Snake In The Monkey’s Shadow (1979)
Snake In The Monkey’s Shadow is possibly the greatest film in the ‘Styles’ subgenre.
It’s a type of martial arts movie that features a hero trying out a series of different martial arts styles, usually discovering that the way to beat the main baddie is to combine two or more styles. They always act like they’re the first person to come up with that idea.
But the reason Snake is so good is that one of the featured styles is known as ‘Drunken.’
The Drunken Style basically involves our protagonist getting pissed-up as a part of his training (which is a hell of a lot cooler than wax-on, wax-off) and lurching around like a tramp at midnight during his fights.
That, friends, is the very essence of awesome.
The Stupidly Awesome Awesomely Stupid Fight:
There’s nothing more stupid than watching someone trying to fight whilst drunk.
And there’s nothing more awesome than that person alternating between amazing martial arts moves and the sort of swaying steps Oliver Reed used to take on his way to talk show chairs, during the same fight.
Behold the above clip, and keep an eye out for the hand-bitingly brilliant moment at around the 6.07 mark.
It’s a defence move we’ve added to our own personal repertoires, so it’s probably best you don’t get too close to us.
Next: Riki-Oh: The Story Of Ricky
Comments
TheSunshineHobo
Aug 10th 2009, 13:12
While all of these fights are stupidly awesome I want to add one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvGH3nM08iI&feature=related This is the final fight scene from the film Versus. This is not the best fight in the movie, but it is the only one I could find. My favourite fight involves the main character sporting a massive sniper rifle that shoots exploding bullets and a psychotic japanese detective that spouts out the greatest one liners known to man. Alas this fight will have to do.
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ChrisWootton
Aug 10th 2009, 13:50
Thats the best feature i've seen in years.
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Desperation
Aug 10th 2009, 14:10
I agree with ChrisWootton completely. Best TF feature ever. However, i know it's not a movie, but i do think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBnflnDArlk should get an honourable mention.
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dalebiskit
Aug 14th 2009, 16:32
I think this trumps them all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da3Xun-yGCQ
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daveordid
Aug 23rd 2009, 16:38
Great list, but I have to say surely Drunken Master is the original and best 'Drunken fighting style' movie and not Snake in the Monkey's Shadow. Although Drunken Master is actually pretty damn good so maybe not silly enough to be in the list!
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