MovieChat Forums > Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Discussion > The beginning with the lawyer and Egg Sh...

The beginning with the lawyer and Egg Shen

posted 15 years ago by TheSolarSailor
25 replies | jump to latest

Egg Shen was being questioned by his lawyer about what had happened, which seemed to me to be a setup to go back and tell the tale of Jack Burton. His lawyer mentioned a big green fiery explosion that destroyed a city block and that Shen was involved. I was expecting this to be the finale of the Jack Burton adventure...one that led to his missing in action or something along those lines. The only thing that happened was the green storm where the three warriors attacked rather early on in the film, but that had nothing to do with Egg Shen. What was the opening scene referring to exactly? It didn't seem to match up.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] megabee123 15 years ago

Yeah, I noticed this as well. I concluded that the Wing Kong warehouse that was where Jack gets his truck back must have somehow exploded as the universe realigned itself after the death of Lo-Pan and the 3 storms, and John Carpenter must have ran out of money so couldnt put the effects into the final cut...

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!" - King Leonidas

[–] the_radical_one1 14 years ago

I always thought that it had to do with the Storms kidnapping Mao Yin from the White Tiger. There is some green flames shooting up from the roof and explosions. Obviously half a city block didn't go up but it kind of makes sense. Either that or they didn't have the money for the grand finale, which also makes sense.

"Have you paid your dues Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 14 years ago

The studio insisted that Carpenter shoot that scene to help the audience (i.e. the studio execs) understand that there was going to be magic and special effects in the movie later on. Rather than the movie just start with Kurt Russell driving along talking nonsense on his CB.

It's a stupid scene that Carpenter didn't want and in fact just confuses things since we last see Egg leaving to go on vacation at the end of the movie.

[–] mcfly-31 13 years ago

Yeah, Barry Diller, big-wig at Fox, had that scene inserted. According to Carpenter, he, in fact, wrote it (no surprise as it sounds like something amateur written by a studio executive). Walls of "green flame" and "half city blocks" being destroyed -- I guess -- was an attempt at getting the audience excited about what was upcoming. Diller didn't like the first screening and it seemed like a "throw that opening scene in to hold their interest since the film sucks" kinda thing. Diller wasn't even the Prez or Senior VP. How a CEO could have that much pull is surprising. Why would Egg be talking to a lawyer, anyway? He getting sued by the city for the destruction caused by Lo Pan's domain? Stupid.

"If I had ya where I wanted ya, they'd be pumpin your ass full of formaldehyde!"

[–] Liker_of_things 13 years ago

Yeah it made zero sense

[–] DingusStudley 13 years ago

I LOVE the opening. That line, "but that's how it always begins..." was fantastic.

I didn't find it confusing. Who knows when the meeting with the lawyer took place? It doesn't create a plot hole at all.

Carpenter may hate it(never heard that before though, interesting to know), but it works fantastically.

Where'd you hear about the studio forcing it and carpenter hating it btw?

I didn't take it as the lawyer literally meaning an entire block exploded. He was being a bit facetious, exaggerating just how wild and unbelievable the event was. It also makes sense that there'd be an investigation into what went on in this building, what with the outright war that occured between the forced of good and evil and all the chaos and building collapses that occurred as a result. If Egg Shen(and more importantly his tour bus aka his business) was a part of it, of course he would be wise to seek some legal counsel even if he was merely being sought as a witness by authorities.

If Carpenter truly hated it I figure he could get it taken off a dvd release, which hasn't happened. Does he denounce it in the commentary on the dvd? Really think you guys might be blowing the scene out of proportion.

[–] Marmadukebagelhole 13 years ago

You can almost hear Carpenter rolling his eyes when discussing the scene on the commentary. On its own there's nothing really wrong with the scene and it doesn't especially harm the film except that the first time I saw it I was wondering who Egg Shen was supposed to be until he finally appears MUCH later on in the story. It is completely unnecessary in my opinion.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] DingusStudley 13 years ago

I think it serves as a nice set up to the movie and establishes Jack Burton as this almost mystical, legendary figure. Police don't know his whereabouts, egg chen setting him up as this spectacular hero. It adds to the humor behind the character once we finally meet him and realize what an inept goof he is. Not unnecessary in the least.

And that hardly equals Carpenter HATING the scene to me. I'd be real interested in finding out when/if he's made a direct comment about disliking it or being forced to includei tin the theatrical release(or all dvd releases for that matter).

[–] tharrx 13 years ago

I noticed a certain logic to the scene centering around Jack Burton. There was obviously a big disturbance, and since they got away on Jack's truck, Burton was the only person they could tie to the incident, since they would have been able to trace his license plate number.

[–] mcfly-31 13 years ago

Dingus, rent the dvd, listen to the commentary. Both Russell and Carpenter bag on the opening. I actually enjoyed it from a technical standpoint. The creepy snyth music over the Fox logo, Egg sitting against the cast of the miniblinds. It does give things a mysterious air.

But Carpenter detested it.

"If I had ya where I wanted ya, they'd be pumpin your ass full of formaldehyde!"

[–] DingusStudley 13 years ago

I'm not an idiot and therefore own the dvd, so i won't be renting it. Watched the commentary a LONG time ago, guess i just don't remember much of it.

That said, they have poor taste for disliking it. EXCELLENT way to open the movie and set the mood for what transpires.

[–] biffo-1 12 years ago

I would love to hear John Carpenter rolling his eyes ....

Vice President of the BSG Board and Baltar Administration lackey

[–] CravenCarp55 12 years ago

Ha poor taste for disliking it?

Carpenter made the dang film and a bunch of others the world loves. Carpenter has great taste. I also like that scene alright considering I really love Viktor Wong, but if the man who made the dang movie doesn't like the scene that was inserted into the film against his will, then I wouldn't say he has poor taste for disliking. Especially when parts of it don't even make sense or add up. Also when something isn't written by the original writer's brilliance, then it might stick out. The people who made this movie feels like it sticks out and I've kinda noticed before the scene seems a little out of place before I knew about it being added against Carpenter's will.

[–] simzboy123 12 years ago

Carpenter def has great tastee!

As for the this whole debate on the beginning scene with Egg and the lawyer...how does it not match up?

1. This movie is about flying sorcerers and "ancient armies of the dead" (lol), so why the fuss over what u call a plot hole? just enjoy!

2. This film takes place over a few days. When the lawyer makes a statement about "green explotions" and "city blocks being destroyed", i am pretty sure both of these happened. The lawyer is simply stating mysterious things that happened over the last few days and chinatown is a small place. It would be easy for other chinatown residents to point the finger at egg chen since Wang acknowledeges him as a "rich man".

3. The opening scene is absolutely perfect. Egg claiming "thats how it always starts...very small" is perfect. Wang and jack gambling as old friends is a small event that led to the biggest and strangest adventure of their lives! It sets the whole movie up. I mean, THEY SHOOK THE PILLARS OF HEAVEN!

I guess in summation the point is to enjoy this movie for what it is. It's a fun watch and for me, i have enjoyed it since i was a little kid. Stop analyzing all of these little tiny things that you may think dont make sense (even though they make perfect sense). Espcially in a movie like this which is complete fiction. We could sit here all day and discuss how the physics of sorcery dont add up?!?!? come on now people!

[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

I guess in summation the point is to enjoy this movie for what it is. It's a fun watch and for me, i have enjoyed it since i was a little kid. Stop analyzing all of these little tiny things that you may think dont make sense (even though they make perfect sense). Espcially in a movie like this which is complete fiction. We could sit here all day and discuss how the physics of sorcery dont add up?!?!? come on now people!

No disrespect, but it is not a crime to think and I'd appreciate it if you didn't start down the road of telling people to not analyze, not think about things, or that it doesn't deserve thought because it is fiction. The whole thing was brought up as a question about story structure and what seemed like a set up that never had a payoff. How that equates to a debate about the physics of sorcery I don't know, well, other than your attempt to be dismissive. In any case, you do the film no favors by taking such a stance. It makes you come across like somewhat of an apologist who can only fall back on "it wasn't meant to be thought about!". Yes, that's what David Fincher said about the magic egg in ALIEN 3 too.

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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] DingusStudley 12 years ago

He made some crappy ones too.

He shouldn't have filmed it if he didn't like it. I don't believe producers would have THAT much power. They def wouldn't be able to prevent Carpenter from releasing a directors cut nowadays where this scene he hates so much is axed, where we see the movie he actually wanted us to see. Can't dislike it THAT much if he never did this.

What parts don't add up or make sense?

[–] simzboy123 12 years ago

exactly dingus...i agree with ya...i dont see what doesnt match up??i never once asked myself while watching BTLC "wait, that doesnt add up"..

[–] BulkSlash 12 years ago

I always assumed the explosion of green flame was the Three Storms raiding the White Tiger. While it wasn't half a city block, there was a big green light show on the roof and there were more green explosions when they tore the roof off to get inside.

I'd chalk it up mostly to Egg's lawyer exaggerating (or maybe Margot exaggerated in her newspaper story about what happened!)

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] scockery 11 years ago

Yeah, people forget that movies are BUSINESS, not merely art. The directors rarely pay for the cost of making the films themselves. So yes, the studios get their say, sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.

The scene never bothered me. In fact it's probably of the first times I remember a film with a non-linear opening scene, which are pretty common nowdays.

[–] fearless2003 11 years ago

I saw this movie when I was 8 years old on video outside the US... I knew absolutely nothing about it. I hadn't seen any trailers or anything.

This opening scene hooked me in, because I knew there was magic/fantasy coming. I think without this scene I wouldn't have paid attention.

[–] scifi1980 11 years ago

The opening scene also raises more questions about what happened to Jack Burton just before the credits role. I think it would of been better if written slightly different. Either stick to the opening with Burton driving his truck, or have Egg Shen talking to someone else (not a lawyer) about the strange events that have started spreading days after the event.

Two guys yakking (in a restaurant or gas station or whatever) about hearing some weird stuff going on in Little China, and Egg Shen, a traveler happens to walk in on the conversation and gets involved and then recites the story to the skeptical guys.

But what happened to Burton? Cops can't find him, and the way the final product is presented, ol lady luck might of run out for ol Jack Burton right before the credits role.

[–] pjmcgill142 10 years ago

Two guys yakking (in a restaurant or gas station or whatever) about hearing some weird stuff going on in Little China, and Egg Shen, a traveler happens to walk in on the conversation and gets involved and then recites the story to the skeptical guys.

Someone's been watching Behind the Green Door!