Classic Jackie Chan

Martial Media, Culture and Other Arts Martial Media and Popular Culture
1

Hi,

I was looking at the cheap DVDs at a local store, and I found for two dollars, Jackie Chan’s Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow.

I had never seen this before. It was really good. I want to get more of the classic era Chan movies. I have a dvd of The Young Master, but haven’t gotten to watch it yet. It has a double feature with a movie I don’t recall right now, but the picture was so bad it looked unwatchable.

Anyway, I’ll go out this weekend and maybe find some classic Chan dvds. I’m a late bloomer in my martial arts collecting, though I have always liked them since I was a youngster. I’m forty now. I also made a yahoo group for kung fu classics and it’s link is on my profile here, if anyone is interested.

I’ll add more here when I get back from shopping.

So, if anyone is interested to reply, what are the top Chan movies to look for from the 70’s and 80’s, before he went Hollywood?

I’m guessing I have some,

My current Chan DVD collection is:
Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow(Columbia Tristar).
The Young Master/New Fists of Fury(DiscPlaza).

and on VHS I have a 4 movie set(Simitar):
Fearless Hyena.
Fearless Hyena 2.
Spiritual Kung Fu.
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin.

I am thinking I need to get Master with Cracked Fingers, and Drunken Master.

Chosen One

2026 Year of the Horse
Bai Jiu (Moutai)
Bai Jiu (Moutai)
Mortal Kombat 2
Winter Olympics
Kung Fu Panda
2

Just off the top of my head:
Drunken Master
Half a Loaf of Kung-Fu
Shaolin Wooden Men
To Kill with Intrigue
Fantasy Mission Force
Killer Meteors
Hand of Death
Dragon Lord

heh not all of these are exactly homeruns, but for a true Chan Fan, you gotta see 'em. :slight_smile:

3

Dragon Fist (1978)
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin (1977)
Magnificent Bodyguards (1977)

If you want a better-quality version of The Young Master, you should check out the 20th Century-Fox release, and I would recommend watching the original Cantonese dialogue instead of their newly-dubbed English version. And these 20th Century-Fox versions of Golden Harvest movies are quite inexpensive, usually available for less than $10, sometimes $6.99 apiece.

4

Snake in Eagle’s Shadow, Drunken Master, and Young Master are 3 of my favorite jackie films. But talking about my favorite jackie movies makes me bring up Crime Story. That is my 4th favorite. If anybody thought that jackie is just a goofy guy who gets his butt whooped, you obviously haven’t seen Crime Story.

5

Last night I watched New Fist of Fury. I’d had this for a while on a cheapo DVD, and the pic looked bad and I never got around to watching it. Well, as I did watch it, the pic was watchable, but an obvious double crop of a 20th generation VHS. But overall, I liked the movie. Jackie wasn’t front and center throughout, I know he was new then too, and I also read this was an “official” sequel to Fist of Fury, aka Chinese Connection. I did wonder why when Jackie was returning the repaired school sign, images of Bruce popped on the screen. I guess that was the ushering in of Jackie as the new Lee. The end, like the end in Blazing Ninja, was not the expected type of ending. But I did like it, and if I see it on the better release, I’ll get it.

I also started watching The Young Master. I think I’d seen this before, but not sure if all of it. This was the second feature with the above movie on this cheapo dvd I picked up at Kroger a while back for a buck. I got about half way in, and the move kept freezing up. I’m not sure if it’s the cheapo DVD or my player, which sometimes does act up, I guess it’s 2 or 3 years old. I’ll try and finish it on the other player I have in another room. But this too, I’d get again on the proper release.

I’m off to visit one of my local used shops, if I find something good, I’ll post about it.

Chosen One.

6

If you have the 3 pack that I have, then it is transferred from the horrible Ocean Shores version. The one positive on the American cut is that you get to hear Jackie sing at the end of the movie. But, you are missing out on abotu 20 minutes of footage.

7

No, I don’t have a 3 pack of Chan. I just have that double feature el-cheapo DVD on Disc Plaza I got at Kroger for a buck a couple of years ago, with New Fist of Fury and the Young Master. This disc seems defective too.

Anyway, I went to the store I often go to, and find deals.

I think I got 2 good ones, esp if I go by the comments on the IMDB.

I got:
The Legend of Drunken Master($4).
Heart of Dragon($3).

The reviews of the Legend of Drunken Master are excellent.

I also picked up, unrelated to Chan a VHS of Streetfighters Last Revenge for one dollar. I know this is our on dvd cheap, but I can’t seem to find it for a dollar on DVD.

Sadly, I found no Godfrey Ho Ninja movies this time.

But, the Jackie Chans look good, and the prices seemed a deal.

I’ll probably watch one tonight.

Chosen One

8

If you got the Fortune Star DVD of Heart of the Dragon, you got the right one!

Like Jimbo said, those Fortune Star DVDs are cheap and great quality. Pick em all up.

9

[QUOTE=jethro;758260]If you got the Fortune Star DVD of Heart of the Dragon, you got the right one!

Like Jimbo said, those Fortune Star DVDs are cheap and great quality. Pick em all up.[/QUOTE]

I liked Heart of Dragon… some good acting by Jackie in that one… and Sammo did an EXCELLENT job in his role as a mentally challenged man…

10

I can name probably 20 better Jackie movies, but I like Heart of a Dragon. Great acting from everbody and some really good action at the end. D!ck Wei very rarely disappoints.

11

Hey Kung Pow Master-

I watched my Jackie Chan 3-pack for a first time in a while yesterday and I really think you would like it. Young Master is actually a decent widescreen print except it has the Vintage Entertainment logo on screen for a lot of the movie. It is the cut version, but worth it for the $1.99 price I found this for.

The DVD also has Fantasy Mission Force which is a bad movie, but still a lot of fun.

It also has a watchable version of The 36 Crazy Fists. Some people do not believe Jackie directed the action for this movie, but this version actually shows behind the scenes filming of the movie with Chan directing. Absolutely awesome stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Jackie-Chan-Triple-Punch-Collection/dp/B0000A02V0/ref=sr_1_1/104-9987729-9630313?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1177965716&sr=1-1

So make sure you get the Jackie Chan Triple Punch Collection. It is 3 movies on one disc.

And oh yeah, don’t get Master with Cracked Fingers. This is actually Jackie’s first starrign role and Rarescope will be releasing it uncut for the first time ever. It was released many years after Jackie became a star and was heavily edited.

12

Greetings kungpowmaster,

You must get Dragon Fist. It was one of Jackie’s rare, straight serious, kung fu movies. The opening fight tournament is an immediate hook and the overall fight choreography is the SCHLITZ. Jackie even doubles for some of the tournament guys in the beginning.

You will NOT be disappointed with this flick!

mickey

13

Thanks for all the classic Chan recommendations and comments. I’ll keep a look out for them. I have the 36 Crazy Fists in one of my dvd sets, and as you know, it’s not him as the star. I don’t think I’ve watched it yet, or all of it. I have a few Chan, on dvd and VHS, I think I listed what I have on the 1st post. I always check the bargain and used bins. I found Snake in Eagle’s Shadow a few weeks ago for two bucks at Big Lots(a local bargain related store), I looked there yesterday too, and the only thing I found was a non-Chan related, Lethal Ninja titled movie, from 91, dir; Rudnicki. Haven’t seen it yet.

Chosen One

14

Ya know, Jackie was actually in a porn film. People kinda don’t talk about that little nugget.:cool:

15

OK, so what is this “porn film”, and by that, do you mean he engaged in actual sex which was graphically shown on film? Or was he a cameo in some “adult oriented” sexy themed movie?

Chosen One

16

There is no way it is a porn movie. I think it was from golden Harvest, but it is known for being the movie where Jackie has a sex scene, which is the reason I have never seeked it out. I read a review abotu it once and nowhere did it mention porn, just a terrible sex scene.

17

I didn’t think it was “porn”.

Anyway, I was at a local shop today, and they had for $3.99 each;

Rumble in the Bronx.
Jackie Chan’s First Strike.

So, I got them. I have seen Rumble in the Bronx…, maybe at the theatre?
Anyway, I liked it enough, and I’m not sure about First Strike, I may have seen it or parts on TV.

Can’t go wrong with $3.99 though, it’s cheaper than renting them.

Chosen One.

18

Legend of Drunken Master

Last night I watched Legend of Drunken Master, well, about half, will finish it later today.

This movie had super rave reviews. Well for me, apart from Jackie’s great skills, I wasn’t impressed overall. It still has that modern feel to it, which is different than the classic style of the 70’s, and even early 80’s. But what dampened this movie most for me, is Jackie’s mother. Her character is like a Lucille Ball on meth, and very annoying to me. Also, I don’t like the music, the music to me, detracts from many scences, like the fight scenes especially. This movie is a pale shadow to even Snake in Eagle’s Shadow. I seem to think, I like Jackie’s modern movies best in a modern setting. I just don’t think the great classic style of kung fu cinema can be done anymore, in the style of Shaw Brothers, and such.

Other than that, the movie is OK, so far, in my opinion(I like goofy, but there is such a thing as too goofy).

Chosen One

19

You can’t really comment on the movie until you have seen it. I agree it is far from Jackie’s best work, but the axe gang fight and the final fight are 2 very thrilling scenes.

20

Hi,

I finished watching Legend of Drunken Master. I thought it was good, overall, but still, I felt the music detracted from the action scenes, I felt his mother character was annoying, and the bad 90’s style dubbing, all that to me hurt the movie. If these were different, or not there, I’d rate it 4 out of 5, but as it is, I guess a 3, as the good scenes make up for it. I also didn’t like Jackie’s clothing. BUT, just my review, and the fight scenes, and Jackies stunts etc, were all excellent, as he is great, maybe the greatest in this stuff. I think if anyone can be considered a successor of Bruce Lee, it is Jackie Chan.

I also watched Jackie Chan’s First Strike. Now, I liked this a lot. Better than Legend. Good music, no overly annoying characters, awesome fight and stunt scenes, and the dub was bearable.

As usual, this is all my opinion, yours may differ.

Chosen One