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Below are 2 Reviews: HUGE by Christian De Matteo - Super by Jorge Solis

Big Trouble in Little China

by Jorge Solis, Resident John Carpenter Expert

Super

Imagine your fiancée is kidnapped. She's being held captive by a ruthless gang. Your only help is your best friend. Both of you are going to do whatever it takes to save her. Before there was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, there was John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China.

Kurt Russell worked again with John Carpenter after they made The Thing. This role is way different from what he did in The Thing. Kurt Russell imitate John Wayne. Instead of riding a horse, he drives a truck. As Jack Burton, Kurt Russell is not your usual anti-hero. Yes he's obnoxious and wisecracking but he's also very stupid.  Jack Burton is on a whole other level next to John Carpenter's line of tough guys.

The script written by Gary Goldman and David Weinstein is funny, action-packed, and entertaining. James Hong plays Lo Pan, a 2,000 year old ghost. He needs a woman to become a god. The clock is ticking and it will take a lot out of Jack Burton to stop the wedding. He has to go through an underground tunnel, one ugly monster, and Lo Pan's warriors. It's like a video game. 

When I say before there was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I'm talking about the flying, the kicking, and the sword-fighting. Ang Lee's fight scenes are nothing compared to John Carpenter's. John Carpenter's fight scenes are way more colorful and longer. Plus they're not ballet and graceful. The best reason to see this movie is to watch the unbelievable and impressive showdown between Lo Pan's warriors and Jack Burton's friends. You'll want to see it again and again. The music by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth really works in these scenes. Explosions left and right. This is
when Lo Pan really lets go and uses his powers. Dennis Dun, as Jack Burton's best friend, is at his best in this showdown. My favorite part is when Dennis Dun and the swordsman jump and fight in midair.  

John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China is a two-disc set on DVD. There are trailers, behind the scenes features, and deleted scenes. There is also great commentary between John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. Actor/Director relationships usually fizzle out after the second time they work with each other. John Carpenter and Kurt Russell have made five movies together. Each time they work together, it's better than the last one and different. 

One of the Very Best:  Big Trouble in Little China
by Christian De Matteo

HUGE

Growing up, Big Trouble was a constant view for me over the weekends.  Seldom a weekend would pass when I wouldn’t awaken, stumble into the living room and pull down the adventures of Jack Burton.  I’ve been a diehard and forgiving Kurt Russell fan ever since.  I’d revel in all the Burtonisms (“It’s all in the reflexes”) and laugh and marvel my way through the ingenious and amazing fight scenes.  I’d gawk at Kim Cattral (“Sex and the City”, 15 Minutes, Live Nude Girls), and pause that one second when the brothel is attacked when one bouncing breast was viewable.  Ah, childhood mammaries…um, memories.

Needless to say, this was a DVD release I couldn’t wait for and I had it the day of.  To call this an incredible film is to shortchange it.  To label it as groundbreaking and inspirational for many films that followed it would just begin to scratch the surface.  Big Trouble is one of the most exciting, fun and rewatchable movies ever made.  The dialogue is pure brilliance, paying comedic tribute to all actioneers and martial arts flicks to come before it, and even paying tribute to the great John Wayne.  Carpenter’s (Vampires, The Thing) direction is flawless, his timing impeccable and his ability to spur his actors at the right moments and also trust their inherent sense to make the film come to life.

Russell’s Jack Burton is a character born of pure inspiration, a clownish idiot who prides himself on being a take-charge kind of guy but comes within a hair’s length of muddling everything he touches.  Pure luck and, ironically, his reflexes save his rear in every case.  Burton is Shakespeare’s fool and John Wayne wrapped up into one silly package, a formula I’ve never seen done so well before or after.  It’s impossible to not think he’s the coolest even though you know damn well he couldn’t be more the opposite.

The plot is simple, moves quickly, takes great turns and is exciting at every step.  The movie is made of chemistry, chemistry between the actors, director, writers and all the forces of good.  Few movies reach anywhere near this astounding level of perfection.

John Carpenter and Kurt Russell have had some classic collaborations, but Big Trouble in Little China will always remain my favorite by leaps and bounds and a film to watch over and over and over again.

And remember, when some 10-foot ugly is knocking your favorite head up against the wall and asking if you’ve paid your dues… just remember what ol’ Jack Burton always says…Have you paid your dues?  The check is in the mail.

Mark's Movie Info.      IMdb

Some of the lightning forms a Chinese symbol as it disappears. The symbol translates as "carpenter" for the film's director: John Carpenter.

Ever wonder where this film came from? Well, W.D. Richter, the director of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, wrote a script for the unfilmed sequel, "Buckaroo Banzai Against The World Crime League." When that project fell through due to production conflicts, John Carpenter picked up the script and retooled it into "Big Trouble in Little China."

That's not San Francisco's Chinatown you are seeing. 90% of the outdoor sets were built on Fox sound stages, including Chinatown sets!

The martial arts expert who developed Jun Fan kick-boxing for martial arts legend Bruce Lee helped choreograph the film's stunts and fight scenes.