Fella_shibby Saw this first on a VHS in mid 80s. The fighting really never stops, and we see Jackie fight groups of people numerous times. This is also one of the few Jackie movies where he fights women. In this film, Jackie has attitude and confidence and he kicks butt from scene one. This is easily one of the best old style Kung Fu movies. It has bad editing, bad cinematography and bad audio quality. Watch out Jackie showing of his skills with various weapons - absolutely amazing. There is an epic fight involving the Snake and Crane style in the end. Fans may recognize the opening credit's music as the same piece that graced the credit sequence from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

cloudhands_1 To start with, this is one of the best old skool Kung Fu movies out there! and now to the nitty gritty...Every year, the Masters of all the Shaolin divisions gather for combining and developing the best technique based on their supreme kung fu knowledge & experience, now they have formed the ultimate kung fu technique making "The Book of the Eight Steps of Snake & Crane".but mysteriously hereafter, the 8 Masters of Shaolin disappear along with the most valuable book, and chaos reigns in South China Until one day, when a young stranger comes to town named Hsu Yin Fung, or better known to us as Jackie Chan, carrying the precious book. Now this definitely means action, and in big quantities - all the kung fu clans want this book for themselves, but Hsu Yin Fung has mastered the art which is written there! even more, not only that Hsu Yin Fung does not keep the fact that he has the book very secret as you would expect him to do, he also has a bad habit: he likes fighting people who fight well, as he puts it in the movie.yes ladies & gentlemen, this movie is loaded with fighting scenes! there are heaps of them to surely satisfy any kung fu movies fan, while the plot itself is also interesting, it is not the usual formula of kung fu movies, a lot of colorful characters appear in this film, and there are no dull moments, the story keeps it's rhythm fluently.There is also some humor weaved in the story although not exactly the kind of humor you might be used to from other Jackie Chan's movies, note this - Jackie does not do any slapstick like humor by himself, here he is the toughest guy around and he has no problem showing it. most of his films, Jackie is not reluctant to kick ass, nor to straight forward declare that he can, but here it's a whole different tale...one last thing, in the opening scenes of the movie (and later on) The Dragon Spear is mentioned: a weapon which is given to The ShaoLin Master Lin who was given the book at first to assist him in this, but we never get to see this spear in the movies it is only mentioned so don't build up expectations.

Scott I watched this movie immediately after watching "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow," another terrific Jackie Chan movie, and it was nice to see a change in the way Chan was written into the story. I felt bad for Jackie Chan in "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" because he was always being bullied around, however, in this movie, Chan is clearly the one with the advantage. It was a lot more fun to watch Jackie Chan whup up on some bad guys, than watch the bad guys whup up on him.I love any fight scene where they use the rattan bo with a knife at the end (long wooden stick with a knife at the end). I've been hooked on using a long staff as a weapon ever since I watched Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles use his staff, and use it effectively. In this movie, watching Jackie Chan use a bo to kick butt only heightened the viewing experience for me. The beginning sequence against the red background while two guys attacked with the staffs and Jackie defended himself with the modern police baton and a sword, WOOO!! that was great! I noticed though, as I watched that, the music they played was that from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's the music that is played during the opening credits of the movie and it was really weird to hear that music being played in a kung fu movie. My only question is: to which movie does the music really belong? Which movie was made first? It turns out Monty Python was made first, so I guess the music was stolen.I really like the plot of this movie. It's so much better than "revenge on a guy who killed someone's family." The use of an ancient text to lure out the killer of seven masters of snake and crane style, leaving one master to teach a student the two styles in order to eventually... get revenge. So you see, while the plot is nothing TOO new, it's still better than other plots of other kung fu movies.What really sets this movie apart from other Jackie Chan movies, is that it doesn't have goofy, and gratuitous dumb humor. This movie sticks to the point, and is serious all the way through. I like that in my kung fu movies. I gave it a 6/10.**Final Decision: * With his abilities, Jackie Chan deserves to be in control**

blackman His character is arrogant but likeable. This is Jackie Chan at his early best. From the opening credits you know that there is something very special about him... and the film! The Kung-Fu is superb and at the odd occasion very funny. This is a must see for all Jackie Chan fans.