John Carpenter's The Thing...The Perfect Horror Movie?

[The Fallen Deity]

One things for sure...

That opening bass note during the helicopter sequence at the beginning of the film sounds awesome on the BD's DTS-HD track.

DUM DUM...

DUM DUM...

[Josh B]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

I believe the original is better, too. I do not, however, think Carpenter's "pales" in comparison, nor that the original is "far superior." Carpenter's is still a masterpiece.



You know Carpenter himself believes the original is better than his film? The original is incredible. Even more so when you consider when it was made. It's pretty intense. If you find it boring I blame TV.

I believe I'm sold on this post, then. I'll have to check out the original.

edit: There's a snapcase for this, and I collect those. Bonus!

[The Fallen Deity]

The little nod to the original film in Halloween is pretty cool.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

I believe the original is better, too. I do not, however, think Carpenter's "pales" in comparison, nor that the original is "far superior." Carpenter's is still a masterpiece.



You know Carpenter himself believes the original is better than his film? The original is incredible. Even more so when you consider when it was made. It's pretty intense. If you find it boring I blame TV.

I grew up watching the Hawks/Nyby film on TV so I'll be honest in saying that it's my preferred version. It still holds up very well. I like the comeraderie among the men, the fact that the title creature is mostly kept in the shadows, the geiger counter read-off as a way of building tension and, of course, the Hawks dialogue and that Dimitri Tiomkin score which is still creepy as hell.

[Tony208]

sure it's very good

i prefer horror movies where u don't know what to expect so i like sci-fi horror

there's only so many ways a slasher movie can go

[Bonzi]

Originally Posted by leem6453

And then there's the blood test scene. Audiences definitely were not prepared for what hit them over the head. I love you John Carpenter.

I'm not sure about the movie, although it is one of my favourites, but that scene is definitely in consideration for the most intense scene ever!

[Akijama]

Easily one of the best horror films of all time.

[Rich65]

I don't even try to compare the original with Carpenter's, I love both films and except for the same title they could not be further removed from one another.
The original does score a bonus point for Margaret Sheridan though.

[B72]

Margaret Sheridan sure was brave being the only woman and with that giant space carrot running around
( love the original )

[Rich65]

Originally Posted by B72

Margaret Sheridan sure was brave being the only woman and with that giant space carrot running around
( love the original )

No there were other women but she was the brave and hot one.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by B72

Margaret Sheridan sure was brave being the only woman and with that giant space carrot running around
( love the original )

Her character is one of the best indicators of Hawks' involvement with the film. Howard Hawks mostly made films about men and male bonding, but when he had female characters they were brave, smart, loyal and witty and always could hold their own in male company.

[theprestige85]

I've got to be honest, I haven't seen the original. Science Fiction is probably the only genre I have a hard time watching pre 1970s. They just age faster and it's hard to get my head around it. It's not like a film noir or a western or melodrama where the time period actually makes them more enjoyable. Sci fi has come way too far imo.

[CranBack]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

I've got to be honest, I haven't seen the original. Science Fiction is probably the only genre I have a hard time watching pre 1970s. They just age faster and it's hard to get my head around it. It's not like a film noir or a western or melodrama where the time period actually makes them more enjoyable. Sci fi has come way too far imo.

I love The Thing but the monster looks too much like the monster from Alien for the movie to be perfect.

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

I've got to be honest, I haven't seen the original. Science Fiction is probably the only genre I have a hard time watching pre 1970s. They just age faster and it's hard to get my head around it. It's not like a film noir or a western or melodrama where the time period actually makes them more enjoyable. Sci fi has come way too far imo.

It's kind of interesting watching the original movie after having watched Carpenters version.The genre certainly has come along way FX wise,but not so sure if it has evolved too much content-wise.Rather have devolved.Think the peak time for sci-fi was late 80's early 90's.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by CranBack

I love The Thing but the monster looks too much like the monster from Alien for the movie to be perfect.

Huh ? The monster looks nothing like the creature from Alien.

[theprestige85]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

It's kind of interesting watching the original movie after having watched Carpenters version.The genre certainly has come along way FX wise,but not so sure if it has evolved too much content-wise.Rather have devolved.Think the peak time for sci-fi was late 80's early 90's.

Some sci fi films are better than others, though. You are right, there are some terribly produced science fiction films that are released straight to dvd in the last decade or so. But then once every while you get a quality science fiction film like Sunshine, a film that arouses your brain as much as it does your senses, and you think to yourself that this would be incredibly difficult to convey in the 50's or 40's.

The original Blob is 50's, right? I thought that was good for an older sci fi film. Certainly better than it's gory remake.

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Some sci fi films are better than others, though. You are right, there are some terribly produced science fiction films that are released straight to dvd in the last decade or so. But then once every while you get a quality science fiction film like Sunshine, a film that arouses your brain as much as it does your senses, and you think to yourself that this would be incredibly difficult to convey in the 50's or 40's.

The original Blob is 50's, right? I thought that was good for an older sci fi film. Certainly better than it's gory remake.

About Sunshine:I'm with you if you're talking about 2/3rds of that movie.The last 1/3rd was just horrendous.But it did indeed stimulate the grey matter,and was beautifully shot.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

About Sunshine:I'm with you if you're talking about 2/3rds of that movie.The last 1/3rd was just horrendous.But it did indeed stimulate the grey matter,and was beautifully shot.

I liked Sunshine, but I don't understand claims of what would be intellectually stimulating about it. The science was pretty dumb even for a science fiction movie and it's not like it poses any philosophical or existential questions. It's not like 2001 or the recent Upstream Color, which throw up questions about what you've just seen and which do make you think.

[Mahatma]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I liked Sunshine, but I don't understand claims of what would be intellectually stimulating about it. The science was pretty dumb even for a science fiction movie and it's not like it poses any philosophical or existential questions. It's not like 2001 or the recent Upstream Color, which throw up questions about what you've just seen and which do make you think.

You didn't find it philosophical (spelled right?) the difference in the crews outlook and actions,nor that restarting the sun may be a metaphore about societies decent into chaos?The religious overtones of the ending (which was-I concede-heavy handed)...

It isn't this eras 2001,but I found it thought provoking in it's way.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Mahatma

You didn't find it philosophical (spelled right?) the difference in the crews outlook and actions,nor that restarting the sun may be a metaphore about societies decent into chaos?The religious overtones of the ending (which was-I concede-heavy handed)...

It isn't this eras 2001,but I found it thought provoking in it's way.

The character's different outlooks was just part of general characterisation. One gets addicted to the sun, which is a nice idea, but there is nothing very challenging there. I don't see how the (scientifically preposterous) idea of restarting the sun would be a 'metaphor' for societies decent into chaos. We can infer that circumstances on earth would be apocalyptic in case of such an event, but what is thought provoking about that ? And yes, the clunky religious overtones at the end, but you wisely shot that down yourself already.

I'm not saying the film needs to be deep, it's an enjoyable ride, exciting and very stylish, but a bit of new agey music and imagery does not make for a thoughtful film alone.