Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow
It was good to see that Columbia/TriStar pictures had released the 2 movie dvd edition of Jackie Chan's classics. I watched Snake in the Eagle's Shadow since I was a young boy. I remembered watching it many times. This was back in the early 80s. Now watching it again is a delight.

Though, a very important part of the film was cut. This changed the tone of the film since it is the pivot of the storyline. The story was about how Jackie Chan learned the Snake Style from the old beggar, who is the master of the Snake Style. However, a vicious martial art opponent with an Eagle style was determined to wipe out the Snake Style clan. Chan didn't know this was going, and the old beggar was on the run, to escape from the Eagle Style master. Through the middle part of the story, Chan discovered that the Snake style manual that was left to him was torn apart by his cat. He found his cat trapped in a corner of the room confronted by a cobra snake. In the original film, it actually revealed how...

This is a Must have to be in you Jackie Chan Collection
This movie's story is pretty simple Shang Kwan Yi Mun (Hwang Jang Lee)is the eagle claw master who has decided to wipe out everyone who knows the Snake Fist technique. After having killed almost every snake fist master there is now only one left Pak Cheung Tien (Simon Yuen). But what he doesn't expect is that Pak Cheung Tien will teach the poor orphan boy Chien Fu (Jackie Chan) the snake fist style. Now Chien Fu has to under go some of the most tortuous training ever devised. On the way he also learns another style "the cat's claw" which he learns from a cat that kills a king cobra snake. Chien Fu now decides to combine the snake's fist with the cat's claw to be able to beat Shang Kwan Yi Mun in the final confrontation. This movie is a pretty stunning showcase and the first time Jackie Chan got to show what he is able to perform. Simon Yuen shines as the old snake fist master. Hwang Jang Lee also makes a solid performance as the dreaded eagles claw master. What can I say this movie is...

The Ultimate Jackie Chan Movie
Before I go on I must say that my score is based on a heavy tilt. As a DVD this has nothing to really merit 5 stars in the way of features, extras and the ilk. But you're not buying this movie for features are you? You're buying it because this happens to be one of the finest Kung Fu movies ever made.

There is a plot that revolves around two feuding kung fu schools, the snakefist and the eagle's claw. The eagle's claw has all but won, having successfully killed most of the members of the snakefist. Jackie Chan plays an errand boy working in a small kung-fu school and he happens to come across the last remaining master of the snake fist and provides him out with food and shelter.

That's the plot. Its full of holes but at the same time it is dotted with some hilarious moments, highlighted by excellent fighting scenes, and carried by jackie chan's irresistable charm.

This is old school jackie chan. If you've only seen his new films you will most...

Click to Editorial Reviews