The Thing prequel

[JiminSTLouis]

I saw The Thing last night and for the most part liked it. I don't think anything will ever have me leave the theater again feeling the way I did with JC's version though. I think towards the end, the movie kinda went out into left field a bit. I always wanted to go into the crashed ship but I don't think this was done very well. What was with the giant Tetris? It left me wishing they would have just kept the story confined to the base. Some of the CG effects were good, some were pretty cr@ppy. I didn't see an explanation as to what happened with the guy in the chair with the slit throat and wrists. Did I blink somewhere? I'm also left wondering what happened to Kate. Did she make it to the Russian base? Maybe a setup for a sequel. During the end credits, they did a good job linking it to JC's film. Too bad many people left the theater and missed it.

Again, I enjoyed the movie with only a few gripes. Not the best of the summer, but I'm sure I will be buying this one.

 

[superDrool]

Seems to be some confusion between Superdrool and his 'opponents' about character development and character believability...

Of course no one expects development from characters in a movie like this, but believability would be nice. Haven't read too much in these reviews here about great character writing/acting - which is always mentioned in the same breath as Bottin's FX when talking about the joys of Carpenter's film...

Tempted to see it, though. Sounds like it has its attractions. Though the attraction for me has nothing to do with finding out how twoface came to be or how the axe in the wall happened. This knowledge, for me, will forever act to the detriment of Carpenter's creepy "wtf happened here??' scenes at the Norwegian base. The axe in the wall, the melted guy in the chair are meant to overwhelm you with perplexed horror, by forcing your imagination to run wild - wtf IS this, what in the world happened here??? Watch this prequel and that effect will surely be gone. The mere risk that it will be gone is making me change my mind again about buying a ticket...Mystery replaced by pedantry is not one of the movie's attractions for me. Sounds like at best I get a rollercoaster ride with some good thrills here and there. Not sure if I want to trade in Carpenter's classic for such a small payback, because you do trade it in, I fear.

I agree with that, little payback for spoonfed theories and 'this is how it went down'. The issues I have were with all the reverse engineering for the set up at the end and all that effort was removed to pull you into the story, so you can leave the theater in awe. It sounds like there was little left for some story magic, that the JC version created. I wanted this prequel to on par, matching seamlessly. I guess I kept my hopes too high, which is fine, as they did seem to respect Carpenter's film, but it seems if I drop my hopes to today's film standards, I should be just fine.

The positive reviews here thusfar is actually promising. I may have second thought on a theater go.

 

[TK765]

So you $hitting all over the JC version at this point? I haven't seen it....yet. But I'm gonna be blunt here. If you don't care or relate with the characters the movie failed. Nuff said.

No ones crapping on JC's movie, you read too much into it. I would say as far as believable characters you can relate with these just as much as you did with JC's. Its very well acted and believable.

They aren't cardboard people like in the predator/alien movies.

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

So, decent, believable characters AND the guy in the chair remains unexplained. I may yet go see it!

 

[JD]

It's a frigging sci-fi / horror movie. I don't need a hyper realistic plot with a whole bunch of character development... keep me entertained and on the edge of my seat for an hour and a half or so. If the plot and characters move along enough to tell a decent story... well, that makes it all the better.

It's not an Oscar contender. It's a fun little popcorn horror movie with some strong sci-fi elements... decent performances from all the actors (I thought Uncle Owen did a great job and Mary Elizabeth Winstead was cute). I liked the effects, the effects (practical and CG) worked well enough (I wouldn't've caught the CG breath unless it was pointed out). I also thought it tied enough into the '82 flick without being overpowering.

Was it the best movie I've seen this year? No. Was it as good as Real Steel? IMO, Yes. It was better than the last few horror films I've seen in the theater (Dream House, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark) by a long shot.

 

[Apollo]

Who ever has not seen this better go fast just to be safe.

I thought it's BoxOffice would do better than coming in 3rd with 8.7 million.

Man this Movie bombed!

 

[Rusty85]

I thought that the first time it shows the creature was mostly practical effects. That was probably my favorite scene along with the one towards the end with the "arms".

 

[Art Andrews]

Finally got a chance to see this and after all the horrible reviews, I was expecting to hate it. I was pleasantly surprised that it creeped me out, made me paranoid, and was a fitting addition to this franchise.

Not sure I have anything to add that hasn't been said already... just glad that I didn't hate it. Have been disappointed quite a few times this year, so glad to be happy instead.

 

[darthgordon]

I was waiting to see what others had to say before I went... sounds like I'm going this weekend.

 

[Kerr Avon]

So, decent, believable characters AND the guy in the chair remains unexplained. I may yet go see it!

Yeah, the guy in the chair with his wrists and throat cut wasn't explained or I must have blinked and missed it. That's the only thing I think they should have gone more into. Maybe it was a cut scene.

Anyone who wants to see this, or is even on the edge of not being sure, go at least see it as a matinee. You can't lose on this for $5!

 

[Kerr Avon]

the final speculation is, of course, the ship itself. Ive never believed it was the ONE thing piloting that gargantuan saucer (why such a HUGE ship for a single pilot? unless its 95% engines and warp drives, and even THEN, why only a one man crew to maintain the WHOLE ship?). Heck the very indication that it CRASH LANDED makes me think that it originally had a multi species crew that had the thing as either a biochemical weapon, study specimen, trophy, or even a crew member (but it just doesnt seem plausible that the thing would be THAT intelligent given its instinctive nature), or maybe a single species crew that captured the thing after it had assimilated many prior species, though given the details of this film Ill lean on the former multi species crew theory based on geometries alone.

Regarding this, I read somewhere that the creators of the prequel were envisioning that the thing you see frozen in ice isn't the thing's "true form." That it's really just another alien species the virus called The Thing happened to infect and inhabit. That the ship was a biological survey craft that found the virus on another planet and took samples. The virus infected the crew and finally the last crew member either set the ship on a collision course or while battling the infected crew members lost control of the ship and crashed. They described showing a scene with other biological samples taken from other planets.

 

[Jeyl]

The virus infected the crew and finally the last crew member either set the ship on a collision course or while battling the infected crew members lost control of the ship and crashed. They described showing a scene with other biological samples taken from other planets.

One of the things that jumped out at me during the sequence inside the ship was that glowing display of pixels. The way some patterns came out light and faded into the background kind of reminded me of Blair's computer simulation of how the Thing's cells assimilate and imitate other cells. Maybe this was the aliens trying to run diagnostics on how the virus worked?

 

[Kerr Avon]

One of the things that jumped out at me during the sequence inside the ship was that glowing display of pixels. The way some patterns came out light and faded into the background kind of reminded me of Blair's computer simulation of how the Thing's cells assimilate and imitate other cells. Maybe this was the aliens trying to run diagnostics on how the virus worked?

I think the ship computer was just defragging it's Hard Drive.

 

[JunkSabers1138]

as far as the guy with the slit throat and wrists is concerned, you see at the end of the film that he has a straight razor in his hands. Yeah he has icicles dripping from his hands as well so its hard to see, but its in there. apparently he would rather commit suicide than be slowly absorbed from the inside out by the thing. Given that hes not only locked himself in a room, but on top of being dead, now non living tissue, the thing probably no longer had any use for him and thus thats why his body remains pretty much intact... but then again its all speculation

 

[Jeyl]

I think Collins killing himself was my biggest disappointment. He never seemed like the kind of character who was ever afraid. All they did was show that he could be the Thing thanks to that evil grin on his face.

If I had done the movie (and there would be a lot of other changes besides this one), I would have had him rushing to leave the room when split face first shows up, and having that injured guy call out for help as split face walks towards him. This guy is pleading for Collins to help, but he doesn't want to because the Thing is already directly over him. Even as he's being assimilated right in from of his eyes, he's still begging for help. Than he rushes off into that room and waits like a panicked dog. He's trying to muster whatever he can to keep it together, but it's all for nothing when he hears the Thing quietly walking around. He pulls out the only thing he has, his razor, in preparation to fight it whatever way he can, but than he hears the screams of the scientist being assimilated. Last shot would be of him just reacting to the screams looking a bit more frightened.

And that would be it really. Not showing the actual suicide was a decision that could have worked, but Collins just didn't seem to show any signs that he was going to do that.

 

[dropshipbob]

I saw it yesterday and liked it, a very good addition.

*****SPOILERS*******























My problems are technical. In JC's movie, we see the Norwegians measuring the circumference of the ship ABOVE the ice, it was clearly visable. We also see them laying down explosives and detonating them (weather this was an attempt to destroy the ship, or expose it for easier study we don't know).

But in this movie, we don't see any of that, the ship gets exposed either because of the grenade explosion or because the ship is trying to take off.

And what about the Norwegian left at the camp at the end? Who was he and where did he come from? I assume that everyone in the Norwegian camp either was killed or consumed by the thing? The same goes for the guy who cut his wrists/throat.
And to add to that, we didn't see him or the pilot loading the helicopter with the box of grenades which goes against the continuity...unless all Norwegian choppers are loaded with grenades as SOP.

One last problem, when the girl finds the fillings on the floor, from what she said, this was done during/after the assimilation, so wouldn't that mean the blood that was with them was infected?

 

[Scareb]

I saw it yesterday and liked it, a very good addition.

*****SPOILERS*******


My problems are technical. In JC's movie, we see the Norwegians measuring the circumference of the ship ABOVE the ice, it was clearly visable. We also see them laying down explosives and detonating them (weather this was an attempt to destroy the ship, or expose it for easier study we don't know).

But in this movie, we don't see any of that, the ship gets exposed either because of the grenade explosion or because the ship is trying to take off.

And what about the Norwegian left at the camp at the end? Who was he and where did he come from? I assume that everyone in the Norwegian camp either was killed or consumed by the thing? The same goes for the guy who cut his wrists/throat.
And to add to that, we didn't see him or the pilot loading the helicopter with the box of grenades which goes against the continuity...unless all Norwegian choppers are loaded with grenades as SOP.

One last problem, when the girl finds the fillings on the floor, from what she said, this was done during/after the assimilation, so wouldn't that mean the blood that was with them was infected?

Spoiler

The Norwegian was the one that went out to the shed to get the Americans but was presumably knocked out and tied up. The thing probably forgot he was out there or thought maybe the Americans killed him. He wakes up, realizes what happens and hides. English guy tries to radio for help and Lars sneaks up and slits his throat to stop him so the thing can't escape.

As for the grenades, I can't remember if it's a box or just one but if it's just one, he does have pockets on his jacket......

 

[CB2001]

Spoiler

As for the grenades, I can't remember if it's a box or just one but if it's just one, he does have pockets on his jacket......

I'm pretty sure it was a box, as you see a clear shot of the Sniper Rifle Norwegian pulling one out and dropping it during the beginning of Carpenter's film. After they touched down at Outpost #31, you see the pilot reach into the same box, pull out another and then... Well... You got the idea on what happened after that.

 

[TK765]

My problems are technical. In JC's movie, we see the Norwegians measuring the circumference of the ship ABOVE the ice, it was clearly visable. We also see them laying down explosives and detonating them (weather this was an attempt to destroy the ship, or expose it for easier study we don't know).

But in this movie, we don't see any of that, the ship gets exposed either because of the grenade explosion or because the ship is trying to take off.

And what about the Norwegian left at the camp at the end? Who was he and where did he come from? I assume that everyone in the Norwegian camp either was killed or consumed by the thing? The same goes for the guy who cut his wrists/throat.
And to add to that, we didn't see him or the pilot loading the helicopter with the box of grenades which goes against the continuity...unless all Norwegian choppers are loaded with grenades as SOP.

One last problem, when the girl finds the fillings on the floor, from what she said, this was done during/after the assimilation, so wouldn't that mean the blood that was with them was infected?

The ship continuity was the one problem I saw, maybe they missed it or just ignored it. Although a little more discussion of the ship would have been interesting, maybe even a scene going inside before all hell broke loose.

Can't remember now if you saw the helicopter take off right after he tells the other guy to start it, maybe he ran back to get the box of grenades in the shed.

As far as contamination on the blood, she didn't touch the teeth and maybe there is a threshold of amount you have to be exposed too, it could have been infected. They never went into explaining how you would be infected or consumed.

 

[JiminSTLouis]

Yes, the last Norwegian at the camp was Lars. He was knocked out by the two American's that escaped the shed. Minutes later they broke into the main building where alien drama ensued. I'm not sure it was Lars that slit the chair guys throat and wrists because the razor is clearly in the dead man's hand. And I had the same thought about the grenades. The case, which is shown in the opening scenes of JC's movie, was never loaded. And I doubt a case of grenades is standard equipment for a helicopter on a refueling run.

As for the blood on the fillings, did anyone at that point know a single alien cell could take over an entire human? I can't remember the time line of events.