# Ranting and raving about Big Trouble in Little China **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478 "2014-01-22T21:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/21 "2014-01-23T01:12:30Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > How did Lo Pan find out about Miao Yin (the girl with the green eyes)? I don’t think the kidnapping at the airport was part of any scheme by Lo Pan. I think that was an independent operation by the Lords of Death - kidnapping fresh-off-the-plane Chinese girls, and selling them to the brothel. The fact that one happened to have green eyes was accidental. > [@](#): > > In the beginning of the movie, Jack (Kurt Russell) and his friend Wang go to pick up Wang’s fiancee from the airport. But the Lords of Death, the evil red/black clad gang in Chinatown is waiting there to kidnap her. Its established later that the LOD is run by the Wing Kong, who serve Lo Pan and his flunkies. But how did they know about this girl with the green eyes specifically? Chinese girls with green eyes are rare, but as Lo Pan later tries to do with Gracie (Kim Catrall), he didn’t need a green eye Chinese girl to break the curse, any green eye girl would do. How is it that he’s waited a thousand some odd years when Gracie has been practicing law in Chinatown for a decade and didn’t get noticed? Apparently, not just any green eyed girl would do - there’s that whole ritual thing where their eyes go all white and they float around holding swords improperly. So there’s some other element they need besides just the eyes. I’m guessing that Lo Pan probably tried a bunch of white girls in his little ritual, and they kept failing, so he gave up on them, figuring only a proper Chinese girl would do. He is, after all, thousands of years old, and you know how racist some old people can be. > [@](#): > > In the alley fight, why did the 3 Storms attack the Wing Kong? > > … > > Speaking of the alley fight, why did Lo Pan make an appearance there? He’s got the girl already by this point, why even appear in public to get run over by Jack? Easiest answer here is that they flat don’t give a shit which mortals are on their “team.” But, it’s possible that it’s retaliation for the kidnapping at the airport. This is pretty fanwanky, but bear with me. The kidnapping at the airport wasn’t orchestrated by Lo Pan. It’s just a side gig the Lords of Death have going - kidnapping girls fresh off the airplane from China, and selling them to the brothels. It’s pure chance that they happen to grab Miao Yin. They weren’t targeting her specifically. The brothel itself isn’t part of Lo Pan’s criminal network. It belongs to an unnamed rival. That’s why Lightning Guy blows the roof off the place and kills the madam when he takes Miao Yin, instead of just having her delivered to Lo Pan’s front door. Word gets out that the Jade Dragon has a green eyed Chinese girl, and reaches Lo Pan. He orders the raid on the brothel, and sends the three storms to teach the Lords a lesson about who they work for. Jack manages to walk into the middle of both of these. > [@](#): > > In the beginning of the alley fight, the Storms are practically invincible. They tank a bunch of bullets from the Chang Sing like they were nothing. But later, the Storms get killed by: a sword, a falling statue, and suicide bomb. My theory is that once Lo Pan became flesh and blood, his supernatural servants lost some of that power. I’m pretty sure that was all the effect of the magic potion Egg gave them right before the big fight. That’s what gave Wang the ability to do all those impossible wuxia leaps when he was fighting the Storm. > [@](#): > > WTF was that sasquatch thing? A [yaoguai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaoguai) maybe? > [@](#): > > Lo Pan obviously has the Storms in his command, but was he doing genetic experiments too? They never explained that thing at all and he gets away at the end of the movie. Nah, the BTiLC world just has demons and monsters in it. > [@](#): > > How does Egg Shen knows Lo Pan? > > During their battle, Lo Pan makes some comment about Egg Shen and Egg obviously knows the lore of Lo Pan. How do they know each other? Is Egg also a thousand year old wizard trying to defeat Lo Pan? One of the charms of the movie is that it’s basically about an American who stumbles into the last act of an epic story, and assumes that he’s the star of the whole thing. There may be something profound about American-Chinese relations in that. Anyway, Lo Pan and Egg Shen clearly have a history, and I suspect this movie isn’t the first time Egg Shen has interfered in Lo Pan’s schemes. How long back that enmity extends is open to question. It certainly would not be out of place in this movie for Egg to be a few centuries old himself, or he could be just as old as he appears, and has only been fighting Lo Pan for the last few decades. Maybe he learned about Lo Pan from his master, who also spent his life opposing him, and who learned about him from _his_ master, and so on. > [@](#): > > Why did Lo Pan keep Jack and Wang alive? > > When they are captured by Lo Pan’s flunkies, they are tied to wheelchairs and put in this round metal room. Jack asks if they are in hell and Wang replies that if Lo Pan wanted them dead, they’d be dead already. But there is no conceivable reason why Lo Pan would keep them alive at that point. He’s already got both girls with green eyes and his plans to marry them can continue with or without the guys. Why keep them alive at that point? Information about Egg Shen? Recreational torture? Snacks? > [@](#): > > Why didn’t he kiss her goodbye? > > At the end, when Jack is leaving, Gracie’s friend the reporter says “Aren’t you even going to kiss her goodbye?”. I listened to the commentaries and they actually talk about why, but I still can’t really figure it out. Its not like kissing her would mean anything other than a kiss, so why not go for it. Besides: > > Kim Catrall was really hot. Maybe he just doesn’t like her all that much. > [@](#): > > Though I’m glad they didn’t make a crappy sequel to this that ruined the original, I’m also sad we don’t get to see what happens to the gang after the movie’s over. Maybe he goes back to Gracie after a number of years traveling, maybe they settle down. What happened to Margo’s news story about all this? And did the authorities ever find what seemed to be a whole underground complex beneath that fake shipping company, complete with a temple with a glowing skull, a jail, and a Chinese palace? I’m glad they didn’t make a direct sequel, either, but as it happens, I caught a great movie on Netflix the other night that could very well take place in the same universe. It’s a Korean action comedy called [Woochi](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1274293/). Kung fu wizards fighting monsters on the streets of modern Seoul. I enjoyed the heck out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/22 "2014-01-23T01:48:38Z")
He didn’t kiss her **goodbye** because it’s wasn’t goodbye! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/23 "2014-01-23T02:47:31Z")
You just listen to the old Pork Chop Express here now and take his advice on a dark and stormy night when the lightning’s crashin’ and the thunder’s rollin’ and the rain’s coming down in sheets thick as lead. Just remember what old Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big old storm right square in the eye and he says, ‘Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it.’ ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/24 "2014-01-23T03:05:23Z")
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye, and asks you if you paid your dues; you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol’ Jack Burton always says at a time like that: “Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yessir, the check is in the mail.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/25 "2014-01-23T03:11:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Anyway, Lo Pan and Egg Shen clearly have a history, and I suspect this movie isn’t the first time Egg Shen has interfered in Lo Pan’s schemes. _“You never could beat me.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/26 "2014-01-23T03:15:14Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > _ **Who?** _ “Jack Burton. _Me_.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/27 "2014-01-23T03:16:33Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > This. It’s never quite said, but her appearance (natural plus makeup) and name, “Lee,” seem to indicate that she’s supposed to have some Chinese ancestry. Chalk it up to another point lost in the whirlwind story. > > Trust me. I can see things… now. Her name is Gracie Law, not Gracie Lee. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/28 "2014-01-23T03:21:34Z")
Timely thread. I just dropped by to say that I’ve watched it many times over the years and just watched it again yesterday. Re: Lo Pan and Egg Shen, I got the impression that they were bitter enemies the last time Lo Pan was flesh. Lo Pan did make a comment about '‘peasant’ magic during their fight at the end. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/29 "2014-01-23T03:35:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Her name is Gracie Law, not Gracie Lee. I see things… all fuzzy… ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/30 "2014-01-23T04:23:50Z")
I think the movie’s second - no, third greatest strength is that it does not waste time carefully explaining details. It’s an action movie; in-depth back-story is not necessary, when a couple of throw away lines are enough to give you the gist of it. The movie keeps its prioritizes straight and maintains internal consistency, and that’s enough\*. Comedy action, in my opinion, is very difficult, and this is one of the few movies that gets it right. I love this movie. Grace was born in China, so she is Chinese, in that sense. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/31 "2014-01-23T04:53:59Z")
“Shut up, Mr. Burton! You were not brought upon this earth to ‘get it’.” > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Maybe its because I’m Chinese, well, probably that is the reason why, but I loved this movie. Nah. I’m as white as white can be and I dig it too. > [@](#): > > Kim Catrall was really hot. > > I mean just unbelievably hot. That’s one reason, sure, but another is that it’s just a completely cool movie. It’s a wonderful companion to _The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension_, I believe Jack Burton to be a Blue Blaze Irregular because believing so makes the universe a better place (even if he’d make Perfect Tommy cry). Who cares why Wing Cong are fighting the three storms and stuff? Revel in a universe where that sort of thing happens in back alleys, and in which under Los Angeles flows the black blood of the Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/32 "2014-01-23T05:40:04Z")
Not only do I enjoy this movie, but it’s one of my all time favorite commentary tracks. John Carpenter and Kurt Russell basically just laugh their way through the whole movie, going off on tangents right and left and reminiscing about their careers together. Sounds like two old friends having a great visit. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/33 "2014-01-23T05:46:17Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Revel in a universe where that sort of thing happens in back alleys, and in which under Los Angeles flows the black blood of the Earth. Do you mean oil? ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/34 "2014-01-23T05:54:28Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Do you mean oil? I mean BLACK BLOOD OF THE EARTH! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/35 "2014-01-23T06:25:38Z")
“Wait, what’s that say?” “‘Hell of the boiling oil’’” “You’re kidding.” “Yeah, I am. It says ‘Keep Out’” Every word of this movie is golden. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/36 "2014-01-23T07:00:31Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > That’s one reason, sure, but another is that it’s just a completely cool movie. It’s a wonderful companion to _The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension_, I believe Jack Burton to be a Blue Blaze Irregular because believing so makes the universe a better place (even if he’d make Perfect Tommy cry). W.D. Richter directed & produced “Buckaroo”, and adapted “Big Trouble.” You probably already knew, but you didn’t mention it, and others might not know. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/37 "2014-01-23T07:59:02Z")
Yes sir, the check is in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/38 "2014-01-23T11:45:57Z")
I never drive faster than I can see. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/39 "2014-01-23T13:55:02Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > It’s a wonderful companion to _The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension_, I believe Jack Burton to be a Blue Blaze Irregular because believing so makes the universe a better place… There have been claims that BTILC originated as a BB sequel and morphed into the film we saw. There have also been authoritative denials. But the shared DNA is obvious and fun. Clearly, what’s needed is a third movie tying the two together. Yeah. That’s what Jack Burton says… ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478/40 "2014-01-23T16:10:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “Jack Burton. _Me_.” This guy- _[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjq5isqGQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vjq5isqGQ)_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-and-raving-about-big-trouble-in-little-china/679478.md?page=3)