Welcome to another installment of Disc Dive! One of the upsides of doing this is that I’m finally opening up and watching discs that have been sitting in shrinkwrap for who knows how long. Such is the case this week as I have another first-time watch with my blu-ray copy of Big Trouble in Little China (1986).
Title: Big Trouble in Little China
Director: John Carpenter
Released: May 30, 1986 (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Romania, Sweden)
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Disc Format: Blu-ray
Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) passes the time while traveling the open road in his big rig, named The Porkchop Express, by talking over the CB radio.
Whether anyone is listening doesn’t matter, Jack is a legend in his own mind.
As his day is coming to an end, Jack pulls into the Little China neighborhood for his last stop. Here he finds his friend and gambling partner, Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) and the two decide to gamble. Jack winds up winning a game against Wang but Wang doesn’t have the money on him to settle up. He tells Jack that he’ll pay him, but first he needs to go pick up his green-eyed girlfriend, Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) from the airport. To make sure that Wang follows through, Jack decides that he’ll tag along.
Unfortunately for the both of them, things are about to get weird.
While at the airport, the pair encounter the local gang knows as the Lords of Death. Neither Jack nor Wang could have expected what happens next as the gang kidnaps Miao Yin. Their reasoning? Her coveted green eyes.
Can Jack and Wang infiltrate and survive the criminal underworld in order to rescue Miao Yin?
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) is one that has escaped me over the years. I know a lot of people that adore this movie and have nothing but good things to say about it. So needless to say, my expectations were pretty high going into my first viewing.
Afterwards, I don’t know that I can say it necessarily lived up to the hype.
Maybe had I grown up with this movie, or at least seen it once or twice over the years, I might feel a bit differently. But for a first time viewing, Big Trouble in Little China (1986) is a bit of a mess and all over the place.
A lot of the characters seem to only exist as plot devices to keep things moving. Meanwhile, we have Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) who is a literal stranger one second but in Jack and Wang’s inner circle the very next time we see her.
However, it isn’t all bad.
Writing issues aside, if you just sit back and enjoy the ride, there is some fun to be had.
Whether it is the production and set design, the special effects, or the fight choreography, this is a visual treat from start to finish. If you prefer laughs over looks, you’re in luck as well. There are tons of witty jokes sprinkled in throughout.
After my first viewing, I’d say that Kurt Russell’s take on John Wayne, down to the cadence in which he speaks, is one of the highlights of the film. He plays the “know-it-all who knows nothing” role perfectly.
Would I say that I’m in a hurry to go and rewatch Big Trouble in Little China (1986)?
Not really, no.
Though I can see where my overall enjoyment of it could possibly increase with a few rewatches.
So, what say you?
What are your thoughts on Big Trouble in Little China (1986)?
Leave a comment below or reach out on Bluesky and tell me all about it!
As always, you can follow me over on Letterboxd to see everything else that I’ve been watching lately.