Big Trouble In Little China Review!

Big Trouble is an action/comedy/fantasy/horror blend like no other film you've seen. When you have a film starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter, the same pair that brought cult favourites 'The Thing' and 'Escape from New York' you know you've got a good film on your hands. Big Trouble will exceed your expectations. It's their true masterpiece.

The film starts with Egg Shen talking with his lawyer. The discussion they are having is set after the events of the body of the film, and is a perfect setup for things to come. The lawyer dismissively reels through what he's heard of the case, and then asks Egg Shen straight up: "Okay. But if I'm gonna be your attorney, then there are a few things I need to make clear. Like... you really believe in magic?" and Egg Shen quietly responds by conjuring lightning. I've heard the backstory to this clip, and it was tacked on because of test audience confusion. It didn't need to be included in the film, but considering it was forced on, it really keeps the feeling of the rest of the film, and probably makes it better. Like I said, it's a masterpiece.

The next scene features Jack Burton, the star of the film. He roars onto your screen is his truck "The Pork Chop Express" and is talking on his CB radio. He's giving out advice and talking like he's a man of the world. What he doesn't realise is, he isn't a man of the world. In fact, people probably aren't even listening. Jack has a saying which truly encapsulates how unaware he is of how insignificant he is. The saying goes "You know what old Jack Burton says at a time like this.." of course, no-one in the film knows who Jack Burton is, and the things following it aren't the pearls of wisdom Jack believes they are. Regardless, Kurt Russell gives Jack Burton a charm which no other actor could. I didn't realise this for several viewings of the film for various reasons, but Kurt Russell is basically emulating John Wayne. It's not subtle, but not being a fan of westerns it took me some time to clock on. What I did pick up on was just how funny the Jack Burton character is in the film, he's completely out of his element (as he probably is even when sorcerers aren't shooting light out of their mouths and flying) but he just doesn't know it. In most films they totally mishandle characters who are useless. They're usually just the brunt of a joke. Not so with Jack Burton, he's respected by his friends, and while he isn't feared by his enemies, at least he's there to face them down.

Jack Burton meets with his old friend Wang Chi, who ends up losing a load of money to him gambling, and Jack takes Wang to the airport where Wang's fiancee (Miao Yin) is meeting him. Now Jack only goes there so he can keep tabs on the guy who owes him money, and clearly doesn't fully trust his friends. Jack spots Gracie Law (played by Kim Cattrall) at the airport and tries to hit on her, and gets shot down quite brutally. At this point in the film, the audience shouldn't be feeling sympathetic to Jack but, while waiting with Wang, Miao Yin is snatched by a few members of The Lords of Death. Jack grabs one by the shoulder and being a fair bit bigger than the punk, is full of confidence. The punk turns on him, and whips out a flick knife and an extendable baton, and poor Jack can't even figure out where the weapons came from, and gets floored by another one of the punks while he's backing off. The punks drive off with Miao Yin, so Jack and Wang pursue them in Jack's truck. Jack is driving as fast as he can, but get's overtaken by a lorry bearing the Puma logo. Jack isn't good at what he does.

The chase for Miao Yin and the The Lords of Death leads them to an alley where a fight between the Chan Sings and the Wing Kong. This fight involves machetes, bats and guns, and Jack panic stricken, winds up his trucks window, and pulls a little knife he's got hidden out of his boot. Like those two things are gonna help him. The Three Storms show up during this huge brawl, and are seemingly impervious to bullets. They wield some funky weapons and turn the fortune of the battle. Jack revs up his truck and tries to drive away, but unfortunately hits Lo Pan. Jack jumps out of his truck and is temporarily blinded by Lo Pan, so Wang grabs him and runs off.

The Three Storms

and Lo Pan.

Okay. So I'm aware I'm introducing new characters and not explaining who they are. That's because the viewers understanding of what is going on is informed when Jack Burton is. Since he doesn't have a clue, we're blessed when someone gets a chance to explain something to him.

Jack and Wang regroup at Wang's restaurant, the Dragon of the Black Pool. Where even the waiter, Eddie Lee knows more about what Jack is involved in than Jack does. Then Gracie Law shows up there, and she knows what is going on too, and relays the plot upto now in about 30 seconds. She talks so damn fast, and Jack just can't follow her. So he proclaims "Hold it, Hold it, Slow down, I'm feeling a little like an outsider here!". That's the whole point, and Jack still hasn't realised it, and that's what is so damn fun for the viewer to see.

We learn from Gracie and Eddie that The Lords of Death work for the Wing Kong, which Lo Pan is the head of. They've kidnapped Miao Yin and Wang wants to get her back. Jack is more pissed about his truck, but the phone lines go dead and he can't get in touch with his insurance company so resolves to join Wang, especially since Wang owes him that money.

At this point in the review I've set the film up, so I'm not going to divulge much more. More good guys are introduced, a few monsters are introduced, and the ultimate showdown comes before too long.

What makes this film so great are the characters. Jack Burton for the reasons I've already mentioned, he's the first leading man in the film whose role is that of the sidekick, he doesn't have any abilities or any savvy, but he's there and he's not going to leave his friends side. There's Wang, who knows the streets, knows the people, and can use martial arts, who by all rights should be the leading man. There's Egg Shen, the sorcerer for the good guys, who isn't as powerful as the bad guy, but has been preparing for their showdown for a long time. There's Gracie Law, who can talk faster than any human on earth, and knows a hell of a lot more than Jack does about what's going on. There's even Eddie Lee who works as a waiter who knows more than Jack. Then there's the bad guys, the Three Storms make fun henchmen, and Lo Pan is the most humanised immortal sorcerer I know of in a film. He's a bastard, but he's one the audience can enjoy watching.

The film looks pure 80's, it sounds pure 80's, and it feels pure 80's, and man do I love it.

I once spent a long while trying to come up with a film I could compare this to when I'm talking about it to people who haven't seen it. The best I could come up with was Ghost Busters. They share quite a few themes, they're both comedies which deal with the supernatural, they both have leading characters which aren't that capable, they're both 80's, and they're both good films. I would argue that Big Trouble is a lot better though. It's just faster, sharper, and more refined. It's funny how Ghost Busters is much more widely known and probably more liked.

I mean Ghost Busters doesn't have the star of the film face off with an immortal sorcerer while unknowingly wearing lipstick does it? That alone makes Big Trouble the better film.

I've rambled on for long enough.

10/10.