Big Trouble In Little China | Welcome To The Basement

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Join us on the ol leather couch as we attempt to defeat the elemental evil of Lo Pan with our good buddy Jack Burton. John Carpenter's classic action flick kicks off August.
In Seen It we get lo-fi with some old VHS tapes: vampires, duellists and plaid-less dead men.
Welcome To The Basement
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All film footage is used in accordance with fair use and US copyright law. All music in the show is used with full permission of the composer.
Thanks for all the great comments. Keep em coming! If you watch one of the movies we discuss, let us know what you thought of it.
Welcome To The Basement" is a show about watching, discussing and having fun with movies. Matt chooses the movie and Craig doesn't know what it is until the cameras start rolling, so none of the discussion or riffing is planned ahead of time.
Movie announced on facebook before every new episode. Get the movie and follow along. We do discuss the entire movie, including the ending, so if you want to avoid spoilers, watch the movie first.

[@althepal5163]

At 12:15. "Catch me outside how 'bout it". Good one Matt, I exploded in laughter.

[@frankiesomeone]

Carpenter explains in the commentary track that the opening scene with the lawyer was added by the studio as an afterthought because they thought Kurt Russel didn't come off as heroic (which is actually the entire point of his character)

[@dotsonpaper]

The high-pitched "inDEED" Lopan does has been a family catchphrase for many years now.

[@Piterdeveirs333]

I had that as my text tone for a while

[@FBIimprov]

"Tara!" "Ra BOOM de ay!" lol, beautiful

[@Ondrix]

OMG 😂😂😂. Craig's "lightning" fingers at the end 😂😂😂. I needed a good laugh. Thank you Matt........ for being completely unwilling to put in the effort to edit in good lightning. The image you pasted into that place was completely unexpected (in a good way) 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.

[@Y0Y1601]

Ondrix really hope there's an editing the basement for that! 😂

[@endorbr]

"You may be wondering how its even possible that I've never watched this movie before." Took the words right out of my mouth Matt.

[@Piterdeveirs333]

I watched this movies pretty much everyday for a year when I was 4/5 years old and to this day it is still one of my favorite movies of all time

[@liammcevoy7341]

One of my favorite movies, love all of the John Carpenter and Kurt Russell films from the 80s.

[@clueschow]

When I saw BTILC pop up in my feed, I literally squealed! I really enjoy your cometary about the movies you watch and was excited to hear it about this one. This movie holds a special place in my heart (which in the big scope of things may sound weird). It was a favorite of my dad's and when I was finally old enough, he shared it with me. It was the first of a few movies we enjoy together and to this day if we are together and it comes on tv, we have to watch it.

[@damonteufel]

Recently showed this movie to my wife. I was fortunate enough to be a teenager when this came out and got to see it for all its tongue-in-cheek, comic book grandeur. She's a bit younger than me and didn't see it til she was 28. "Cute" was her observation, which just about goes with her critique of "The Jerk" as "stupid funny." I can't say she's inaccurate but as y'all mentioned, this movie is ideal for kids and is definitely a product of its time.

[@rcicci]

Thank you for FINALLY watching this! I've saw this when I was twelve it has been a favorite of mine ever since.

[@mikecronis]

Confessed I chuckled at "98% Cacao". Nice one, Matt. There's a legend these storm-rider characters are based and a subsequent film, "Storm Riders", not by Carpenter, which is pretty good.

[@kayleen2946]

One of my favorite movies of all time!!! I still to this day believe this movie inspired characters for Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter.

[@pianoface]

Yes!! You guys keep getting better and better. 'The bird people in China's, scene it? One of my top five favorite movies. Thanks for doing all that you do, keep on keeping on.

[@AdamStJamesStJames]

I always enjoy the post-movie discussions but this one was especially great. Keep up the great work!

[@STSGirl05]

Alright!!! This was one of the movies my sister showed me when I was really young that quickly became a favorite. Good stuff, guys. Keep it up! ❤

[@OneUponADime]

John Carpenter is my absolutely favourite filmmaker. His visuals aren't mind blowing most of the time, but even his bad movies are entertaining.

[@PlaidRocker32]

I'm so happy you guys watched this movie. One of my all time favorites. Even more happy that you liked it.

[@Vortor]

Love big trouble in little china. I'm surprised you guys never watched it before. Posted before I watch the whole video.

[@redjakOfficial]

I sugested this a while ago, thanks guys. I saw it as a young teenager and it has become an all time favourite of mine.

[@steven_heron]

I had the good fortune of seeing Kate Burton (who plays Margo in the film, and daughter of Richard) on Broadway just a couple of months ago. She played Kevin Kline's estranged wife in Present Laughter.

[@redpenink12]

Happy to see this movie on the show! Watched it as a kid with my dad lol

[@thunderpaw6541]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@glknight1813]

In a great coincidence, because of how much I love Big Trouble in Little China, I bought the blu ray off of Amazon, and wouldn't you know it? It came in the DAY you guys post the video! Admittedly, I had no clue BTiLC was the topic, but it's a lifelong favorite, and I had to upgrade (owning it on bootleg, VHS and dvd). Side topic: Prince of Darkness. Seen it?

[@calamusgladiofortior2814]

I remember loving this movie as a kid. I could see an action-comedy reboot of this being a lot of fun.

[@TranzparentMethods]

If ever there was a film that made me shriek when I saw Welcome to the Basement, it was this one... Cuz this is one of my favorite films of all TIME!!

[@grfgtbhh34]

Miles Teller always struck me as a bargain bin Joseph Gordon Levitt. When Levitt smiles you melt. When Teller smiles you ask if he has some weird muscle spasm in his face.

[@PokerJoker811]

Having read some comments on this video and on Facebook, I would say this is one of the most divisive movies ever brought over to the Old Leather Couch.

[@HorseHead1969]

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is a huge favorite of mine and I was lucky enough to live near where some of the exterior locations were while they where filming. I saw Steve get beat up in the alley a good dozen or so times while they got all the angles. Seen It and Scene It!

[@grassroots2112]

One of my all time favorites! This makes me so happy!

[@ScottKorin]

I have to agree with Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. Fascinating idea done very well. Very funny!

[@bitfunk24]

The fact you guys have been doing this for five years and never took the opportunity to review this film shows how dedicated you guys are to not only focusing on classic lesser known films but your channels popular content digressions as well.

[@DuhbDuhb]

I'm so happy you guys watched this movie, this was my childhood movie and it still holds up so well. That fucking alleyway scene is so fun; always excited when that scene starts.

[@porkdemon]

i love it when you guys do films like this, its like somehow the actual film seeps into the episode and kicks it up a notch. really solid episode, had me laughing like an idiot almost the entire way through. also...fuck carpenter could put together a soundtrack couldnt he, whenever i watch something of his im reminded about how iconic that sound is.

[@PlaidRocker32]

Bruce Lee also went undercover as a nerd in The Chinese Connection (Fist of Fury).

[@CaptChrispy]

PlaidRocker Great point!

[@metalmugen]

One of my favorite movies ever. Top 3 for sure.

[@jeffharvey4711]

Thanks guys. I was just about to go to sleep when I saw this pop up on KZbin. Damnit I needed to be up early!

[@Sabretoothsquirrel]

Oooh, Kim Catrall! I worked with props on a production here in Sweden that she was in earlier this year. Also, John Carpenter does/did some really nice 80's synth music for his films!

[@TheyDarthElmo]

I like to lovingly describe this movie as "the greatest bad movie of all time", it's one of my favorite and a great tribute to hong-kong action movies.

[@votro]

Like others I was shocked that Matt hadn't seen this, but then remembered that I was in college before I saw it all the way through. My college friends and I have been using a paraphrase of the potion toast for almost 20 years.

[@tomflorio3639]

Kudos for the "There'll Be No Next Time" ref!

[@therollingbeatles123]

Now you just got me interested in watching Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid!! I've never seen it and this scene has peeked my interest !!

[@ukmoore]

Classic movie, I loved it.

[@adamsuniverse]

Funny thing is the scene with the Lawyer in the beginning was added so Jack Burton is firmly defined as a hero and a good person.

[@DieHumanless]

One of my favorite movies ever! Inspired Mortal Kombat, one of my favorite videogame series.

[@caturdaynite7217]

Big trouble is really close to my heart and I watched it a zillion times over the years. Fun fact, the crime in San Francisco Chinatown went down during the shooting of this movie as they had hired actual Chinese gang members as extras for the film.

[@drparnassus2867]

15:29 Much Ado About Nothing reference? I love this show

[@griffknox]

"Is this a mahjong party or a ping pong party?" I was not ready for that.

[@ummaaron]

that lightning fingers edit was priceless

[@hadassah179]

You know those hidden away memories of something you know you saw once on tv when you were small and had no idea what you were looking at? The scene that's shown where the villain is pricking his "concubines" towards the end was a scene that I remembered but never figured out the movie it was from. Mystery Solved!

[@Grugggles]

That was a flawless edit.

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

which edit? the png lightning image between Craig's hands or the different sounding ADR voice over for the part about the suggestion of interracial love :D

[@blamesocietyfilms]

You have a good ear. Can you pick out the TWO other ADR bits?

[@TimelessProductions0]

I suggested for them to watch this movie many times and many moons ago!!!

[@MrSandpaperCondom]

Right before Matt said Ron Howard, I was thinking Christian Bale (Empire of the Sun, seen it?). But Howard is obviously the correct answer. Thanks for another great episode fellas.

[@menthol9658]

Just remember what ol' Jack Burton says at a time like this....... you can't beat 80s action movies.

[@mr.madasshonkey9597]

Hello Matt and Crag, I am a British film student and like many young film makers I am worried about finding a job in the field I love. I have made some short films and acted in others, however I feel like I can't do anything to help my career, This has lead to a deeper depression and suicidal thoughts. Saying that you are the only few that keep my love of film making alive and make me want to grab my cheap camera and make some films I want to make and hope others will watch them. Thank you for your entertaining reviews of films I've never seen and making me want to watch films I would never have considered watching before. Keep making these videos that I love and making me believe in myself. Sorry for any grammar and spelling errors, as well as being a troubled youth I am also can't spell, lucky me.

[@leedent4105]

BlameSociety HEY, thats our word

[@666lupine666]

look, man, this might not be the optimal venue to seek help. that being said I am always available, just message me. if we are not to speak in private, then please take this with you: if you are in distress make the changes, though they may be painful in the short term.

[@mr.madasshonkey9597]

Thank you man, I wasn't looking for help to be honest, I just think it's important to let people know, even if they don't know you personally, that they have made a difference in someone's life. Saying that I have booked an appointment with a physiatrist to find the root of these feeling.

[@wtangodelta1715]

Interesting dialog here...Props to ya Wartime for reaching out. Mr. Madass~I think it's pretty natural to be a little concerned about your ability to help yourself with your own career particularly when you are an artist! It's something that takes time to learn how to do. I've had to take many 'straight jobs' in order to survive while developing as an artist...If you keep at it you will eventually see that absolutely everything you do can be a form of art in and of itself...Absolutely everything.

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Use that emotion has fuel for your next film

[@ngobleus]

Favorite line from this movie: "This pisses me off to no end!"

[@Zmoney2006]

stellar jokes this go round. Always laugh but def rofl'd this time.

[@TranzparentMethods]

Then, Carpenter made "Prince of Darkness" and "They Live", two of the best films of the the 80's.

[@nevet1212]

This is the second movie that you have showcased that I've seen before you Matt. The first was Back to the Future 2.

[@ArrestedDeveloper]

Seen it The Count of Monte Cristo? I loved it so much I read the book and while they are different in many ways I think a lot of the changes for the film made it better for a movie audience.

[@SteveWFitch]

The sword play, as my rapier instructor will say, in The Duelist is the best and most authentic than in any other movie.

[@vankook]

My friends and I loved this movie so much we would dress up and play it in the yard.

[@nuckweise]

good episode guys.

[@rhyskane9743]

SEEN IT? I've been watching blame society for a long time, and I love the work that you do. Have you seen Crumb? It is my favorite documentary. Warning: the subject matter is just as dark as it is fascinating.

[@CTN71]

Have u guys seen the 60s classic The Love Bug? It was one of my favorite movies as a kid

[@zsandmann]

Have you seen The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai? I always heard Big Trouble was originally written as a sequel to Buckaroo but I don't think that is really true. Very young John Lithgow and Jeff Goldblum are heavily featured.

[@Nazgul100]

20:25 I didn't know Matt was a CGI expert!

[@michaelwyatt2334]

Seen it? Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Maybe my favorite Jim Jarmusch movie.

[@pianoface]

Michael Wyatt my fav Jim jarmush film is down by law. I'm also a huge Tom waits fan... Scene it?

[@michaelwyatt2334]

Emily Nelson I have! Tom Waits is great in it.

[@porkdemon]

Michael Wyatt i absolutely love that film.

[@therollingbeatles123]

Hey Craig and Matt have you seen 1972 Frenzy directed by Alfred Hitchcock it's his second to last movie he's ever directed and it's also a really good and underrated one in my opinion but very British!!!

[@CaptChrispy]

I always fall asleep when watching vampire movies, and Vertigo; it must be a hypnogogic effect. Everytime I hear your theme song, I think of LOST. Another movie like Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is J-Men Forever. They splice together old shorts of super heroes (Captain America, Shazam, Rocketeer, etc) as the J-Men fighting against the villain (who is the villain from all those movies but, since he's wearing a mask or hood, you can believe it's the same guy) who is trying to introduce marijuana and Rock and Roll to America. They voice over everything with fun dialogue. SEENIT?

[@craigjohnson6423]

"Going to the Moon, BABY!" Mike Myers owes these guys royalties since they got to that "Baby" years before Austin Powers.

[@YoungBrave2006]

20:26 such the mind blowing effects. Much CGI. Did you farm that out to ILM?

[@LissaLo13]

Matt wore a shirt! Wait...wrong video.

[@claytoncondo3460]

Hey Matt and Craig have you guys seen the movie Mrs Doubtfire it's my favorite movie of all time.

[@Jacob-Vivimord]

"98% cacao!" You got me.

[@SpecialQue85]

Does this mean James Hong will be considered for Welcome to the Basement's Hall of Fame for 2017?

[@captainunderpants200]

Seen it; Have you seen The Adventures of Baron Munchausen? Love me a whimsical film, and this is whimsy cubed.

[@Ryotsu2112]

"The baron is dancing with your wife!" "WHAAAT? I mean, ... what?"

[@thebackup2121]

NumptyDumpty CUBE?!? D:

[@NickStephens22]

Can't believe they didn't make the connection between successful child stars and Interview with the Vampire.

[@Razamataz420]

Just rewatched the "Billy Jack" episode. What about "Major Payne" with Damon Wayans, seen it?

[@andyhayes1884]

I know you guys have probably seen it, but it's my favorite movie and I would love to hear you guys talk about it. So, have you seen 12 Angry Men?

[@Zylork0122]

I'm glad you pronounced Ouija correctly.

[@bliston78]

Yesss!! love this movie!

[@theloniousswope2814]

Totally not surprised to hear Tona was a goth girl, she's totally cool!

[@CaptChrispy]

Thelonious Swope That Ouija board was better than any I've ever seen!

[@erwin21381]

I also wish James Hong was my grandpa. Funny you should mention Mortal Kombat. Maybe you know this already, but Raiden was modeled after Lightning.

[@preachercaine]

I'm drinking Southern Comfort as I watch this

[@katawatenshu]

a super fun wttb about one of the most fun movies ever made? well well well

[@patrick2140]

Seen It? Narc with Jason Patric and Ray Liotta. Its one of my favourite movies and if you have seen it, I'd love to hear what you think about it.

[@lyricsfromsweden]

Have you seen the movie Out of Sight with George Clooney? It's not one of the greatest but it remains my favourite movie of all time.

[@therollingbeatles123]

Hey Craig and Matt have y'all seen another Carl Reiner directed film called The Jerk obviously Matt has because he just did any impression of him saying I was born a poor Asian child!! Lol

[@theloniousswope2814]

OH. MY. GOD. oh my god oh my god oymhgod ohmaigawh omaghaw omg omg om gom gomgom gomgomgomggg the entirety of WTTB had been building up to this exact episode!

[@ObsceneVegetableMatter]

If it hadn't been for The Wicker Man episode, i would've 100% agree with you.

[@Sevansmedia]

Craig completelly misunderstood that situation. She clearly swooned at Interview with the vampire

[@Stratmanable]

Piano Tuner of Earthquakes by the Quay Brothers. Seen it?

[@dashhazard8526]

"The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit" (1998). A Ray Bradbury book turned movie, However, it is still a fun lighthearted comedy by Disney. Unlike "Something Wicked This Way Comes". Have you seen it?

[@JCWolfwood]

I'd love to hear your take on Stephen King's Sleepwalkers. That movie is 31 different flavors of insanity

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

Egg wasn't speaking to his lawyer he was actually being questioned by the DA because of all the stuff that went on in China Town.

[@Nazgul100]

INDEED!

[@myir]

98% cacao made us laugh for 4 minutes straight

[@SuperRat420]

Lo Pan, Superman, EVERYSINGLEPOWERRANGER!

[@rkgaustin]

Henry Winkler in 'The one and only'. Seen it?

[@lyricsfromsweden]

I saw this movie about 3 years ago, I don't remember any of this.

[@erniemiller1953]

One to check out...Last Remake of Beau Jest, but watch the original first.

[@gayandorky]

I was really distracted for part of the movie because I was trying to figure out where I know one of the actors. But I finally figured it out lol It's the grandpa from 3 Ninjas :P