Big Trouble in Little China **** (1986, Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun) – Classic Movie Review 2553

Director John Carpenter’s 1986 cult classic Big Trouble in Little China stars Kurt Russell in one of his iconic roles as Jack Burton, a trucker who gets sucked into a ‘centuries-old mystical battle’ in San Francisco’s Chinatown when he sets out to rescue his friend Wang (Dennis Dun)’s kidnapped fiancée Miao (Suzee Pai).

Big Trouble in Little China is an imaginative, tough-toned action thriller with an extremely friendly and engaging central performance from Russell. It succeeds as a spoof on action movies, with a nicely satirical sense of humour with wisecracks and slapstick in a crackling screenplay by Gary Goldman, David Z Weinstein and W D Richter. Also to recommend it are some spectacular effects, dynamic direction and a driving electronic score by the director.

Alas, the young Kim Cattrall is at a bit of a loose end as lawyer Gracie Law, Kurt’s love interest, in this muscular men’s movie.

Also in the cast are Dennis Dun, James Hong, Victor Wong, Kate Burton, Donald Li, Carter Wong, Suzee Pai, James Pax, Jeff Imada and Jerry Hardin.

Big Trouble in Little China is directed by John Carpenter, runs 100 minutes, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Gary Goldman, David Z Weinstein and W D Richter, is shot by Dean Cundey, is produced by Larry J Franco, Paul Monash and Keith Barish, is scored by John Carpenter and is designed by John J Lloyd.

In June 2015 it was reported that Dwayne Johnson is looking at starring in and producing a remake. X-Men: First Class scribes Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz are on board to write the new screenplay. Big Trouble in Little China is one of Johnson’s favourite movies.

The news of the planned remake was received with widespread dismay. At a screening of Halloween Carpenter was asked what he thought of all the remakes of his films, and he said that he didn’t care, he just counted the money.

In 2018, Johnson’s project is still go, but now it is described as actually a sequel.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2553

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