I'm reluctant to thrust myself into the cauldron of savage "film experts" who will throw their drinks in my face if I disagree with their spittle-spewing invective about the 2011 "The Thing".
HOWEVER--this was a fine remake and fans of the 1982 version should certainly not pass it up. Let me mention that even though I had read John Campbell's "Who Goes There" (the source for all film versions) I was NOT prepared for the horror shock of the 1982 Carpenter movie. I have to admit it positively SCARED ME SPITLESS like no movie before or since.
So of course I was eager to see this 2011 "redo", my speculation being that the new CGI technology could juice up the monster terror. Indeed it did! Of course it didn't have the sting of the '82 version, where we did not know when, where or how the "Thing" would strike; but the monster jack-in-the-boxes in this new version (when they were sprung) were convincing and appropriately gruesome.
It is impossible to top Carpenter's original since he was the first to bring this level of INTENSE paranoia and fear to the screen. Again, we all knew what was coming in the new movie, so it had MUCH less impact. But still--SO well done! I for one am not going to slag this redo simply because the studio had the temerity to attempt a sequel. It's tiresome, really, the feral invective "fans" display for ANY remakes, and begs the question in my mind--given the hysterical carping they inspire--WHY would any studio WANT to attempt a remake of ANYTHING?
"Thing" 2011 will never overshadow the '82 version, but it's still a worthy (and scary) movie.
HOWEVER--this was a fine remake and fans of the 1982 version should certainly not pass it up. Let me mention that even though I had read John Campbell's "Who Goes There" (the source for all film versions) I was NOT prepared for the horror shock of the 1982 Carpenter movie. I have to admit it positively SCARED ME SPITLESS like no movie before or since.
So of course I was eager to see this 2011 "redo", my speculation being that the new CGI technology could juice up the monster terror. Indeed it did! Of course it didn't have the sting of the '82 version, where we did not know when, where or how the "Thing" would strike; but the monster jack-in-the-boxes in this new version (when they were sprung) were convincing and appropriately gruesome.
It is impossible to top Carpenter's original since he was the first to bring this level of INTENSE paranoia and fear to the screen. Again, we all knew what was coming in the new movie, so it had MUCH less impact. But still--SO well done! I for one am not going to slag this redo simply because the studio had the temerity to attempt a sequel. It's tiresome, really, the feral invective "fans" display for ANY remakes, and begs the question in my mind--given the hysterical carping they inspire--WHY would any studio WANT to attempt a remake of ANYTHING?
"Thing" 2011 will never overshadow the '82 version, but it's still a worthy (and scary) movie.
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