Big Trouble in Little China Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
A cult favorite (and one of director John Carpenter's personal favorites), 'Big Trouble in
Little China' is a fantasy-action film that is brilliantly imaginative, funny, and absorbing.
Kurt Russell plays hard-boiled truck driver Jack Burton, who gets caught in a bizarre conflict
within, and underneath, San Francisco's Chinatown. An ancient Chinese prince and Chinatown
crimelord has kidnapped a beautiful green-eyed woman, who is the fiancee to Jack's best
friend. Jack must help his friend rescue the girl before the evil Lo Pan uses her to break the
ancient curse that keeps him a fleshless and immortal spirit. Carpenter uses all the best
elements of martial arts films, 1940s old action serials, Chinese mythology and straight-
forward American adventure to make up a tale wild with imagination. Kurt Russell is
wonderful as the brash, brave, and reluctant hero Jack Burton, who is hysterically out of
place in this world of magic potions, goblins and curses. A visually stunning work that ranks
as one of Carpenter's best films.
The John Carpenter-Kurt Russell tandem proved one of the most successful of the 1980s, the
pair
coming together for a trio of films that have become bona-fide cult classics within both their
respective genres and in filmdom as a whole. Both the thrilling Escape From New York
and
the chilling The Thing set the
stage for the hybrid Big Trouble in Little China, a quirky special effects film that mixes
hard-hitting action with pitch-perfect verbal and physical humor. Though Big Trouble is
the
least of the aforementioned Carpenter-Russell conglomeration, it's still a wonderful movie that
simply earns an "A-" rather than the "A+" awarded the other two. Withstanding the test of
time,
particularly in a world now dominated by story-less and effects-heavy Action pieces and gross-out
Comedies that lack both charm and appeal, Big Trouble in Little China is like an old
friend, a
favorite pair of pants, or that tasty and ice-cold beverage on a hot summer day that's always
welcome, comfortable, and refreshing.
Must be some really good elevator music.
Trucker Jack Burton (Russell) is a gambling man, laying down his hard-earned cash during
layovers in San Francisco's Chinatown where he has no qualms about taking other people's
money, even that of his friend Wang (Dennis Dun). One thing Jack never bet on, however, was
his involvement in combating the mystical powers of Chinatown's underground. When Wang's
green-eyed fiance Miao (Suzee Pai) is kidnapped by thugs, Jack, Wang, and Jack's newfound love
interest Gracie (Kim Cattrall, Star Trek VI: The
Undiscovered Country) attempt to infiltrate the dangerous world of Lo Pan (James
Hong), an ancient wizard that needs a green-eyed girl to break a curse and allow him to become
human once again. Things get more personal when Gracie, also a green-eyed girl, finds herself in
Lo Pan's clutches, too, one of the girls set to break the spell and the other to become the wizard's
bride. Jack, Wang, and several others must battle their way through an army of foes both mortal
and seemingly otherwise if they are to rescue the women and save the day before Lo Pan can
carry out his diabolical plan.
Big Trouble in Little China delivers a straightforward story if there ever was one: bad
guys kidnap girls, good guys come to the rescue. With that wholly unoriginal premise, the film
must bank on what's between the lines to differentiate it from any
other dime-a-dozen pictures available for consumption. Big Trouble in Little China, as
perhaps even the comically-oriented name would suggest, plays out through its entire 100
minute
runtime with tongue cemented in cheek. There's nothing here to suggest that the film is meant
to be taken as anything other than an old-fashioned good time at the movies, escapist
entertainment at its absolute finest. Big Trouble in Little China puts on a dazzling and
sometimes dizzying array of antiquated yet charming special effects, a heaping helping of laughs,
some death-defying action, and a mystical element that adds to both the excitement and the
laughs that permeate most every frame. Whether enchanted wizardry, high-flying martial arts,
dangerous gunplay, and even some classic fisticuffs, Big Trouble in Little China
always remains on an even keel that manages to satisfy the appetite for hardcore action but does
so with a wink and a nod as big laughs ooze through the frame and lighten up the film -- and its
action and magical overtones in particular -- considerably.
Sealing the deal and tying everything together is the ever-reliable leading man Kurt Russell,
whose performance in Big Trouble in Little China defines his career with an effort that
borders on slapstick Comedy. Underneath his character's truck-drivin' macho-man exterior is a
frightened little boy thrust into a situation with no means of escape save for victory at the end of
the day. The dichotomy of his dual persona makes for the film's funniest moments as the tough
guy veneer consistently falls victim to his own hopelessness as a wannabe action hero and ladies
man. Despite bumbling his way through the many obstacles Lo Pan and gang throw his way, and
even if his fellow good guys see past his routine, Jack's heart always leads the charge, an asset
that's often tougher than muscle and more important than mind. The remainder of the cast also
excels in Big Trouble in Little China, with Jack's sidekicks played by Dennis Dunn and
Victor Wong delivering pitch-perfect performances. The film also features not only the expectedly
steady direction from the legendary Carpenter, but another of his synth-scores that have
become a trademark of his films, including the aforementioned The Thing and, of course,
Halloween.
Big Trouble in Little China dishes up a nice-looking 1080p transfer of a film that's about
a quarter-century old. This 2.35:1-framed transfer offers viewers the opportunity to see
John Carpenter's film with unparalleled clarity that easily surpasses its previously-released home
video counterparts. Though certainly not dazzling eye candy like The International,
Big Trouble in Little China occasionally looks a bit rough around the edges but is
otherwise presented on Blu-ray with an overall satisfactory appearance. Lo Pan's
makeup and costumed attire make up the bulk of the flashy colors to be found throughout. The
overall color palette is not one that's meant to pop off the screen with a
dazzling array of hues, but what is here tends to look rather good. Detail appears as above
average throughout; matching the theme of the transfer as a whole, there's nothing here that's
truly worth
noting, but the Blu-ray is consistent in its delivery of a stable, good-looking 100 minutes worth
of high definition goodness. Some viewers may be put off by a layer of grain that spikes heavily
at times but often remains fairly unobtrusive. Blacks aren't too problematic, and flesh tones
appear as a fairly neutral shade throughout. Big Trouble in Little China won't win the
award for best looking Blu-ray of 2009, but fans should be more than pleased with 20th Century
Fox's presentation.
Big Trouble in Little China features the usual DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack from
20th
Century Fox. Though not a demo-worthy soundtrack, this one impresses greatly in context and
livens up considerably once the film's action gets underway. Music sounds rather full but is
generally limited to
the front; it plays clearly enough though it definitely doesn't match the lifelike clarity of the best
lossless soundtracks available. Sound effects tend to fill up the front half of the soundstage and
move nicely from side to side. The barrage of gunfire in chapter eight sounds loud and distinct,
with
shots seeming to emanate from each of the front three speakers. The back channels don't get in
on the fun in every scene, but the occasional discrete effect and supportive ambience define their
role in this track. Generally speaking, though, the front speakers carry the bulk of the material.
Bass checks in on occasion to spruce things up; a rather powerful outburst in chapter 13 is
representative of the lows scattered about the soundtrack. Much like the video presentation,
Big Trouble in Little China's lossless soundtrack is not going to go down as one of the
best
of the year, but it's an above-average effort that should satisfy the discriminating listener and
longtime fan of the film.
This Blu-ray release of Big Trouble in Little China offers fans a small collection of
extras, including a few "truisms" from the film that pop up from time to time in the form of a
fortune cookie
message while navigating the menu. First up is Commentary track with Director John Carpenter
and Actor Kurt Russell. An affable track, the participants discuss, with an obvious lighthearted
flair,
the film's promotion and advertising budget, the characters and the performers that bring them
to
life, as well as a wide range of additional topics that should please fans. Also included is an
isolated
score presented in DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless audio. Vintage Featurette (480p, 7:28)
provides audiences a brief look into the making of the movie, comprised primarily of clips from the
film
and interview snippets with cast and crew. Richard Edlund Interview (480p, 13:25) is a
multi-angle interview feature with the film's effects producer. Eight deleted scenes (480p), an
extended ending (480p, 3:05), a Big Trouble in Little China music video (480p, 3:28),
three trailers (480p, 2:47, 0:55, and 2:42), six TV spots (480p, 4:43), and a behind-the-scenes
still
gallery (1080p, 17:33) conclude this brief collection of extras. This disc is also D-Box enabled.
The fan favorite Big Trouble in Little China remains one of the quintessential
Action-Comedy pictures to come out of the 1980s, the film made possible through the talented
Carpenter-Russell twosome that almost always manages to churn out an upper-echelon picture.
Though
not as daring as Escape From New York or frighteningly intense as The Thing,
Big Trouble in Little China works wonders through its precisely-measured doses of action,
humor, and magic. Supported by a fine supporting cast and another solid Carpenter score,
Big
Trouble in Little China will continue to please audiences looking for lighthearted adventure
for
decades to come. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray impresses. Sporting a strong 1080p transfer and
an
equally good lossless soundtrack, the disc is only hindered by a rather uninspired collection of
extras.
Nevertheless, this Blu-ray release of Big Trouble in Little China comes recommended on
the
strength of the film and the technical presentation.
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