Clevercell Very disappointing...

Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Sassy Cat I've watched a lot of kung fu movies and a lot of Jackie Chan movies. This one is a cut above. The theme of the physically and mentally abused young man is a classic one and commonly used, but it's illustrated in this movie much better than in many others. You really feel Jackie's mental anguish. One particularly charming and clever scene is when his new friend, the 'old man' tries to cheer Chien Fu (Jackie) up after he's had a pretty nasty beating with his clever agility with a tea bowl. This not only amuses Chien Fu and cheers him up, but makes him curious about learning the skills himself. A delightful scene brilliantly executed. You can't take your eyes off of them.This movie is full of fight sequences that are just riveting. Don't blink! There are also multiple little plots going on, and a variety of characters, which make this movie much more interesting in the kung fu genre. Yet it is still a very simple theme and the action is the star, which is what you want. Jackie took a lot of actual physical punishment in this one. According to his autobiography, when his arm gets cut in the scene involving the sword, it was supposed to be staged with a blunt sword but the sword was still sharp and he gets cut for real. Jackie also lost a tooth when he got kicked in the final fight scene, which you can see missing at the end of the fight.

poe426 I'm no fan of animal cruelty (anyone who can casually take the life of an animal, I'm convinced, would have no compunction whatsoever killing a fellow human being), SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW boasts what must be a first: a toe-to-toe slugfest between a cat and a cobra. The cobra must've been devenomed: at one point, he's wrapped around the cat, who goes leaping wildly through the air trying to dislodge him; it seems hard to believe that that cobra couldn't have bitten the cat at that point- but the cat wins! (If, like myself, you're fond of cats- and the only people who aren't are the people who haven't raised one of their own- I highly recommend CAT'S THE MOVIE- but avoid CATS AND DOGS, the Disney movie from a couple of years back, at all costs: it's nothing less than Evil.) The aforementioned feline proves inspirational to Jackie Chan and he begins to incorporate some of its moves into his own kung fu fighting style. Well crafted in the extreme, SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW is one of the better early Chan entries.

tedg 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.

CitizenCaine Jackie Chan made several movies in the 1970's, some of them forgotten, and many others forgettable. However, for the first time, this film successfully combines the many elements that would later signify Chan films: well-choreographed fight sequences, loose performances, an acceptable story, and comedic elements. The film is filled with one great fight sequence after another. The old man, who teaches Chan the snake style, is absolutely fantastic. His sequence with the bowl and Chan is incredible. Part of the secret of successful martial arts films in the 70's was adding welcome doses of humor. Here we have Chan, the underdog, being transformed into a hero in comedic, and grueling, training sequence fashion. Chan comes up with the new cat's claw style (kind of hokey) when the snake style isn't enough to overcome the opposing eagle's claw camp. The cat and the snake fight sequence is great, but the sound effects are hopelessly phony. The plot is typical for a martial arts film of the period, but doesn't drag the movie down, and contains more colorful characters than usual. A precursor for what was to come. **1/2 of 4 stars.