Big Trouble in Little China (1985)
Where Kung Fu Mysticism Meets Truck-Driver Swagger
Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) is just a brash semi-truck driver trying to help out his buddy when things go way off the rails. His friend Wang Chi gets more than he bargained for when Wang’s green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by a supernatural sorcerer named David Lo Pan. Jack’s rescue mission into the hidden realms beneath Chinatown leads to martial arts showdowns, ancient curses, mystical villains, and a whole lot of chaos. All this mayhem is spiced with witty banter, cartoonish villains, and larger-than-life fantasy action.
Director John Carpenter blends action, comedy, fantasy, and martial arts into a cult classic that never settles for the expected. Jack Burton is no polished hero he stumbles, he brags, he mostly gets out of the way yet somehow becomes essential in fighting the magic that threatens to unravel everything. The movie’s visual inventiveness, Lo Pan’s eerie presence, and underbelly of Chinatown’s lore give it a punch that’s equal parts bizarre and entertaining. This is a wild ride through mystical realms, with plenty of magic, monsters, and moments that still feel fresh decades later.
Buy it Now
Genre: Action, Comedy, Martial Arts
Director: John Carpenter
Rated: PG-13
