It should come as no surprise to you that Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin is little more than a vehicle for Kung Fu mahem. In most ways it's standard Chinese Kung Fu cinema, not that such a thing is bad if that's what you enjoy. The biggest plus is that it's Jackie Chan's first real shot at controlling the fight choreography (he calls it his first "dream project"). I also like the fact that it's not the standard you-killed-my-teacher-now-I'll-have revenge flick, this one has a little mystery to it. The biggest minus is that this was before Jackie's comedy style became his calling card so it's missing some of the charm that his future movies have though it does still have a few laughs.

The 8 Kung Fu masters of the land have combined techniques to create the most dangerous style of Snake & Crane. Shortly thereafter the masters and their book disappear. Later a boy named Su Yin Fong (Jackie) is revealed as having possession of the book, and everybody wants it. Clan after clan tries to get it, some by force, others by finesse, and others by deception. Fong becomes the target of a complex conspiracy full of betrayal and questionable motives as a few true friends and others struggling with their own loyalties emerge to stand against the powerful Black Dragon clan who doesn't hesitate to kill anyone that is in the way of their goals. What they don't know is that Fong has his own secrets which will change the entire battlefield.

I said it had some mystery, I didn't say it was a Sherlock Holmes story. None of the fight sequences jumped out at me as being particularly amazing, but then I'm comparing them to other Jackie battles. Jackie's talent at creating fluid, beautiful choreography is evident even if he has done better work since then. It's also a landmark because this was the first time he was allowed to use common objects as weapons which has become one of his primary trademarks. He impressed enough people that he was allowed to make Half a Loaf of Kung Fu next (my favorite of the pre-Drunken Master AKA pre-star-status films).

Despite the lack of the stronger elements of comedy some of the fight scenes in the restaurant are amusing and Jackie's unwanted sidekick cracked me up a few times.

A lot of people will find such a movie boring, but I enjoyed it almost as much as Half A Loaf of Kung Fu and probably more than any other Kung Fu movie that came out prior to Drunken Master. I do wish they had made the death of Tang's father more of a sub plot (he is one of the slain masters). When Tang learns of his fate she has no reaction when it could have become a deeper character moment.