The Thing remake

Montana Smith

Active member
AndyLGR said:
Surpised to come across this on IMDB.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0905372/

I really like both the previous versions, which are completely different movies, so it'll be interesting to see what they do with another version.

I really liked the atmosphere and isolation of the John Carpenter film. Special effects were pretty neat for the day as well. Another remake could be really classy with modern effects, as long as they ramp up the tension and sense of isolation.
 

AndyLGR

Active member
Montana Smith said:
I really liked the atmosphere and isolation of the John Carpenter film. Special effects were pretty neat for the day as well. Another remake could be really classy with modern effects, as long as they ramp up the tension and sense of isolation.
Agreed, when I was at school it was one of those films that you had to see, everyone was talking about the head growing legs scene. At the time the movie had cutting edge effects and I think it still looks good now.

I really like the old b&w sci fi films of the 50's and The Thing is one of the classics from that era. I watched a colourised version of it recently, it took a bit of the nostalgia off it for me.
 

Cole

New member
As I understand it, it's supposed to be a prequel to John Carpenter's film - specifically, the story of the Norwegian camp that we see in the film.

Of course Carpenter's film is great (never seen the Howard Hawks' film), but it just seems like one of those unnescessary movies. Without any involvement from Carpenter - very little interest.

It is interesting though that a movie that was a failure in the theaters and made like less than 20 million is now getting a "prequel" almost 30 years later. Says something about its life on the home market, and theatrical runs aren't always an accurate measurement of a film's quality.

Heck, look at 'Blade Runner,' which - believe it or not - I think was released on the same exact day in 1982. It was a similar failure at the box office, but it has one of the most ardent "cult" fan bases in movie history. It had a huge DVD release a few years ago with the new Director's Cut, and even got in the top 100 for AFI's best movies.
 
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Dr. Gonzo

New member
Cole said:
It is interesting though that a movie that was a failure in the theaters and made like less than 20 million is now getting a "prequel" almost 30 years later. Says something about its life on the home market, and theatrical runs aren't always an accurate measurement of a film's quality.

Yeah John Carpenter was really depressed after the release of The Thing. Critics called him the pornographer of violence.
I think one of the main reasons that the majority of the movie going population didn't take to it that well was because Spielberg's friendly little kind hearted alien E.T. came out just before Carpenter unleashed The Thing. I'm a fan of both Hawks and Carpenter's take on The Thing. If another film is to be made it has big shoes to fill.

It's interesting to me that while it didn't do so well back in the day, it has gone on to become a horror/sci-fi classic.
I also find it sad that Carpenter who wanted to remake The Thing ever since he started making films was bashed for making a film that he loved so... and from what I remember almost quit being a director over the backlash. I believe the next film he made was his most light hearted in an attempt to win audiences over... Starman.
 

Cole

New member
I almost think that's just the types of movies Carpenter makes - ones that don't nescessarily appeal to mass audiences. Halloween might be the once exception.
 

Dr. Gonzo

New member
Cole said:
I almost think that's just the types of movies Carpenter makes - ones that don't nescessarily appeal to mass audiences. Halloween might be the once exception.

Oh yeah definitely. John Carpenter make's "John Carpenter films"... he once said something like "Say what you want about my films, but there is no mistake about it, they are my films."

And as for Halloween, that has always been in my top ten, obviously a game changer... just look at the can that opened: "the slasher film"...
although I don't really consider it a slasher... slasher pics are usually pretty gory and gratuitously violent... Halloween didn't really show much so it made your mind fill in the blanks, which can be a lot more gruesome.

Anyway if we are getting a new Thing movie i'm kinda curious to which way it will lean, more violent or more suspenseful?
 

Cole

New member
Halloween is one of the rare horror movies that can actually be considered with great artistic merit - and I suppose you could say that about the rest of Carpenter's films too.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the article, but Martin Scorsese once wrote about Carpenter for some TV thing (they were playing 'They Live'), and he called Carpenter one of America's finest filmmakers. He also described Carpenter's films as having a homemade feel, which I thought was an interesting and accurate observation.

Watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' the other day and appreciated how it went against all the archtypes of the genre. That, and Kurt Russell is hilarious (and one hell of an actor). If Kurt Russell aspired to be an Oscar-winning actor, I have little doubt he could do it. But he chooses roles he likes, and I've always loved him for that. Who else would have had the cahoonas to play Jack Burton like he did.
 

Willie

New member
I personally like the original The Thing. I've also seen the remake as well. I do enjoy horror movies, but, I wonder...why so many remakes? I'd like to see an original film. They've already done The Thing twice.
 

phantom train

New member
I agree - no need to re-make The Thing. The 1980's JC re-make was excellent as a stand-alone film, and there is no need for a sequel (or prequel) to this.
 

AndyLGR

Active member
Cole said:
Halloween is one of the rare horror movies that can actually be considered with great artistic merit - and I suppose you could say that about the rest of Carpenter's films too.

Unfortunately I couldn't find the article, but Martin Scorsese once wrote about Carpenter for some TV thing (they were playing 'They Live'), and he called Carpenter one of America's finest filmmakers. He also described Carpenter's films as having a homemade feel, which I thought was an interesting and accurate observation.

Watched 'Big Trouble in Little China' the other day and appreciated how it went against all the archtypes of the genre. That, and Kurt Russell is hilarious (and one hell of an actor). If Kurt Russell aspired to be an Oscar-winning actor, I have little doubt he could do it. But he chooses roles he likes, and I've always loved him for that. Who else would have had the cahoonas to play Jack Burton like he did.
Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China are 2 great films for me. EFNY has that 70's The Warriors feel to it, and its an excellent thriller. Wheras BTILC is just a fun movie with shades of the Bruce Lee and Indy movies about it.
 

Cole

New member
Over the years, I think I find myself enjoying 'Escape from LA' even more than 'Escape from New York.'

Both films have a campy comic book-like style - 'Escape from LA' really ups the ante in those regards and it had the budget for more impressive visual gags, like the famous surfing scene. So in many ways I find it more entertaining.
 

Paden

Member
One can't help but admire Carpenter's artistic integrity: he makes the films that he wants to make. Although it hasn't necessarily aged well in terms of visual effects, I still love The Fog. It's a wonderful ghost story. (The remake was an indecipherable mess of a movie.)

As to The Thing, I've also been of the impression that the new movie is not a direct remake of the original, but rather some kind of prequel. Although it would be interesting to see the alien nemesis interpreted using today's special effects, I can't claim that I'm eager to see the new installment. I just don't see how the feelings of isolation, paranoia, and horror that Carpenter established in his version could possibly be outdone.
 

vf wing

New member
I was thrilled to learn this will be a prequel instead of just another remake. I hope it's done well, as JC's film is a masterpiece. One concern I had was that the characters would really need to be speaking primarily Norwegian for it to be credible. Happily I just read in a synopsis on MovieWeb that this will be the case, although they did figure out a way to get the leads be English-speaking folk. I can deal.

Since the 1982 version basically had no survivors, I could see this one opening up that very door, and possibly lead to a third film, perhaps with The Thing escaping out of the Arctic and into the world at large. Survivors from this outing could be leading the charge perhaps. I'm looking forward to this!
 

Indy's brother

New member
I wasn't interested in this film until I found out about a week ago that it's a prequel set at the Swedish/Norwegian outpost. I'll be there for this one. :cool:
 

Dr. Gonzo

New member
Here is a shaky (and I do mean shaky) video from a convention where the Thing prequel trailer was debuted.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tv9jp_l9qMY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tv9jp_l9qMY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

doesn't show much but better get a look before it gets taken down
 

Montana Smith

Active member
Although it's a prequel, it will likely appear as a reboot, albeit with better special effects.

Considering the remote snowy location, and the nature of the beast, there isn't much chance for variation, and we know where the Thing will be at the end of the film.

That being said, it should still be good, as I loved that sense of isolation in Carpenter's version. (And from that trailer it sounds like they're reprising the music, too).

Cue lots of frozen stalagtites of blood!
 

Indy's brother

New member
This fell off the radar for awhile, leading me to think "development hell". The trailer looks and sounds like any other modern horror flick. BUT, as a fan of John Carpenter's adaptation of the novella Who Goes There (I can't speak for The Thing From Another World, as I haven't seen it), I will give it it's day in court. Not expecting much, really but I'll see it in the off chance that it brings something worthwhile to Carpenter's vision. Who knows? A little more back-story could help (though that usually doesn't happen), and maybe the norwegians at the beginning of 1982's The Thing weren't the only ones to escape..... Hell if that's the case, MacReady and Childs could've been rescued after all. Boy, wouldn't that ruin the perfectly ominous ending of the last one....?
 
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