Movie Review: Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China

Starring: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Victor Wong, Kate Burton, Donald Li, Carter Wong, Peter Kwong, James Pax, Suzee Pai, Chao Li Chi, Jeff Imada, Rummel Mor, Craig Ng, June Kyoto Lu, Noel Toy, Jade Go, Jerry Hardin, James Lew, Jim Lau, Kenny Endoso, Stuart Quan, Gary Toy, George Cheung, Jimmy Jue, Noble Craig, Danny Kwan, Min Luong, Paul J.Q. Lee, Al Leong

Director: John Carpenter

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, TAFT Entertainment Pictures, USA, 1986.

Trucker Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is accused of blowing up large parts of Chinatown in San Francisco. Egg Shen (Victor Wong) tells the story to lawyer (Jerry Hardin). Jack brings some pork chops to Chinatown and gambles with his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun). After that they go to airport, as Wang's green-eyed girlfriend Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) is coming from China.

Jack Burton and Wang Chi

Gracie Law

Miao Yin

On the airport Jack meets Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) who seems to suspect something weird going on in Chinatown. Lords of Death- gang kidnaps Miao Yin. The gang apparently follows similar slit-goggle fashion as Lee Marvin and Till Lindemann. Jack and Wang go to rescue but find themselves in the middle of gang war between good Chang Sing and evil Wing Kong. To make things worse three storms Thunder, Rain and Lightning (Carter Wong, Peter Kwong and James Pax) and evil wizard Lo Pan (James Hong) appear and attack the Chang Sings.

Lords of Death

Thunder

Lo Pan

Cursed Lo Pan needs a green-eyed Chinese girl to become young again so he can then rule the universe. Together the heroes and their friends infiltrate Lo Pan's fortress that is full of torture chambers, monsters and traps. Wang is better with martial arts while Jack is better with guns but he must first learn to use them. Then Lo Pan kidnaps Gracie because she too has green eyes, but now also Egg Shen (who is also some kind of wizard) and Chang Sing- gang join the heroes.

Uncle Chu, Gracie and Egg Shen

Jack and Wang in strange palace

This ain't Chewbacca

This is great fun. Jack is parodical action hero, and actually a very clumsy guy. Dennis Dun is the more traditional kung-fu hero. Whereas Kurt Russell was almost invincible super-soldier as Snake Plissken, now as Jack he is more a regular guy who has been hit in the face with Chinese mythology. Kim Cattrall is enjoyable heroine who is "the brains" behind Jack. The villains pull their roles hilariously over the top, just see the scene where they first appear in the movie. Also the monsters look amusingly grotesque. This is entertaining and tongue-in-cheek 1980s action comedy with right amount of 80s cheese. Sadly this movie was not a big hit when it was released, but later it has gained a fanbase.

Jack as a stupid tourist

References can be found to Star Wars, Fu Manchu, Indiana Jones and Hong Kong movies. Lightning inspired the character of Raiden in "Mortal Kombat" games. John Carpenter sings the end title song with his band Coupe De Villes.

Heroes feel the effect of Egg Shen's magic potion

Jack and Gracie

Rating: Very good