I am going to confess something: I was ridiculously excited when I read that Big Trouble In Little China was coming to Netflix Instant. Back in the days of my youth, this was a movie that occupied either TNT or USA during a variety of weekend afternoons- I don't know what it was about that movie, but I only ever saw the end of the movie and it was one of those movies that was on all the time. So, I made it a goal to actually sit down and watch the whole thing to see what the fuss was about and, you know what? For an 80s movie that's been elevated to 'cult classic' it wasn't half bad.
I really liked the way this movie opened: in a lawyer's office, talking to one of the minor characters, asking them what happened and how an entire city block can just vanish in a 'ball of green fire.' It grabbed my attention, because the lawyer was played by none other than Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin) from the early seasons of The X-Files. He wanted to know what happened to Jack Burton- the minor character replies that Jack Burton is a hero and he didn't know where he was-
Cut to the start of the events: all-American hero type, truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) riding his beloved truck, the Pork Chop Express into San Francisco, dispensing John Wayne-like nuggets of wisdom over his CB radio. Burton makes a delivery to the Chinatown restaurant of his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) whose fianceé, Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) is arriving from China. They go to the airport to pick her up and a local gang, The Lords of Death kidnaps her, intending to sell her as a sex slave.
Along the way they meet a lawyer named Gracie (Kim Cattrall) and a reporter, whose name I honestly can't remember but who is played by Kate Burton. What seems like a simple, 'let's break in and rescue the girl from evil Chinese gangsters' type of movie takes a left turn when the heros learn that Ancient China Sorcery is, in fact, real and an especially evil sorcerer Lo Pan is after an unmarried girl with green eyes to restore his youth and Miao Lin happens to fit the bill.
The heroes break into Lo Pan's headquarters to find that he and his minions are packing all kinds of magical powers- there are multiple guys running around channelling Raiden from Mortal Kombat, weird monsters that look like they have been lifted from the sets of An American Werewolf In London and Labyrinth. Long story short: Lo Pan kidnaps Gracie, notices she has green eyes as well and decides to kill her to restore his youth and marry Miao Yin instead. Longer story still shorter: Kurt Russell and company break in, free everyone, kill Lo Pan and surprisingly, Jack says goodbyes and hits the open road, despite being interested in Gracie. Unfortunately, he's got a monster from Lo Pan's labyrinth in tow as he drives away from San Francisco, dispensing advice on the Pork Chop Express.
Overall: A delightfully campy b-movie from the 80s, the neon blend of old school fantasy and adventure with new school thriller/adventure movie reminds me a little bit of The Goonies. Kurt Russell is in fine form here but too many random plot twists doom this flick- but not entirely. I think you can tuck this squarely into the 'guilty pleasure' category of your movie collection and trot it out whenever you're in an especially 80s mood for a good result. Alas, however, I must say: ** and 1.2 out of ****.
Along the way they meet a lawyer named Gracie (Kim Cattrall) and a reporter, whose name I honestly can't remember but who is played by Kate Burton. What seems like a simple, 'let's break in and rescue the girl from evil Chinese gangsters' type of movie takes a left turn when the heros learn that Ancient China Sorcery is, in fact, real and an especially evil sorcerer Lo Pan is after an unmarried girl with green eyes to restore his youth and Miao Lin happens to fit the bill.
The heroes break into Lo Pan's headquarters to find that he and his minions are packing all kinds of magical powers- there are multiple guys running around channelling Raiden from Mortal Kombat, weird monsters that look like they have been lifted from the sets of An American Werewolf In London and Labyrinth. Long story short: Lo Pan kidnaps Gracie, notices she has green eyes as well and decides to kill her to restore his youth and marry Miao Yin instead. Longer story still shorter: Kurt Russell and company break in, free everyone, kill Lo Pan and surprisingly, Jack says goodbyes and hits the open road, despite being interested in Gracie. Unfortunately, he's got a monster from Lo Pan's labyrinth in tow as he drives away from San Francisco, dispensing advice on the Pork Chop Express.
Overall: A delightfully campy b-movie from the 80s, the neon blend of old school fantasy and adventure with new school thriller/adventure movie reminds me a little bit of The Goonies. Kurt Russell is in fine form here but too many random plot twists doom this flick- but not entirely. I think you can tuck this squarely into the 'guilty pleasure' category of your movie collection and trot it out whenever you're in an especially 80s mood for a good result. Alas, however, I must say: ** and 1.2 out of ****.
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