I don't know what you're talking about, never have I once seen a poster on another message board that is not this board praising this horrible film. In fact, I've seen much more people say its one of the worst remakes/reboots that have come out, myself included. The rating of 6.2 is unbelievably high, this film doesn't deserve higher than a 3.5, I'll explain. I don't know if you have seen or are a fan of John Carpenter's masterpiece, I think it's the best horror film of all time. I was quite excited when I heard a prequel was coming out even though I would have much preferred a sequel starring Kurt Russell, Keith David, and Carpenter directing which was in talks but Universal denied the idea. Anyway, I seen the reboot in the theaters, I think it was opening weekend, maybe a bit after and I absolutely hated it, everybody else didn't respond and they were a couple of walk outs during the film.
Anyway, for the criticism. The only thing this terrible film has going for it is the look of the film, you can tell it had a budget (production sets, cinematography), everything else is bad. The acting and characters are so bland and one dimensional, cardboard cutouts could have matched their performances and Edgerton is a great actor, just had nothing to do. The effects, oh boy, the effects are Sci-Fi Channel quality level, no joke. There is 0% suspense in the whole film because apparently this isn't The Thing from the 82 version but its brain damaged brother, it runs around in full form and blows its cover so often, it takes out any suspense. I honestly felt I was watching a Sci-Fi Channel flick, not a good sign when your film is in the theaters. I love the test scene in the 82 version (blood test was the best idea), that scene was so suspenseful and still works wonders today. In this version, you can tell someone is The Thing if they don't have fillings in their teeth, haha, I would be dead so would be a couple of people I know, pathetic. I also always wondered how the two-faced abomination came to be in the original, well, apparently The Thing rubbed his face with another guy, oh great, it would have been better if they made out. I hate the ending also, instead of a great suspenseful thought provoking ending of the 82 film, we get, our lead possibly killing another person because they think their earring was on the other side, she could have been wrong, yeah, she was really likeable.
It's cool if you like the film, there are fans, however, there are a lot of people who hate the film such as myself. As for horror remakes, give me The Last House on the Left, The Crazies, The Hills Have Eyes, and even House of Wax over this garbage anyday, The Thing reboot deserves to be in the category of The Fog, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and TCM: The Beginning for worst remakes/reboots.
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robka
9 years ago
I wont disgree. I didn't like any of the remakes you mentioned at the bottom, and i haven't seen The Thing 2011 since it was new.
I was always a big John Carpenter fan, and i have most of his movies on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.
I'm almost proud to own the original "The Thing" on HD-DVD, as not many copies were ever made. :)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CVW5MTMVL.jpg
Anyway.. The main reason Carpenter stopped making movies, is because the movie industry turned to *beep*
If he can't have full control on a movie, it will suck and also lose the "carpenter" style.
Ghosts of Mars is a prime example where a studio ruined the movie for him.
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kcott44
9 years ago
My fault, I thought you seen the film, anyway, certainly not recommended as you can tell. I am a huge Carpenter fan as well and the studios love to screw him over, he doesn't even make films anymore and they still screw him (by remaking his films) which is a shame because he is a legend. HD-DVD, I only started collecting films about 5 years ago, long after the format died but it seems like a cool relic (like VHS). About Ghosts of Mars, I didn't think it was a good film but I did feel like it had that Carpenter style unlike The Ward which is the only film that didn't have that style, none of his music, etc. Sadly, I think that is probably going to be his last film.
Anyway, cheers and I hope I didn't come off like an a-hole on my last post, none of it was directed towards you or the films fans, I just really hate the film, it's in my most hated list.
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robka
9 years ago
No problem. If everyone liked the same movies, IMDB ratings wouldn't exist. ;)
I have seen The Thing 2011, but not since it was new.
I bought Ghosts of Mars on Blu-Ray years ago, but forgot to re-watch it. When you mention it, it had Carpenter style and it had Carpenter music. I forgot that. I own it because o collect Carpenter movies on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. Its still the movie that basically made him retire.
One great thing about his style, is how natural his movies is. They Live is probably the most natural of them all even as a sci-fi movie. I have seen that one a few times.
I recently re-watched his Assault on Precinct 13 on Blu-Ray. Great movie.
I also think The Ward was his last movie.
Carpenter still have a huge fanbase, and i'm glad he managed to make alot of movies over the years. His last cool movie was Vampires i think.
Anyway.. HD-DVD was ahead of Blu-Ray on sound and picture quality, and yet it failed thanks to Warner Bros and Microsoft.
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BrotherZed
9 years ago
This was not a good movie. It was watchable, it wasn't the kind of movie you turn off after 15 minutes but it was not good and a most pale imitation of the Carpenter original.
In the original, the Thing was fairly smart and always seemed to be a step ahead of the crew. Here it was dumber than sin. Among many examples, the worst is the end. The Thing had won. It had won, it was alone with the last survivor in a crawler and the only weapon that could hurt it was in the trunk. It could simply attack the girl and win. Instead it waited for her to figure it out, go get that flamethrower and out of trunk and kill it.
Truth be told, all it had to do, even in the original, was get near water and it would have won. Had it gotten into a penguin colony, from there it would have made it's way into a whale and then it could have taken over the entire ocean ecosystem. Once it got a strong foothold in the water, moving ashore and dealing with humans would have been easy.
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ronniehaenson_tynset
8 years ago
I like it as well. Most because of the female in the film and Langhelle. I think it is a okey sic fi movie. Not really good but not really bad as well. I read they are planning on releasing it again but just with practical effects like they used in the old the Thing. Apparently they shot most of the film with practical effects but the studio didn't like it and went full CGI. Hope its true and hope they deliver it like they said :)
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robka
8 years ago
I re-watched it again weeks 1-2 after my post here, and don't think it was that bad.
For some reason i wonder if a few here even watched Thing 2011 at all after 15 mins when they claim its a remake.
Its a prequel, and not a remake.
The first 90 minutes in The Thing 2011 doesen't exist in the original The Thing at all.
It was what happened before start of Thing 1982. The end of Thing 2011 is the first scene of Thing 1982.
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metallipowerman5000
8 years ago
Exactly, these idiot fanboys are clueless and laughable...if you can't even recognize that it's a prequel...well you lose any credibility right there.(not like you had any to begin with.) But it's NOT a bad movie in itself...could have been WAAAYY worse. I've seen WAY worse re-imaginings, remakes and prequels before, without a doubt. I agree....people are living in a nostalgic memory...period. It's the same thing with the Point Break remake...everyone is talking about the original like it was a frigging "piece of art"....the original was dated, goofy, had a budget soundtrack, and half of the acting was LAUGHABLE! Go ahead, re-watch it, the first half of the movie is straight up dated and weird....FAR from a piece of art.
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robka
8 years ago
Yeah. When people can't see a difference between a pequel and a remake, they are too much fanboy.
I agree that Thing 2011 is among the better prequels. Its cool that half of the cast is Norwegian, and also speaks native Norwegian now and then.
In 1982 version there is also Norwegian, but only for 1 minute at most as there is no Norwegians left after escape.
That alone should ring a bell.
I haven't seen Point Break remake yet, but looks like i need to.
The original was never a classic or a cult classic. It was just a hit movie in early 1990's.
It haven't been mentioned or referenced much the last 2 decades.
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spydervein
8 years ago
The characters were realistic... They seemed like real, regular people. You're too used to Hollywood glamour.
Also, regarding the earring, how was it not 100% clear to you that the guy was a replicated person? If the earring, and Carter's failure to explain the lack of an earring, weren't enough of a giveaway, how did you not notice the inhuman screeching after Carter was torched?
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