Movie Review: 'The Thing' doesn't live up to past version
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 7:20am
The movie "The Thing," currently playing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is labeled by its creators as "prequel" to the 1982 film that is rated as a classic sci-fi horror film. Too bad this prequel doesn't have the hard-edged script and at least some science to back up some of the more dubious scenes. (Two other versions of the same story have been made and forgotten.)
It's supposed to take place three days before the 1982 as a Norwegean scientific crew has discovered the alien spacecraft under Antarctic ice. The finders are looking for a paleontologist and ask Dr. Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an America, to join their efforts to examine the apparently dead alienate. She does and helicopters to the crash site and the lab built there.
They extract the alien in a block of ice and bring it back to the scientific station. The ice melts and the thing (make that Thing) breaks loose and begins eating and assimilating crew members into it ugly body.
Problem is Kate discovers that the Thing can inhabit a human body and only blood tests and trick she thinks up can tell who's the and who's the Thing.
The film ends with Kate and her savior helicopter pilot Sam Carter (Joel Edgerton) awaiting the crew from the 1982 film to arrive after in theory doing away with the alien.
This is a pretty sloppy film with lots of "How did that happen?" moments. Somehow this scientific station has plenty of handy flame throwers handy plus a box of hand grenades. Also, some characters have frosty exhales of white and others don't. It's moments like those that mar the film.
The cast is mostly Norse with a couple of Americans mixed in. When they speak in Norwegean handy subtitles explain all.
Lots of pretty vistas of snow and the action moves along nicely under the direction of Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
A lot of deadfall dialogue from two writers.
Winstead carries the film as the lead and does a fine job except when she bugs her eyes at something and awkwardly uses the flame throwers, but what's a girl to do?
Not a top-drawer film but there's plenty of action. Just not well thought out.
--- Sam Bauman
Cast
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Dr. Kate Lloyd, an American paleonthologist graduate from Columbia University:[6] In order to not try to compete with Kurt Russell's portrayal of the 1982 film's protagonist, R.J. MacReady, the character of Kate Lloyd was designed to have traits in common with the character Ellen Ripley from the Alien film series.
• Joel Edgerton as Sam Carter:[9] An American helicopter pilot and Vietnam War veteran running a supply operation to the bases. He and his two co-pilots are left in the dark as to why they are there and what is the mysterious thing the scientists have found.[7][8]
• Ulrich Thomsen as Dr. Sander Halversen, the Norwegian "Thule" station medical officer and leader of the alien research team. He orders the team to obtain a sample of the recently discovered alien creature despite Kate's warnings.[10][8]
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Derek Jameson, an American helicopter co-pilot and also a Vietnam veteran who is Carter's best friend.[11][8]
• Kim Bubbs as Juliette, a French geologist member of the alien research team who also serves as translator between the Norwegians and the rest of the staff.[8]
• Eric Christian Olsen as Adam Goodman, an American scientist working as Dr. Sander's research assistant who invites Kate to the Norwegian base.[12][8]
• Jørgen Langhelle as Lars, an ex-military who works as the dog keeper of the Norwegian base.
• Jonathan Lloyd Walker as Colin, an eccentric English member of the research team.
• Trond Espen Seim[15] as Edvard Wolner, a notable Norwegian geologist who is the station commander.
• Stig Henrik Hoff[16] as Peder, a Norwegian rifle-toting camp member who is Edvard's right hand man.
• Carsten Bjørnlund as Karl, the radio operator of the Norwegian base.
• Jan Gunnar Røise as Olav, a Norwegian Snowcat vehicle driver and guide.
• Paul Braunstein as Griggs, a co-pilot member of the American helicopter transport team.
• Kristofer Hivju as Jonas, a nervous Norwegian researcher.
• Jo Adrian Haavind as Henrik, another Norwegian base member who assists the alien research team.
• Ole Martin Aune Nilsen as Matias, the helicopter pilot of the Norwegian station.
Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Produced by Marc Abraham, Eric Newman
Screenplay by Eric Heisserer, Ronald D. Moore
Based on Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell
Music by Marco Beltrami
Cinematography Michel Abramowicz
Editing by Jono Griffith, Julian Clarke
Running time 102 minutes, rated R for the gory monster scenes.
