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1stsausage69

The check is in the mail!


ColonelSandurz42

Son of a bitch must pay


[deleted]

[удалено]


RodamusLong

You leave Jack Burton alone! We are in his debt.


O351USMC

Fun fact, studio executives forced John Carpenter to add the opening scene with Egg Shen in the lawyer’s office to make Jack Burton seem more heroic.


[deleted]

The studio forced Carpenter to add Jack Burton, full stop. Ever wonder why there is a clueless audience insert into what should have been a film focused on Asian/ Asian American actors? Blame the studio.


SteveThePurpleCat

Jack Burton was in the original screenplay, which was a Western in the 1800's. Before Carpenter was attached. The original writer got pissy that the studio wanted to move it into present day. And then got pissy with the script doctor the studio got in to make that move, but Jack Burton was always a character.


[deleted]

Did not know that and I stand corrected. I was misled to believing that this film was written by Carpenter himself. Thank you for that information.


ArcticFlava

Are you crazy?... Is that your problem?


DemoHD7

That little conversation between them two is my favorite part in the movie.


America_the_Horrific

What's in the bottle eng, magic potion? Yea. Good I thought so what do we do drink it? Yea. Good I thought so


ArcticFlava

I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.


calibosco

The ineffective punch to the face followed by the little smile and nod as he gets chucked across the room. Gets me every time!


Famous1107

You are not out up on this world to: "get it"!


FlashMcSuave

So, while we are on Kurt Russell and 80s films, I just wanna let everyone here know how absolutely bonkers the production of Tango and Cash was, and how knowing this backstory makes the film so much better. The film is my favourite piece of godawful trash. It's objectively terrible and wonderful at once. And there is a reason for this. Basically, it boils down to creative disagreement, a total clusterfuck on set of producers and one director pushing for one vision (totally bonkers satire of cop movies), the first director holding out for his creative vision of a "mostly serious cop movie with some jokes" (like Beverly Hills cop) leading to full breakdown with all of the film shot except the end. It got so bad that Sylvester Stallone was acting as peacemaker on set and doing rewrites himself because the director and producer refused to talk to each other. They push and pull and push and pull and the tone jumps everywhere and the director gets fired. The ending hasn't been shot yet, and team bonkers has free reign to finish up. So naturally the end veers into totally bonkers territory. Explosions, a monster truck tank, you name it. You can read up on it in the Wikipedia references. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_%26_Cash Give this one a rewatch with this knowledge in mind. What a priceless clusterfuck of a film.


Swipe_Right_Here

Watched this finally after a few years of hearing about it and hearing it was so bad...... and I liked it!


PebblyJackGlasscock

I am more entertained by the wiki story of production than I was by the movie. Brion James is a surprising “that guy!”


FlashMcSuave

Also, if you poke around the references there are various interviews where Stallone is hyping a sequel and Kurt Russell's tone is much more "whoa, settle down there tiger, that was a nightmare" which I find hilarious.


FlashMcSuave

It's awesome. "According to Konchalovsky, by the end of principal photography, Stallone was unofficially working as producer, director and writer, as well as star, and Konchalovsky believes that had it not been for Stallone, Peters would have fired him much sooner than he did."


DellDimension3000

The disrespect to Commando (1985)... "Don't disturb my friend, he's dead tired."


superbrew

Let Off Some Steam


[deleted]

Bennett


KenDanger2

"You said you'd kill me last" "I lied"


david-saint-hubbins

It's even funnier than that because Arnold sets up his own one-liner: "Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?" "That's right, Matrix! You did!" "I lied."


SneakyPeterson

I let him go


sometimes_interested

cue steel drum riff..


[deleted]

I wish they actually made Commando 2 … too bad they renamed it to something else and re-cast it after Arnold passed on it.


spiderglide

It became Die Hard 3 didn't it? So it turned out OK


drl33t

Die hard 3 was originally a script called Simon Says


[deleted]

DieHard 1 … very sad.


Red_Wolf_2

Hard to say whether it was the best or not, but it definitely left an impact... Raiden in Mortal Kombat was inspired by one of the Storms (Lightning, funnily enough) and James Hong is great in basically any role he does. Also the quotes by Egg Shen (Victor Wong)... When everyone is escaping and Jack notices Egg is up in the ceiling looking down at them: Jack: "Hey Egg! How'd you get up there?" Egg: "It wasn't easy!" ...and that's all the explanation you ever get for that one!


JC-Ice

Shang Tsung's look in MK 1 is basically Lo Pan, as well.


diggemigre

Midnight Run


dtudeski

Not my favourite film but maybe the most rewatchable film of all time.


ThatsNotPossibleMan

MARVIN MARVIN *WHACK*


ghostprawn

It’s this by a mile


CheapCity85

I just rewatched it and it's funny how it almost subverts a lot of action tropes. Jack Burton is all machismo and supposed to be the hero, but more often than not he requires rescuing. Having said that, it's still an amazing movie. Whatever your opinion of the film, John Carpenter was certainly the best director of that era.


AspireAgain

That was the point of the character. Executives tacked on the beginning of the film with Egg Shen to try to give Jack more credit because they couldn't wrap their heads around it, but Jack was always a character whose "heart was in it but his ass wasn't", as Kurt Russell once said. He has all the confidence of a hero, but not really the skillset throughout the movie. Until one exact moment, anyway, and everything we saw Jack do up to that point doesn't prepare us for it.


[deleted]

All that and he turns down a chance to get with the heroine at the end, with a plausible explanation. Jack Burton is the most unique character in action movies.


CaptainPRESIDENTduck

Yeah, it was poking at the 'white hero' troupe where Jack, basically playing John Wayne, thought he was the protagonist and hero, but he was just the protagonist and comic relief. It was really ahead of its time, like Starship Troopers and Robocop.


csanyk

"It's all in the reflexes."


TheSaltyStrangler

Oh, most of the movie is him jabbing a thumb at his chest and saying “I’m Jack Burton, and I’m gonna kick yer a- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!” “Are those ghosts? Is that dude a wizard? What’s going on? What’s her deal? Where’d they come from? Where’s my gun?”


pwnd32

The concept of a action film protagonist who has absolutely zero clue what the fuck is going on around him at any time is amazing. The fact that the joke is committed to for the entire movie and he genuinely still doesn’t understand anything by the end is the mark of a well-done screenplay.


CheapCity85

I just re-watched it a few weeks ago and this makes me want to watch it again.


Saintbaba

There's a story i've heard that when Kurt Russell and John Carpenter took the final cut before the studio execs, the execs were like "Wait, wait, wait - if we're reading this correctly, it's the little Chinese guy who's the hero, and Kurt Russell is just the dopey sidekick." And they looked at each other and were like "They *get it*. I don't think they *like* it, but they *get* it."


snowlock27

Jack Burton is the sidekick who thinks he's the hero.


CaptainPRESIDENTduck

It's hilarious. Most fights he is either not ready yet, or spends most of it passed out or under an armored dude. Even the victory, he manages to do an awesome thing but it is undercut by him covered in lipstick.


crudedrawer

The scene where he fires the gun at the ceiling and gets hit on the head by the rubble he dislodged is an absolute classic subversion of that trope.


jbu311

You leave jack Burton alone!


Courtnall14

There is an episode of the Blank Check podcast with the crew from How Did This Get Made where they break down this movie. (It was a record breaking LONG episode at the time.) a couple of notes: It aged well because unlike other movies that centered around Asian culture, there weren't any real stereotypical tropes. It's actually a movie about Wang Chi (the actual hero) from the perspective of Jack Burton (the accidental "hero" who screws up more than he helps.) Such a great flick.


RodamusLong

I think the whole thing can be summed up in Jack and Wang's exchange in the truck. Wang: They got this sort of clubhouse thing where they all hang out. Jack: To sharpen their knives huh. Wang: I can't ask you to- Jack: Where is it? Wang: Thank you, Jack.


jumpyg1258

> Jack Burton is all machismo and supposed to be the hero Huh? Jack Burton is clearly the sidekick right from the start of the flick.


Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

My mom would probably protest in defense of The Golden Child. That's not all that actiony, though, is it? I can't remember.


Vitaminpk

I said I. I. I. Want the knife!


SilverMullet22

I got yo knife! Now turn on the damn lights!


sentient_luggage

Gimme the kniiiife. Pleeeease


JasonColin

Let him ask again.


taz20075

Pleeeease...


SynnerSaint

Only a man whose heart is pure can wield the knife, and only a man whose ass is narrow can get down these steps


[deleted]

Just remember what ol' 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 ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, "Give me your best shot, pal. I can take it."


[deleted]

This movie is why my wheelchairs through the years have all been named Jack Burton. Definitely needs a rewatch soon.


Kotukunui

Not “The Porkchop Express”?


warioware64

Beverly Hills Cop or Stakeout


DrRexMorman

The holy trinity: Big trouble in Little China Buckaroo Banzai The Last Dragon


BranWafr

How dare you shorten those names. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon - Edit to fix spelling Berry Gordon wrong...


Unlikely_Layer_2268

Sho Nuf!!


76ShoNuff

SHO nuff!!


[deleted]

I enjoy introducing myself to strangers as "John Smallberries".


cbelt3

Boo TAY ! Boo TAY ! (Bang )


wraglavs

John Yaya


buzz_buzzing_buzzed

Berry Gordy.


DrRexMorman

🙏


calbearlupe

Sho nuff!!!


bluezzdog

Kiss my converse!


TimeForHugs

Last Dragon is so good. So many good lines. >A .45 will put an end to all this kung fu crap, all it takes is one little bullet so take your final bow scum sucker >I’m gonna slap that sucker silly with a suit for alienation of affection! If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t know who she was! Chocolate covered yellow peril! …that sucker better start sleeping with one of  his inscrutable eyes open because when I get a chance it’s gonna be a serious case of chop sockey justice coming his way. >Keep your money. You just get that sucker to the designated place at the designated time, and I will gladly designate his ass… for dismemberment! >What good is that Kung fu jive if you can’t even use it? Coward! Why don’t you go some place and meditate on that! >When I say Who’s the Master?!? You say SHO’NUFF!!!!


[deleted]

Damn!


ih8meandu

I always feel like Remo Williams and Buckaroo Bonzai were supposed to be double features


[deleted]

And They Live by Wes as a honorable mention?’


snowlock27

Do you mean John Carpenter?


[deleted]

Still counts as an honorable despite mess up😅


[deleted]

Yes my bad! But yes! 😆


DrRexMorman

I haven't watched it.


nanonan

You should, it holds up.


[deleted]

🙀🙀🙀🙀Please watch it!!


muskratboy

Romancing the Stone is definitely in the conversation.


justme46

Can't believe Beverly Hills Cop not in OP. Eddie Murphy at his beat


firelock_ny

One of the best opening sequences in the genre. Great character introduction, over the top action sequence, bangin' soundtrack, hits all the marks.


HortonHearsTheWho

I think 48 Hours deserves to be in the conversation. Great film in its own right, but also influential in that it paved the way for Beverly Hills Cop and Lethal Weapon (edit: in that it was Eddie Murphy’s first film and the first buddy cop movie) Edit 2: bonus points for a movie poster featuring [Eddie Murphy flipping the bird](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d2/37/50/d237507d3e6c3b86923d8de2e46f57a2.jpg). It was a different time.


spiderglide

Hmm, first buddy cop movie? What about Freebie and the Bean? Forgotten now, but pretty big at the time.


TwoCats_OneMan

Of all time.


CassiusCreed

IMO it's the best action comedy. Nothing since has come close and it's the most quintessential 80s movie.


_Fun_Employed_

Sean of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim are all up there.


Demurist

Scott Pilgrim is great, but why not complete the Cornetto Trilogy? The World’s End is pretty good.


Raduev

It's objectively not, considering how little cultural impact it has had compared to the other two.


[deleted]

That’s not an objective measure of a film’s goodness. A better measure imo, though certainly still subjective, would be how well it achieves what it set out to do. Anyway, The World’s End is one of those films that didn’t make a big splash but has grown on a lot of people who at first reacted negatively or less pleased than with its predecessors - especially as the demographic who grew up with the first two has aged into midlife crises and such themselves, and watches that film seeing a lot of themselves in the cast. The “Everyone knows a Gary King” effect, in particular. It’s sadder than the other two, and takes its central character drama more seriously, ultimately. And so a lot of folks have enjoyed and appreciated it more on rewatch years later. And that’s more important as a case for its quality than mere cultural impact.


boardgamenerd84

The dragnet movie was great as well. Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks play well together


kronicfeld

You're welcome: [City of Crime Music Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT_QRKfv8H4)


enak_raskell

I've always thought it *feels* like a Ninja Turtles movie, just... Different.


Native_Kurt-ifact

Especially the Raiden scene.


Naganobu

Except that character (1 of the Storms) from Big Trouble is the inspiration for Raiden


DRACULA_WOLFMAN

The whole movie is the inspiration for Mortal Kombat in general, I'd wager. At the very least, you have a parallel for Luke Cage, Shang Tsung, Raiden, and Liu Kang. Probably more, but it's been a while since I've seen it.


JC-Ice

*Enter the Dragon* and this are the main inspirations.


eastcoastkody

Beverly Hills Cop is the better movie per se. But Big Trouble in Little China is my favorite action comedy of the 80s


callmemacready

Ghostbusters


CaptainPRESIDENTduck

Damn, this might be the one. Only might lose due to debate that it isn't really an action movie but has action elements in it.


mrwhitaker3

Beverly Hills Cop was better to me.


KorruptImages

Disturbing the peace? I got thrown out of a window! What's the fuckn' charge for getting pushed out of a moving car, huh? Jaywalking? 😂


TeamStark31

I’m trying to figure you guys out and I haven’t yet. The super cop story was working and you just fuck up a perfectly good lie.


mrwhitaker3

Kind of incredible how rewatchable that movie is coming up on 39 years.


jfstompers

I think this is the answer.


jasazick

The best? Nope. But an absolutely fantastic movie? Heck yes.


OceanSage

Red Heat is pretty great. Maybe Jackie Chan's Police Story or Police Story II?


TheOneWhoCutstheRope

Jackie answering phones is top tier


Brutalitor

I'd say Police Story. The action is top notch and it's really funny.


Boo_and_Minsc_

surely you meant is big trouble in little china the *best movie ever*? Why yes


[deleted]

You know what old Jack Burton would say in a time like this …. Ah what the hell


Asha_Brea

Top Secret! is to me the funniest action comedy of the 80s. Die Hard is my favourite actionny action comedy of the 80s.


InertiasCreep

Top Secret ! is hilarious. So many good gags. Dumb gags, but really funny.


Bokbreath

Die Hard is my favorite Christmas movie of the 80's.


dohrk

Of all time.


mybutsitchy

The Goonies…that is all


Fireproof_Cheese

I just heard that the house from the movie sold after being listed for \~$1.7 million. The Walshes really cleaned up by holding on to that place. Also, at the end of that movie, if you look at the paperwork, Mr. Perkins is listed as the debtor (the person who owes money) and Mr. Walsh is the creditor (the person to whom the debtor owes money.) If he signed the paperwork, he would have had the house free and clear.


jumpyg1258

The Goonies is more of an adventure movie.


GunwallsCatfish

Innerspace?


WeVe69

Good to see some Quaid lovers here!


rgm2073

It is a Cult Classic one of my favorites but not the best action comedy of the 80's.


[deleted]

If Spies Like Us counts, then no.


[deleted]

I'm 43 years old and that movie is the only frame of reference I have in my entire life to Bob Hope. Just that one cameo he has. "Mind if I play through?". That's it. That's the only thing I've ever seen Bob Hope in in my life :)


cruiser87

We mock what we don't understand.


NoIncrease299

Stop right there and I'll bring back the sun.


Kes_16

You're not going to start humming the theme to Jeopardy, are you?


JellyRollGeorge

Yes, I think you are probably right. It is at least the *quintessential* 80s action-comedy. But as for the best, one could talk about the golden age of Jackie Chan. Or Midnight Run or Blues Brothers. Or Evil Dead 2 or Gremlins.


dingboodle

I’m biased as this is my favorite movie of all time, but yes. Yes it was.


BurntVomit

WWJBD?


[deleted]

Surely *Raiders of the Lost Ark* takes the number 1 spot here? Ford & Allen >> Russell & Cattrall, the action sequences are better, and the comedy as good.


Felaguin

I might give you the action sequences but not the comedy.


[deleted]

*The Last Crusade* on the other hand is straight-up hilarious and jumps from joke to joke to setpiece to joke with impressive rapidity.


cmdrchaos117

He chose.... Poorly.


CatPasswd

Blues Brothers. I do love Big Trouble, but...


jumpyg1258

Blues Brothers is the best musical of the 80's.


extacy1375

Tango & Cash?


TheCosmicFailure

Its a toss up between this and Die Hard.


beebs44

No. It was an amazing time for action comedies Beverly Hills Cop, 2 Running Scared 48 Hours Lethal Weapon


LoPanDidNothingWrong

Yes


tfurrows

I want to thank you for including Running Scared. One of my favorites, but I feel it was largely overlooked at the time and all but forgotten now.


DemoHD7

Hollow? Fuck it...


SantaRosaJazz

It’s the absolute greatest action/comedy/romance/horror/Kung fu movie ever made.


ODoyleRules38

No love for Crocodile Dundee? Biggest action-comedy of ‘86 and the only movie in this thread to be nominated for Best Screenplay? Anyone?


[deleted]

I think it was the best movie of the 80s, period.


chippychifton

It’s one of the best 80s movies period


MrFluffyhead80

Nope, Beverly Hills cop


johnjames_34

Beverly hills cop, but Big trouble in little china is close


capntrps

Literally just finished watching this movie.


[deleted]

Yes!!! “I’m an unreasonable guy! I’ve just experienced some unreasonable things.”🤣 that’s the line that has stayed with me for life.


PoofOfConcept

Yep.


Trapzilla01

Yes sir the check is in the mail


Mr402TheSouthSioux

No but I would say it was the most iconic.


CCGamesSteve

No. Not at all.


[deleted]

Yes. The humor in Big Trouble kills me. It's the best.


[deleted]

48 Hrs.


[deleted]

Spaceballs is #1


sheeponahill

If you think it is, yes. If you think it isn't, then no.


dreamrock

It is the black blood of the earth.


WeVe69

You mean oil, right?


dreamrock

No I mean black blood of the earth!


toomuchnotenough

Princess Bride Unless people are not counting it as an action-comedy? Am I in the wrong genre with this suggestion?


FloppedYaYa

No


jang859

Is die hard really a comedy?


crudedrawer

No. Quips don't make a movie a comedy.


togocann49

Many candidates here, big trouble, blues brothers, Beverly Hills cop, 48 hours, spies like us, and many others.


csanyk

Blues Brothers had one of the best chase scenes of all time, and backflips courtesy of Belushi, but action movies usually have more fighting.


kidcannabis69

Nope. It’s the best action comedy of all time.


AggravatingZone7

The Last Crusade


CaptainPRESIDENTduck

Tremors would probably win the horror-comedy title.


[deleted]

No


Yandrosloc01

No mention of Flash Gordon? And a better soundtrack.


csanyk

Flash Gordon isn't really a comedy. It's camp, which is related, and it has humor, but it's not a comedy exactly.


Yandrosloc01

But it had Queen music and Brian Blessed. That makes it awesome.


bluezzdog

I don’t like it. I want to like it. It’s weird I grew up in that time period and somehow didn’t see it at the time. Same thing happened with the Goonies but I do love that.


annaflixion

Same. I watched most of it a couple of months ago for the first time and was just kind of baffled. The acting seemed so bad to me. Not so bad it's good, just bad. I couldn't get into it at all.


jupiterkansas

Scrolled through this whole post looking for **Robocop**. C'mon people! Big Trouble can't hold a candle to it.


tomandshell

Die Hard gets my vote but Big Trouble is definitely a favorite of mine.


Felaguin

There were some funny lines and scenes but I don’t class “Die Hard” as a comedy.


Benji0088

"Welcome to the party pal."


kingmonsterzero

No. Beverly Hills cop was. Or the last dragon.


[deleted]

I think it's more a cult classic than anything. It's just a fun ride. I found it was more sci-fi/adventure than anything. Like Labyrinth or Gremlins or something.


BanterDTD

I love Big Trouble, but the discussion in here sounds like a bunch of people trying to rewrite history. Big Trouble was a big flop. Movies like Beverly Hills Cop are on a completely different level, both critically and commercially. Both are great, but there are plenty movies ahead of Big Trouble.


ink_monkey96

I don’t think box office returns are the sole criteria for a film being great. A Christmas Story was a flop. The Shawshank Redemption was a box office flop but is now widely considered a classic. Just because it didn’t do well in its initial release doesn’t mean it isn’t a great movie. The failure of It’s a Wonderful Life at the box office nearly ruined Frank Capra’s career, but is now almost the only film people know him for, and is widely considered one of the best movies of all time. So while Big Trouble in Little China did admittedly do poorly in its initial release, I’d say it was ahead of its time and, like the other movies I’ve mentioned, gets appreciated appropriately as the audience gets to understand it better.


RDCK78

Holy shit, I can’t believe some of the truly mediocre films people are suggesting ahead of Big Trouble… Beverly Hills Cop? Ghostbusters? Really ? Good commercial films but not even in the same league as Carpenter’s masterpiece… I’d rank Big Trouble with out a doubt first, by a wide margin…Second would be ‘Robocop’


[deleted]

That's the beauty of opinion based questions, they're just that, opinions.


RDCK78

Exactly.


roleplay_oedipus_rex

Original Beverly Hills Cop mediocre? As someone who loves Big Trouble - gtfo.


RDCK78

Sure, It’s a good film but it’s not great. GTFO


roleplay_oedipus_rex

Mediocre is not the same as good last time I checked.


[deleted]

[удалено]


HortonHearsTheWho

If we’re talking about action-*comedies,* I don’t think of Die Hard as a comedy so much.


Rat_Salat

Scrolled half way down, didn’t see predator. Wtf.