunately, Snake In The Eagle's Shadow does slightly a bit more with actual story progression as well as character arcs for our main protagonist Jackie Chan as well as the supporting character played by Simon Yuen Siu Tien.

Jackie's slapstick comedy and over-the-top expression of agony fits like a glove here, and the comedy is great all throughout the film. The arc of the central lead Chan Fu, an orphan that is bullied by everyone, possessing a naive but ultimately good heart, the struggle he face, his journey to become better, is told in a relatively fast paced but still in a satisfactorily congruent way.

Simon Yuen is also excellent and convincing as Pak Siong Tin as the old kung fu master on the run, playing him in a very Taoist way not dissimilar (in fact you could say identical) to his other legendary role of the Beggar So Hat Yee from Drunken Master.

The other standout actor is Hwang Jung-Lee as Sheng Kuen, the main antagonist. If Hwang's role as Thunderlegs in Drunken Master is his best work, then his role as Sheng Kuan here is his second best. There's no mistaking that Hwang is an accomplished martial artist and his fight scenes really attest to that. His fight scenes are almost always worth watching simply for the physicality of it.

And physicality is the other highlight of this film. Yes, this has got to be among the most well choreographed Kung Fu scene in the genre, and I speculate is where Jackie formed his trademark style of using props and surroundings in action scenes. The training montages are well worth watching and the music for this film is also stellar and dramatic, opting for synthesizers instead of classical instruments.

The one very obvious, uncontroversial flaw of this movie, and the reason why I'm giving it an 8 instead of 9 or 10, is the very anti-climactic Cat's Claw. Other reviewers here in IMDB have commented on it as well. It's just not good. It's very much a major weak point in the entire film and really made the ending fall flat after such a great first 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Still, it isn't such a critical or catastrophic flaw to dissuade or spoil your enjoyment of the movie. This is one of the best Jackie Chan and Yuen Woo Ping movies ever made and it highly recommended that you watch it.

This is Jackie Chan's best film I have seen so far! Miles better than Drunken Master. The guy is supremely fit, which you see in this film, and the skill this guy possesses is second-to-none. There is tons of fighting from absolutely loads of Hong Kong's top martial artists. Apart from Jackie Chan, it's "Thunder Legs" Hwang Jang Lee who stands out, this guy is a supreme kicking machine! If you want to see a classic, then this is it! 10/10

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow fmovies. Lots of fighting, done in a comical way. Just about every character in this movie are not too bright, which is perfect for a comedy of errors.

I have always preferred this comical way of handling martial arts better than the too serious Bruce Lee style.

I´ll try to summary this movie. Orphan (Jackie Chan) is being mistreated by evil Kun fu-Club owner on the club in which he is a cleaner. He meets an old beggar who learns him "snake style" -kun fu. The old man is being hunted down for knowledge of the martial art. Check this movie out. If you like Jackie-Chan, then you will love this movie. I give it a 10/10.

If you've got a couple hours to spare, and you like light hearted hong kong kung fu, then watch this film. The music and sound effects are really hilarious, and the action never lets up. The final fight scene is somewhat memorable as well.