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This movie kicked big! Jackie was excellent! This movie is all about this book of Snake and Crane tactics that must be the most prized book in the world, because everyone's willing to kill Jackie for it! But, of course, Jackie doesn't let them get the best of him. He kicks all of them with some of the best fighting in the earler Lo Wei movies. The story is pretty good in this one, and this is probably the second best Lo Wei movie, behind Half a Loaf of Kung Fu. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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This is a good example of early Jackie fighting. Though it lacks the fluidity of his later work, the extensive choreogrophy and fairly constant fighting leave something to be enjoyed. And thank-god, it's not one of those awful Kung-fu-guy-kills-student's-master-student-trains-and-goes-and-kills-kung-fu -guy. While there is more then the average sense of mystery and wonder in this plotline, there is nothing particularly special. The plot would better suit a feature of shorter length (i.e. : there is way too much filler). But, the kung-fu is good, and the fight at the end is classic. Not bad for early Jackie, but alas, no Drunken Master. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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Now this is a movie! This sucker was filled with great fight scenes, excellent choreography, not bad acting and a better than average plot. You can see some of the comedy more evident in Jackie's later films. I laughed, I cried, I got pumped, I went out and got another movie. P.S. Check out the fight scenes that roll behind the opening credits. COOL!! | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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Besides Rumble in the Bronx (quite a few of us began our JC admiration from seeing that film), the first film I saw was Killer Meteors, I almost gave up on him after seeing that. To quote Delroy Lindo from Get Shorty; "I've seen better film on teeth". But after that horrible piece of work, I am happy to say that my next film was Snake and Crane. WOW, I was shocked and amazed at the amazing fight choreography from an old kung fu movie. From the opening weapons demonstration to the 7 minute final fight, there is almost non stop fighting, and all of it extremely entertaining. There isn't enough comedy in it, which is my only complaint, but there is the guy who only uses two syllables per sentence, and plenty of wisecracks by JC. Recommended to all fans of JC. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| A more appropriate title would be "Jackie Chan vs. The Peoples' Republic of China." This Lo Wei effort has even more fight scenes than Elizabeth Taylor has had husbands. Jackie is a wandering fighter who claims to possess a secret Shaolin technique instruction manual which everybody wants (and nobody gets). Numerous characters hunt him down and confront him for a chance to win the prized book. The most annoying of them by far is the cross-dressing girl (I jumped for joy when the main villain offed her). The guy who only speaks in two-syllable sentences was pretty funny, and I really liked the way the last Shaolin master said "Buddha bless you" (twice!). My only gripe about this movie is that much of the combat is very one-sided, with Jackie pretty much beating the crap out of all who oppose him. Fights where the adversaries are more evenly matched, like at the end of Dragon Fist, are much more interesting to me. |
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If I were seling old two-packs of Lo Wei films, I'd do two things right off the bat: First, I would stop sellng all the pathetic two packs out there. Then I would bundle this one with Shaolin Wooden men, and sell them together for about ten bucks. I think they make an interesting combination, because both of them fail where Dragon Lord succeeds. In this film there were too many characters and plot twists, while in Shaolin Wooden Men there weren't enough surprises. I really need to watch this one again to figure out what was going on, and to try and make some sense out of it. Acting was of acceptable 1970s quality and the action was about the same. Not a great deal of comedy in this film, but that was forgivable since Jackie spent so much time fighting off all these different gangs. There were so many bad guys that I think one of them escaped in the end. Sequel? Hah it wasn't that good. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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"Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu" hooked me, this movie made me buy them all. I love just watching the opening credits. I love the snake fist slap move. I even tried tearing a piece of paper like he does. (I got mad and crumpled it up and JC style kicked it across the room.) Is it me or does it seem that JC kicked everyone's butt in China? can relate to this movie cause I have friends who talk like two-syllable man. "Who are you? A friend. What kinda friend? A friend. You always use two syllables? Most time." HEH HEH. That last fight scene is cool too. Go Grand Funk Kung Fu Master JC! | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| The opening sequences of this film are simply so perfected this can be labled as some of Chan's best classic kung fu performances alone. In the first few minutes of the film, while the credits run, Chan fan's have the uppermost privilege to gaze in amazement at Jackie's single most complete weapon form using a chinese kuen (spear). Viewer's can marvel at Chan's perfect positioned stances and rhythmic fluidity as he twirls this 6 ft spear around every fiber of his body like a baton. And just after this solo performance, we don't even go into the story of the film yet; Chan's not finished demonstrating his mastery; two assailents charge at chan weilding spears while Chan defends with his favorite weapon combinatio: the chinese tonfa and a broadsword. Magnifique!! I am awestruck at ever shot.
After these two classic performances the film begins. The plot is semi-simple with a few twists and turns. Jackie is chased by fueding clan after clan who want to take a sacred book of Shaolin Snake and Crane Techniques; which indecently, he really does not possess, he just wants to cause a little trouble to bring the bad guys out of the woodworks. Fight after fight, Chan plows his way through fighters all over China who want to possess this book. Chan demonstrates once again, time after time, his perfected kung fu movements and stances as he wards off assailent after assailent. Chan makes it look so so easy as he taunts his opponents by blocking strike after strike and staying on the defense patiently waiting (he could yawn while being on the defense) to use to Snake and Crane technique. Chan counters masterfully whenever he wishes, or sometimes he'll just kick an assailent through a banister or table; it doesn't really matter because they are no match for Chan's superb skills.
The most awestruck scene in this film however is at the end when Chan must defend weaponless against three assassins/bountyhunters weilding barbed spears! For more than five grueling minutes, Chan makes duck after duck and spin after spin to parry and elude the spear points being thrust at his face and body. With striking bravery, and extreme accuracy, one little fraction of a mistake by Chan or one of his stunt men could result in a serious fatality or even the loss of an eye! This film is a must see; go buy it a Musicland or Wal-mart today if you already haven't. Highest possible recommendation! |
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OK, I admit it's been a while since I've seen this, but I don't recall being as impressed with this film as most of the other reviewers seem to have been. Silly me, I enjoy a plot... It wasn't bad, mind you, and it's kind of nice that it didn't follow the "formula," but it really didn't do anything for me. Yes, good fight scenes; yes, annoying character gets cacked at the end; yes, great posturing during the opening credits; but overall, there are plenty of other films I'd rather watch. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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This is the first Jackie Chan movie I bought along with Dragon Fist. Many people may disagree with me, but I enjoyed this movie. The opening scene where Jackie shows off his kung fu skills is amazing (How can you complain about it?). In the movie, Jackie's character basically walks around and fights with everybody while trying to conceal the book. There is nonstop action and some sarcastic humor from Jackie. There are some misleading issues such as the Dragon Spear, but it doesn't seem to care to me. The ending is pretty spectacular as well. He first fights three guys each with a spear (single-handedly) and once he beats them up he fights the Black Dragon guy (whatever he's called) using the snake and crane form. Because it was a Lo Wei production, I had to make my rating a little lower because the movie isn't up to par with Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow in size. | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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| | | | ALTERNATE SYNOPSIS:
It is said that "Snake And Crane..." is Jackie Chan's most accomplished martial arts film by both fans and critics alike. Even Jackie Chan admits that he delivers his whole repertoire of both weapons skills and fighting techniques to such an extent that you can see something new each time you view the film. "Snake And Crane..." is the ultimate Jackie Chan film--need we say more? | | LOG IN TO COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW! |
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