The Thing's Recent Activity - Spout

Film:The Thing

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:01:50 GMT

Title: The Thing
Year: 1982
Director: John Carpenter
Plot: John Carpenter's The Thing is both a remake of Howard Hawks' 1951 film of the same name and a re-adaptation of the John W. Campbell Jr. story "Who Goes There?" on which it was based. Carpenter's film is more faithful to Campbell's story than Hawks' version and also substantially more reliant on special effects, provided in abundance by a team of over 40 technicians, including veteran creature-effects artists Rob Bottin and Stan Winston. The film opens enigmatically with a Siberian Husky running through the Antarctic tundra, chased by two men in a helicopter firing at it from above. Even after the dog finds shelter at an American research outpost, the men in the helicopter (Norwegians from an outpost nearby) land and keep shooting. One of the Norwegians drops a grenade and blows himself and the helicopter to pieces; the other is shot dead in the snow by Garry (Donald Moffat), the American outpost captain. American helicopter pilot MacReady (Kurt Russell, fresh from Carpenter's Escape From New York) and camp doctor Copper (Richard Dysart) fly off to find the Norwegian base and discover some pretty strange goings-on. The base is in ruins, and the only occupants are a man frozen to a chair (having cut his own throat) and the burned remains of what could be one man or several men. In a side room, Copper and MacReady find a coffin-like block of ice from which something has been recently cut. That night at the American base, the Husky changes into the Thing, and the Americans learn first-hand that the creature has the ability to mutate into anything it kills. For the rest of the film the men fight a losing (and very gory) battle against it, never knowing if one of their own dwindling number is the Thing in disguise. Though resurrected as a cult favorite, The Thing failed at the box office during its initial run, possibly because of its release just two weeks after Steven Spielberg's warmly received E.T.The Extra-Terrestrial. Along with Ridley Scott's futuristic Alien, The Thing helped stimulate a new wave of sci-fi horror films in which action and special effects wizardry were often seen as ends in themselves. ~ Anthony Reed, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 17
Number of Lists: 52
Number of blog posts: 6
Number of discussion threads: 22
SpoutRating: 4

Spout Post: Weekly Theme for July 13: Whodunit?

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:01:50 GMT

Post By: mercurial
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 7/13/2009 6:01:50 PM
Body: With the internet all abuzz about the onslaught of board games getting the celluloid treatment, I was reminded of one of my favorite movies that is based on a popular board game: Clue. Now I get a lot of criticism for liking this film but am unwavering on my commitment to its absolute hilarity and it being a deft example of a whodunit mystery movie. Not as widespread as it was back in the Golden Age of Hollywood when the studios were pumping out Charlie Chan and The Thin Man like their lives depended on them (which they probably did, but alas), the whodunit genre has more or less been slivered into other more popular genres such as Horror and Action. I may be wrong, but movies like Scream, The Thing, and Identity definitely utilize key elements of a whodunit film. Dressed to Kill (along with Clue) is one of my favorite murder mysteries due to the insane nature of the film and all the traditional elements being twisted and played with by De Palma. The other day I grabbed a copy of Murder By Death at my local grocery store for a buck and have to say I was slightly amused by it (if not completely offended by Peter Sellers horribly racist portrayal of a Chinese detective). Gosford Park is a great recent example of a whodunit. With such an amazing cast it definitely makes me miss Altman. What do you all think?

Spout Post: Why horror remakes will always suck

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:23:25 GMT

Post By: indieabby88
Post To: Bloggish review blog
Post Date: 1/10/2009 1:23:25 AM
Body: So, I just downloaded Taken By Trees' cover of the Guns 'n' Roses song "Sweet Child Of Mine," after hearing it on the trailer for the upcoming remake of the classic horror film "Last House on the Left," which looks utterly odious (I saw it during the trailers preceding the equally odious "The Unborn." Don't ask me why I decided it'd be a good idea to watch this movie...I think it was probably Gary Oldman that did it) Anyway, my ire at the fact that this movie, among others, was being re-made gave me pause. Why is it that movies with a strong following in one generation get remade a couple of generations later into movies that are completely awful? Why is it that the remake of "The Hitcher" not only was a pile of flaming dog poo, but was destined to fail from the very moment the idea of the remake came into being? Why does this seem to be the case with nearly every horror remake since...well...pretty much forever? After giving it some thought, my thinking is this: the problem with remakes is twofold. The more recent problem that's emerged is the hollywood pop horror machine running out of ideas and, as a result, remaking movies that weren't really worthy of the treatment (BBC film critic and horror film guru Mark Kermode claims this was the case with "Prom Night" and "Mirrors"). The other, more angering problem is this: Most of the audience these remakes are aimed at (such as the loud and undiscerning teens who shared the theater with me during tonight's screening of "The Unborn") have grown up with no clue who Wes Craven is, or that "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" originally came out in the 70s, not in 2003. This is a generation of people who don't know about The Thing or, it seems, the original versions of The Hills Have Eyes and Friday the 13th. The major studios think they can pull the wool over an audience's eyes by showing them warmed-over versions of culturally important movies with all the significance removed. The fact that these movies are nothing more than vain, empty husks of their original selves stems, I believe from one simple factor: what makes these movies great is the context and the cultural climate in which they were created. Wes Craven's work in the 70s is considered classic not only because it legitimately scared the pants off you, but because it was shocking in a way that few movies were at that time. Last House on the Left (which, supposedly, is itself a take on Bergman's Virgin Spring) was the product of people who had grown up watching the Vietnam war on TV. What audiences were seeing was a wakeup call to a culture that had become desensitzed to violence. Friday the 13th was, in its way, a satiric morality play (Jason's mom, after all, is taking out her revenge because her son drowned while being neglected by horny camp counselors). None of these remakes work now (nor, I posit, will they ever) because the true meaning of these movies, the spirit in which they were created, has been lost. In an age where movies like the Saw franchise are practically considered the norm, a modern version of Last House on the Left packs no punch. It only has something to say to modern audiences if you consider the original film in its cultural context. The same goes for Friday the 13th. A movie like this has no noticeable place in a culture that's become desensitzed to both violence and sex. It'll only be a cheap thrill unless you consider why the original came to exist in the first place. Not to mention that the script wasn't that great in the first place. The only thing this movie has going for it is its concept, and if that loses its significance, you can kiss the whole thing goodbye. All this is to say, I wish Hollywood would quit churning out fifty or so of these cheap-ass thrill-a-minute meaningless remakes year after year after year. The people who produce these wastes of perfectly good celluloid aren't considering what it is about these movies that ever appealed to anyone at any point in time. They are considering only the legions of teenagers who are unaware that, many years ago, the forgettable horror flick that has them cowering in their seats was once an important, groundbreaking piece of work. These movies are not a form of preservation, but rather one more patina of tarnish.

Spout Post: DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:09:50 GMT

Post By: yigael
Post To: yigael Blog
Post Date: 12/18/2008 10:09:50 AM
Body: Paraonia at the maximum here as no one knows whos human and whos not. Par that with a flamethrower totting Kurt Russell and you got major suspense here!!! Best part for me is the stomach devouring fiend!!

Spout Post: Re:Women in Hollywood: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:21:08 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: Heroines in Hollywood
Post Date: 10/27/2008 8:21:08 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="Dr_Gor"]There is at least one movie that I know of that has no women in it at all... and that movie is Ice Station Zebra . My Mom pointed that out to me after we saw it in the theatre when I was about eight. [/quote] Also,The Thing12 Angry MenReservoir DogsLord of the FliesBad Taste and The Great Escape and probably a lot of other war movies [/quote] Wow. I think you are mostly right, Rizzo, but I think The Great Escape had a couple of women in it. Not in major roles but in the scenes after the escape and trhe prisoners are fleeing about the countryside and through the towns. I will have to see it again to be sure. The original version of The Thing From Another World features a woman in a predominate role but I believe you are correct in that the remake has none. I think you are correct about the other movies you mentioned. I guess there are a few of them. Interesting... < GOR >

Spout Post: Re:Women in Hollywood: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:53:53 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: Heroines in Hollywood
Post Date: 10/27/2008 1:53:53 PM
Body: [quote user="Dr_Gor"]There is at least one movie that I know of that has no women in it at all... and that movie is Ice Station Zebra . My Mom pointed that out to me after we saw it in the theatre when I was about eight. [/quote] Also,The Thing12 Angry MenReservoir DogsLord of the FliesBad Taste and The Great Escape and probably a lot of other war movies

Spout Post: Before its time

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:03:33 GMT

Post By: owtkast
Post To: owtkast Blog
Post Date: 10/2/2008 2:03:33 AM
Body: Twelve men, alone in an observation station in the Antarctic, with only there work and each other to while away the days. Sounds like a dream vacation for "The Village People"? Wrong. It´s the setting of John Carpenter´s 1982 classic remake about an alien who crash-landed on Earth 100,000 years ago, dug up, brought to the observation camp, and begins to assimilate those he is in contact. With amazing special effects by make-up genius, Rob Bottin, and superb acting by a Grade A list of actors, including a brooding Kurt Russell, and a pre-oatmeal Wilford Brimley, The Thing showed moviegoers that horror and science fiction were legitimate movie genres, not just to be relegated to the drive-in. The extras in this Collector´s Edition package are exceptional, especially the 90-minute documentary. Rob Bottin´s interview, while being manic and nerve-racking, is one of the most interesting I have ever heard. And John Carpenter and Kurt Russell´s commentary should be analyzed and copied by any director who considers recording a commentary track. Although not a commercial success, the Thing has developed a cult following over the years. It is finally beginning to be recognized for the masterpiece it is...something the audiences of 1982 were not ready for. It´s tough to come out with a movie about a malevolent alien the same year that audiences were swooning and cuddling up to E.T. And Carpenter can hold his head up, as he has refused to make any sequels, even though he left the door open to do so. Integrity is a wonderful and rare thing these days.

Spout Post: Re:Roger Ebert said:

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:58:44 GMT

Post By: SkyPilot
Post To: Movie Games
Post Date: 5/23/2008 1:58:44 PM
Body: [quote user="tadiv" Roger said: "The film's extended suspense sequences deserve a place among the great stretches of cinema." [/quote] It's either Tango and Cash or The Wages of Fear, I can never remember which.

Spout Post: Re:Top 31 Horror films of the past 31 years on The Naked Lunch Radio Show

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:22:34 GMT

Post By: Puhnner
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 2/12/2008 2:22:34 PM
Body: Revised List of 31 from 76 through07Mommie Dearest and Red Dawn co-winners of No. 1and wished I could have included:1988 Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls ( have not seen it, but the title is terrific and I cannot find it here ) 1976 Man on the Roof1976 The Sentinel1977 Suspiria 1978 I spit on your Grave 1987 Near Dark 1988 Rabid Grannies ( have not seen )1988 Brain Damage 31. 1988 The Blob 30. 1978 Halloween 29. 1986 Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer 28. 1986 Vamp 27. 1976 The Omen 26. 1979 The Brood 25. 1985 Lifeforce 24. 2001 Frailty 23. 2002 28 Days Later 22. 1990 Jacob’s Ladder 21. 1995 Se7en 20. 1986 Manhunter 19. 1987 Angel Heart 18. 1995 The Addiction17. 1997 Office Killer 16. 1986 Nomads 15. 1981 The Howling 14. 1979 Nosferatu 13. 2007 Bug 12. 1987 Street Trash 11. 1987 Evil Dead II 10. 1987 The Hidden 9. 1989 Shocker 8. 1987 Hellraiser 7. 1985 Re-Animator 6. 1986 The Hitcher 5. 1991 The Silence of the Lambs 4. 1982 The Thing 3. 1992 Twin Peaks Fire Walk with Me 2. 1997 Lost Highway 1. 1999 Audition

Spout Post: Re:Top 31 Horror films of the past 31 years on The Naked Lunch Radio Show

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:34:19 GMT

Post By: Puhnner
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 2/11/2008 2:34:19 PM
Body: Here is my list, although it is a bit different in that the list allows only one Film from each of the 31 years, which believe me, limits the choices; for instance 1986: The FlyFrom BeyondHenry: Portrait of a Serial KillerThe HitcherInvaders from MarsManhunterNomadsVamp1987 is just as hardI am working on another one, which is just my 31 favorites regardless of how many a year. These choices listed, fit my definition of horror. They are horrifying and extremely unsettling, but may not be, in the strictest sense, horror. but well, here it is. Oh, I also did not not include the Alien films which although 'monster goes boo!', even though I love every one of them, fall somewhere in the realm of Science Fiction to me...enough gibberish, here it is:By the way, I want 'Mommie Dearest' to be No. 1, but that is another story.Years 1976 through 2007 ( the Spout year listings are a bit different than Wikipedia's which I used ) 31. 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street 30. 1994 Natural Born Killers 29. 2004 Dawn of the Dead 28. 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre 27. 2005 Sin City 26. 1993 Army of Darkness 25. 1998 Fallen 24. 1983 Videodrome 23. 2006 Fido 22. 1996 The Frighteners 21. 2007 Zodiac 20. 2000 Crimson Rivers 19. 2001 Frailty 18. 2002 28 Days Later 17. 1990 Jacob’s Ladder 16. 1988 The Vanishing 15. 1995 Se7en 14. 1989 Shocker 13. 1976 The Tenant 12. 1977 Rabid 11. 1987 Hellraiser 10. 1985 Re-Animator 9. 1981 The Howling 8. 1979 Nosferatu 7. 1978 Halloween 6. 1986 The Hitcher 5. 1991 The Silence of the Lambs 4. 1982 The Thing 3. 1992 Twin Peaks Fire Walk with Me 2. 1997 Lost Highway 1. 1999 Audition

Spout Post: Re:Who Wants to Help Me Kill Michael Bay?

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:49:47 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 2/7/2008 4:49:47 PM
Body: I think sometimes we need to recognize that some movies that are called remakes are technically not necessarily remakes, but just new versions of another source material. The Thing for instance. Certainly John Carpenter was aware of and loved the original movie version of The Thing (full title actually is The Thing from Another World), but his version of it was just as much or more based on the original short story than the original movie. Is it fair to call a movie a remake when this is the case?Some times you may argue that the first movie has adapted the source material so well that any new version would feel just as unnecessary as an actual remake, but I think it's still important to identify when this happens.It looks like most of the worst remakes are actual remakes while some of the few of the ones that some people have appreciated have had other original sources such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Spout Tag:aliens

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:12:57 GMT

aliens
Number of films tagged: 74

Number of people who tagged: 51

Number of times used: 111

Spout Tag:dog

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:00:53 GMT

dog
Number of films tagged: 1373

Number of people who tagged: 47

Number of times used: 161

Spout Tag:monster

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:22:02 GMT

monster
Number of films tagged: 1143

Number of people who tagged: 41

Number of times used: 95

Spout Tag:isolation

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:40:30 GMT

isolation
Number of films tagged: 164

Number of people who tagged: 38

Number of times used: 58

Spout Tag:snow

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:56:39 GMT

snow
Number of films tagged: 149

Number of people who tagged: 34

Number of times used: 62

Spout Tag:scientist

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:47:27 GMT

scientist
Number of films tagged: 1408

Number of people who tagged: 31

Number of times used: 77

Spout Tag:alienation

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:10:41 GMT

alienation
Number of films tagged: 167

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Number of times used: 29

Spout Tag:ice

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:06:54 GMT

ice
Number of films tagged: 83

Number of people who tagged: 19

Number of times used: 33

Spout Tag:spacecraft

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:02:39 GMT

spacecraft
Number of films tagged: 332

Number of people who tagged: 17

Number of times used: 42

Spout Tag:tension

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:24:52 GMT

tension
Number of films tagged: 183

Number of people who tagged: 16

Number of times used: 17

Spout Tag:pilot

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:02:27 GMT

pilot
Number of films tagged: 410

Number of people who tagged: 15

Number of times used: 30

Spout Tag:alien-not-human

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:23:54 GMT

alien-not-human
Number of films tagged: 1385

Number of people who tagged: 13

Number of times used: 24

Spout Tag:creature

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:55:17 GMT

creature
Number of films tagged: 303

Number of people who tagged: 13

Number of times used: 20

Spout Tag:antarctica

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:23:35 GMT

antarctica
Number of films tagged: 49

Number of people who tagged: 7

Number of times used: 14

Spout Tag:snowbound

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:01:40 GMT

snowbound
Number of films tagged: 16

Number of people who tagged: 7

Number of times used: 7