(1986)
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(1986) |
Macho truck driver and wannabe literatus Jack Burton battles an ancient Chinese curse for his life, the people of Chinatown, and a woman's love. Or something to that effect.
Subgenres: magic, comedy
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall
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Okay, let me give you a rundown of this movie. It has John Carpenter, directing with energy and camp. Kung Fu fighters flying through the air, sometimes with light emerging from all of their facial orifices, sometimes without. Kim Cattrall overacting while wearing traditional Chinese robes. Magic. Mystery. Fun. Kurt Russell ditching his Escape from New York Clint Eastwood impression for a killer John Wayne. What's not to like? This is humorous action adventure nearly at its best. On one level, I'm amazed that it came form the guy who gave us Halloween and Prince of Darkness. But on another level, Big Trouble just fits extraordinarily well with other films in the Carpenter pantheon, like Dark Star, Escape from L.A., and especially Vampires. These films are about macho men, real guys, doing what they do best: cracking skulls, spouting one-liners, and thinking just hard enough to get through with their skins intact. Big Trouble in Little China outdoes other similarly minded Carpenter films, though--it's willing to give completely in to its more ridiculous aspects. I'm not sure how much of the plot makes sense, but it's a great, fun ride, through and through. (Oct 29, 2000)
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