Finally got around to seeing The Thing (1982) last night. I've seen it mentioned so much as one of the best movies ever and finally got in the mood to give it a proper viewing.
First and foremost -- the effects. Holy. Shit. This movie probably had some of the most grotesque practical effects I've seen in a movie and they seemed generally terrifying, repulsive and unique. I think one aspect that really adds to this movie's effects is that the "thing" doesn't have a definitive form. Other movies that have tremendous imagery as far as monsters, villains, etc., like Alien, Predator, beasts and such in Star Wars, etc. all have a definitive form. This one doesn't. The thing adopts whatever it is able and makes it valuable as a way to express abstract concepts, like paranoia, which seems to be the point of the movie. It's the classic setting of a few characters in a remote location, substitute the barren wasteland of Antarctica here space in something like Alien. Works absolutely perfectly as a setting, it really narrows the viewer's focus and enhances the action sequences.
Russell was badass in this one, for sure. Huge fan of his beard and hair, they should have received an acting credit.
One issue I'm uncertain how to evaluate was the extremely blatant placement of J & B scotch in multiple scenes, basically bookending the movie. Maybe they had a bidding war with different spirit companies to see who gets featured? Does that have any specific relevance as a product to the actual plot of could that have been an empty bottle with a "XXX" label achieving the same effect?
Very good.