| Revision as of 05:44, 29 September 2006 editDaniel J. Leivick (talk | contribs)21,390 edits rv vandalism← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:22, 30 September 2006 edit undoStukov (talk | contribs)244 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| As Indiana Jones met Lao Che at Club Obi Wan to deliver a priceless Chinese urn containing the lost ashes of Nurhachi in exchange for a rare diamond, Lao decided to instead double-cross Jones by poisoning him. Desperate to get Lao to back down, Jones tried to threaten the gang lord by holding his prized possession -- Club Obi Wan singer Willie Scott -- hostage. However, recovered artifacts and priceless gems held Lao's heart more, and the gangster called his bluff by saying he could keep her. | As Indiana Jones met Lao Che at Club Obi Wan to deliver a priceless Chinese urn containing the lost ashes of Nurhachi in exchange for a rare diamond, Lao decided to instead double-cross Jones by poisoning him. Desperate to get Lao to back down, Jones tried to threaten the gang lord by holding his prized possession -- Club Obi Wan singer Willie Scott -- hostage. However, recovered artifacts and priceless gems held Lao's heart more, and the gangster called his bluff by saying he could keep her. | ||
| Lao Che's position as a major crime-lord is seemingly typical for a film villain, but many people see this as one of the first "realistic villains" in ]. That is, a villain that survives interacting with the ]. This is especially uncommon, as this takes place in a series of films that sticks very close to conventions (that the villain must die, the female must always swoon to the ], etc.). ]s have, however, pointed out that Lao Che and his ]s were represented ridiculously as being ''too'' stereotypically Chinese, possibly even to the point of ]. | |||
| ⚫ | Lao Che's character in ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' was portrayed by the late Shanghai born and raised Chinese actor, ], who died in ] due to complications from heart disease. Before his death, fans had called for the return of Lao Che in the next Indiana Jones film, with Chiao reprising his character. Spielberg had stated he was open to re-using the character, and that Chiao, as well as Ric Young who played Kao Kan, was interested in starring in more of the films. It remains to be seen whether Kao Kan, Lao Che's son, will be re-appearing in the films. | ||
| ⚫ | Lao Che's character in ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' was portrayed by the late Shanghai born and raised Chinese actor, ], who died in ] due to complications from heart disease. Before his death, fans had called for the return of Lao Che in the next Indiana Jones film, with Chiao reprising his character. Spielberg had stated he was open to re-using the character, and that Chiao, as well as Ric Young who played Kao Kan, was interested in starring in more of the films. It remains to be seen whether Kao Kan, Lao Che's son, will be re-appearing in the films. | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 07:22, 30 September 2006
Lao Che is a fictional character in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, played by Roy Chiao.
Lao Che is a Chinese crime lord who nearly killed Indiana Jones. He poisoned Indy's drink, and is the only villain known to have survived interacting with Indiana Jones. Born in Shanghai, China and one of the city's most notorious gangsters, Lao Che is also known as the owner of the corrupt Club Obi-Wan (a reference by Star Wars writer George Lucas to the famous science fiction hero).
In Temple of Doom, Lao Che is portrayed as the father of Chen and Kao Kan, the latter of whom who had foolishly attempted to steal the remains of Nurhaci (historically significant as the first emperor of the Chinese Manchu Dynasty). This resulted in Kao Kan being shot by Indy as punishment for his overzealousness. During Indiana Jones' meeting with Lao, Chen shoots and kills Indy's friend Wu Han with a concealed revolver. Later, Indy kills Chen in revenge by stabbing him with a flaming shishkebab as a gunfight breaks out in the club. Lao Che grieved at his death.
While this particular scene is not actually shown in Temple of Doom it is nonetheless hinted at by the large wound on Kao Kan's left hand, which is tightly wrapped and bandaged upon him pulling out his revolver during a particularly tense moment (upon Indy's arrival to the club).
Lao Che was a well-known merchant whose many businesses included an air freight service, an import-export company, a pharmaceutical plant, several taverns, and the Club Obi Wan, one of the most spectacular nightclubs in Shanghai's International Settlement. It featured fine dining, a full-scale Broadway-style floor show, and a very private after-hours casino below. In addition, he headed perhaps the largest criminal organization outside the Green Gang in the city of Shanghai. As with other underworld crime lords, he had a substantial number of Shanghai's public officials in his pocket, but more than half of those under his control served him as the result of blackmail rather than bribes.
Like so many of Shanghai's other notorious gangsters, Lao Che enjoyed cultivating his image as a legitimate businessman, and gained a reputation over the years as a philanthropist and a patron of the arts (thanks in no small part to the several reporters on his payroll). His nightclub was regularly frequented by many of Shanghai's most prominent citizens, providing lavish entertainment, fine food, and for those who wish it -- a discreet, seemingly safe venue for indulging in darker pleasures like gambling and prostitution. But under this veneer of respectability, Lao Che remained a ruthless criminal interested in no one's affairs save his own and his two sons (Kao Kan and Chen), who were his chief lieutenants.
As Indiana Jones met Lao Che at Club Obi Wan to deliver a priceless Chinese urn containing the lost ashes of Nurhachi in exchange for a rare diamond, Lao decided to instead double-cross Jones by poisoning him. Desperate to get Lao to back down, Jones tried to threaten the gang lord by holding his prized possession -- Club Obi Wan singer Willie Scott -- hostage. However, recovered artifacts and priceless gems held Lao's heart more, and the gangster called his bluff by saying he could keep her.
Lao Che's position as a major crime-lord is seemingly typical for a film villain, but many people see this as one of the first "realistic villains" in film. That is, a villain that survives interacting with the protagonist. This is especially uncommon, as this takes place in a series of films that sticks very close to conventions (that the villain must die, the female must always swoon to the hero, etc.). Critics have, however, pointed out that Lao Che and his thugs were represented ridiculously as being too stereotypically Chinese, possibly even to the point of racism.
Lao Che's character in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was portrayed by the late Shanghai born and raised Chinese actor, Roy Chiao, who died in 1999 due to complications from heart disease. Before his death, fans had called for the return of Lao Che in the next Indiana Jones film, with Chiao reprising his character. Spielberg had stated he was open to re-using the character, and that Chiao, as well as Ric Young who played Kao Kan, was interested in starring in more of the films. It remains to be seen whether Kao Kan, Lao Che's son, will be re-appearing in the films.
| Club Obi-Wan Triad | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Lao Che | Kao Kan | Chen | Nurhaci |