She hao ba bu (1978)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Chi-Hwa Chen

Writer:

Hsin Yi Chang (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 March 1978 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

Jackie Chan stars as the young warrior Hsu Yiu Fong. Hsu has been entrusted with the book of the "Art...

Plot Keywords:

Shaolin | Art | Kung Fu | Martial Arts

Cast

Jackie Chan	...	Hsu Yin-Fung
Hsin Yi Chen
Ching Lan Chin
Kang Chin
Chun Cho
Han Chang Hu
Sang-ho Ju
Ki Bum Kim
Kong Kim	...	Chien Tse
Wang Kuk Kim
Min-Lang Li
Chou-hung Lin
Ya Ying Liu	...	(Guest star)
Wen Tai Li
Yung-kuo Li
Do-shik Ma
Ching Suen Mao
Nora Miao	...	Tang Pin-Er
Tien Miao		(as Tu Mao)
Kang Peng
Ren Tieh
Lin Tung
Wei Ho Tu		(as Her Du Wei)
Quen Wang
Chi Sang Wong		(as Chi Sheng Wang)
Te-shan Wu

Also Known As:

Sau hok bat bo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Hong Kong | Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Company:

Lo Wei Motion Picture Company

A Hybrid of Snake & Crane!

This Kung Fu film has some really good ingredients. The thing that doesn't quite come through for it are the production values. The action sequences, the plot, the characters, the settings are all interesting and worth filming, but the actual cinematography and audio quality are quite poor, and so I found it unusually difficult to watch.

If you can put these issues aside, the film is great for it's time. Jackie Chan really begins to show his immense talents for what is probably the first respectable time. His acrobatics are great, as are the Snake & Crane styles he employs further on in the film.

Interestingly, his character is a little bit cocky, and his body language is a little unusual for him, as if he was told to act a little more American or something. Also, his back-hand strikes seem a little odd and over-used. One of the other great things is the appearance of all the different clans in the film. Th Black Dragons, the Flying Tigers etc really add some colour and interesting rivalry - not to mention the opportunities for various back-stabbings and double-dealings.

I would give everything in this movie an A, but the production values a C.