tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post6730367118880757369..comments2024-03-23T12:33:33.918-04:00Comments on Junta Juleil's Culture Shock: Film Review: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986, John Carpenter)Sean Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-38876831748971725342012-03-21T16:51:37.498-04:002012-03-21T16:51:37.498-04:00Man, I love all those guys. Al Leong is truly a l...Man, I love all those guys. Al Leong is truly a legend. I was reading a while back about a film he wrote and directed and starred in called DADDY TELL ME A STORY, but then I heard that the film had been completely lost. I hope that's not the case. <br /><br />Also, it's unfortunate that he hasn't really appeared in much throughout the last decade, but it truly warmed my heart to see him show up (albeit very briefly) on DEADWOOD a few years back.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-26286107016267404402012-03-21T02:18:46.496-04:002012-03-21T02:18:46.496-04:00Actually, scratch that. Al Leong's not the &qu...Actually, scratch that. Al Leong's not the "greatest token Asian bad guy". He's just the greatest henchman, period. Without guys like Al, our beloved action heroes would have nobody to kill. And Al's been killed by just about everybody. Hell, same goes for Lew and Okamura.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-25679977963448515202012-03-21T02:16:28.228-04:002012-03-21T02:16:28.228-04:00It's probably not hard to figure out what happ...It's probably not hard to figure out what happened to Dun. In Hollywood, Asians usually get shoehorned into a few stereotypical roles. You know: nerdy types, martial arts masters, guys with no personalities. I liked that moment in BIG TROUBLE when Jack asks: "Any of them savvy English?" and the Chang Sing (played by James Lew) retorts: "Hey, man, who is this guy?"<br /><br />There are a lot of recognizable guys in this film though:<br /><br />- Victor Wong<br />- James Hong<br />- James Lew (who also did the fight choreography)<br />- Gerald Okamura<br />- and, of course, the greatest token Asian bad guy himself, Al motherfucking Leong<br /><br />The sad thing is, as recognizable as these guys are (especially Al, who's that one guy everyone recognizes but never knows the name of), none of them are huge stars. Hell, three of them are more stuntmen and henchmen types. Another interesting thing is that Dennis Dun might actually be the least recognizable guy among them. He does a fine job though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-61940696141338223512012-03-19T21:32:18.322-04:002012-03-19T21:32:18.322-04:00Anon.,
Thanks for the kind words! It is a shame ...Anon.,<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words! It is a shame that Dennis Dun's career didn't really pick up post-Carpy, but a friend told me that he has a meaty recurring role on the already defunct Mann/Milch cable series, LUCK.<br /><br />Carpy really does deserve more attention from the critical establishment. He's inspired so many filmmakers at this point, perhaps he'll one day be regarded as a Howard Hawks or a Nicholas Ray or a Sam Fuller, just as their genre-heavy careers were lauded and reevaluated by scholars in the 1960s and 70s and 80s while they were in the twilight of their careers.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-42852017566054439552012-03-18T11:55:50.350-04:002012-03-18T11:55:50.350-04:00Great review, Sean. Can't add much here.
I li...Great review, Sean. Can't add much here.<br /><br />I like that Carpenter essentially makes the goofy sidekick the focus. Really, the competent one here is Dennis Dun (who'd appear a year later in PRINCE OF DARKNESS... and then disappear), in a conventional narrative he'd probably be the hero and the focus. This isn't to say the film is about Burton; but Carpenter does this thing where he turns the focus onto the sidekick. It's a nice touch.<br /><br />John Carpenter still doesn't get enough credit for his work. And I don't mean that people don't like his films. I mean that he's still very underrated as a director. I have no idea why people continue - to this day - to write this guy off. I've been in many a conversation even with people who've liked his films who underrate Carpenter's talents. It's like if a guy never directed an Oscar-nominated drama borefest he's incompetent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-41094787685029276252010-07-21T12:02:54.979-04:002010-07-21T12:02:54.979-04:00It IS really hard to decide which Carpenter is the...It IS really hard to decide which Carpenter is the best.<br />As JD wrote, The Thing is certainly his (and Bottin's) masterpiece.<br />But the favorite film sure varies from person to person.<br />For me, I'd say They Live, although Assault on Precinct 13 really makes my brain shiver. And Big Trouble is always a joy to watch.<br /><br />What a director!GuyRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06420079652050250323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-29418069822744027092010-07-21T11:42:41.315-04:002010-07-21T11:42:41.315-04:00EFNY and THE FOG (and IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS) are...EFNY and THE FOG (and IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS) are probably my next tier. THE FOG just keeps getting better and better for me- and I think the soundtrack might even be Carpenter's best- complex, scary, and setting the perfect mood for M.R. James-style devilry.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-90777199438566935052010-07-20T16:15:41.774-04:002010-07-20T16:15:41.774-04:00Those Carpy films you cited are also my frequent f...Those Carpy films you cited are also my frequent faves along with ESCAPE FROM NY - Russell plays such a badass in that one!<br /><br />And I've been finding myself really watching THE FOG a lot more lately, rediscovering this slightly underappreciated film of his.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-49037704857386822272010-07-20T15:26:57.412-04:002010-07-20T15:26:57.412-04:00It is so hard to choose a favorite Carpenter, but ...It is so hard to choose a favorite Carpenter, but THE THING, THEY LIVE, and BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA always float around the top of my list. Truly a perfect fusion of dialogue, direction, and performers– I could easily see this movie falling flat on its face if even just Russell were replaced with an actor who didn't understand the material.<br /><br />I am a BUCKAROO BANZAI fan, as well, and I've been meaning to do a write-up!Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537515557596273876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5497928641398322495.post-46723296603399886992010-07-20T10:55:58.871-04:002010-07-20T10:55:58.871-04:00Love this film! Hands down it is my fave Carpenter...Love this film! Hands down it is my fave Carpenter film of all-time. While I will concede that THE THING is prolly his masterpiece in terms of craft, etc. BIG TROUBLE is the film of his that I watch the most. Never get tired of it and can quote it endlessly.<br /><br />"And if we're not back by dawn, call the President."<br /><br />It's not just the dialogue but it's the way the actors say it as the above quote illustrates. The way Russell says that - with complete swagger and confidence - makes me laugh every damn time.<br /><br />Or the exchange between him and Lo Pan were doesn't believe that this little old guy is really an all-powerful ghost. Classic stuff. And, the film also delivers on the action sequences. So, you've got the best of both worlds. It goes without saying that they just don't make gems like this anymore.<br /><br />And speaking of W.D. Richter, I'd love to read yer thoughts on THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI. Talk about your instant cult films!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.com