One of the more popular ice-breakers when meeting new people is “So, what are some of your favourite movies?”. And the answers are often familiar: Raiders of the lost ark, 2001: a Space Odyssey, Godfather. But some people have an oddball-answer that most other people don’t have. For me that answer is “Big Trouble in Little China”. I think it’s in my top 5 movies of all time.
Big Trouble is directed by one and only John Carpenter (who is one of my favourite directors of all time. Go figure). His experience in making this movie, and the reception it had upon release, caused him to kiss Big Hollywood goodbye and continue his career as an independent filmmaker. The movie flopped financially, and critical reception was lukewarm. Yeah, people don’t know a good thing when they see it. It has become cult-classic since, so there is some justice in the world.
Plot of the movie is quite straightforward and filled with tropes. Jack Burton (played by Kurt Russell) is friends with Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) whose fiancé is kidnapped by gangsters. The rescue-mission that follows takes them deep in to San Francisco’s Chinatown and turns in to a battle against sorcerers and ancient evil. That’s all you need to know for now.
This is gonna take crackerjack timing!
I was about 10 years old when I saw this movie. It was one of the very first movies I had seen where Asian characters played a prominent part (very first was probably the “Aces go places” movie-series). And what’s more, this was the first movie I saw where Asian and Western characters mingled and were friends, and it wasn’t made a big deal (there is exactly one line of dialogue where different ethnic backgrounds of the two main characters is referred to).
Like I said, there are tropes, at least on the surface. There are damsels in distress and orientalism. When this movie was released (1986), mainland China was still somewhat closed and mysterious to the West. But I wouldn’t call the movie racist or sexist, even with the tropes. The main villains are Chinese (which is natural, as the movie draws from Chinese mythology), but so are the heroes. The movie could very easily turn in to the classic story of western hero saving the day from the evil and different “others”. But this does not happen. Jack Burton acts as a spotlight that shows us the strange events happening around him. He is constantly confused and outclassed, while everyone else around him seem to know and do more. Jack Burton is the western audience barging in to something that goes way beyond him. This is basically spelled out in the movie, as he is confused by yet another aspect of the mysterious events happening around him, and the main bad guy, Lo Pan, says: “Shut up Mr. Burton, you were not brought upon this world to “get it!”. He was brought there so we could take part in the events.
And the damsel in distress is a badass. Yes, I had a crush on Kim Cattrall.
Oh, my god, no. Please! What is that? Don’t tell me!
So why is this movie good? Well, it ticks a lot of boxes. The characters are likeable or at least interesting, they have chemistry between them. The movie is infinitely quotable. It’s funny. It has action. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it takes itself seriously enough. How much of this is because I saw this movie as a kid and was impressed and it became part of my psyche? Shuddup. If Taika Waititi lists “Big Trouble” as one of the main inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok”, I will gladly appeal to authority if needed!
And I feel this is one of the movies where it alludes to bigger things that exist beyond the movie, but are never talked about in detail. I know that is how most movies seem to be today, but back in 1986 it wasn’t done. Yeah, I’m still wondering what “black blood of the Earth” actually is.
This movie might not be for everyone. Maybe younger generations will find it dated (there are rumours of modern remake in the works, starring Dwayne Johnson…). Maybe most people would hate it if they watched it now. I don’t care. I love it. You know what ol’ Jack Burton would say if someone admitted to hating “Big trouble in Little China”? “Give me your best shot. I can take it.”
Lumisade 