Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Big Trouble in Little China (1986) – J. Carpenter

My friend Reece told me that the folk horror group on facebook had been talking about this film and I suppose the plot does feature some Chinese Black Magic, but really this is a silly action comedy with more in common with Ghostbusters than with The Wicker Man.  Kurt Russell is larger than life as Jack Burton, a big-rig driving, CB-talking hero who hangs out in Chinatown, gambling with Wang Chi (Dennis Dun). When they stop at the airport to pick up Wang’s fiancée (a girl with green eyes), she is abducted and they end up in the middle of a gang war on the streets, that is totally torn asunder by some supernatural action. Enter Kim Cattrall as lawyer Gracie Law (also with green eyes) who joins in the attempt to rescue Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) from the evil spirit/ancient being David Lo Pan (James Hong).  Director John Carpenter keeps the action moving (aided by his original synth soundtrack) with lots of kung-fu fighting, visual effects and weird creatures. Kurt Russell has had a pretty amazing career, going all the way back to his Disney days as a child actor (e.g., The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, 1969) through his partnerships with John Carpenter, Goldie Hawn, and Tarantino and a few cult hits along the way (Used Cars, Stargate).  This is a relatively minor entry in his filmography but better than some of the many misses he acted in. Impressive to have a mostly Asian cast in 1986.