Rating: 
Summary: The movie that made me a horror fanatic
Review: I know that most people consider this one Sci-fi with horror and I agree. This movie reminds me of Alien a lot but I saw it first and when I saw Alien I said "This reminds me of the Thing" MacReady was a guy who would help others if it didn't hurt his well-being. He shot Clark but Clark wasn't obeying orders and he could have been a thing. I thought when MacReady was doing his blood test he shouldn't have tied everyone together because Palmer died becasue of that. Also he shouldn't have locked up Blair in the outhouse because he could've escaped and killed them eariler than he did. Everybody thought MacReady was a thing and it was amazing that they didn't kill him. I went on and on about this movie for weeks after i'd seen it but it was so good. This is a movie people who aren't in to horror should see because it will get you into horror. John Carpenter did a good job on this one but after all he did make Halloween.
Rating:
Summary: What are you?
Review: That's the number one question left unanswered in John Carpenters masterpiece of horror, and gross outs in The Thing. As a remake of the cult classic, I thought this might be another one of those cheesy remakes no one ever cares about in the end. But I found it amazing for such great effects in the low-bugdet movie times. Rare good acting by underrated stars who have changed in the years since this film.A group of researches in the Artic have their plans put on hold when a strange Norwegian helicopter is spotted chasing a seemingly defensless snow dog. As I said, seemingly defensless. After shooting down the helicopter, and putting the dog in with the rest, it is obvious something happened to this dog that was wrong, very wrong. A research station not far from theirs is discovered where something was unmelted in a large ice coffin. Whatever it was, it was big, and it's now on the loose somewhere in the Artic. Meanwhile, the dog they found is attacking the other dogs in way that cannot be discribed. In the terror of it, The Thing will illimenate each scientist one by one. With highly underrated actors like Wilford Brimley, Kirt Russell, and Richard Masur, this makes another likeable, yet gruesome movie to watch when your alone. You never really know if something like the Thing is out there somewhere in space. Maybe John Carpenter gets his idea's from reality. You never know. Automatic 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST
Review: I have only seen this movie about 100 times. It is the best in Sci-Fi horror! I mean it has Kurt Russel who plays awesomley in this and the graphics (although made in the 80's) are quite good! I love this movie. It's set in an American Antarctic Research station and these Norwegens set something loose on the continent. Suspense,action,and sci-fi greatness all mixed into one! BUY IT NOW!!!!
Rating:
Summary: great gory scare
Review: Great horror scare. The DVD is one of the best I own. The deleted scences are great, the commentary is interesting and funny to listen to. It is great to hear Russell and Carpenter play of each other. The best part is the documentary. Advise to buy if Carpenter or Russell fan. Excellent DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but not quite sure why...
Review: Many people have complained that this movie is too gory. Well, that statement, in itself, could be interpreted as true. I mean, it DOES have lots of gore. But the truth of the matter is the gore is so loud, so garish, and so utterly unrealistic that I find it very hard to find disturbing. I am personally more disturbed by quieter, subtler "blood loss," as when they carve their thumbs to get blood for the blood test, or slasher movies. Sorry, but I am just too bothered by the whole stab thing. I haven't read all the reviews, but I don't remember anyone calling this movie scary. That's because its not. It's pure entertainment. The acting isn't superb, but it's good enough that it's not a distraction. The script isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Matrix: Reloaded or Revolutions had far worse scripts than this. And there are people saying that the sense of paranoia is gone, drowned in the special effects showcase and freakshows, but it's not because the director removed that element, it's because a vast majority of audiences are too worked up in the gore that they don't notice anything else. If you can overlook the gore, then yes, the sense of fear and paranoia is still there. Granted, it's not as complete as it should be. The sense of paranoia I mean. This is not a perfect movie by any means. It had the potential to be one, but yes, ruined that potential.
Then why did I give it five stars? Because it is still unutterably entertaining. This is sci-fi/ horror/ action. It's not a thriller. Is it a special effects showcase? Arguably. But but but... none of the effects feel like they were added just for the sake of effects, as in Matrix: Reloaded, or various other movies. All of the effects were things that could and probably would have happened in the event that this type of event with this type of creature could have occurred. And effects showcase it might be, you cannot write it off, saying that the effects are its only element. Kurt Russell is charismatic, the mere biological aspect of the whole thing is thought-provoking (is each cell functioning on its own, or is "The Thing" a single entity, controlling each cell as a single limb?), the setting alone provides it's own sense of entertainment, a la the Nostromo from Alien, or the jungles of South America (I think) from Predator. If they were to make a remake of this movie, with more tension, less special effects, more paranoia, a better script, and less of the creature on camera, would I go see it? Absolutely. Would I enjoy it? Absolutely. But the truth of the matter is, it would be a completely different movie, and even if it were based on the same text, a remake that fits those criteria could never replace John Carpenter's The Thing, but would instead sit side-by-side with it on my movie shelf. This isn't Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This isn't Friday the 13th. This isn't Alien. This certainly isn't for everyone. This is, love it or hate it, a movie unlike anything that you've ever seen. Given a choice between a sequel and a remake (assuming they were both going to be very well made)... I would have to get back to you on that.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth Thingking about
Review: A superior horror film it has globs of stomach churning(yet also fascinating)gore. But, the real power derives from the psychological fright of not knowing who has become the thing.
First-rate as sci-fi, horror, and mystery thriller, the suspense mounts to an eerie climax.
Rating:
Summary: Hugely Enjoyable Sci-Fi Horror
Review: This is almost the only Carpenter movie to have much evidence of having a significant budget with seriously fancy special effects and well-known faces not only in the lead - Kurt Russell - but even, most notably with Donald Moffat, in supporting roles. Carpenter even splashes out on someone else to write the score instead of his usual DIY jobs - landing Ennio Morricone no less, though he seems to have instructed him to produce a score as Carpenteresque as possible. It's one of the best of the many films in the paranoid "Bodysnatcher" mould where we are threatened by an alien life form that imitates those it kills leaving the survivors at a loss who to trust. It benefits from the splendidly claustrophobic setting of an Antarctic base just as winter is setting in. It's really nicely paced, from the early scenes where a couple of Norwegians turn up in a helicopter, apparently crazy and shooting at the rather cute dog they are pursuing with such frantic imprecision that the base's chief (Moffat) opens fire himself to protect his men. That leaves them with no surviving Norwegian to explain himself so off go a couple of folk to check out the Norwegian base. No survivors there either, just some odd looking burnt up people. Or are they people? Then, by the time these guys wise up to what they're up against, they can be almost sure that some of their number are not what they seem. Real suspense is established and builds nicely as the audience shares the paranoid uncertainty. There's a particularly nicely done scene towards the end where they try out a blood test for being alien status that will have most people firmly on the edge of their seats. Vintage Carpenter close to his (sadly now long absent) top form.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent horror
Review: This film when released was way ahead of it's time. The effects are truely gorry and shocking, but a piece of art at the same time. The story is believable as well. If you haven't seen this film before I can only recommend that you do. Highlights would have to be the Thing bursting out of a guys stomach and the blair monster at the end. This DVD also contain the making of the movie which is fasinating.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best movies
Review: the thing is one of the best made movies with the an excellent plot. there was enough character development and mystery that will make any viewer paranoid. this chemistry mixed in with the horror and gore is unbelievable. the acting is superb. it's a must buy for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Cult "Thing"
Review: An alien theme plays as a helicopter flies across the South Pole landscape. Below it is a wolf dog, running through the snow. Apparently, the helicopter is chasing the dog. The pilot emerges with a gun and begins firing at the creature as it runs towards a base of American scientists. Soon, this doesn't sound as strange as it seems. Kurt Russell stars as the American scientist who learns the secret of the creature: it's over 100,000 years old, frozen beneath the ice, and pissed off. We also learn that if it reaches civilization, within 27,000 hours the entire planet would be taken over by this creature - an alien lifeform that can imitate whatever it kills. Dogs, spiders, grandma - this thing can do it. It's up to old 'Russ to save the day and destroy everything in sight in a blind rage. When first released in 1982, "The Thing" met with mixed critical reaction - most of it bad. It was either "not scary" or "relies on special effects", but rarely would you find a positive review. Now, in the new millenium, the film is finally getting the recognition it deserves. "The Thing" has quite deservedly joined the ranks of the most famous horror films of all-time. It is even arguably more popular than it's basis, the 1951 sci-fi classic "The Thing from Another World". First we'll cover the more commonly debated aspects of the film. One is the acting. I felt the acting was excellent, especially Russell as the determined chosen leader of the team. Donald Moffat is the only other actor in the crew that is somewhat popular, but that has no affect whatsoever on the cast. The on-screen title of the film is "John Carpenter's The Thing", and Carpenter is probably the movie's second-most-important aspect. His direction is eerie and suspenseful - this movie helped elevate him to his current position as a thriller genius. If you truly look at this film, you can tell Carpenter wasn't trying to make it scary - he wanted to make it suspenseful, although there are a few jumpy moments in this film. There's also a fitting and chilling score by Ennio Morricone. It definitely doesn't rank amongst the master composer's greatest scores, but it works well on the mood of the film. The most important, and no doubt the greatest, aspect of the film is Rob Bottin's special effects. They are extraodinary. Every scene involving the alien parasite is completely convincing. Whether it's a gruesome alien bursting from a dog's body, or a severed head sprouting spider-like legs and walking around the room, the effects are outstanding. Bottin proves himself to be a make-up genius. It's no wonder "The Thing" is a classic. Its documentary-like feel and creepy atmosphere are perfect. Carpenter has succeeded in making a thrilling wonder that may even surpass it's aforementioned story source. No horror, sci-fi or thriller fan should go without at least taking a look at this chiller masterpiece.
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