Trying to explain the cult appeal of John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China to the uninitiated is no easy task. The plot in a nutshell follows lorry driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) into San Francisco's Chinatown, where he's embroiled in street gang warfare over the mythical/magical intentions of would-be god David Lo Pan. There are wire-fu fight scenes, a floating eyeball and monsters from other dimensions. Quite simply it belongs to a genre of its own. Carpenter was drawing on years of chop-socky Eastern cinema tradition, which, at the time of the film's first... release in 1986, was regrettably lost on a general audience. Predictably, it bombed. But now that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have made it big in the West, and Hong Kong cinema has spread its influence across Hollywood, it's much, much easier to enjoy this film's happy-go-lucky cocktail of influences. Russell's cocky anti-hero is easy to cheer on as he "experiences some very unreasonable things" blundering from one fight to another, and lusts after the gorgeously green-eyed Kim Cattrall. The script is peppered with countless memorable lines, too ("It's all in the reflexes"). Originally outlined as a sequel to the equally obscure Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension, Big Trouble is a bona fide cult cinema delight. Jack sums up the day's reactions perfectly, "China is here? I don't even know what the Hell that means!". On the DVD: Big Trouble in Little China is released as a special edition two-disc set in its full unedited form. Some real effort has been put into both discs' animated menus, and the film itself is terrific in 2.35:1 and 5.1 (or DTS). The commentary by Carpenter and Russell may not be as fresh as their chat on The Thing, but clearly they both retain an enormous affection for the film. There are eight deleted scenes (some of which are expansions of existing scenes), plus a separate extended ending which was edited out for the right reasons. You'll also find a seven-minute featurette from the time of release, a 13-minute interview with FX guru Richard Edlund, a gallery of 200 photos, 25 pages of production notes and magazine articles from American Cinematographer and Cinefex. Best of all for real entertainment value is a music video with Carpenter and crew (the Coupe de Villes) coping with video FX and 80s hair-dos.--Paul Tonks [show more]
Magical Carpenter. - Film Review of Big Trouble In Little China Town
John Carpenter is at it again in one of his more fun nature films where the imagination is left wonder, The film has never gone down as one of his better projects, but without that in mind gives a enjoyable viewing for the viewer. 'Jack Burton' another one of Carpenters explosive characters brought to the big screen doesn't allow to keep a obvious plot like many films. The film starts with Jack (Kurt Russell) playing a successful game of cards with a few old friends from his trucking days, leads him in to a airport hoping to receive a payment, then produces a Kidd knapping takes place and as the character Carpenter envisioned then goes in search of his friends soon to be wife. Confusion takes place for Burton and the audience as the plot then takes a sudden change as they go in search of the soon to be wed. They then stumble on a battle between two old rivals in the shape of little china, which ends in spells and magic being presented to the audience and then the real fireworks begin.
Kurt Russell on his own could sell this film alone. But the partnership of John and Kurt unite again as in 'The Thing', 'Escape From New York', 'Escape From LA, ' Carpenter kept with his main man as lead role which yet again brings out a different role for Russell to act and does so in such a great manor, leading the film with 'Jack Burton' who is a childish and stupid man who produces the good throughout the film eventually ' and gives Russell more credit to his acting. Kim Cattrall puts in a solid professional performance as a secretive women (Gracie Law) who gives the impression she knows more than she lets on. Cattarell keeps the good work up whilst her other supporting actors such as Dennis Dun (Wang chi) and James Hong (David Lo Pan) give her and the film real accolades. Carpenter uses her as his own 'James Bond' girl where at short snappy scenes shows romance between her and Jack. Screen written by new boys Gary Goldman and David Weinstein did them only applauds.
A very obvious and straightforward comedy fun themed film, but what Carpenter does well with this is, because of the fun nature of the film it could easily get out of hand and have silly things happening all the time and then the film would not of worked and of been as much of a success, but how Carpenter goes about not allowing this is spot on, he leaves them to a more action period of the film and when other films would bring in a real cheesy quote where there aim is to leave impact, John decides to go with a cheesy quote but not to leave a impact of purpose but more so of a joke for example when Jack opens the door to see a large number of enemies he then obviously says "we may be trapped". He also uses well timed scenes of fun for Jack where like a Arny would shoot the roof to show off his strength, Jack fires above him to then have the ceiling fall to his head. Little things like this make the film stand out more. Carpenter still allows a small amount of romance throughout the film between the two main characters only to end with Jack being a 'man' and leaving her for his truck, yet again does not allow Carpenter to be seen as going soft on the audience.
As said above Carpenter keeps with his main man Kurt but this isn't the only theme Carpenter continues to produce in his films, but of the creative creatures he likes to bring to the screen like in 'Halloween' he likes a well detailed evil character which is produced in this film, John likes to keep detail and with a ghostly looking tall individual has some common attributes of that a certain 'Mike Myres'. John obviously enjoys a good explosion of a person or of a alien like seen in 'The thing' and yet again does not disappoint with nearer the end one of the film a 'baddie' through irritation and anger then sucks in to enlarge like a balloon continuously in till no more then explodes, his body and flesh in a green blood/gas form scatters the floor.
Overall the film wont go down as a great or be remembered as one of his best pieces of work, regardless of this the film entertains throughout, a film with no room for boredom or similarity to any other films. But should not be forgotten for its fun antics and good use of music where necessary. Time will see if it has what it takes to be still talked about in years to come, but 27 years have been and gone but still had me as well as others entertained throughout. Easily forgotten, but easily enjoyed.
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. An All-American trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown.
When his friend's fiancée is kidnapped, truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) embarks upon an unlikely adventure beneath the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. It seems that the fiancée, green-eyed Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), has been taken by 2,000-year-old wizard Lo Pan (James Hong), who needs to marry a woman with green eyes if he is to regain his physical form. With guns at the ready, Jack storms into the Chinatown underworld ready to rescue Gracie from Lo Pan's clutches, but with the supernatutal and martial arts forces that are ranged against him, it's a task that is going to be anything but easy.
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