The Thing HD DVD [HD DVD] [1982]

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Customer reviews

review by: AA date: 2008-01-22 rating:
'82 was a good year in cinema.
Good HD transfer of a classic paranoid nightmare. This film failed when it was released in 1982 seeing as it was the year of ET. The alien in this is not quite so cute and cuddly. Over the years it has built up a cult following. This is not IMO Carpenter's best - I'd give Assault on Precinct 13 that accolade but it comes darn close. It has an interesting take on the "alien" type genre and shows more than a nod to the paranoia of Mcarthyism/the cold war. It even has parallels in the paranoia we see today. The Antarctic provides an interesting and very claustrophobic setting. These people are alone and the tension is palpable.
The special effects stand up even today, and the music by Ennio Morricone is excellent. Plus it has one of the greatest ending's ever.
The new HD-DVD transfer looks pretty good to my eyes. So why not 5 stars? - well it's not quite in the same league as others of the genre such as Alien.

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review by: date: 2008-01-09 rating:
A film that stands the Test of High Definition
Not being a "fan", in the truest sense, of John Carpenter, I would state that "The Thing" is probably his best work. As a Horror film this is an all time classic, and when it came to HD DVD I had a fear that the film would not hold the test of Hi Def and look poor, however far from it!! John Carpenters The Thing looks amazing!!
The most impressive shots in the film are in the begining where you really get a sense of isolation with the backdrop of Antarctica and the visuals just look brilliant. Once we as the viewer reach the confines of the camp and the claustraphobia of the base, the visuals and the effects stand the test of time (and HD) so well this film could have been made yesterday.
If you are a fan of John Carpenter, then this is a Gem to add to your Hi Def collection, if you are not, then this is an excellent film that truly shows you what you have been missing with VHS and DVD til now.
Although this is not a film that will meet most folks tastes, it is still a great movie that just looks and sounds great and is only enhanced by its transition to the HD format.
Well worth a watch.

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review by: date: 2007-06-18 rating:
The best
John Carpenter's The Thing is as good as they come, and for my money, the best horror film of all time. Kurt Russell leads a great cast of character actors pitted against an alien which can take over any of them, copying them exactly, so no one knows who's who. The result is a terrifying tale of paranoia & fear. The astounding and graphic special effects by Rob Bottin have yet to be matched 25 years later, and the blood-testing sequence is as suspenseful & jolting as any scene ever committed to film. The Thing is an all-time classic & should be in any horror fan's library for sure.


review by: xyzzy date: 2007-06-17 rating:
Story lost in excess gore
Yep we are confronted by a dog-splitting being from the great beyond. Being isolated 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.

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Horror
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . HD DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 18
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1980 - 1989
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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