The Thing (1982) (Arrow)

[Xapi3]

F***ing hell yes! I knew this would happen. Arrow are killing it this year

[MattPerdue]

Even if it's just the same master as the Scream Factory release I'll get it. Arrow's encoding really is second to none.

[ste71]

I used to have the Universal DVD of the original 1951 film, with the commentary with John Carpenter. Hope that's included somehow.

[MifuneFan]

Great news. Would love a Steelbook edition.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'm always slightly on the fence when it comes to Arrow releasing well established films. As much as I love having amazing versions of films I love, I always find it better when they release something that is more undervalued or undiscovered and being pleasantly surprised.

Well to be fair if you just have the UK BD you could in future be discovering what The Thing should really look like.

No Ping-Pong ball, no sale Arrow. It should be part of the collector's edition ...

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jonezzz...

This is great news, but it's unfortunate they couldn't have announced it when Shout released their Blu-ray back in October as I would have just waited, but that's Blu-ray collecting for ya. No doubt at the start of next year, Universal will announce a 4K UHD Blu-ray of it!

Anyway, it's bound to get a set like Videodrome/Donnie Darko, and if it's a 4K remaster, it should look amazing! I expect it'll be nearer October before it's out, if not later maybe, but it should be a great release. One of my top 10 films of all time!

I imagine they'll size the release appropriately - it'll be like The Hills Have Eyes at the very least, and Videodrome/Donnie Darko at the most. Obviously will depend on number of discs - I imagine it'll be Dual Format, for example (like Raising Cain, Matinee etc), but there could be a third Blu-ray disc or soundtrack CD too.

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

I just noticed that the 1950s The Thing is licensed by Universal in the UK whereas it is Warner in the US. So it could definitely be included as an extra. It's just about the only way it could differentiate itself from the insane extras of the Shout release without being an imitation. A perfect imitation.

My initial guess is that the 50s Thing being included is the "exciting things planned" in the announcement.

As for the main feature itself, it's probably going to be a better/less manipulated with encoding of the artificially sharpened Shout release. Don't know what makes people think that Arrow would do a restoration of the OCN when releasing the Shout master would be a huge upgrade over what is available in the UK (old Universal master). Stuff like that costs money and plenty of it, and a 4K scan of the OCN probably wouldn't be as big of an upgrade of the Shout master (untampered) as the Shout is over the old Universal master.

If there is noticeable improvement over the Shout and the limited edition isn't any thicker than the Videodrome LE, I might get it. Or I may wait for the regular case release.

If they were to get The Thing From Another World that would definitely set it apart from previous releases, as would a CD soundtrack. Imagine if they managed to get both, and added some of their own interviews with John Carpenter on there as well! That would be the ultimate release, in my opinion.

As much as I love this film, I hope they don't go make packaging too extravagant so the price is affected (e.g. Phantasm 1-5). £25-ish at most would be the ideal price, assuming they're going to be adding discs and/or beefing out the booklet. I'd be perfectly happy to pay a similar price to Donnie Darko at the most.

Who am I kidding, even if it was £35 I'd still get it...but they'd obviously have to justify a price like that! I suppose this'll be a title they'll do a few editions of, like they did for Donnie Darko - a Limited Edition, a Special Edition, and a standard edition. Or at least a Limited Edition Steelbook and standard edition, as with Big Trouble in Little China (the steelbook of which I sadly missed out on).

[Yami]

I'm pretty sure the RKO catalog was recently bought by Warner in the UK, but even if it wasn't another reason that so few have been upgraded in the UK (+ the first Citizen Kane release here and the Japanese releases being of below average-average quality) is that Warner have all the best materials in the US. I do hope that Arrow can work some special magic, but they'll need Warner on board to get the best out of it.

[NjabPhungula]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'm pretty sure the RKO catalog was recently bought by Warner in the UK, but even if it wasn't another reason that so few have been upgraded in the UK (+ the first Citizen Kane release here and the Japanese releases being of below average-average quality) is that Warner have all the best materials in the US. I do hope that Arrow can work some special magic, but they'll need Warner on board to get the best out of it.

It seems to me that Criterion is the only label that Warners is willing allow to release/license their films in hi-def. I say this because of the fact that they only let the BFI release The Devils on DVD and not blu-ray (although that movie is an entirely different matter altogether) and of course the upcoming Scorsese releases from the BFI seem to have suffered a similar fate and I just noticed that Sony is releasing William Wyler's "The Best Years of our Lives" on DVD in the UK next month. No blu-ray (even though there is one in the US) just a DVD. Warners owns the film. Coincidence, I think not.

Still, let's hope.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'm pretty sure the RKO catalog was recently bought by Warner in the UK, but even if it wasn't another reason that so few have been upgraded in the UK (+ the first Citizen Kane release here and the Japanese releases being of below average-average quality) is that Warner have all the best materials in the US. I do hope that Arrow can work some special magic, but they'll need Warner on board to get the best out of it.

Good point, you're right...dunno why that didn't register - WB released Citizen Kane recently, Criterion's Cat People was licensed from WB, and WB are releasing King Kong as part of the HMV Exclusive Premium Collection soon. Since WB don't currently license to anyone but Criterion, other than BFI with the odd title (and even then they're inconsistent), I highly doubt Arrow will be able to get it.

In that case, maybe we can hope for a CD soundtrack, or maybe even a vinyl - though Waxwork Records announced a brand new vinyl reissue last month, and I doubt Arrow are involved in that since they've only just secured this title.

Anyway, if you're gonna include a soundtrack CD, who better than John Carpenter and Ennio Morricone?

[SymbioticFunction]

This is great news as I still only own a region b player and therefore didn't upgrade to the SF release.

Edit: If I had bought the SF blu-ray, I'd probably be a bit gutted.

[StingingVelvet]

Heh. Not gonna replace every Shout disc with an Arrow, but I will for this one. Can't wait!

[Markgway]

If Arrow do a deluxe edition with fold out posters and toys, etc., I hope they also do a regular edition with standard packaging for those of us who aren't into that collector shit, but want the disc extras.

[lateralspin]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

The SF release is already "immaculate".
Why not release something which hasn't been released?

Because SF discs are locked to Region A, and I am locked to Region B...

[StingingVelvet]

It's funny how many of my hardcore collector region-free brothers seem to forget that 90% of people are region-locked and have no interest in changing that.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by NjabPhungula

It seems to me that Criterion is the only label that Warners is willing allow to release/license their films in hi-def. I say this because of the fact that they only let the BFI release The Devils on DVD and not blu-ray (although that movie is an entirely different matter altogether) and of course the upcoming Scorsese releases from the BFI seem to have suffered a similar fate and I just noticed that Sony is releasing William Wyler's "The Best Years of our Lives" on DVD in the UK next month. No blu-ray (even though there is one in the US) just a DVD. Warners owns the film. Coincidence, I think not.

Still, let's hope.

Warner allowed the BFI to release Revolution on Blu-ray.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Markgway

If Arrow do a deluxe edition with fold out posters and toys, etc., I hope they also do a regular edition with standard packaging for those of us who aren't into that collector shit, but want the disc extras.

I'd love a poster, but I hope they don't go silly on us and do too many bits and bobs for a release like this, even if it is their biggest ever title.

I reckon they either go the Donnie Darko route like many are assuming they will, or the Big Trouble in Little China route where they just do a Limited Edition Steelbook alongside a normal edition.

Depends how many discs they opt for though, and I imagine with a title like this they may want to go big, so perhaps a Donnie Darko-esque set is actually the most likely option. I say that because recent Universal titles from them have been Dual Format, and if they're matching the SF release it'll already be 2xBD...so that's 4 discs already, before we even consider any bonus discs.

If they decide to include a third BD (though a 3-disc version of The Thing sounds a bit crazy anyway), it might also be duplicated on DVD, and then they could also add a soundtrack CD (if they can afford to source and license it, that is). Obviously this is pure speculation at this point - question is, how far are they going to push the extras on this one compared to the SF release?

I'd actually be happy with them replicating the SF release and adding a thick booklet and releasing it like the Donnie Darko set. They could end up squeezing any subsequent extras onto the existing discs and/or including a soundtrack CD which wouldn't require much more packaging.

Since this is one of my favourite films, I'll be happy with whatever they decide to do...but I have a feeling they'll be wanting to top the SF release, even if it's just the addition of a booklet and some slightly different extras (as with Raising Cain).

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

Warner allowed the BFI to release Revolution on Blu-ray.

Don't forget Gaslight too...

[CinemaScope]

I remember being quite disappointed with The Thing when I saw it at the cinema in the West End, I think it was the day after it opened. I've given it a few chances since then, but I still don't rate it. Amazing real (non-CGI) special effects by Rob Bottin (it looks like he left the industry many years ago, but his name did pop up on the credits of a Game Of Thrones episode). My main complaints are: 1/no likeable characters 2/no women characters 3/the lead is such a miserable sod, & I just didn't care about any of 'em, I think I was sticking up for the alien in the end.

Now the 1951 version, rubbish special effects, but great film.

[kidglov3s]

Well I'm happy I dragged my feet on picking up the Shout! disc.

[goldie1970]

Steelbook to match Big Trouble would be killer!

[RazorwireRyan]

I initially said I don't know what they can do besides deluxe packaging to better the SF release, but it's such a favourite that I'll no doubt triple dip in the end...