Review of Big Trouble in Little China (1986) by Renzo V — 03 May 2014

"THE MAGICAL ADVENTURES UNDERNEATH CHINA TOWN".

- A Western action hero caught in a Eastern supernatural fantasy adventure, that's the best description I can give about the 1986 film 'Big Trouble in Little Chinatown' by legendary director John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing). I really love the absurdness of this film that is stuffed with over the top martial arts fights, freaky monsters and many enjoyable characters. It's one of those films that you cannot take serious; you either love or hate it. Starring John Carpenter's lovechild Kurt Russell (The Thing, Escape From New York), Kim Cattrall (Porky's, Sex and the City), Dennis Dun (The Last Emperor, Prince of Darkness) and Victor Wong (Tremors, The Three Ninja's). The adventure doesn't come any bigger!

When American truck driver Jack Burton (Russell) and his friend the Asian restaurant owner Wang Chi (Dun) go to the airport to pick up Wang's fiancée Miao Yin, they witness how a street gang is trying to kidnap the Chinese friend of lawyer Gracie Law (Cattrall). Because Jack intervenes, the gang grabs Miao Yin instead and flees the scène. Trying to find the girl, Jack and Wang go to Chinatown and get trapped inside Jack's truck when two ancient societies (the Wing Kong and Chang Sing) battle it out on the street. When the three Storms (Thunder, Rain and Lightning) appear to help the Wing Kong, Jack decides to drive off but runs over Lo Pan, a powerful sorcerer and leader of the Wing Kong. Horrified, Jack leaves his truck, only to see that Lo Pan is unharmed but very irritated. He and Wang must abandon the vehicle to escape from his clutches.

At Wang's restaurant they meet up with Gracie Law and bus driver Egg Shen (Wong), who is a magician trying to destroy Lo Pan. In order to retrieve Miao Yin and Jack's truck, they will need to infiltrate a brothel. It's only the beginning of a big adventure in little China town...