Written By: Ken Hulsey
Originally, filmmaker John Carpenter had a vision for "Big Trouble in Little China" as a classic western, then shifted to a modern take on the genre. However, the movie ultimately transformed into an action/comedy that cleverly pays homage to Kung-Fu films. After several studios hesitated about the concept of a martial arts-infused cowboy movie, Carpenter brought on screenwriter W. D. Richter to give the script a fresh spin. Interestingly, Richter seemed to have his own ideas and early drafts connected the film to his previous work, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!" from 1984.
In this exciting film, seasoned Asian American actor James Hong plays the villain, David Lo Pan, a three-thousand-year-old sorcerer cursed to sacrifice a girl with 'dragon-green' eyes in order to break his spell and achieve immortality. The cast also includes Dennis Dun as Wang Chi, a martial arts master and Chinese restaurant owner who teams up with truck driver Jack Burton, portrayed by Kurt Russell. Victor Wong plays Egg Shen, an ancient Chinese sorcerer, while Kate Burton takes on the role of an overwhelmed reporter named Margo. Lastly, Donald Li plays Eddie Lee, Wang Chi’s resourceful maître d’ who knows a thing or two about firearms.
The adventure kicks off when Jack and Wang head to the airport, but things take a wild turn when Wang’s green-eyed girlfriend, who just arrived from China, played by Suzee Pai, gets kidnapped by a Chinatown gang known as thev Wing Kong. To rescue her, Jack and Wang dive into the mysterious underworld of Chinatown, facing all sorts of thrilling challenges, kung-Fu masters, and even the ancient sorcerer Lo Pan who was put under an ancient curse, and the only way that he can break it and become human again is to marry a woman with green eyes (Which Wang's fiance has been blessed with) and then sacrifice her.
Lo Pan is supported by three mystical henchmen known as the "Three Storms": Thunder, Lightning, and Rain. Fortunately, Jack and Wang receive help from Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), a savvy lawyer, the magical Egg Shen (Victor Wong), Wang’s friend Eddie Lee (Donald Li), and the friendly street gang, the Chang Sing.
At its heart, "Big Trouble in Little China" shines as a comedy, with Kurt Russell delivering a standout performance as the overconfident yet bumbling hero, Jack Burton. The film truly stands out because of the fantastic chemistry among the cast, including Russell, Cattrall, Dun, Wong, and even Hong as the antagonist.
During production, Carpenter had explored the idea of bringing Jack Burton's quirky adventures to television if the film took off. Unfortunately, despite the fun premise, "Big Trouble in Little China" didn’t perform well at the box office, so the proposed series titled "More Trouble in Little China" never made it past the planning stages.
Quotes:
Jack Burton: When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."
Jack Burton: Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."
Jack Burton: What's in the flask, Egg? Magic potion?
Egg Shen: Yeah.
Jack Burton: Thought so, good. What do we do, drink it?
Egg Shen: Yeah!
Jack Burton: Good! Thought so.
Jack Burton: I don't get this at all. I thought Lo Pan...
Lo Pan: Shut up, Mr. Burton! You are not brought upon this world to get it!
Jack Burton: Like I told my last wife, I said, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes."
Jack Burton: You can go off and rule the universe from beyond the grave.
Lo Pan: Indeed!
Jack Burton: Or check into a psycho ward, whichever comes first, huh?
Egg Shen: Of course the Chinese mix everything up. Look at what they have to work with. There's Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoist alchemy and sorcery. We take what we want and leave the rest. Just like your salad bar.
Jack Burton: Well, ya see, I'm not saying that I've been everywhere and I've done everything, but I do know it's a pretty amazing planet we live on here, and a man would have to be some kind of FOOL to think we're alone in THIS universe.
Jack Burton: [tapping on the walls] Two, three feet thick, I'll bet. Probably welded shut from the outside, and covered with brick by now!
Wang Chi: Don't give up, Jack!
Jack Burton: Oh, okay, I won't, Wang! Let's just *chew* our way outta here.
Check Out:
Check out these clips:
And, if for some reason you don't get it, this music video should get you up to speed:
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