Big Trouble in Little china 1986

Kevin Harley, Contributing editor hell has no fury like a teenage sulk. when John Carpenter ditched horror/thrillers with Big Trouble In Little China in 1986, i didn’t even watch the film for 32 years. (Confession: Escape From New York/ Starman also took time.) the ’80s had enough vest-rocking actioners to spare, so i didn’t want Carpenter wading in. and it seemed silly. Somehow, although cult renown later encouraged a Little

China trip, i never managed to catch up. one visit on, guess what: yes, it’s dafter than a mullet but – as that cult rep suggested – semi-redeemed by self-awareness. Carpenter’s martial arts/mysticism/mock-machismo mash-up works by making dennis dun’s wang the lead over kurt russell’s dim trucker Jack Burton, who gets mercilessly ribbed. “Born ready”? Born stupid, more like: watch him bring ceilings down on himself when he plays with guns.

keen widescreen compositions aside, Carpenter’s steer isn’t always much steadier. Trouble pre-empted later hollywood riffs on wuxia movies, but it stumbles waywardly between warm homage and over-stuffed pastiche long before a climax consisting largely of fighters trampolining at each other. amiably daft though it is, maybe some cult pics need discovering young to take hold. i’m glad i found Trouble, but i doubt i’ll be taking the Pork Chop express back anytime soon.

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