9 Reasons Why Big Trouble In Little China Is Still Awesome

The aforementioned Escape From New York gave us Snake Plissken, a Clint Eastwood-type who spoke very economically as he kicked ass on his mission to save the President. The Thing gave us R.J. MacReady, a reluctant hero in the face of extreme adversity. And Big Trouble in Little China gave us Jack Burton, the brash loud mouth that never quite manages to capture the heights of Wang Chi – the high-flying, fighting, martial arts hero of the film.

See, Burton isn’t even the hero of the movie. In a post modernistic move that was well ahead of its time, he is actually more of a sidekick, but he is just so charismatic that he becomes the focal point of the story as it unfolds.

As opposed to Snake Plissken, Burton just can’t help but shoot his mouth off, quipping his way through the entire film. He’s wasn’t extremely ripped like other 80s action heroes, he wasn’t incredibly smart, and he didn’t have a wealth of resources. He is the everyman just trying to get by in life and his roguish charm – very Han Solo-esque – just helps us like him all the more.

His intentions to do right so often fall flat on their asses (as does he), and yet he never stops trying to help his friend. But why? Quite simply, it’s because he is a good guy. That and he just wants his truck back.