ARTHUR'S MOVIE RATINGS

I don't presume to tell you whether or not you're going to like a movie or not--people have different tastes and like different things. The main purpose with the ratings given for movies here is to give you an idea of whether or not you should see it in the theater, wait for it to hit DVD, or skip it altogether. So if you want to break it down...

*****: AMAZING! Everyone should see this as soon as they possibly can!
****: GREAT! Worth every cent to go see it in the theater.
***: GOOD! May or may not be worth seeing in the theater, but definitely a solid choice for a rental.
**: DECENT. Not a horrible movie, but it's not a bad choice for a rental.
*: BAD. Do not watch this movie. Well, you could, but I wouldn't advise it.

15 October 2011

The Thing (2011)

RATING:**** (4 stars)

At a research site in Antarctica, a team of scientists are elated at the finding of both an alien craft and a specimen frozen in the ice... until it wakes up and they realize that one of them may be the creature in disguise.

If the title didn't already give it away, the plot should indicate a strong similarity to John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)--and rightly so as this film is being billed as the prequel to the 1982 classic. I can also proudly say that if you enjoyed John Carpenter's adaptation of the short story "Who Goes There?", then you'll love this prequel as well.

Similar to what I would call the best horror films out there, more emphasis is put on suspense than on actual violence. Which isn't to say that you won't see the alien in about a half dozen different shapes and forms as it lays waste to Norwegians and Americans in equal measure, but you have to give props to Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
for a great job of directing and for the amazing sound crew. Not much for recognizeable faces among the actors, with the notable exception of Joel Edgerton who was most recently in Warrior. Fellow cinephiles should also recognize Mary Elizabeth Winstead from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World last year. Both give solid performances, but nothing you'll hear tale of at the Academy Awards.

All-in-all you're looking at a great film that remains true to the spirit of its predecessor and one that shouldn't disappoint.

Trailer