Big Trouble in Little China

[dwatts]

I just watched this. Here's a question - why didn't Carpenter make more of this type of film? Why isn't Kurt Russell in everything he makes? How is this film a Carpenter film? It doesn't look like one to me, and even the music he wrote is just, well, fuller.

Any fans of this film. I bought the two-disc version, with a transfer to die for..... I know it's not "horror", but Carpenter is, well Carpenter.....

[bigdaddyhorse]

Anyone who doesn't have the 2-disc version should get it before it gets too expensive! It's not on the list of 2-disc re-issues from Fox, and teh DTS track is worth it alone! (Not to mention all the great shit on disc 2!) having trouble finding it, bid on my auction here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3338540304&category=2302&rd=1), or PM me. I have 1 more extra copy besides the one on ebay I'll sell for $25 + shipping (actuall cost for you guys, the $5 on ebay is to help cover fees! $3.85 Priority is the real rate, Media mail is cheaper than that but takes longer).
Sorry if this gets moved to the trade section, I just couldn't resist seeing how I just put the disc up on ebay!:)

As for your questions. I think Carpenter was always more into horror, plus this didn't do diddely dick at the box office. It only caught on after the video came out, and is still mis-understood. I'm sure the studios and schedules and stuff made it so Russell couldn't be in every Carpenter film, but they do have a great cemistry in the ones they have done (as well as the commentaries for said films!)
It's a Carpenter film because he directed it!
He didn't do more like it because it failed at the box office.

[Mortis]

I knew I should have picked it up at Wal-Mart a while back.

[onebyone]

I love this movie, god help me, I have to watch it every so often or things just seem wrong. Carpenter and Kurt have a great chemistry in their movies, Halloween aside, neither is as great alone as they are together. I would love for them to work together more often.

[hell ya!]

I love this movie, my fave Charpenter and Russell film. Its just one hell of a fun time.:banana:

[Mark Relford]

dwatts, did you see the music video from The Coupe de Villes? :lol: I can't get enough of it!:D Carpenter and co. should've made a rock album. Good movie, BTW.

[rhett]

Yeah Mark, for me that Coupe de Villes music video made that disc. Definitely some of the best cheese ever captured on DVD.

As for the movie, well it is a classic. Kurt Russell gives one of his best performances, and John Carpenter really lets himself go in what is one huge thrill ride of a film. I could have done without the tacked on opening scene, but other than that this film is pure magic.

[Shannafey]

Just a few words... A Carpenter Classic!!

[indiephantom]

I want to like this film, but I just don't. I sold off the disc...I own most of everything else Carpenter has done and love it. This and Memoirs of an Invisible Man I consider low points for him. I know I'm in the minority.

[Erg0n]

I enjoyed this film. I remember seeing it back in elementary and found the title "big trouble in little china" amusing, to this day I have no idea why.

[Agent Z]

Well, I liked BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA just enough to shell out the nine dollars for the cheaper one disc version (anamorphic, 4.1, trailer, audio commentary), but I'll be the first to admit that while BTILC excelled in the comedy department, it pretty much fell flat on its face with its action sequences. Like indiephantom said, it's a film that you want to like.....the premise is so great and the set-ups are there.....but the film never quite hits the mark set for it.

[Revoltor]

FYI: I'm not sure how or why but "Buckaroo Banzai" is a prequel to the movie.

I've never seen that movie but I understand it has a pretty big following.

[dwatts]

Never heard of it. I have no investigated the extras on this one yet. It was a weird night, and this was the second of three movies I watched almost back to back. :eek1:

[Agent Z]

Originally posted by Revoltor......
FYI: I'm not sure how or why but "Buckaroo Banzai" is a prequel to the movie.



From the IMDB:

"W.D. Richter wrote a screenplay for a sequel to this film. The never produced "Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League" was eventually re-tooled into _Big Trouble In Little China (1986)_ ."

[KR~!]

Big Trouble In Little China rocks!

[rhett]

A friend sent me this info today, I don't know how true it is, but it sounds like it would be great:

Big Trouble in Little China 2: Wing Kong <http://www.wingkong.net> reports that screenwriter Corey Mitchel spoke with producer Debra Hill and director John Carpenter last week, and indicated John is "totally on board" for a Big Trouble sequel providing that Corey can get it set up. Kurt Russell is rumoured to be similarly interested, and apparently work is underway in getting in touch with Jackie Chan regarding the project."

[SaviniFan]

Damn rhett, awesome news if it comes to fruitation. I'd love to see a sequal of sorts, and I'm sure the addition of Jackie Chan could only help things.

[BloodMan]

I read that over at Dark Horizons too about the sequel. I hope it happens. :)

Nick

[Hellbilly]

Cool.
Hope Kurt grows back a new mullet if that sequel's gonna happen :D

[rhett]

Has Kurt ever NOT had a mullet? :D

[Trout]

You can tell Carpenter was a big HK movie fan when he made this film.

[Nemesis]

that sounds like awesome news.. almost too good to be true... so im gonna pretend its BS for at least a year or 2 till the project is closer to completion (that way before i know it the movie will be out!) :)

[Mark Relford]

Originally posted by rhett
Has Kurt ever NOT had a mullet? :D

Well, there's Soldier.:D
This sequel might have some potential. Russell and Chan would make a great team!

[bigdaddyhorse]

Hey MISSIONCODEZ, does that single disc version have a real 5.1 track?
On my 2 disc, the 5.1 reads 4.1 on my player and stereo, the rears are just one channel instead of 2
:eek2:
The DTS track is the only real 5.1 track on that disc, but seeing how they removed it, di they at least put a better/real 5.1 track on the single version?

[Wolf Man]

Originally posted by rhett
Has Kurt ever NOT had a mullet? :D Didn't he have a military cut (not exactly boot camp, but...) in Stargate?

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally posted by Wolf Man
Didn't he have a military cut (not exactly boot camp, but...) in Stargate?

Yep, he had that Howie Long boxhead haircut going I seem to remember! Hated the movie, so I haven't seen it in a while, and probably won't again.

[Agent Z]

Originally posted by bigdaddyhorse.....
Hey MISSIONCODEZ, does that single disc version have a real 5.1 track?
On my 2 disc, the 5.1 reads 4.1 on my player and stereo, the rears are just one channel instead of 2.


Dagnabit! My bad. The single disc does indeed only have the 4.1 track....and lists it as such. :(

For more info, check out this review: http://www.dvdanswers.com/index.php?r=0&s=2&c=396

"Audio
Both Dolby Digital 4.1 and DTS 5.1 surround mixes are included on the disc. However, it must be noted that the DTS track comes from the same source as the Dolby one, and is really a 4.1 track posing as 5.1. By this I mean that the mono surround channel of the Dolby mix has simply been encoded into the left and right discrete surround channels of the DTS mix.

Both tracks are fairly pleasing, but are found wanting when compared to modern day mixes. The front of the soundstage is fine, with the dialogue firmly rooted in the centre and some nice panning effects in the left and right channels during the action scenes. The rears don’t fair quite as well, offering only limited usage of the surround channels for ambient effects. Bass is also slightly weak on the Dolby track. The DTS on the other hand has slightly more punch than the Dolby equivalent, with more aggressive use of the subwoofer and surround channels. The DTS mix also sounds slightly fuller. Also included are Dolby 2.0 Surround tracks in both English and French."

[Deaddevilman]

Originally posted by SaviniFan
Damn rhett, awesome news if it comes to fruitation. I'd love to see a sequal of sorts, and I'm sure the addition of Jackie Chan could only help things.

You're kidding right? Jackie Chan was the master 5-20 years ago. He's old now and just isn't 1/2 of what he use to be. He's a great comedian and perhaps he could be used in a non action role. JC has stated numerous times that he wants to do drama as he is a serious actor, but I'm sure he would take this role as comedy is where he's made all his money.

[hell ya!]

Originally posted by Deaddevilman
You're kidding right? Jackie Chan was the master 5-20 years ago. He's old now and just isn't 1/2 of what he use to be. He's a great comedian and perhaps he could be used in a non action role. JC has stated numerous times that he wants to do drama as he is a serious actor, but I'm sure he would take this role as comedy is where he's made all his money.

I agree, i'm not a fan of Chan at all. Too much comedy for me, hopefully he won't be in it.

[evilbaby]

Apparently, the sequel news is but a rumor...here's what I heard directly from Carpenter's assistant;


Funny how rumors spread... John did a Q&A after a screening of Big Trouble in Little China last week at the Arclight in Hollywood and someone suggested he do a sequel. John would love to but said that he didn't think any studio would give him the money to do it (since the original wasn't a big box office when it opened).

[Nemesis]

goddamn! i was starting to get excited.. id kill for another carpenter/russel flick

[hell ya!]

:fire: :fire:

[Deaddevilman]

Originally posted by evilbaby
Apparently, the sequel news is but a rumor...here's what I heard directly from Carpenter's assistant;

Life's tough when you're a founding member of the has been club.