 Kurt Russell stars in thrill master John Carpenter's edge-of-your-seat adventures as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancée is kidnapped. Speeding to her rescue, Jack suddenly finds himself in a murky, danger-filled world beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, where Lo Pan, a 2000-year-old magician, mercilessly rules an empire of spirits. Facing down a host of unearthly terrors, Jack battles through Lo Pan's dark domain in a full-throttle, action-riddled ride to rescue the girl. Also starring Golden Globe winner Kim Cattrall, this effects-filled sci-fi spectacle speeds to an incredible, twist-taking finish! Storyline: Truck driver Jack Burton arrives in Chinatown, San Francisco, and goes to the airport with his Chinese friend Wang Chi to welcome his green-eyed fiancée Miao Yin who is arriving from China. However she is kidnapped on the arrival by a Chinese street gang and Jack and Wang chase the group. Soon they learn that the powerful evil sorcerer called David Lo Pan, who has been cursed more than two thousand years ago to exist without physical body, needs to marry a woman with green eyes to retrieve his physical body and Miao is the chosen one. Jack and Wang team-up with the lawyer Gracie Law, the bus driver and sorcerer apprentice Egg Shen and their friends and embark in a great adventure in the underground of Chinatown, where they face a world of magicians and magic, monsters and martial arts fighters. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, August 6, 2009 -- I never drive faster than I can see. The John Carpenter-Kurt Russell tandem proved one of the most successful of the 1980s, the pair coming together for a trio of films that have become bona-fide cult classics within both their respective genres and in filmdom as a whole. Both the thrilling Escape From New York and the chilling The Thing set the stage for the hybrid Big Trouble in Little China, a quirky special effects film that mixes hard-hitting action with pitch-perfect verbal and physical humor. Though Big Trouble is the least of the aforementioned Carpenter-Russell conglomeration, it's still a wonderful movie that simply earns an "A-" rather than the "A+" awarded the other two. Withstanding the test of time, particularly in a world now dominated by story-less and effects-heavy Action pieces and gross-out Comedies that lack both charm and appeal, Big Trouble in Little China is like an old friend, a favorite pair of pants, or that tasty and ice-cold beverage on a hot summer day that's always welcome, comfortable, and refreshing. Trucker Jack Burton (Russell) is a gambling man, laying down his hard-earned cash during layovers in San Francisco's Chinatown where he has no qualms about taking other people's money, even that of his friend Wang (Dennis Dun). One thing Jack never bet on, however, was his involvement in combating the mystical powers of Chinatown's underground. When Wang's green-eyed fiance Miao (Suzee Pai) is kidnapped by thugs, Jack, Wang, and Jack's newfound love interest Gracie (Kim Cattrall, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) attempt to infiltrate the dangerous world of Lo Pan (James Hong), an ancient wizard that needs a green-eyed girl to break a curse and allow him to become human once again. Things get more personal when Gracie, also a green-eyed girl, finds herself in Lo Pan's clutches, too, one of the girls set to break the spell and the other to become the wizard's bride. Jack, Wang, and several others must battle their way through an army of foes both mortal and seemingly otherwise if they are to rescue the women and save the day before Lo Pan can carry out his diabolical plan. Big Trouble in Little China delivers a straightforward story if there ever was one: bad guys kidnap girls, good guys come to the rescue. With that wholly unoriginal premise, the film must bank on what's between the lines to differentiate it from any other dime-a-dozen pictures available for consumption. Big Trouble in Little China, as perhaps even the comically-oriented name would suggest, plays out through its entire 100 minute runtime with tongue cemented in cheek. There's nothing here to suggest that the film is meant to be taken as anything other than an old-fashioned good time at the movies, escapist entertainment at its absolute finest. Big Trouble in Little China puts on a dazzling and sometimes dizzying array of antiquated yet charming special effects, a heaping helping of laughs, some death-defying action, and a mystical element that adds to both the excitement and the laughs that permeate most every frame. Whether enchanted wizardry, high-flying martial arts, dangerous gunplay, and even some classic fisticuffs, Big Trouble in Little China always remains on an even keel that manages to satisfy the appetite for hardcore action but does so with a wink and a nod as big laughs ooze through the frame and lighten up the film -- and its action and magical overtones in particular -- considerably. Sealing the deal and tying everything together is the ever-reliable leading man Kurt Russell, whose performance in Big Trouble in Little China defines his career with an effort that borders on slapstick Comedy. Underneath his character's truck-drivin' macho-man exterior is a frightened little boy thrust into a situation with no means of escape save for victory at the end of the day. The dichotomy of his dual persona makes for the film's funniest moments as the tough guy veneer consistently falls victim to his own hopelessness as a wannabe action hero and ladies man. Despite bumbling his way through the many obstacles Lo Pan and gang throw his way, and even if his fellow good guys see past his routine, Jack's heart always leads the charge, an asset that's often tougher than muscle and more important than mind. The remainder of the cast also excels in Big Trouble in Little China, with Jack's sidekicks played by Dennis Dunn and Victor Wong delivering pitch-perfect performances. The film also features not only the expectedly steady direction from the legendary Carpenter, but another of his synth-scores that have become a trademark of his films, including the aforementioned The Thing and, of course, Halloween. The fan favorite Big Trouble in Little China remains one of the quintessential Action-Comedy pictures to come out of the 1980s, the film made possible through the talented Carpenter-Russell twosome that almost always manages to churn out an upper-echelon picture. Though not as daring as Escape From New York or frighteningly intense as The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China works wonders through its precisely-measured doses of action, humor, and magic. Supported by a fine supporting cast and another solid Carpenter score, Big Trouble in Little China will continue to please audiences looking for lighthearted adventure for decades to come. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray impresses. Sporting a strong 1080p transfer and an equally good lossless soundtrack, the disc is only hindered by a rather uninspired collection of extras. Nevertheless, this Blu-ray release of Big Trouble in Little China comes recommended on the strength of the film and the technical presentation. Cast Notes: Kurt Russell (Jack Burton), Kim Cattrall (Gracie Law), Dennis Dun (Wang Chi), James Hong (David Lo Pan), Victor Wong (Egg Shen), Kate Burton (Margo), Donald Li (Eddie Lee), Carter Wong (Thunder), Peter Kwong (Rain), James Pax (Lightning), Suzee Pai (Miao Yin), Chao Li Chi (Uncle Chu), Jeff Imada (Needles), Rummel Mor (Joe Lucky), Craig Ng (One Ear). User Comment: rog21 (rburrell921@hotmail.com) from Austin, Texas, 25 October 2004 • This movie occupied most my junior high years. Action, suspense, cheesy diaologue, and martial arts galore. What more could you ask for from a b-movie that is clearly a b-movie? Carpenter and the cast and crew must have had a blast on this film because I can't think of a single movie that combines some of my favorite things about movies: Action, comedy, violence, martial arts, and a small tour bus driver named Egg who also knows a little magic. Magic indeed. This is movie magic. Agree or disagree, you can't deny that Carpenter succeeded on all levels when he made this movie. Saturday matineeish? Yes. B-movie cheese? Yes. Pure movie-going fun? Absolutely. Watch and enjoy. Summary: A B-Movie on purpose, and it's a beautiful thing. IMDb Rating (05/24/10): 7.1/10 from 33,706 users
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
