Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

Gary Goldman (written by) &
David Z. Weinstein (written by) ...

Release Date:

2 July 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Adventure doesn't come any bigger!

Plot:

An All-American trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown.

Plot Keywords:

Airport | Rescue | Fiancee | Green Eyes | Chinatown

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Jack Burton
Kim Cattrall	...	Gracie Law
Dennis Dun	...	Wang Chi
James Hong	...	David Lo Pan
Victor Wong	...	Egg Shen
Kate Burton	...	Margo
Donald Li	...	Eddie Lee
Carter Wong	...	Thunder
Peter Kwong	...	Rain
James Pax	...	Lightning
Suzee Pai	...	Miao Yin
Chao Li Chi	...	Uncle Chu
Jeff Imada	...	Needles
Rummel Mor	...	Joe Lucky
Craig Ng	...	One Ear

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Ireland:15 | South Korea:15 | UK:PG (1986) (cut) | Denmark:15 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 (2009) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1986) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 (w) | Germany:16 (special edition) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Conzelman Road, Marin Headlands, Marin County, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The ending song is written and sung by The Coupe De Ville. A band formed with: John Carpenter, Nick Castle and Tommy Lee Wallace (second unit director on this picture).

Goofs:

Plot holes: During the wedding ceremony, Lo Pan can clearly be seen grabbing Miao Yin's wrist to prick her with the ceremonial needle. However, the entire purpose of the ceremony is to lift his curse and return Lo Pan from his current ghostly state to flesh-and-blood. He should not be able to grab her wrist until after the ceremony is completed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pinstripe lawyer: What I'd like to do today is get your version of what happened.
Egg Shen: Oh, you mean the truth.
Pinstripe lawyer: Of course. First, just state your name and your occupation for the record.
Egg Shen: Oh, Egg Shen. Bus driver.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in True Crime: Streets of LA (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Big Trouble in Little China

A B-Movie on purpose, and it's a beautiful thing

This movie occupied most my junior high years. Action, suspense, cheesy diaologue, and martial arts galore. What more could you ask for from a b-movie that is clearly a b-movie? Carpenter and the cast and crew must have had a blast on this film because I can't think of a single movie that combines some of my favorite things about movies: Action, comedy, violence, martial arts, and a small tour bus driver named Egg who also knows a little magic. Magic indeed. This is movie magic. Agree or disagree, you can't deny that Carpenter succeeded on all levels when he made this movie. Saturday matineeish? Yes. B-movie cheese? Yes. Pure movie-going fun? Absolutely. Watch and enjoy.