movies

1923 readers

523 users here now

Matrix room: https://matrix.to/#/#fediversefilms:matrix.org

Warning: If the community is empty, make sure you have "English" selected in your languages in your account settings.

🔎 Find discussion threads

A community focused on discussions on movies. Besides usual movie news, the following threads are welcome

Discussion threads to discuss about a specific movie or show
Weekly threads: what have you been watching lately?
Trailers
Posters
Retrospectives
Should I watch?

Related communities:

Show communities:

Discussion communities:

RULES

Spoilers are strictly forbidden in post titles.

Posts soliciting spoilers (endings, plot elements, twists, etc.) should contain [spoilers] in their title. Comments in these posts do not need to be hidden in spoiler MarkDown if they pertain to the title’s subject matter.

Otherwise, spoilers but must be contained in MarkDown.

2024 discussion threads

Dune

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

orangeNgreen

[email protected]

This Classic John Carpenter Picture Is The Greatest B-Movie Ever Made [Big Trouble in Little China] (www.dreadcentral.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I’m going to cut to the chase. John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is perhaps the greatest B-movie of all time. And seeing as the celebrated cult classic observes a release date anniversary today, I am prepared to loudly and proudly sing its praises.

Big Trouble in Little China works so well because Carpenter knew precisely what kind of film he was making. He wasn’t trying to create fine art. He was far more interested in serving cinematic comfort food and I am here for it. The beloved director succeeds remarkably in delivering a rip-roaring action spectacle with a hefty helping of imagination, a killer sense of humor, and a dynamite showing from Kurt Russell as lead character Jack Burton.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Doesn't B movie just imply a small budget? Which IMO makes it even better that they could make such a kick-ass film with not much money (relatively).

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

Iirc it was originally about being the B reel, a secondary movie of a double feature. That came with a lower budget and thus less quality.

Think pretty much any Roger Corman movie lol. Mind you, Corman was brilliant with the budgets he had, they stand the test of time imo.

But the term has shifted to encompass anything cheesy (which big trouble is for sure), low budget, or even indie movies sometimes.

The budget wasn't really lacking, something close to 20 mil. And it certainly had a good cast with an experienced and marketable lead. Though Cameron has said the effects budget was bare bones, which does show despite them being effective.

It was a bit of a bomb in theaters, but was massively loved in home video where it didn't have to compete with other films as much.

And, despite it not being a B film by the original definition, it actively drew inspiration from B movies, particularly some of the kung-fu genre and horror.

It's in my personal top twenty, even over some of the other movies released around the same time, including Aliens. It's definitely my favourite Kurt Russell movie and character, even over Snake Plissken or his more serious stuff. Dude just chewed all the scenery and owned it.