FFF Ep. #71 - The John Carpenter/Kurt Russell Trilogy

This week on Fabulous Film & Friends we’re going to analyze a trio of “cult classics” from the actor/director pairing of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. Starting with 1981’s Escape From New York starring Mr. Russell, Donald Pleasance, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Harry Dean Stanton, Adrienne Barbeau, Isaac Hayes and Season Hubley, on to 1982’s The Thing starring Russell, Donald Moffat, Keith David, Richard Dysart, David Clennon, T.K, Carter, Richard Masur, Charles Hallahan and Wilford Brimley, And finally 1986’s Big Trouble in Little China starring Russell, Dennis Dun, Kim Cattrall, James Hong, Donald Li, Kate Burton, Suzee Pai and Victor Wong,

My two guests are the only pair who would be up for such a comprehensive cinematic showdown : Lit major and lil’ Sis Roseanne Caputi and Actor Funnyman Photobug, Alex Robertson.

Before we run the gauntlet, the synopses:

In Escape From New Yorkex soldier and current convict Snake Plisskin is forced under the threat of death by government agent Hauk to rescue the President of the United States after a group of insurgents cause Air Force One to crash in New York city which by 1997 has become a walled off maximum security prison.

The Thing catalogues the paranoia, fear and sheer horror that ensues when a shape-shifting alien invades an American Antarctic Research Facility.

Big Trouble in Little China follows the mystic, martial-arts laden misadventures of blowhard truck driver Jack Burton, who, on a routine stop in San Francisco’s Chinatown wins a bet over his buddy Wang Chi. In order to collect his money, Jack follows Wang to the airport to meet Wang’s beautiful green-eyed betrothed bride Miao Yin who is summarily kidnapped by the evil ancient supernatural gang Lord David Lo Pan. Lo Pan, for his part, inhabits a broken down and decrepit old body and can only move as a spirit in his young and powerful form. In order to attain full strength and fleshly form, Lo Pan needs Wang’s green-eyed bride to break his century old curse. With the help of lawyer Gracie Law and a troupe of warriors led by magical Egg Shen, Jack and Wang charge into David Lo Pan’s compound to stage a daring rescue.

Which film rates the highest?

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