Just got back from the Midnight show of the Thing, It Was a OK Movie, Nothing like the Carpenter One, but it was Watchable. 7/10 "And Stay for the Credits"
Again I ask this on the board, what exactly is after the credits? Sequel?? Something coming up with another movie?? Help me out here.
Quote from: seed_murda on October 14, 2011, 02:06:43 PM
Again I ask this on the board, what exactly is after the credits? Sequel?? Something coming up with another movie?? Help me out here.
!!SPOILER!!
I think it is just the lead in to the Carpenter film, re-filmed of course; Helicopter chasing dog to American camp!
My official review...
I just got back from seeing it and I liked it.
It suffers from a few problems. Mostly a strong lead character. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is no Sigourney Weaver. And that's what they tried to go with. There were even a couple of shots that were copied directly from Alien or Aliens. They really needed a bad ass like Macready or Ripley to pull this off. But then of course the critics would just say they were just copying the first one (or Aliens).
The music. They should have just stuck with Carpenter's themes from the first film. Sometimes the music sounded like it was from a James Bond movie.
One of the best moments in Carpenter's Thing is when they're all outside in their parkas and goggles and you can't tell who anyone is. Which works toward the paranoia of not knowing who's the Thing. Of course if they'd copied that the critics would say they copied that scene.
The hardest obstacle to get past is that we know everything that's going to happen. I would almost guarantee anyone who hasn't seen Carpenters and went into this would love it (if they were a horror/scifi fan).
I thought the CGI was great. Really enjoyed that they created the two faced monster Thing from the first one.
Definitely sit through the end credits. It seamlessly ties the two films together.
It's nice to know that its watchable. From some of the initial reviews it wasn't looking to promising. I hope to get a chance to see this next week.
Quote from: FACTO2 on October 14, 2011, 08:33:40 PM
My official review...
I just got back from seeing it and I liked it.
It suffers from a few problems. Mostly a strong lead character. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is no Sigourney Weaver. And that's what they tried to go with. There were even a couple of shots that were copied directly from Alien or Aliens. They really needed a bad ass like Macready or Ripley to pull this off. But then of course the critics would just say they were just copying the first one (or Aliens).
The music. They should have just stuck with Carpenter's themes from the first film. Sometimes the music sounded like it was from a James Bond movie.
One of the best moments in Carpenter's Thing is when they're all outside in their parkas and goggles and you can't tell who anyone is. Which works toward the paranoia of not knowing who's the Thing. Of course if they'd copied that the critics would say they copied that scene.
The hardest obstacle to get past is that we know everything that's going to happen. I would almost guarantee anyone who hasn't seen Carpenters and went into this would love it (if they were a horror/scifi fan).
I thought the CGI was great. Really enjoyed that they created the two faced monster Thing from the first one.
Definitely sit through the end credits. It seamlessly ties the two films together.
So the CGI was pretty good? That initial scene that they released online with it breaking out of the ice looked pretty bad. I really wish they would have used practical effects but I guess that is asking too much anymore.
Funny you should mention that. A member on another board, "seknewb ," actually worked on the practical effects in the film. Personally, I couldn't tell the difference between the practical effects and the CGI. Of course it all happens pretty quickly but I think that's a big complement to the film. Apparently, the two faced Thing was mostly practical and not CGI..
Also, look at it like this, how often do we get to see a big budget monster movie from a major studio? Go see this film. Support the box office. With any luck, we'll see another in the series where The Thing actually makes it to a well populated city. THAT'S the movie I want to see. :)
Agreed. I will see this hopefully next weekend.
The critics hated it. Oh Noes! Guess what: They hated the Carpenter Thing that is now generally regarded as one of his best works. But in 1982 most folks just didnt get it. I dont care what the high and mighty critics say. They hated The Wolfman too.
A good sequel is one that adds to the mythos like Bride of Frankenstein did. It added speech and more pity to the Monster. A good prequel gives peeks into why things are the way they are in the other film...Like the Star Wars films did. The Thing accomplishes both in my humble opinion. We got to see what events transpired at the Norway camp, and we learned the Thing cannot mimic inorganic material.
I Took Seth to see it, and we both walked out of the theater with smiles on our faces and talking about how it matched up so well with the other film. As John said~The music was a distraction, and their wasnt a strong lead. But since everyone had to be wiped out for the sequel/prequel to work properly...that kinda makes sense if you squint a little at it. Carpenter and Morricone's score to the 1982 film is a "slow thudding" that (to me ) is liken to the Creature awakening from its coma and its heart beginning again in the dark and icy tundras of Antarctica. They shouldve went that route with the prequel too. I give it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. Definitely going to buy it when it hits dvd/blu ray.
Carpenter's Thing came out a few months after E.T. Everyone was feeling all warm and fuzzy about aliens. I always thought the tag line for Carpenter's should have been "Not All E.T.'s Are Nice." Ebert gave Carpenter's Thing a scathing review and then years later recanted it.
Yesterday I watched the BR of Carpenter's again. Noticed something interesting. Remember in the prequel when the bloody axe is stuck in the wall and the girl says, "Don't touch it." In Carpenter's when Mac is at the Norwegian facility, we see the same bloody axe in the wall. Clearly the film makers did their homework.
I'm looking forward to getting the BR of the prequel and doing a back to back double feature. Got a feeling there might be a few more Easter Eggs I missed.
Just got back...loved it! I too couldn't determine which scenes exactly were cgi and which were practical, however during the credits you can see many "puppeteers" were used, so i'm willing to bet a fair amount of practical work was utilized....anyway; great companion piece to the Carpenter film...will definitely be adding this to my collection when it comes to blu-ray.
Well, I just saw it tonight and I really liked it. I honestly don't see how it only got a 33% on rottentomatoes.com. I think the movie deserved a lot better than that. The little hidden things in the movie that made references to the John Carpenter one were a bigtime plus.
It's good to see all of the positive reviews from everyone here.
All the negative reviews scared me off seeing it (and I was so busy then I didn't have time to see many movies). Finally rented it and watched it tonight. Agree that the cast was weak. The music was weak. The effects and concept were STRONG. I really liked it. Thumbs up!!!! If you missed it before, rent it!