Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1982)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Dreadfully Boring

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Saw this on Crackle a few weeks ago and it had Jackie Chan in it too. First the dubbing is okay and the movie starts with 2 rival masters seeing who will win. This is also some of Jackie Chan's early work, the choreography is good and Jackie Chan looks kind of young in this movie. He starts out s an orphan being bullied by his classmates until he befriends and old guy. The old guy gets into a fight with some of the students and Jackie tries to help him. Then a white preacher comes by to break up the fight and then after that old guy teaches Jackie how to fight. Old guy teaches him by trying to get Jackie to take a bowl from him. Old guy also teaches Jackie some steps and moves he put on the ground too. After that old guy and white preacher see each other and old guy tries to avoid him. Then old guy fights an Eagle student in the Snake training grounds and both him and white preacher try to kill him but old guy escapes. Old guy then get's healed by Jackie and he teaches him Kung Fu. A bit later Jackie's school gets into a fight another school then Jackie's school master goes to the rival school's ace. The ace tries to kill the master but Jackie stops him and then they fight and Jackie wins. Then when Jackie gets back home he meets one of old guys so called friends. Then after that there's a scene where a cat fights a cobra and kills it. Old guy and Jackie meet in some field where they encounter the so called friend and white preacher which is some fighter from Russia. After they're defeated Jackie's school master tires to stop them thinking he poisoned them. He didn't and I think Jackie and old guy walk off somewhere, I'm not sure since the ending was like all Kung Fu movies. It's still pretty good early work for Jackie Chan and if your a fan if his movies this is required watching.

Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts action film classic that launched his meteoric career of Jackie Chan.Showcasing with imaginative kung fu styles together with powerful choreography and innovative training sequences, it is a revelation of the overwhelming physical talents of the world's number one Chinese action star. The movie is the story of Chien Fu (Jackie Chan),an orphan adopted by a kung-fu school.He,too is overworked as their janitor and abused by the kung fu teachers as a walking punching-bag. He befriends an old beggar (Yuen Siu Tien in an unforgettable role) by offering him a meal and a place to stay. Unknown to him, the old beggar is actually the last surviving master of the Snake-style of kung fu. The old man is on the run from the Eagle Claw clan, which is viciously killing off all of the rival Snake-style kung fu masters. Realizing that Chien is being abused, the old man teaches him the footwork of snake style which enables one to avoid an opponent's attacks.The film has great action sequences.These delights the audience especially those who are interested in martial arts. Aside from that,it provides entertainment the beginning to end.Notable in the film is the great chemistry between Jackie Chan and Yuen Siu Tien.Also commendable is the direction of Yuen Woo-ping,who has done great films after these such as Iron Monkey, Fist of Legend, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix series, Kill Bill and The Forbidden Kingdom.

this is the best Jackie Chan movie, and probably the best kung fu action registered ever in film. a kung fu movie is simple, and this director knew it, because he never tries to out shine Jackie, fights where you see the character evolve in his skills, a couple of scenes where he plays with some elements such as a saucer or a rag, and fights where the only answer to what you see is that the action happens a bit faster then it was recorded, because there's no human way to do those choreographs without someone getting killed. a sword fight and some history about the kung fu techniques based upon animals. if you are looking for a good history, i don't know, this one is not the greatest but it wont bore you. lets not forget about an old man who steals the movie. the only problem about this movie is that after you see it you'll start to feel this voice that tells you "go practice kungfu", be careful, it's not as easy as Jackie shows it.

Spoilers herein.The picture that started Jackie's career. I found it fairly boring except for a few moves and the amazing dexterity of the old man (at 66). He does a bit with a rice bowl that has to be a classic. His son directs, and would in fact be directing him at 70. Imagine dying at 70 doing a martial arts movie directed by your son. That's the way to go.This has humor (even the subliminal madness of the names of the techniques) and fights but not yet humorous fights. So it is really only of passing interest as a film, But that old man!Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.