A commercial flop at the time, only accumulating $11 at the US box-office, Big Trouble in Little China has since gone on to be a cult film.
Directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, Kim Catral and James Hong to name but a few, BTLC was released in 1986.
Centred around Jack Burton an All-American trucker who gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown, it lay the foundation and enabled future films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix to be possible, both in a technical sense and more importantly it made the western audience open to wire kung-fu and eastern mysticism.
The film is so popular that recently a Big Trouble in Little China comic book series has been released to much acclaim.
This morning they have announced that Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson will be starring and producing a remake to the cult film.
Firstly I am a fan of The Rock, his films, Pain and Gain and San Andreas, being two of my favourites. However he is no Jack Burton.
Jack Burton, the quick wit, hapless truck driver is one of those iconic movie characters that is owned by the original actor. You wouldn't recast Al Pacino in the Godfather, Brando in Apocalypse Now or Stallone as Rocky.
Kurt Russell is still making movies. Recast him in a sequel with The rock playing another character and still producing. We don't need a remake, we need a continuation.
In the words of Egg Shen:
You leave Jack Burton alone! We are in his debt! He showed great courage!
Updates
June 3, 2015
The feedback I have received highlights a genuine appreciation for the character of Jack Burton and the specific charm that Kurt Russell brought to the role. People are pointing out that some films are best left as singular, complete experiences rather than being treated as intellectual property to be recycled. I am currently compiling these perspectives to ensure that any future discussions with studios reflect the depth of this public sentiment.
June 3, 2015
Seeing the growing agreement around Jack Burton reminds me that some roles are truly irreplaceable. This momentum validates the idea that we should honor the legacy of our favorite films rather than simply retelling the same stories.
57 Comments
Not down with the idea of the rock playing Burton at all. He's capable in the bald hard man role a la Vin Diesel, Statham etc but is not of epic enough stature to adopt the role of Burton and his quest to reclaim his truck. The thought of of so many amazing one liners getting a 2017 Hollywood/The Rock makeover leaves one cold.
Please do not ruin the movie I still watch at least three times a month. I like Dwayne Johnson,to be use. Not a movie he has made that I do not like. But it would ruin me and my love affair with BTILC. Please keep it and do no ruin it with a commercial remake. The "underground society" sensation I get when watching this movie will fade like with every other remake that ruins my adoration for the original. I love John Carpenter's movies to the fullest. And I mean LOVE!!! Whatever happens, happens, of course. But it would be a shame if one of my favorite movies gets ruined. Do not know what I would do with mmy egg Shen shirt, my "Dragon of the Black Pool" t shirt, and jack burton costume...
I like the Dwayne Johnson, but he's too serious to play Kurt Russell's character. It doesn't look right for a comedic stand point. That's like having Stallone play Superman instead of Henry Carvill. They should make a sequel with all the original cast and have the Rock play a character on there and not as Jack Burton. Just sayin.
Kurt is Jack, like Jeff is the Dude... No Remake - Bring everyone back to fight Lo Pan. (Who believes he died anyway?).
I would really like to see a lot of the original cast. I like the Rock and think he has turned into a great actor and would be ok in the movie, just not as Jack Burton. Even if he was somehow the main focus but Kurt Russell was given a big part also it might work.
The Rock may be a good guy, but he needs to come up with his own ideas. Don't try and lift yourself up on someone else's shoulders. Getting pretty tired of seeing him as well. He's pretty much the same guy in every movie. He's a good actor and I loved him in Southland Tales. It's been quite a while and a number of movies since then and The Rock has proved that he's pretty much won dimensional as Nice of a guy as he is. For his sake and the sake of the movie he should do the right thing and put Kurt Russell in the lead role. The franchise is nothing without Jack Burton and Jack Burton is nothing without Kurt Russell. The Rock may want to stay true to the spirit of the movie, but if there's anyone who can make sure that it does, it's Russell. I don't even want the rock to be in it. I am thrilled that he is bringing it back, and kudos to him for doing so. But like I said before it's all for nothing without Russell.
We need Jack more than ever!
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A commercial flop at the time, only accumulating $11 at the US box-office, Big Trouble in Little China has since gone on to be a cult film.
Directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, Kim Catral and James Hong to name but a few, BTLC was released in 1986.
Centred around Jack Burton an All-American trucker who gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown, it lay the foundation and enabled future films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix to be possible, both in a technical sense and more importantly it made the western audience open to wire kung-fu and eastern mysticism.
The film is so popular that recently a Big Trouble in Little China comic book series has been released to much acclaim.
This morning they have announced that Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson will be starring and producing a remake to the cult film.
Firstly I am a fan of The Rock, his films, Pain and Gain and San Andreas, being two of my favourites. However he is no Jack Burton.
Jack Burton, the quick wit, hapless truck driver is one of those iconic movie characters that is owned by the original actor. You wouldn't recast Al Pacino in the Godfather, Brando in Apocalypse Now or Stallone as Rocky.
Kurt Russell is still making movies. Recast him in a sequel with The rock playing another character and still producing. We don't need a remake, we need a continuation.
In the words of Egg Shen:
You leave Jack Burton alone! We are in his debt! He showed great courage!
Updates
June 3, 2015
The feedback I have received highlights a genuine appreciation for the character of Jack Burton and the specific charm that Kurt Russell brought to the role. People are pointing out that some films are best left as singular, complete experiences rather than being treated as intellectual property to be recycled. I am currently compiling these perspectives to ensure that any future discussions with studios reflect the depth of this public sentiment.
June 3, 2015
Seeing the growing agreement around Jack Burton reminds me that some roles are truly irreplaceable. This momentum validates the idea that we should honor the legacy of our favorite films rather than simply retelling the same stories.
57 Comments
I love Dwayne Johnson but please this is not just a movie remake this is one of those situations where you just leave as is. please do not make the mistake so many have done and messed up a original true source of pure entertainment theater has made such a huge impact on us the fans.. Jack Burton is Kurt Russel . That part can never ever be duplicated you will lose out on a lot of fans not to mention the backlash you will get.. thank you Kurt to this day I watch and play ever scene you ever quoted .. no one can breathe life into that part but you....
Not down with the idea of the rock playing Burton at all. He's capable in the bald hard man role a la Vin Diesel, Statham etc but is not of epic enough stature to adopt the role of Burton and his quest to reclaim his truck. The thought of of so many amazing one liners getting a 2017 Hollywood/The Rock makeover leaves one cold.
Please do not ruin the movie I still watch at least three times a month. I like Dwayne Johnson,to be use. Not a movie he has made that I do not like. But it would ruin me and my love affair with BTILC. Please keep it and do no ruin it with a commercial remake. The "underground society" sensation I get when watching this movie will fade like with every other remake that ruins my adoration for the original. I love John Carpenter's movies to the fullest. And I mean LOVE!!! Whatever happens, happens, of course. But it would be a shame if one of my favorite movies gets ruined. Do not know what I would do with mmy egg Shen shirt, my "Dragon of the Black Pool" t shirt, and jack burton costume...
I like the Dwayne Johnson, but he's too serious to play Kurt Russell's character. It doesn't look right for a comedic stand point. That's like having Stallone play Superman instead of Henry Carvill. They should make a sequel with all the original cast and have the Rock play a character on there and not as Jack Burton. Just sayin.
Kurt is Jack, like Jeff is the Dude... No Remake - Bring everyone back to fight Lo Pan. (Who believes he died anyway?).
I would really like to see a lot of the original cast. I like the Rock and think he has turned into a great actor and would be ok in the movie, just not as Jack Burton. Even if he was somehow the main focus but Kurt Russell was given a big part also it might work.
The Rock may be a good guy, but he needs to come up with his own ideas. Don't try and lift yourself up on someone else's shoulders. Getting pretty tired of seeing him as well. He's pretty much the same guy in every movie. He's a good actor and I loved him in Southland Tales. It's been quite a while and a number of movies since then and The Rock has proved that he's pretty much won dimensional as Nice of a guy as he is. For his sake and the sake of the movie he should do the right thing and put Kurt Russell in the lead role. The franchise is nothing without Jack Burton and Jack Burton is nothing without Kurt Russell. The Rock may want to stay true to the spirit of the movie, but if there's anyone who can make sure that it does, it's Russell. I don't even want the rock to be in it. I am thrilled that he is bringing it back, and kudos to him for doing so. But like I said before it's all for nothing without Russell.
We need Jack more than ever!
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I love Dwayne Johnson but please this is not just a movie remake this is one of those situations where you just leave as is. please do not make the mistake so many have done and messed up a original true source of pure entertainment theater has made such a huge impact on us the fans.. Jack Burton is Kurt Russel . That part can never ever be duplicated you will lose out on a lot of fans not to mention the backlash you will get.. thank you Kurt to this day I watch and play ever scene you ever quoted .. no one can breathe life into that part but you....