Big Trouble in Little China Big Trouble in Little China
1986 Directed by John Carpenter
Synopsis
Adventure doesn't come any bigger!
When trucker Jack Burton agreed to take his friend Wang Chi to pick up his fiancee at the airport, he never expected to get involved in a supernatural battle between good and evil. Wang's fiancee has emerald green eyes, which make her a perfect target for an immortal sorcerer named Lo Pan and his three invincible cronies. Lo Pan must marry a girl with green eyes so he can regain his physical form.
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"You leave Jack Burton alone! We are in his debt - he showed great courage!"
I have long been in that camp which calls this film accidentally awesome. I know Carpenter claims that he made the movie silly on purpose, but I never believed him.
Until now.
Having recently seen what Russell can do with JC when he plays it straight (The Thing) and also what happens when JC actually makes an accidentally awesome crappy film that he intended to be officially awesome (They Live), I feel like I can tell the difference. This picture is intentionally ridiculous, and that makes it super-awesome.
Every line is quotable. The action is over the top. Kurt Russell is playing a cornball version…
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Big Trouble in Little China really shouldn’t work with its hodgepodge of genres and reluctance to adhere to any sort of logic. Yet, it doesn’t just work it is a downright triumph of unfettered imagination and an infectious spirit. Whilst John Carpenter is best associated with the horror genre, this movie proved that he was just as skilled working within the action, adventure, comedy, martial arts and fantasy genres too. Everything but the kitchen sink is thrown into this scattershot fantasy-adventure but Carpenter juggles these references and influences with an amazing lightness and deftness of touch. Above all, Big Trouble in Little China, is just unapologetic and undiluted fun from beginning to end.
It is a film that never once…
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Wow. It is still fantastic.
Carpenter has created a rough, edgy and humourously dark adventure story that feels like an Indy 80s cheese fondue.
The way Carpenter allows this wonderfully silly story to unfold, slowly developing the mystery and the growing threat to everyone involved is expertly done. It's what makes this film utterly enjoyable and infinitely rewatchable.
Add to that a script with superb one liners and an engaging plot and you've got yourself a winner. It also helps that Russell seems to be born to play roles like this.
There is one thing that many filmmakers keep forgetting and that is when you're having fun it rubs off. This film was made with that mindset and it shows.
Don't think this is the last time I'll be watching this.
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This film was made in 1986, when Ronald "Nancy, where's my brain?" Reagan was the leader of the free world.
Kurt Russell plays Jack Burton (the most loveable hero since Han Solo), who personifies the ignorance, bravado and smug cultural indifference of America at the time. He would have been a perfect American during George W's reign as well. He loves guns and knives, he's built like a brick shit-house, and his affection for foreign culture is only slightly less developed than his sensitivity with women.
Kim Cattrall is her usual wooden self. Thankfully, women weren't respected in the 80s, so she only gets expository dialogue.
The story is ludicrous, and the action is frantic. There are weird creatures and…
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One man's search for his one true love. His truck.
A favourite as a kid. And watching it now? Still incredibly fun. It's a relentless rollercoaster of a movie, barely taking a moment to breathe with it's action scenes to the wonderfully self aware and hilarious script.
Kurt Russell's Jack Burton is to this day one of my favourite film characters. His ineptitude and his undeserved sense of self importance as well as his channelling of John Wayne collide into a melange of glorious characterisation. Genius. -
Part of the No Rewatch November 2012 Project.
For all these years I've been going around without having had the experience that is Big Trouble in Little China. I'm a little surprised I made it this far, if you want to know the truth. Looking back, it seems like I was only half alive.
Everything about this movie is a pile of terrible awesomeness. It might be the most epic cheese ever put on film. From character introductions that would make porn writers cringe at the bad writing to those boots that Kurt wears throughout the whole thing to the total lack of any attempt to disguise that he was running around with a rubber knife in his mouth, it's…
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Kurt Russell gives the performance of a lifetime in a wacky martial arts fantasy that it is hard to not fall in love with. I need to get this on blu-ray. It is well worth the money.
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I'll be rewatching a lot of stuff as I'm in the middle of a long distance relocation (I moved back to crack rock city). This movie fucking rocks and it will never get old! It gets even better with a rewatch.
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Now this is one rollercoaster ride. This movie is incredible. I can't describe it. I just--I just can't. See it. It has everything. Be amazed. I love it.
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Such a fun film, as soon as my kids are old enough ill be showing them this. They'll love it. A kids film for adults! Get it watched.
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"I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things." - Jack Burton
I've lost count the number of times I've seen this film but it never fails to get a big, stupid grin on my face. With it's tongue firmly in it's supernatural Chinese cheek, the film flirts with parody but skilfully remains teetering entertainingly on the edge. It's clear it must have been a hoot to make.
Carpenter's soundtrack (along with Beverley Hills Cop, Terminator et al) will always rate up there with the best of the 80s, cheesy pop synths with just the right level of foreboding and doom running underneath, compliments the tone of the action and visuals perfectly.
It doesn't need a sequel,…
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Damn, how many knives is he hiding in that boot of his?
Big Trouble in Little China... where to begin? This film is straight down absurd. It defies all logic, and still it's awesome. It was definitely not John Carpenter's best film, but it was highly enjoyable.
Some of the problems they encountered in the storyline (such as the badass overpowered trio bodyguards) are just stupidly handled by for example drinking a potion... It just feels a bit cheap, a quick fix to get the story not even more absurd.
In conclusion: this is just an absurd film that he's some cheap tricks, but it has a high entertainment value!
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I don't what I just watched but I do know that it's all in the reflexes.
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"It's all in the reflexes."
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This movie has one of the most straight forward and honest movie titles I've seen. The music, the over the topness, the Kurt Russell, how involved the characters are in it, it's all awesome. They sold it, and I bought it.