Both films had a supernatural, demonic, Big Bad Guy adversary armed with magic and minions. Both films centered around a plot of abduction that required the hero to perform a "rescue" in addition to combatting various mooks and monsters. Hell, both had Victor Wong in supporting roles.
I was 13 in 1986; both films carried the (then fairly new) PG-13 rating. I saw both in the theater. At the time, I enjoyed both. When I rewatched them, a few years later (on video) I found one to be clearly superior...so much so that I've watched it many times over the years, have owned it on VHS and currently own a deluxe BluRay version of it. The second film was so bad, I couldn't believe I'd even liked it (hey, I was 13!)...so much so that I've never bothered to watch it again.
The first film was Big Trouble in Little China from John Carpenter; it earned barely over $11 million, a bonafide box office flop. The second film was Eddie Murphy's The Golden Child: it earned over $149 million.
Big Trouble in Little China has a 74% Rotten Tomato rating and an 82% audience ("popcorn") rating; by comparison, The Golden Child has a 22% Tomato and a 47% audience score. Both of these scores reflect and echo my own feelings on the films. John Carpenter and Kurt Russell (the star of Big Trouble) have stated they are proud of the film they created. Eddie Murphy has referred to his own film as "a piece of shit" (that was in '89)...and time has not been any kinder to the thing.
Thirty-five years later and I'm no longer 13. While I can see Big Trouble in Little China for the lightweight (if fun) film that it is, it still remains a personal favorite. It's not great cinema, but it's good...and it may be the best use of Asian American actors in a non-period Hollywood film prior to the turn of the century. Lots of reasons can be given as to why (financially) it failed so miserably in comparison to its inferior contemporary but, really, who cares? As far as I (and tens of thousands of others) are concerned, time has told the tale that ticket receipts alone could not.
There's something there that can (maybe) be applied to the various "edition wars" that crop up with regard to Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe.
Back in 1986 my friends and I played Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, not B/X. We used all the hardcovers published to that date. We worked in certain aspects of Mentzer's Companion rules (where we could fit them into an advanced game), and we made use of some (not all) articles published in Dragon magazine. Of course, we also had house rules and variants that were regular parts of the game.
But that was thirty-five years ago. A lot of different editions of D&D have been published since then. A lot of tinkering, a lot of changes. And a lot of changes in Yours Truly. I'm not 13 anymore; I'm a bit more discerning in my tastes...even my tastes when it comes to "fun."
All right, more on this subject (well, on the subject of different D&D issues) later. Maybe tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow.
Have a great week, folks.
john carpenter is a genius. Probably tthat made the difference
ReplyDeleteI was 17 in 1986. I knew BTiLC was one of the two movies you were referencing. I couldn't think of the other one. I was hoping you made the right choice about which one was great, and which one wasn't....I'd have to unfollow you if you didn't pick Big Trouble. Thankfully, you made the (only) wise choice.
ReplyDeleteBig Trouble is really the best "not a D&D movie, but totally a D&D movie".
Curiously, I was in the middle of watching a Kim Cattrall film when I checked to see if you'd posted. It's the sort of film that, as a male, I'm supposed to be ashamed of, but I'm not. It's 2005's the Ice Princess.
ReplyDeleteJames Hong shines so brilliantly in Big Trouble in Little China; it was a HUGE film for an actor who has had decades of trouble getting noticed. I have followed and loved the man since odd things he did in the 1970s, going back to M*A*S*H, right up through recent stuff. When the duck speaks in Kung Fu Panda, I recognized instantly that it was James Hong.
Felt I needed to point that out. Another recognizable but largely unknown actor who appears in the film, and many action films in the 80s and 90s, is Al Leong. Look him up.
?? Totally not familiar with the Ice Princess. As a person who watched the entirety of Sex and the City, I was surprised to find the Catrall of that series was the same as the 1986 film. Perhaps surprisingly, the actor's actual self is fat more like the young woman in BTiLC.
DeleteJames Hong has probably had more work in Hollywood than any Asian American actor save (maybe) John Lone...actually, scratch that as Lone is from Hong Kong. But, yes, he continues to find work, and yes his voice is immediately recognizable. I remember him in both Blade Runner (the original) and Mulan.
Al Leong I know well as a fight stunt coordinator (I believe he choreographed all the fights for Big Trouble). He famously appeared in the first Die Hard film (and, I think, also did fight coordination for that film). I'm surprised Quentin Tarentino hasn't talked him into doing something.
Ah...just looked up Ice Princess. Yeah, I've seen this one, too, just didn't remember the name. The part where the rival gives the protagonist the new skates is horrific. Pretty sure I watched this one with the kids when we were in Paraguay.
DeleteTry Balls of Fury -- Hong has an iconic character role in that, in my opinion, grossly-underwatched comedy.
DeleteSeen it. He's an American treasure.
DeleteCurrently my kids and I are watching "I Dream of Jeannie" (the original series) as our light evening entertainment. A young James Hong appears in one of the (black & white) first season episodes. The man has been working forever.
DeleteAl Leong is one of those fellows who makes movies run but no one knows who he is. Thought you'd mention him as Genghis Khan in Bill & Ted, but since you didn't, I will.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to see Cattrall's alter-ego acting, check out her small bit in 1982's Canadian film Porkys, before she was "discovered." Shown here with a young Boyd Gaines:
https://youtu.be/p9viVb8qhhQ
Better not watch that bit with the kids around.
ReplyDeleteCompletely different movies, but Big Trouble leans into the supernatural and humor. I do still enjoy The Golden Child and loved it as a 12 year old.
ReplyDeleteKim Cattrall has had an amazing career! Loved her in Mannequin and Split Second, as well.
Al Leong also has that hilarious bit of business in Die Hard, where, as one of the "terrorists," he pauses from setting up an ambush for the cops to swipe some candy from the counter in the lobby shop.
ReplyDeleteLot of excellent character actors in Hollywood with iconic bits of "business." But that one's pretty memorable, I agree.
Delete[I've only watched Die Hard some 100 times or so]
On my short list of films seen at 13 but not worth revisiting - Ice Pirates.
ReplyDeleteBetter than Space Balls.
DeleteOr The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. But I was 20.
DeleteFor embarrassing movies at age 13 I have to go back to Empire of the Ants.