Is this a true Cult Classic or a case of studio interference? It depends on who you ask, really.
The Golden Child is a 1986 Film that comes off a wave of Eddie Murphy success. From SNL to Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, he was doing well. So, it's no surprise that he'd get to be a Producer on his next project and help pick out the Script.
The Plot involves Murphy having to help recover the titular Child from bad guys. If he can't save the kid, humanity is doomed. No pressure, Axl!
The Cast includes a bunch of big names and Character Actors like Charles Dance, James Hong, Victor Wong and Randall 'Tex' Cobb. If nothing else, it's fun to go 'Hey- it's that guy!'
Is the Film a bastardized version of the original Story or something to be remembered fondly? To find out, read on...
Way out in the snowy Mountains, the Golden Child is watched over by some Monks.
It's all well and good until a bunch of people show up to kill the Monks, led by Dance.
I'll be honest- as someone only used to 'old' Charles Dance, I legit thought he was someone else with that red hair. I thought it was
William Atherton.
The Golden Child has all sorts of powers that mostly revolve around bringing things/people to life.
He's captured by the men for reasons that will be clear later.
In America, Murphy is a man who helps find missing children.
He's approached by a strange, young woman who wants him to find the Child. He's the Chosen One, she says.
Given how often there are 'Chosen Ones' in Films and TV, there must be at least one on every street corner, right?
He eventually agrees to help when it intersects with the case he was working on- what are the odds?!?
Oh right- fate.
He is given vague clues about what to do and he usually has more questions than answers.
For instance, what is the secret of this lady behind the curtain?
After run-ins with some Bikers and the Villain- albeit in a dream-, he is told to travel to Tibet to retrieve a mystic knife.
The bad guys want it, since it can kill the Child.
Murphy and company don't know this, of course, but still have to partake on the mission.
It all comes down to a showdown with Dance, who transforms into a stop-motion creature on cue.
In his defense, he works for Dr. Claw- or something that has the exact same voice, as done by the same guy (Frank Welker).
Naturally, the knife is the key to killing him and everyone lives happily ever after...at least until we get a 'Legacy Sequel' in the next few years. Any day now, right?
The End.
A fun adventure Film- no question about it. Murphy is really great here, playing a guy who's trying to do the right thing...in his own way. He's a great audience proxy for all of the confusing stuff that plays out during the story.
The question is this- what was changed?
According to Charles Dance and- to some extent- Eddie Murphy, changes were made at Paramount's request. Reshoots were added to give Murphy more 'Axl Foley moments.' They supposedly also changed the Score- which was possibly by John Williams?!?- and replaced it with a 'funky score.'
Reshoot or not, some of the Scenes definitely give you that Beverly Hills Cop feel. The big one- the Airport scene. Supposedly the Novelization is more accurate to the original Screenplay, so I guess I need to track ANOTHER Book down for Fiction vs. Fiction, huh?
Regardless of what changes were made and to what extent they were made, the Film is an enjoyable Film with good Action, a great '80s Soundtrack, the classic 'fish out of water' Story and some silly stuff from the time.
As someone who last watched the Film on Cable at least more than 10 years ago, it was nice to reunite with an old friend...
Next up, I break the Theme a bit to cover a topical-ish Film. What happens when you remake a Wasp? Stay tuned...
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