Blu-ray Review – Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Telling the story of ordinary trucker Jack Burton as he finds himself caught up in a war of Chinese magic and mythology so he can get his truck back, Big Trouble in Little China is a bonkers, exciting and frankly hilarious adventure movie. Capturing everything that makes a Carpenter film a fun experience, Big Trouble in Little China might be the most enjoyable movie put out by the Carpenter/Russell team-up. The Thing and Escape From New York might be more acclaimed, but there is something so unashamedly fun about Big Trouble in Little China that provides endless joy and only gets better the more you watch it.

Although not the studio’s first choice (but he was Carpenter’s), Kurt Russell is in his element as the everyday all-American Burton. Although the majority of his role is to stand around and ask for someone to explain the plot, he exudes an incredible amount of charisma and he’s the perfect avatar for the audience who have been thrown into this wacky world. There’s a theory in comedy that putting an ordinary person in extraordinary surrounds leads to big laughs, and that theory is proved here.

However, even though he is billed as the leading man, Russell more or less plays the sidekick role for the other characters who are a little more clued into what’s going on. Dennis Dun is fantastic as best friend Wang and Kim Cattrall is a lot of fun as the green-eyed Gracie and both play off Russell perfectly. But the show is pretty much stolen from everyone by the legendary James Hong as the evil (and seemingly immortal) Lo-Pan who gives a beautifully insane performance that only Hong could have pulled off. A movie of this crazy nature can only work if everyone involved is giving it their all, and Big Trouble in Little China‘s cast work this masterfully.

However the movie really is not for everyone as the plot could be the biggest point of contention for some audiences. If you can settle yourself in for the ride and just accept all the wacky nonsense as the law of this world then you’ll be fine, but there will always be those who cannot buy into it. Jack Burton may be our doorway into this madcap world, but it’s all so insane that it could turn some people off. However, if you’re in for the journey then you’ll have a great time.

The Blu-Ray upgrade is gorgeous and it works wonders on the somewhat dated 80s visual effects. There is the downside that it’s fairly obvious in close-ups that neither Catrall or Suzee Pai have green eyes and are wearing contacts, but this was also pretty visible on the DVD release. High Def can solve many problems, but there are some you just can’t overcome. Despite this little flaw, this is the best the movie has ever looked and Kurt Russell’s majestic mullet transfers very well into the world of High Definition.

As aforementioned, The Thing and Escape From New York will always be the best known Carpenter/Russell team-up movies and perhaps rightly so. Big Trouble in Little China is a movie that won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but it will entertain those who can settle into it. It’s mad, insane, wacky and over-the-top, but it’s also brilliant, funny and incredibly entertaining. If you’ve not seen the movie before, the hop aboard the Pork Chop Express because you are in for a wild ride.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

Luke Owen is one of Flickering Myth’s co-editors and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.