The Thing Prequel Trailer
Coming this October, the prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing...
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/50381
Along with Ridley Scott's upcoming Alien / Space Jockey film, this is the prequel I've always wanted to see. I guess it's like waiting for a bus; you wait for ages and then two come along at once. Although if I were a betting man then I'd put my money on Prometheus in terms of which of the two movies is least likely to disappoint. Still, role on October I say...
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/50381
Along with Ridley Scott's upcoming Alien / Space Jockey film, this is the prequel I've always wanted to see. I guess it's like waiting for a bus; you wait for ages and then two come along at once. Although if I were a betting man then I'd put my money on Prometheus in terms of which of the two movies is least likely to disappoint. Still, role on October I say...
Sign in to comment in this discussion.
Comments
+1 to Fawful for knowing his shit. I've read the script for the prequel and it does indeed take further elements from the original source material (Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell), more so than The Thing From Another World or Carpenter's film did. It may also interest the naysayers that the director has gone to great lengths to ensure that the details of continuity match with Carpenter's remake...
For example, watch this clip of the Norwegian chap from Carpenter's film...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXHAwz-dcrs
And now see the casting and wardrobe choice for the same character in the prequel....
Pretty neat, huh?
The prequel is peppered with such attention to detail throughout. Also, the director is using an anamorphic camera, just as Carpenter did... that's awesome because hardly anyone shoots in anamorphic anymore. Also, the cinematography looks spot on to the '82 film and apparently their using mainly practical (as opposed to CGI) effects. Oh, and it's rated R.
Of course, it could still suck due to studio interference but at least the crew's hearts' are in the right place. So give it a freakin' chance people!
Yeah, that's why everybody's calling it a remake (that, and the fact they've called it "The Thing"), because that's the book "John Carpenter's The Thing" adapts.
(Why don't they call the prequel "The Thing Emerges" or summat? That way it'd look more prequely. I also liked John Carpenter's idea for the sequel, in which the fact that the two actors are so many years older is explained as the effect of frostbite)
They couldn't think of a subtitle that didn't sound shit and can you blame them; "The Thing Emerges", seriously?! It's intended as a companion piece to Carpenter's film, so that they both can essentially act as one long, epic movie. Besides why should the title dictate the quality of the film and it's position as a prequel?! They could call it "That Thing You Do" and if it's an awesome prequel; then it's an awesome prequel.
Also, I've read the script and I can assure you that this is a prequel and not a remake.
Animatronics just seem much more real to me.
Yeah, that's probably because they're not virtual.
Urhhh, tell me about it! Mind you, I never thought that I'd actually get to see a prequel to The Thing or a tale about the Space Jockeys directed by Ridley Scott; so don't give up all hope just yet.
OK....
1) "The Thing Emerges" was only a suggestion. The point I was trying to make is that an independent title could be thought of.
2) Just because the story takes place before or after the original film, doesn't mean that it isn't effectively a remake. "Escape from LA" is widely-derided as an effective remake of the film it sequelises, "Escape from New York". The sequel to "The Island at the Top of the World" was never filmed, but would have been a second adaptation of the original book.
3) I didn't say that the film was gonna be bad!
Nah, it'd have to be "That You The Thing Does"!
"The Thingy-Ma-Bob-See-From-Whatsy, Who Once Assimilated My Second Removed Cosin; Keith From Another World, Just Past Uranus, Second Wormhole From Your Left (or is that my right). If You Can't Find It Then Just Ask For George-The-Oversized-Tumor-Featuring-The-Co-Assembled-Ringo-With-Special-Guest-Linda-McCartney, Tell 'Em Thing #3714 (aka. Felicity) Sent You.
Look Out For McReady Because He's Gonna Say 'Fuck You' and Kill Us Thing-a-Majigs' From Another World In The Sequel. Also, I Really Don't Know If This Is The Correct Venue For This Request But... Please Could I Order An Extra Large Chicken Madras (and don't skimp on the chillies); I Assimilated A Hippie Earlier And Now I've Got The Munchies.
P.S. Who Goes There? At This Ungodly Hour In The Morn?! Honestly!
P.P.S. Hi Mom."
I started pissing myself when I got to the part where you said McReady.
Hmm... because it should have been MacReady? Rest assured Sir. Fawful; I'm hanging my supposed geek face in shame.
I'm on a tangent here but the other THING (huh, geddit? No? And what exactly do you mean by * collective grown*?!) that I like about such a lengthy title is that there'll be no more room for any further movie titles on the billboard at the cinema. Which means quids in for the brass at Universal Pictures...
... why am I not employed in the marketing sector again?!
Forgive my ignorance as I have not read the source material, but wasn't the first team supposed to be Finnish or something?
In the movie they were Norwegian I think.
In the original short story, there was no previous team. The American researchers find the crashed shapeship and accidentally revive the creature within directly. This is one reason why the prequel is closer to the source material, as the Norwegians discover the craft and the frozen creature.
On the subject of the Norwegians, the prequel has a group of American scientists fly in and join with the Norwegian team in Alaska. Apparently the film uses the language barrier to create tention, as the Americans (and we as the audience) can't understand what the Norwegians are saying to each other during heated moments of paranoia.
Yeah... it's not like John Carpenter's did exactly the same thing or anything! :rolleyes:
This is what the Norwegian chasing the dog with a rifle says to the Americans at Outpost 31 in Carpenter's classic...
"Se til helvete og kom dere vekk. Det er ikke en bikkje, det er en slags ting! Det imiterer en bikkje, det er ikke virkelig! Kom dere vekk, idioter!"
"Get the hell outta there. That's not a dog, it's some sort of thing! It's imitating a dog, it isn't real! Get away, you idiots!"
That would be pretty cool to see.
Oh man, it's at times like this that I wish I lived in America. If it's even half as brilliant and terrifying as Alien Wars was in London's Piccadilly Circus then it'll be fantastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqnYZ1mM77U
... I must say that I think it's looking rather good, despite a little too much CGI for my tastes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cPsuSuQTg&feature=feedu
Interestingly, that was literally Carpenter's intent in regards to a Thing sequel; Kurt Russell's difference in age from the '82 movie through to current times was to be explained via frostbite damage, incurred through MacReady's prolonged exposure to the frosty elements at the end of the original film.
(I recommend playing the clip fullscreen)
... I love the heightened sense of paranoia that you get due to the language barrier between those who speak English and the Norwegians. This aspect alone means that we will be seeing something that's much more than a simple rehash of Carpenter's classic. It adds a new dimension.
I'm thrilled for this film now but saddened that they've delayed it's UK release by a couple of months. Those of you living in America will be able to see the prequel from October 14th. Consider me jealous.
I may well have gone through unofficial channels to view the prequel but I shall be watching it in the cinema upon its official UK release. At least now I can rest assured that my money shall be well spent.
There's no need to apologise. In fact, since I wrote my initial review I've watched the movie a couple more times and more importantly, I've come to learn some really depressing behind the scenes information! I now agree with your rating of 6/10.
Basically, the test screenings for the prequel wielded some moronic viewpoints from the audience; resulting in Universal completely fucking up the movie. Not only did they edit out about 20 minutes of character development and the dead alien pilot onboard the craft (which was replaced with that awful scratched-DVD-artifact-looking "special" effect) but also they replaced almost all of the awesome practical effects done by ADI (save for the autopsy scene, which surprise-surprise is easily the best effect in the final movie)...
... Unfortunately it appears that this is Alien3 all over again; a great film, butchered by the studio. Even more unfortunate is that we're extremely unlikely to receive a restored print (ala Alien3: The Assembly Cut) due to The Thing bombing at the box-office. Also, Universal claims to have lost the original, unaltered footage (as unlikely as that may be, it still feels like rubbing salt into the wound)!
Thanks matey. I've been very busy sulking for the last couple of months... then I took an arrow to the knee, which snapped me back to normality!
How do you mean, Sir? Are you viewing the prequel, followed by the the original? If so; at least the taste of repulsive, lumpy shit shall be followed by a desert of pure, heavenly and creamy perfection.
Swings and roundabouts.
A movie executive at Universal Studios takes look at some scripts and a rough edit of 'The Thing' prequel.
WARNING: This video is not suitable for the workplace or for people under the age of 18.