120+ movies: The Thing (2011)

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120+ Movies of 2011, Annual Movie Challenge

The ThingThe Thing (07/12/11)

At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson.

I think I’m being a little bit generous giving this film 3/5. It’s not quite as bad as a 2/5, though I don’t think it’s a good 3/5. It’s a slightly below average 3/5. Enough rambling about the score I’ve given it!

So, here we have a prequel to 1982’s The Thing. The Norwegian camp that we saw in the ‘original’ The Thing has been given a story here and I now know what happened to those poor buggers. Does it make my enjoyment of 1982’s The Thing any greater or less? Nope. Does it add to what was set out in that film? Nope, not for me. Was it at least enjoyable? Yeah, I think so. Even though I admit in parts I was a little bit bored and just wanted them to get on with it.

The original The Thing is pretty fresh in my mind, considering I only saw it for the first time a month or so back. No CG will compare to the puppetry in that film. The CG was fine in the prequel but it felt like overkill. You’d see The Thing over and over again. The shock and disgust of what it was, was lost. At times, it even got a bit comedic. In the original, the sightings were fleeting. That made The Thing all the more terrifying!

There are endless hints back to the original. I was really happy that they used some of the original score music but still I didn’t think Marco Beltrami’s score had quite as much paranoia as Ennio Morricone’s in the original. I think the whole film lacked a bit of tension and paranoia as a whole.

The cast was good enough. Joel Edgerton’s character was clearly meant to be some kind of Kurt Russel-esque throwback. Mary Elizabeth Winstead was fine, but she’s no Sigourney Weaver as Ripley.

Enough bashing, it was a good enough horror/sci-fi film. It entertained and followed through to the beginning of the original The Thing. So you’ve got some sort of full story which does make sense. It doesn’t tread any new ground. But I guess, that wasn’t the purpose.
Rating: 3/5

Read on to see the entire list of movies seen this year so far:

94 Movies so far this Year

  1. The Horse Whisperer 3/5 (01/01/11)
  2. The Informant! 3/5 (09/01/11)
  3. The Fighter 4/5 (11/01/11)
  4. 127 Hours 5/5 (14/01/11)
  5. The Wolfman 3/5 (15/01/11)
  6. Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story 4/5 (16/01/11)
  7. The King’s Speech 5/5 (19/01/11)
  8. The Town 4/5 (20/01/11)
  9. Ninja Assassin 2/5 (24/01/11)
  10. He’s Just Not That Into You 1/5 (25/01/11)
  11. Imagine That 1/5 (27/01/11)
  12. Gentlemen Broncos 2/5 (04/02/11)
  13. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale 4/5 (06/02/11)
  14. Daybreakers 3/5 (12/02/11)
  15. The Book of Eli 2/5 (13/02/11)
  16. True Grit 4/5 (15/02/11)
  17. Red 1/5 (19/02/11)
  18. Invictus 3/5 (20/02/11)
  19. Coraline 2/5 (28/02/11)
  20. Juno 3/5 (02/03/11)
  21. Monsters vs. Aliens 1/5 (06/03/11)
  22. Jennifer’s Body 2/5 (06/03/11)
  23. Rango 4/5 (09/03/11)
  24. The Crazies 4/5 (11/03/11)
  25. Lakeview Terrace 1/5 (12/03/11)
  26. Battle: Los Angeles 3/5 (13/03/11)
  27. Submarine 4/5 (14/03/11)
  28. The Adjustment Bureau 2/5 (16/03/11)
  29. Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief 2/5 (18/03/11)
  30. The Happening 1/5 (19/03/11)
  31. Sucker Punch 2/5 (02/04/11)
  32. Carriers 1/5 (03/04/11)
  33. Source Code 4/5 (06/04/11)
  34. 3:10 to Yuma 3/5 (09/04/11)
  35. Walking Tall 1/5 (12/04/11)
  36. Your Highness 3/5 (13/04/11)
  37. El Mariachi 3/5 (14/03/11)
  38. From Paris With Love 3/5 (15/04/11)
  39. Scream 4 3/5 (16/04/11)
  40. Hot Tub Time Machine 2/5 (17/04/11)
  41. Attack the Block 4/5 (20/04/11)
  42. The International 2/5 (23/04/11)
  43. Thor 5/5 (25/04/11)
  44. Fast & Furious 5: Rio Heist 5/5 (28/04/11)
  45. A Beautiful Mind 4/5 (06/05/11)
  46. Extract 2/5 (05/05/11)
  47. Hanna 4/5 (06/05/11)
  48. Catfish 3/5 (07/05/11)
  49. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 2/5 (20/05/11)
  50. The Hangover Part II 3/5 (27/05/11)
  51. How to Train Your Dragon 4/5 (28/05/11)
  52. Zodiac 4/5 (28/05/11)
  53. Up in the Air 5/5 (30/05/11)
  54. X-Men: First Class 4/5 (01/06/11)
  55. Electra Luxx 3/5 (04/06/11)
  56. The Usual Suspects 5/5 (05/06/11)
  57. Senna 5/5 (10/06/11)
  58. The Human Centipede 1/5 (10/06/11)
  59. Green Lantern 2/5 (17/06/11)
  60. Paul 3/5 (18/06/11)
  61. Transformers: Dark of the Moon 4/5 (29/06/11)
  62. Predators 2/5 (30/07/11)
  63. Captain America: The First Avenger 3/5 (31/07/11)
  64. Super 8 5/5 (11/08/11)
  65. The Secret in Their Eyes 5/5 (13/08/11)
  66. [Rec] 2 3/5 (14/08/11)
  67. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 4/5 (16/08/11)
  68. Cowboys & Aliens 4/5 (18/08/11)
  69. Final Destination 5 4/5 (19/08/11)
  70. Micmacs 3/5 (21/08/11)
  71. Conan the Barbarian 3/5 (27/08/11)
  72. Legion 1/5 (27/08/11)
  73. Limitless 3/5 (29/08/11)
  74. Apollo 18 1/5 (02/09/11)
  75. The Warriors 4/5 (04/09/11)
  76. Ondine 3/5 (07/09/11)
  77. TrollHunter 5/5 (09/09/11)
  78. Burke & Hare 2/5 (16/09/11)
  79. Jackass 3 3/5 (16/09/11)
  80. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 5/5 (23/09/11)
  81. Drive 4/5 (28/09/11)
  82. Don’t be Afraid of the Dark 4/5 (12/10/11)
  83. Paranormal Activity 3 3/5 (21/10/11)
  84. I Am Number Four 3/5 (23/10/11)
  85. Contagion 3/5 (25/10/11)
  86. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn 4/5 (27/10/11)
  87. The Thing 4/5 (29/10/11)
  88. The Ides of March 5/5 (01/11/11)
  89. In Time 3/5 (02/11/11)
  90. The Rum Diary 2/5 (11/11/11)
  91. Easy A 4/5 (26/11/11)
  92. Winter’s Bone 3/5 (27/11/11)
  93. 50/50 5/5 (30/11/11)
  94. The Thing 3/5 (07/12/11)

7 Comments

  1. I liked the foreign object twist. I wondered how they would test to see who was human, and the search for fillings was sufficiently intense. The first transformation in the helicopter was pretty creepy, but I instantly slumped a little because it was clear the CGI was going to be a different experience from the original movie’s transformations. That’s obvious, I guess, but it made me appreciate how much work went into the original. Once the movie digressed into a 2 headed thing beast roaming the halls and searching supply rooms, it got a bit trite. You’re right, the fleeting glimpses of the creature in the original worked better. All in all, it was an ok movie.

      • Hehe, no worries. Am thinking anyone who ventures into this comment thread will at least have seen the film!

        The foreign object twist was good, though the scene with the fillings just filled me with laughter. They did pinpoint a massive flaw in the test – what if you didn’t have fillings. I don’t! I’m glad it was addressed, but thought the test scene in the original with the blood was much better – just had so much more suspense and tension.

  2. My best advice… is to not expect it to be as good as, or even close to, John Carpenter’s film. To do so would leave you disappointed. And you’d be a fool. Nice review Jaina.

    • Wise advice! Though I’ve not heard good things about one of John Carpenter’s more recent films – The Ward.

  3. Having seen the first one this year for the first time I really don’t feel the need of watching this version of it. The original is just perfect (the practical effects in that movie are amazing) and think watching this would not add anything (probably would only make me feel disappointed)

    • I think it’s one of those films you’d be ok with just watching on TV when it popped up there. It’s fine, just could be better.

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