Landmark continues its Midnight movies with John Carpenter's "Big Trouble in Little China" (August 3 and 4 at midnight at the Ken Cinema).
John Carpenter and Kurt Russell make quite a team. They did "Escape From New York," "The Thing," "Big Trouble in Little China," and "Escape From L.A." And Russell is one of the most underrated and underappreciated American actors. He's alway terrific but he rarely gets accolades. Where's his Oscar nominations for the solid work he's done in films like "Miracle" and "Breakdown"? Or for Stuntman Mike in "Death Proof"? In "Big Trouble in Little China," Russell just has fun. He does his best John Wayne impersonation (with lines like "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") and struts his way ("Everybody relax, I'm here") through this silly, over the top and utterly delightful action parody.
Here's the trailer.
I have to admit that the first time I saw the film I didn't take to its charms. That had a lot to do with expectations. But with each successive viewing I grew to love it more and more. Now it is one of my favorite purely fun films.
So I hope you will join me Saturday at midnight (it also plays on Friday but I'm just there on Saturday). I'll have some prizes and some fortune cookies to hand out. Any one got any costumes for this? I'd love to see some Jack Burtons or Lo Pans in the theater. Can't wait for this one, it'll be a blast on the big screen.
