Snake in The Monkey's Shadow

Hey folks, I'm back. So a friend of mine pointed out this particular movie this morning and I had not seen hide nor hair of it prior, that can be a hit or miss for me. With the scanty information on this film via IMDB, I had to go to The Movie Database and the Martial Arts Movie Database. Yeah there are a few setup that way. This is Snake in The Monkey's Shadow a.k.a.Snake Fist vs the Dragon.

Look at this poor posture. Shameful.

Hmm the alternative title sounds like an nearly cinematic gay porno. Eh, no matter.  Our movie opens with a serious demonstration of Snake style Kung Fu versus Drunken Monkey Kung Fu. Already I am thrilled. It's a martial arts expo if you will for three minutes. It is similar to Ninja Death II and Sho Kosungi's demonstration in Enter the Ninja. The intro title credits song is reminiscent of Fists of Fury or at least that is what it sounds like to me. Look I have seen a fair degree of flicks, they tend to blur into one another.

One accomplished master snake who apparently has been killing off other practitioners of martial arts challenges a monkey master. I am a bit appalled as this has been told to us by the narrator. I mean surely they have some authority they can turn his mass murdering ass over to?

Asian Mark Hamil?? Perhaps.

Long story short, Snake loses to Monkey. No shocker there. Ah Peter Gabriel jokes...that no one got. Boy the meat slappers got a lot of work on this picture. Oh sorry. A foley or sound effect for strikes were two paddle with steaks attached to the paddles and slapped together for a smack strike.

Pretty sure nobody wanted those steaks after a two to three hour recording session.

The main story starts with a boy named Liang (Because don't all films start that way?). Liang (John Cheung of Massage Girls, Super Dragon, Godfather's Fury, The 36^th Chamber of Shaolin, 2 Wonderous Tigers, Winners & Sinners and Bloodsport) is a lowly fishmonger. Hey, the kids bullying him kept saying it so it must be true. Liang becomes obsessed with Master Ho (Chiu-Sing Hau of Five Superfighters, Jade Claw, Stroke of Death and Shaolin Drunk Fighter) and his school of drunken boxing. He heads out to drop fish off to the local nobles, the Yans when the younger brother of the Yans slaps him around and mocks him claiming Liang is the new family dog.

Ho is begged by Liang to join his school but is tossed on the streets. The rate they were going I was waiting to hear Aladdin's Riff Raff, Street Rat song. Yeah the whole town basically treats him like a joke.

ACK! Getting your bill, sir. Yessir!

Enter Koo an accomplished drunken master taking pity on Liang and proceeds to instruct him. He treats Liang like utter crap and Liang starts at the Ho's school as a cleaner. Liang has excellent photographic reflexes as he watches the students and improves in technique and form. Begrudgingly, Ho allows Liang to join the school.

The Yan brothers mock Koo and Master Ho weeps the walls with the snotty punks. Naturally this can only mean the Yans' honor is besmirched and they will have satisfaction. They actually hire contract killers to put Ho and Liang in their place...of death.

Yeah the scumbag snake that fought Koo earlier in the film is back with a partner and they are looking to raise some hell for the right price.

What does this mean for Liang?? Will Master Ho be defeated?? Will they go full Fists of Fury and try to take down Ho's school??

Okay yes the dubbing is a bit painful but not compared to Ninja Death I and II. The dialogue however...well that is a bitter pill to swallow. The choreography and fight sequences are downright amazing, plus all the wire work for leaps.

Seeing three completely different sets of Kung Fu was actually a sight to behold. Snake seems fierce but is limited to mostly mid level strikes and kicks. Drunken allows for more limber movement that appears erratic. Monkey is pure mimicry of an actual monkey movements and attacks. The combination of Drunken and Monkey was difficult to follow.

Okay the story of humiliation and revenge from heartless bullies is a trope many of these films share but as a whole this was enjoyable.  Again the dialogue was shaky but the fight scenes did make up for a lot of it.   All in all, 7 out of 10 for me.   I may not come right back to it for another viewing but I had a good time with the picture overall. 

MONKEY COMBAAAAAT!!!