John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is a film that is almost impossible to describe, other than a piece of insane brilliance that was ahead of its time. Shout! Factory’s new Collector’s Edition release retains the special features and commentary from the previous Fox Blu-ray release, adding two new commentary tracks plus new interviews.
The Production: 4/5
Truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) arrives in San Francisco, stops off to gamble with his good friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), who loses his shirt to Jack. Jack then escorts Wang to the airport to pick up Miao Yin (Suzee Pai), Wang’s fiancée. They run into lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), who is there to pick up a young immigrant before she is kidnapped and sold as a slave. Instead, the gang members kidnap Miao Yin, who is much more valuable because of her rare green eyes. Jack and Wang chase them back to Chinatown, only to be stopped by a gang confrontation in which Jack’s truck gets stolen. As it turns out, Miao Yin has been handed over to underground (quite literally) crime lord David Lo Pan (James Hong), who is actually a 2,000 year old man cursed to walk the earth until he marries and sacrifices a green-eyed woman to appease the god he offended. Tour bus guide Egg Shen (Victor Wong) leads Wang, Jack, and a small band of mercenaries into the catacombs of Lo Pan underneath Chinatown in an attempt to take out Lo Pan and rescue Maio Yin.
A mash-up of Asian mysticism, martial arts, horror, comedy and western motifs (it was originally conceived and written as a period western), John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is a film that most either love or just don’t get it. Part of the problem is that the movie didn’t truly find its audience until home video and cable, and this is a movie that plays much better with a large and enthusiastic audience. I had always thought Big Trouble was a fun film, until I had the chance to see it just a few years ago at a screening on the Fox lot where the theater was near full capacity, nearly all of them fans of the movie, ranking as one of my favorite movie-going experiences. Nothing is quite what it seems in Big Trouble, essentially making Russell’s Jack Burton the none-too-bright and full-of-himself sidekick to Dun’s Wang Chi. Russell obviously is having a blast playing the clumsy doofus, always several steps behind all the action going on around him, while Dun plays the role mostly straight. James Hong’s Lo Pan is bat-shit crazy and plays the part to the hilt, often enjoying the strange dialogue he gets to say, while Victor Wong’s Egg Shen also has a few screws loose, with his bizarre potions and sayings. Cattrall’s Gracie Law is often annoying (but in a good way), playing along with all the bizarre happenings and does have some chemistry with Russell in their will they or won’t they get together relationship. While some may find Carpenter’s direction all over the place, I found it fit in perfectly with the crazy plot. Big Trouble in Little China, though, is not a movie for everybody because it is just so bizarre and often silly. But that is why many really love it, although with its subplot of human trafficking, I doubt it could be made in today’s environment.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
Although it is not mentioned anywhere in Shout! Factory’s press release, I have a feeling this new Collector’s Edition was harvested from Fox’s recent 4K scan that was screened on the lot a few years ago (but I could be wrong). There are subtle differences from the 2009 Fox Blu-ray, such as improved contrast and sharper detail. Silk gowns look more like silk, and the details in Lo Pan’s wedding gown are much more distinct in this release. Colors are a bit more refined, especially reds that were very close to blooming on the previous release, while here they are more vivid without looking overly saturated.
Audio: 4/5
Shout Factory has included two English language tracks, a default DTS-HD MA 5.1 and a Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo surround. These sound like the same mixes found on the previous Fox release. The DTS-HD track has the wider soundstage and lower end, with better directionality of sound effects. For a mid-1980s era soundtrack, it sounds quite good.
Special Features: 5/5
Shout! Factory’s Collector’s Edition is a 2-disc set, with Disc One housing the movie, audio commentaries (obviously), and the bulk of the archival bonus material. Disc Two contains the bulk of the new interviews and many of the carryover features from the 2013 UK Arrow Video release.
Disc One:
Audio Commentary with Producer Larry Franco: Moderated by Justin Beahm, Franco talks about his career in show business and working with John Carpenter. This track is accessible from the Audio sub-menu. **NEW**
Audio Commentary with Special Effects Artist Steve Johnson: Moderated by Filmmaker Anthony C. Ferrante (Sharknado), Johnson discusses his work with John Carpenter and how he broke in to the business. This track is accessible from the Audio sub-menu. **NEW**
Audio Commentary with Director John Carpenter and Actor Kurt Russell: Ported over from previous releases, the two long-time friends kick back and have a great time reminiscing about making the movie together. This track is accessible from the Audio sub-menu.
Isolated Score: The music-only track in DTS-HD MA 5.1.
Theatrical Trailers (480i; 7:06): Three trailers are included.
TV Spots (480i; 3:09): Five spots are included.
Vintage Audio Interview with John Carpenter (1080p; 5:49): Carpenter briefly discuses the film and working with Kurt Russell for the fourth time.
Electronic Press Kit (480i; 27:26): Video reel sent out to media outlets prior to the film’s theatrical release.
Gag Reel (480i; 2:56)
Music Video (480i; 3:28): The Coupe De Villes (featuring John Carpenter) perform the movie’s theme song, Big Trouble in Little China.
Deleted Scenes (480i): Airport (Work Print) (5:58); Airport (Video Tape) (7:07); The Dragon of the Black Pool (Workprint) (2:47); The Dragon of the Black Pool (Video Tape) (4:29); The White Tiger (Work Print) (2:22); The White Tiger (Video Tape) (7:15); Gracie’s Office (3:46); Thunder’s Tour (1:41); Beneath Chinatown (2:27); Lava Sequence (3:56); Six Demon Bag (11:56)
Extended Ending (480i;3:17): Jack gets his revenge on the White Tigers.
Photo Galleries (1080p): Three galleries to peruse – Movie Stills, Posters and Lobby Cards and Behind-The-Scenes.
Disc Two:
You’re the Hero with Actor Dennis Dun (1080p; 14:14): The actor discusses his career, working with John Carpenter and James Hong, his chemistry with Kurt Russell, and how he landed the role. **NEW**
The Soul of Lo Pan with Actor James Hong (1080p; 23:57): The actor discusses his long career, growing up in Minnesota, and making Big Trouble in Little China. **NEW**
Able to Be Myself with Actor Donald Li (1080p; 18:29): The actor discusses his inspiration with Robert DeNiro and working on Big Trouble in Little China. **NEW**
The Tao of Thunder with Actor Carter Wong (1080p; 25:47): The actor, who has a rather thick accent, is subtitled and discusses his childhood, getting cast in Michael Cimino’s Year of the Dragon and then Big Trouble in Little China, and his new movie studio in China. **NEW**
The Tao of Rain with Actor Peter Kwong (1080p; 28:34): The actor discusses his American heritage, his career, and working on Big Trouble in Little China. **NEW**
The Hatchet Man Speaks with Actor Al Leong (1080p; 6:32): The actor discusses relocating to Los Angeles, his training, and working on Big Trouble in Little China. **NEW**
Damn Wilie Prescott and the Horse He Rode In On with Writer W.D. Richter (1080p; 20:31): Richter discusses his first job after directing The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension, which was to “adapt” the period western screenplay into a more contemporary piece that we know and love as Big Trouble in Little China. **NEW**
It Was a Western Ghost Story with Writer Gary Goldman (1080p; 27:50): Goldman discusses the origins of the screenplay, developing the story, and selling the script to the studio. **NEW**
The Poetry of Motion: Martial Arts Choreographer James Lew (1080p; 35:01): Lew discusses his training and stuntwork on the film. **NEW**
Into the Mystic Night with The Coupe De Villes Member Nick Castle (1080p; 12:35): Castle discusses his love for musicals, studying at USC, and playing music with John Carpenter. **NEW**
Since We Were Kids with 2nd Unit Director / The Coupe De Villes Member Tommy Lee Wallace (1080p; 28:51): Wallace discusses his childhood with John Carpenter, his passion for music, his career and working on Big Trouble in Litte China. **NEW**
Love and Art with Movie Poster Artist Drew Struzan (1080p; 17:04): Struzan discusses his career as a movie poster and album cover artist. **NEW**
Return to Little China (1080p; 12:14): Ported from the Arrow UK release, Carpenter discusses Big Trouble in Little China.
Being Jack Burton with Actor Kurt Russell (1080p; 20:57): Ported from the Arrow UK release, Russell discusses his working relationship with John Carpenter and working on Big Trouble in Little China.
Carpenter & I with Director of Photography Dean Cundey (1080p; Ported from the Arrow UK release, Cundey discusses his long collaboration with John Carpenter and making Big Trouble in Little China.
Producing Big Trouble with Producer Larry Franco (1080p; 15:21): Ported from the Arrow UK release, much of the material is also covered in his commentary track.
Staging Big Trouble with Stuntman Jeff Imada (1080p; 12:29): Ported from the Arrow UK release, Imada discusses the stunts in the movie.
Visual Effects Artist Richard Edlund (1080p; 13:25): Ported from the Arrow UK release, Edlund discusses the various visual effects used in the film.
Vintage Featurette (upscaled 1080p; 7:26): An old behind the scenes featurette.
Reversible Cover Artwork: Choose between new artwork or original poster artwork.
Overall: 4.5/5
Die hard fans of the film will want this edition for the wealth of old and new special features alone.
Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
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