Saturday, January 14, 2012

Saturday Night at the Movies 1/14/12!

Who cares what picture we see?


I could never believe that my blogging pal Maynard Morrissey doesn't, so we're going to go with one of his faves - but first - an announcement!



Maynard runs a great blog called Maynard Morrissey's Horror Film Diary, and he runs a monthly post called Horror Blog of the Month!




Guess who was picked for January 2012?


No, it was this blog! Let's Get Out of Here! There's an interview and everything! You can check the actual post out here.


But don't let that post be your only visit over there - all of the Horror Film Diary is a lot of fun and you should jump around over there and read a lot! Then come back. Often.


I am deeply honored to have been chosen, and want to thank Maynard and all of his readers!


Over there at MM'sHFD, Maynard has stated what his favorite horror films are - in fact, they're on a list on the left side of every post - and we're going with his #3 horror movie for this Saturday Night at the Movies!







I saw this at the Varsity Theater in Carbondale Illinois in 1982, which had recently expanded into a three screen theater from two. My parents started out in one of the other two auditoriums watching Megaforce, but when the Cheese Quotient went past my Dad's tolerance, they switched over to theater three, as my choice for the evening - John Carpenter's brilliant remake of the 1951 classic - would not have appealed to my Pop either. So, they ended up seeing the second half of E.T.

I tell that slightly digressive tale because it's pretty wild that there were three science fiction flicks playing in that theater that week. And two of them were about aliens coming to Earth, though each had far different agendas in mind.

I was completely knocked out by the movie, still one of Carpenter's best in my opinion. Great actors, terrific suspense, and the most incredible physical makeup effects ever achieved in more than a century of cinema. Rob Bottin is a genius, and deserved two Oscars for this movie's squishy visuals.

If Maynard wasn't all the way over in Austria - not Australia, think Danube - I'd invite him over tonight to watch this with me on Blu-Ray. In fact, anyone who wants to drop by is invited. Just give me a heads up so I can lay in enough popcorn!


Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!


10 comments:

  1. I've never seen this but it looks spectacular! I love how the best suspenseful plots are those where the protagonists are in a location where they cannot get help. (Jaws -- on the ocean with no radio; The Shining -- trapped in a hotel in the dead of winter; Cujo -- trapped in a car, etc.) Adding The Thing to my list of must-sees. Thanks, Craig.

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  2. Luana - it is a really wild movie - I would love to hear what you think when you see it! One small warning - the movie is very violent. I hope that doesn't put you off watching it since it seems it would be right up your alley.

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  3. I love, love this flick and it is definitely one of my all time favorites. I cannot even tell you how many times I have watched. That blood test scene still get me every time. And fave lines have to be Clark: "I dunno what the hell is in there, but it's weird and it's pissed off, whatever it is." and MacCready as the Thing roars at him. "Yeah, fuck you, too!"

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  4. Melissa - yeah, it is one of the best, for sure. I was just thinking while putting it together - what a great scene the blood test is! And LOL those are some great lines! We can add it to the Imaginarium/LGOOH Film Festival - on my Super TV...

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  5. Thanks for mentioning my little blog, I feel honored!!!

    I plan on doing a holiday in the USA sometime in the next few years. When I finally managed to hop over the big pond, I sure will drop by your house and then we can watch it on BluRay with loads of popcorn and a couple of beers :-)

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  6. I just came from Maynard's lovely blog and that was a great interview!!

    The Thing is an amazing film!! I am sooo thrilled that you mentioned Rob Bottin's work. I'm a big special effects nerd and his work on that film was like you said, genius!

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  7. Maynard - It was the least I could do after your kindness! Thank YOU, my friend! And you better believe we'll fire up the Blu-Ray when you hit these shores! Popcorn and a couple of beers...each...at a time!

    Nicole - Thank you so much! I love this movie a lot, and Bottin truly is a genius - a word bandied about too often - but totally deserved here. The man nearly killed himself pulling those effects off! I appreciate you joining the blog too - please come by often, and feel free to comment whenever the mood strikes you!

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  8. Quite the in depth interview!

    I saw The Thing fairly recently. Great film.


    Lee
    A cat's memoir?
    Wrote By Rote

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  9. Arlee - thanks for the kind words - I can be quite the wordy buzzard sometimes! ;) I'm glad you liked the 1982 version of The Thing! I heartily recommend the 1951 version as well. 2011's? Not so much.

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