Thursday, June 2, 2016

Retro Review: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA


Welcome to another installment of RETRO REVIEW where we take a look at films made before the year 2000.  Today we review the amazing 1986 cult classic, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.  Enjoy!

What does black magic, a girl with green eyes and a muscled trucker have in common? All three make up one of the most iconic movies of the 1980's, Big Trouble in Little China. This movie has everything: action, sorcery, and great martial arts fight scenes. I was very impressed with the fighting skills of the actors, especially Dennis Dunn who played Wang Chi.

The film follows a truck driver named Jack Burton, played by Kurt Russell, and his friend Wang Chi  who arrive in Chinatown to pick up Wang Chi's fiancee, Miao Yin.  While there, Jack locks eyes with the beautiful Gracie Law. Gracie, as it turns out, is also waiting for someone and ignores Jack’s advances. As soon as Miao Yin arrives she is kidnapped by a Chinese street gang, and Gracie, played by Kim Cattrall, joins the heroes on their mission to save her. 

Our heroes learn that an all-powerful and wicked sorcerer named David Lo Pan, played by funny man James Hong, needs to marry Miao Yin to get rid of an ancient curse. He chooses Miao because of her beautiful green eyes. According to the movie its rare for a Chinese woman to have green eyes. Jack and Wang Chi make some friends along the way who help them, one of whom is sorcerer apprentice Egg Shen. Egg Shen is a great help because he knows the story behind Lo Pan and his curse. Magic and mayhem run rampant throughout this movie.

Big Trouble in Little China is a fun film to watch because of the special effects and the chase scenes. It's very over the top and I love it.  The love story between Gracie and Jack is cute but it's not the main story line, which I liked. Kurt Russell is great as Jack Burton. He portrays the muscled trucker with a heart of gold perfectly.  This film had some unbelievable performances and the fighting scenes were well choreographed and laid out.

I'm in love with 80's movies because of their story lines and nostalgic feelings I get while watching them. Big Trouble in Little China reminded me of my childhood because of its sense of imagination and adventure. My favorite part of the movie is when Gracie comes face to face with Lo Pan because she is such a strong female character and is able to hold her own against the evil sorcerer, and of course against Jack. 

I had forgotten how much I loved this movie until I watched it again recently. It was also directed by one of my favorite directors, John Carpenter. I’ve been a fan of his since the first Halloween. To be honest, I did wanted to see Gracie and Jack end up together, but we don’t always get the ending we think we want.

Lisa's Score: 8/10


Make sure to check us out and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all of our reviews, news, trailers, and much, much more!!!








No comments:

Post a Comment