I Watch Films: Big Trouble In Little China
Jack Burton (Kurt Russel) is the driver of the truck Pork Chop Express. He has a big mouth and is full of boasts and bragadaccio. Yet when his friend Wang’s fiancé is kidnapped by the evil (and immortal) Lo Pan, Burton steps up and helps him out, proving he’s not just all talk. Also Wang owes him money.
Burton is the white sidekick thrown into a conflict between (magical) Chinese factions in San Francisco’s Chinatown. But he doesn’t know or care; as far as he’s concerned this is another of his adventures.
John Carpenter’s film walks a fine line between satire, parody and straight up action adventure. Nothing about it is quite great but somehow it comes together into an extraordinary and hilarious comic action film.
Watch This: Okay. You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we’re not back by dawn… call the president.
Don’t Watch This: When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye, and asks you if you paid your dues; you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."
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