Big Trouble in Little ChinaIf you happen to find yourself in San Francisco's Chinatown, mixed up in a combination of a war with rival kung fu gangs and an evil conspiracy to resurrect a ghostly sorcerer, just remember what old Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) says: "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it." That's exactly the situation in Big Trouble in Little China which the aforementioned Jack Burton, a tough guy trucker with a John Wayne swagger and heroic attitude, finds himself in after his truck is confiscated, and after aiding his gambling buddy, Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), in trying to save his fiance, confronting the forces of darkness in the process.
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Big Trouble in Little China was to be a turning point for filmmaker John Carpenter, but instead was disillusioned with the response to this film, and would segue into independent filmmaking from then on. It should be noted, however, that as is often the case with films that may fail to garner success at first, they often find a second life as a "cult movie", which is what happened with Big Trouble in Little China. Barring what a "cult movie" is or isn't, the uniqueness and imagination of Big Trouble in Little China does a lot to earn it that distinction. Much of what makes this film feel unique has to do with the combination of ancient Chinese martial arts and magic brought stateside, set in modern times. Jack makes for an ironic protagonist; he has the appearance of the tough hero of so many Eighties action films, but he also comes across as a fish out of water, roped into what is a serious kind of turf war between the rival martial arts gangs as well as the supernaturally gifted lackeys of antagonist, David Lo Pan (James Hong). Lo Pan resembles the kinds of insidious, Fu Manchu-type of "oriental" villain presented in the serials of yesteryear, whose interests are both to wed a "green eyed woman" (or two) and conquer the universe. To that end, he has one of his low-ranking gangs--ominously calling themselves "The Lords of Death"--kidnap Wang's fiancee, Miao Yin (Suzee Pai), drawing Jack and Wang into Lo Pan's territory to rescue her, unaware of the trouble they're getting themselves into. What begins as a skirmish with the small gang escalates fast. Trapped in the alley in Jack's semi truck, they witness a funeral procession that blows up into a gang war, which then further blossoms into a confrontation with Lo Pan's "The Three Storms" (Thunder, Rain, and Lightning)--mystically-endowed super enforcers, which can fly, are super strong, and more. Big Trouble in Little China often moves at a frenetic speed, and just as Jack and Wang find themselves out of one "Hell of Boiling Water", they soon discover themselves in another fire.
Big Trouble in Little China opens with a conversation between Egg Shen (Victor Wong) and a lawyer who is looking for answers about Jack Burton, whom Egg Shen adamantly insists should not be bothered, as his bravery has left Chinatown in his debt. First impressions of Jack, however, indicate a trucker with a big ego, giving his nuggets of wisdom over the CB radio from his "Pork Chop Express" truck, emblazoned with the silhouette of a naked woman on his grill, looking to hustle the residents in Chinatown in all-night gambling sessions. Even his attempt to pick up Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), a woman at the airport who Wang describes as "trouble", is a bit uncouth, although their fates seemed intertwined when Jack encounters her at Wang's restaurant later. But Jack is a man who stands by the kind of big talk he espouses in his broadcasts, and jumps in to try to stop Gracie's friend from being kidnapped and sold into a sex slave trade, which unfortunately results in Miao Yin's fated capture. Egg Shen describes how it is his "destiny" to stop Lo Pan from completing his ritual to rule the universe by appeasing Ching Dai, the God of the East, but it would also seem that Jack is destined to play a role in this story, even as an outsider in this world. Jack's presence is something of a role reversal for action films, which may feature a minority skilled in martial arts; here, Jack is the minority, and his virtually the only one not skilled in martial arts, a fact played for comedic effect.
The Chinatown of Big Trouble in Little China is one of two worlds. The one on the surface is a warm and familiar place, one where Egg Shen provides tours by bus and proudly recounts the history of his home. The other is the underworld of Lo Pan, also called the "Godfather of Chinatown", as in the head of an organized crime mob. This is a place which is literally underground and represents the kind of imbalance which, as Egg Shen observes, represents the ancient curse which has deprived Lo Pan of a physical form (for the most part) for over two millennia. Lo Pan is a lot like Count Dracula; he is immortal and cursed, requiring the blood of a woman--under certain conditions--to grant him supernatural power. Some depictions of Dracula also show him possessing an alternate form of a decrepit old man, which is also true for Lo Pan, who dresses in a suit and moves around in a wheelchair, his Three Storms dressed also in suits, creating an anachronistic juxtaposition between Chinese mysticism and corporate dominance. Lo Pan is called a "dream" by Egg Shen, and his underworld is so varied and mixed, it is as if when characters move from one area to the next, it is as though they are moving through worlds. His underground complex at times evokes a bevy of supernatural creepies, and at others, looks like an executive boardroom with a heavy Eastern vibe. The great climactic battle occurs in a massive arena where Lo Pan attempts to wed his brides--one wasn't enough for his ego--one which resembles a hybrid between an evil temple from eons past and a rotunda in a shopping mall, drenched in the kind of neon lights found among Chinese restaurants, albeit decorated with massive skulls and multi-armed demon statues. Although billed as a "fantasy film", John Carpenter claims his interest in making Big Trouble in Little China was because he wanted to make a martial arts film. Fights are often filled with lots of "Wire Fu", fancy displays of fisticuffs, and special effects. And though world-ending devastation at the hands of the villainous Lo Pan is a constant threat, there is also a kind of "Saturday morning cartoon" vibe running through the film, a light-hearted tone which keeps the film buoyant and fun.
Recommended for: Fans of a colorful and engaging martial arts movie, with lots of neat special effects and a unique design, all elements which have given Big Trouble in Little China a second life as a cult film.
Big Trouble in Little China opens with a conversation between Egg Shen (Victor Wong) and a lawyer who is looking for answers about Jack Burton, whom Egg Shen adamantly insists should not be bothered, as his bravery has left Chinatown in his debt. First impressions of Jack, however, indicate a trucker with a big ego, giving his nuggets of wisdom over the CB radio from his "Pork Chop Express" truck, emblazoned with the silhouette of a naked woman on his grill, looking to hustle the residents in Chinatown in all-night gambling sessions. Even his attempt to pick up Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), a woman at the airport who Wang describes as "trouble", is a bit uncouth, although their fates seemed intertwined when Jack encounters her at Wang's restaurant later. But Jack is a man who stands by the kind of big talk he espouses in his broadcasts, and jumps in to try to stop Gracie's friend from being kidnapped and sold into a sex slave trade, which unfortunately results in Miao Yin's fated capture. Egg Shen describes how it is his "destiny" to stop Lo Pan from completing his ritual to rule the universe by appeasing Ching Dai, the God of the East, but it would also seem that Jack is destined to play a role in this story, even as an outsider in this world. Jack's presence is something of a role reversal for action films, which may feature a minority skilled in martial arts; here, Jack is the minority, and his virtually the only one not skilled in martial arts, a fact played for comedic effect.
The Chinatown of Big Trouble in Little China is one of two worlds. The one on the surface is a warm and familiar place, one where Egg Shen provides tours by bus and proudly recounts the history of his home. The other is the underworld of Lo Pan, also called the "Godfather of Chinatown", as in the head of an organized crime mob. This is a place which is literally underground and represents the kind of imbalance which, as Egg Shen observes, represents the ancient curse which has deprived Lo Pan of a physical form (for the most part) for over two millennia. Lo Pan is a lot like Count Dracula; he is immortal and cursed, requiring the blood of a woman--under certain conditions--to grant him supernatural power. Some depictions of Dracula also show him possessing an alternate form of a decrepit old man, which is also true for Lo Pan, who dresses in a suit and moves around in a wheelchair, his Three Storms dressed also in suits, creating an anachronistic juxtaposition between Chinese mysticism and corporate dominance. Lo Pan is called a "dream" by Egg Shen, and his underworld is so varied and mixed, it is as if when characters move from one area to the next, it is as though they are moving through worlds. His underground complex at times evokes a bevy of supernatural creepies, and at others, looks like an executive boardroom with a heavy Eastern vibe. The great climactic battle occurs in a massive arena where Lo Pan attempts to wed his brides--one wasn't enough for his ego--one which resembles a hybrid between an evil temple from eons past and a rotunda in a shopping mall, drenched in the kind of neon lights found among Chinese restaurants, albeit decorated with massive skulls and multi-armed demon statues. Although billed as a "fantasy film", John Carpenter claims his interest in making Big Trouble in Little China was because he wanted to make a martial arts film. Fights are often filled with lots of "Wire Fu", fancy displays of fisticuffs, and special effects. And though world-ending devastation at the hands of the villainous Lo Pan is a constant threat, there is also a kind of "Saturday morning cartoon" vibe running through the film, a light-hearted tone which keeps the film buoyant and fun.
Recommended for: Fans of a colorful and engaging martial arts movie, with lots of neat special effects and a unique design, all elements which have given Big Trouble in Little China a second life as a cult film.