Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Not every movie should be reviewed as if it should be a big budget oscar winner! Some movies are just supposed to be enjoyed.

Ok, I'm not a professional movie critic (although my family tells me all the time I should have been) so I won't give a wordy detail by detail review of this entire film.
Let me say that this has been one of, if not my absolute favourite films of all time, since I was about 5 and first saw it on HBO or Cinemax many years ago. Kurt Russel became one of my first loves/heroes after I saw this. It is truly a movie of the 80's since it has both a cool soundtrack, and a very witty one-of-a-kind story plot that you just won't find today in the world of big budget over done action thrillers with an emphasis on sex. It's pleasing to see how many others share my feelings about this movie and also adore it even now. Some movies just aren't suppoesd to be that big ground breaking money maker, some are just supposed to be fun and enjoyable and it's movies like these, with hilarious one-liners, that you never forget. The one liners in this film are the kind that become lifelong inside jokes to be repeated and laughed about by your and your friends always. That is alot more fun to me than a movie that made alot of money just because of the all star big shot cast and multi trillion dollar budget!! If you approach every new movie with the expectations that it will be one of those with great effects and pristine acting and cinematography, you'll likely overlook many great films that just really have down to earth stories and better acting atleast, than most people who aren't paid to act could probably do.
Kurt Russel is great in this, he is such a pro and because of his long background in acting (since childhood people) he is one of those actours that can play any part and not have to worry about tarnishing a type-cast image. From Snake Pliskin to Jack Burton to Dean Proffit, who else could play those roles? Kim Cattrall to me has never been a terrific actress, even in Mannequin (there's another one of those good old 80's classics. And for those of you who have the nerve to complain about something like poor acting in any film, you have no room to complain here since so many seem to idolize her in Sex and the City.
For those of you who saw this as children and loved it and grew up with an interest in Chinese culture, you're not alone. This classic Friday night with pizza kind of movie is worth a try if you've never seen it, but don't expect it to be The Godfather or anything or you won't be able to enjoy it. Take Care BTLC lovers;) August 17, 2008

Entertaining

Big Trouble In Little China is a film that takes itself not too seriously and thus comes across as pure fun and entertainment. Kurt Russell is cast perfectly as trucker Jack Burton, the not so cool hero who can't shoot a gun straight, wears suede boots with tight blue-jeans tucked in them, and needs a posse of Chinese warriors to help him save the day. Kim Cattrall is a refreshing presence as Russell's love interest; I wish she would have been cast in more light films such as this. Can director Carpenter resurrect this character? If Stallone can gives us Rocky Balboa seven times; why not a second dose of Jack Burton? August 14, 2008

And a whole lot more!

A faint, pleasant echo from an era when we had less to worry about. Yes, it's a silly movie with a fluffy, 'bouncy' little plot (and sub-plot), but it's fun to watch Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell perform when they were both *so* much younger... James Hong is excellent... His villain provides "a whole lot more" than just 'timelessness' and 'inscrutability' on tap. Nice relaxing fun. July 7, 2008

Another Carpenter classic

Fortunately I have managed to miss this film over the last 22 years. I'm saying that because I suspect if I had seen it when it first came out I wouldn't have appreciated it. Now though, following Kill Bill and many other martial arts epics this is a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood stodge.

Kurt Russell is superb as Jack, a wise-cracking truck driver who accidently stumbles upon an extremly unlikely plot revolving around two girls with green eyes and an ancient magician who is seeking to gain ultimate power by marrying one or both of the girls. As intimated above the magician, who is called Lo Pan, has a vague similarity to Mei Pei in Kill Bill. Kim Cattrall is one of the two leading actresses, who is now of course much more famous for 'Sex and the City'.

This is all done with tongue firmly in cheek. Most of the time Kurt Russell uses a John Wayne voice which is completely inappropriate, but somehow its perfect for this film. Frequently the film is very funny and Russell's character is in general the butt of most of the jokes. The special effects are beginning to look dated now, but given that this film was probably made on a relatively low budget they actually stand up remarkably well.

This is a throughly entertaining film.
July 4, 2008

Big Trouble in Little China - A Perfection in Camp

Big Trouble in Little China fits the definition of a cult film. Not popular on its initial release - being blocked by other summer films of 1986 such as ALIENS - it has since developed a following which it most certainly deserves. John Carpenter purposely made this a B-movie and I commend him for that, because it certainly is a blast and the chemistry between characters with Kurt Russell at the center is mostly entertaining.

The plot revolves around an ancient feud between two separate Chinese groups that has come all the way from its homeland to San Francisco which witless, wisecracking trucker Jack Burton (the always amusing Kurt Russell) suddenly finds himself right in the middle of. With his friend Wang Chi - a skilled Chinese martial artist who owns a restraint in Little China - he is pulled into a fight between good and evil and to save his truck! An ancient sorcerer - Lo Pan - needs to marry a girl with green eyes and then sacrifice her to lift a curse and retain his young form, or else be a frail old man for centuries to come; only being able to take his true form for brief periods of time. When Wang Chi's fiancée is abducted by Lo Pan's Three Storms - warriors possessing the powers of a storm - it is up to Jack and Wang to save her and end the centuries old conflict.

As I previously mentioned this film was intentionally made a B-movie and the cast obviously had a lot of fun making it, with lots of tongue in cheek dialogue and intentional mistakes. It all adds to the campy fun that is Big Trouble in little China Town. The best part about it comes from the chemistry between Jack Burton and Wang Chi. You'd think Russell's character would be on top of things being the muscled American toting the gun, but Chi is the real hero with all his martial arts and fighting skills, but Burton never seems to get that constantly puffing his chest believing he is in fact the hero and Chi is the sidekick. This is the main humor that comes from this film, and I found that aspect incredibly creative considering it was a very unique idea that many people didn't get at the time but I believe the idea has begun to catch on and people can now appreciate that humor aspect of Big Trouble in Little China.

The film is great entertainment and will have you smiling at its foolishness throughout and it comes highly recommended by me if you're someone who can just sit back and enjoy this masterpiece in camp. It can be found in five dollar bargain bins across the United States so just pick it up if you get the chance. Get the popcorn out, turn off the lights and enjoy.
June 13, 2008

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