Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: Blu-ray
Brand: Universal
EAN: 0025195046107
Format: AC-3
Label: Universal Studios
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
MPN: MCABR61105474
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Universal Studios
Release Date: 2008-09-30
Running Time: 60
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: 1982

Horror-meister John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York) teams Kurt Russell's outstanding performance with incredible visuals to build this chilling version of the classic The Thing. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking Makeup Effects
Comment: This film was a turning point in monster movie effects that still influences horror/fantasy imagery to this day in films, art, and comics.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Carpenter's classic looks extremely good on Blu-ray but not all the extras were ported over
Comment: John Carpenter's "The Thing" is an atmospheric, claustrophobic thriller that manages to be both a tribute to the original film by Howard Hawks and Christian Nyby as well as a scary often surprising thriller on its own. Universal has ported over most of the extras from the original DVD for this set (although it is missing the deleted scenes as well as some of the visual effects outtakes)the only problem that exists with the presentation is that the extras are available to be viewed ONLY via U Control and, as a result, those with 1.0 Blu-ray players WILL NOT be able to access the pip extras. Those who have Playstation 3's or 1.1 players will be able to access these special features.

"The Thing" looks extremely good in its Blu-ray debut with a sharper, clearer picture. Audio sounds extremely good as well.

For those who haven't seen the film the title creature infiltrates a remote science station in the Arctic. Cut off from the rest of the world when a blizzard hits, the crew of the science station discovers that the creature acts almost like a virus killing the original person and becoming a perfect replica of that person down to memories.

Featuring strong performances from Kurt Russell, Keith David, Richard Dysart, Wilford Brimley and Donald Moffat "The Thing" is much more graphic than the film that Hawks made in the 50's but just as powerful and scary.

My only complaint with the Blu-ray is that Universal didn't port over ALL the extras on the original DVD so fans will probably want to keep their DVDs as well. The U Control feature allows you to watch the original documentary in chunks related to sequences throughout the film. That's good but I do wish that Universal had designed this to shift all the music, effects and dialog into one set of surround speakers while the dialog and music from the documentary would come from the other with both given equal prominence.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: The Thing on Blu Ray
Comment: The Thing on Blu Ray looks amazingly great. I think it is very cool that they can publish these older movies on Blu Ray, and they are wonderful!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Creepy
Comment: There is just something mesmerizing about this whole movie starting with Mac playing chess with the computer right up to the last note of the musical score. John Carpenter created something back when this film was first at the theaters that no one really appreciated until years had gone by. That seems to be the case with quite a few "little" classics. While some films win Academy Awards and are in the public's mind for a year or two, films like the Thing find a spot in our heads and just hang in there forever.

Now, with this classic coming out on Blu-Ray with perfect picture and sound, it is time for us all to turn off the lights, flip on the HDTV, crank up the surround sound, and just get good old-fashioned scared! I love this film.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Story lost in excess gore
Comment: We are confronted by a dog-splitting being from the great beyond comes to earth for nefarious purposes. Being isolated in the great arctic wasteland, we must evaluate, track, and kill this most obviously menacing "Thing". But what, who, and where is it?

In an attempt at graphic surprises we have sacrificed character and mood of the book "Who Goes There" by John W. Campbell Jr.", and the original movie "The Thing From Another World." Ah you say what if you do not compare? Still it is a sticky blob story that has no personality of its own.

If you are looking for Adrienne Barbeau you will not see her because she is just the voice, great voice, of the computer (uncredited).

This movie is fun to watch and say "don't look there" but it is far from extraordinary.


The Thing from Another World ~ James Arness

Sci-Fi 3-Pack (The Thing from Another World / Them / Forbidden Planet)

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