The Thing(2011)

Directed by: Matthijs van Heijningen jr
 Written by : Eric Heisserer (Based on the novella Who Goes
There? by John W.
Campbell.)

Cast
Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich
Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje,   Eric Christian Olsen 
 



Brief Synopsis
Palaeontologist Kate Lloyd is invited by Dr. Sandor Halvorson to join his
team who have found something extraordinary.
      Deep below the Arctic ice, they have found an alien spacecraft that has
been there for perhaps 100,000 years.      
      Not far from where the craft landed, they find the remains of the
occupant. It is cut out of the ice and taken back to their camp, but as the ice
melts the creature reanimates and not only begins to attack them but manages to infect them. With the team members devolving into the alien creature they are slowly eliminated one by one, until only Kate and one other remain….
 
I know this review is probably a bit late now, but I have only recently
watched the film so decided to post my thoughts anyway.     

I think it is fair to say that this ‘Prelude’ to John Carpenters classic was never going to come close to capturing the same atmosphere and character of the original.
     With that in mind it is easier to review the film based on it being a separate entity.
     I have to say that I actually rather enjoyed the film. This may surprise a
few readers based on the bad reception the film received when released, which I have to say I find a little unfair.
    Granted the film lacked in the claustrophobia department and the paranoia
seemed a little thin (all comparisons made with the 1982 version), but I have to lay blame at the script for this and the direction not on the actors. I felt the
actors did as much as they could with what I can only judge as mediocre
direction and a very limited script.
    The film seemed to want to push the alien at you rather than keep it from
you, a bad choice as the fear of the unknown is far greater.
    Towards the end I found myself shouting at the screen asking ‘Where is the dog?’ and ‘There should be more Norwegians!’ A problem again I lay at the feet of the director and screenplay; the whole plot became a little confusing. Maybe my fault as I was constantly trying to attach Carpenters film to this one, and if I had been patient it finally was with the closing credits.
    The ending with the whole battle on the alien craft I did find a little farcical and really quite pointless. A better death scene for the ’conjoined’
alien, which we then see in the Carpenter version, would have made a better
conclusion but again that would just be my opinion.
     The special effects of the Alien appeared mediocre and the Alien itself
rather lame and at times modelled on a rather large crab.
    All this into account the film was ok. I cannot say that I was ever bored
despite the somewhat obvious plot.    
    To say that the film is a ‘Carbon Copy’ of the 1982 version is an insult
to Carpenter and a term I will not use here, but that said it does appear to
have tried to replicate many aspects. 
     In defence of the film, trying to incorporate a new plot where you are
trapped with a Viral, Parasitic alien in an area made up of roughly 5,300,000 sq mi  of ice cannot be easy when trying to not stray to far from the original and keeping in mind it is meant to be a ‘prequel’.

All in all, Nothing to shout about but worth a watch.

RATING 6/10 

(See trailer below)

Purchase ‘The Thing’ 2011/1982
DVD http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Thing-Mary-Elizabeth-Winstead/dp/B005NYMXIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346158978&sr=8-1

Blu-Ray http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thing-Blu-ray-Mary-Elizabeth-Winstead/dp/B007X31W2W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346158978&sr=8-3

John Carpenters ‘The Thing’ DVD http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Thing-DVD-Kurt-Russell/dp/B00004D07X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1346158978&sr=8-4


　

The above picture is apparently that of the said Lion that has been reported to  have been in or near St Osyth, reported badly in my!

      Is there or was there a Lion in essex? In my opinion, no. While i am a major supportive of the 'Big Cat' phenomenon and firmly believe in the existence of big cats in the wild in the UK i cannot think that a Lion would have gone un-noticed in the area.

     Firstly the Circus that was in the area has stated they have not kept lions for years and Colchester zoo stated their animals were all accounted for.

     However, the possibility of a Lynx or similar could be very true. Listening to witness accounts on the news and taking into account the distances from the animal, a smaller cat is highly probable.

The above photo is a still from the video footage obtained by Sky News from eye-witnesses. Assuming the camera owner was zooming in the animal must have been quite a distance away.

      They then stated that the animal ran off when a farmer, who i assume was closer, came into the field.

     I myself am torn, but verging on the side that this was not a Lion incident.  The first picture has not been released by the UK press as i understand so i think this maybe a still from the footage shot in Ohio, USA.

    The second is, in my opinion, inconclusive. 

    I think my hope in all this is that it may give the public, or those who have an active sense to find related topics, the chance to look into this kind of event and realise that this is not a new occurrence.

    Remember!  Out there in the wilds of the UK big cats are roaming free!

Written by : Steven K Beattie

Directed by: Philip Kempson

CAST
Jade Hammond
Damen William Lewis
Kris Walker



     Pre-production for the filming of Miller's Court is now all but complete, and filming is scheduled for early September 2012.

     Locations, Crew and Cast have all been assembled now and are ready to go.

     Philip, the director has worked tirelessly over the last few months finding locations, story-boarding and working out the best possible special effects.
     Phill is local to Stoke-on-Trent and has worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty years; working for companies such as Warner Bros and M.G.M.
     He then set up Chameleon Monkey Ltd to help promote the Staffordshire area through film.

    We are delighted to welcome to the project Damen William Lewis, Jade Hammond and Kris Walker as our principal cast.

    The Sentinel, Stoke film office and Ray Johnson are all on board in helping this project get recognition within the area. The premiere will be held at the Stoke Film Theatre and will later be distributed into the FILM4 FrightFest ready for next year.

     Obviously the film depends an awful lot on the help of others and your contributions are essential to the success of the film. Myself and the production team would be eternally grateful for any contributions.
     If you wish to help out in anyway you can visit the Sponsume website via the link below and donate to the film and even become a producer for the film.

     Below you will find the link to read Miller's Court absolutely free, and the promo video. There is also a link to Chameleon Monkey Ltd for more info on current projects.

Click here to read Miller's Court'


http://www.chameleonmonkey.com/


http://www.sponsume.com/project/millers-court