Friday Fun: Big Trouble in Little China

We're at the end of January, which means payday is close, but not quite there yet. To some of us this means we can't really go out to party, have fun with friends, etc. So we stay home, sulk a little bit and then realize "But I can watch movies! Movies can get me out of this funk and I'll be happy again!" This brings on another problem though. What movie to watch? Surely watching Requiem for a Dream or Schindler's List isn't going to help lift your spirits. So what to do?


Don't worry, little one! I have the solution to all of your problems! Well not all, you still need to see a doctor about that one. Sorry.

Big Trouble in Little China is one of the most fun movies I've ever seen. Kurt Russell plays Jack Burton, a truck driver who gets involved into some weird Chinese stuff. Russell did Escape from New York before this one with John Carpenter, the director of this movie as well, and here he's pretty much the total opposite of the badass anti-hero Snake Plissken. Jack Burton doesn't think anything through, he just goes and does. Well, tries to do anyway. Imagine Big Trouble in Little China being like The Green Hornet, where Britt Reid is the sidekick and Kato is actually the protagonist.

Dennis Dun's Wang Chi is the one whose girlfriend is kidnapped and who needs to stop the evil spirit David Lo Pan to save her, Jack Burton just wants his truck back. The movie is a blast from start to the end. The movie didn't do too well at the box office, I suppose the audiences weren't ready for an east-west movie like this one. But with the later successes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Rush Hour, it seems that Carpenter was just ahead of his time. My rating 10/10 for Friday fun.

Here's the trailer:

and here's the very 80's music video. Yes, the lead singer is indeed the director John Carpenter himself. Hmmm...enjoy might not be the proper word, but it'll do.