“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.” -Jack Burton from the film Big Trouble In Little China
Time for some more 80’s film love…
John Carpenter’s Big Trouble In Little China easily makes my film pantheon. I may have seen it a hundred times. If you haven’t seen it, please do so immediately.
There’s a scene at the very end where Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) turns to his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), looks him square in the eye and says “We really shook the pillars of heaven, didn’t we Wang?”
That’s how you want to feel when you leave the stage. You left it all out there. Gave it everything you got. Didn’t hold back for one second. You’re wrecked and vulnerable at the end. Because you exposed your heart and soul. You and your fellow actors went through the fire and survived for another night.
You shook the pillars of heaven.
That way, you and the generous audience who showed up that night will feel the same way Wang does when he answers back…
“No horseshit, Jack.”
And Jack knows and responds…
“No horseshit.”
Oh! What a scene! What a movie!!
So whatever tough obstacle awaits, no matter what you’re facing…
Go. Go shake the pillars of heaven.
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