(2011)***Plot: Everything that happened before the start of the movie, The Thing (1982). Norwegian scientists in the antarctic, they unearth an alien, frozen in time, it comes back to life and starts infecting and imitating the scientists.
So, of course, this wasn't as good as the original, but if you're a fan of the original, then this one is worth your time. If you haven't seen the original, then don't start with this one.
The first half of this film is spent doing the typical, "Where's the alien?" "What's the alien doing" type of exposition so that all the characters and audience an understand what's happening. I believe that the lack of this exploration is what made the original so strong. Here, the film is more of a learning process.
This film had a weak box office its first weekend, and i can understand why. Again, if you haven't seen the original or know that it's a prequel, then this film just plods along. Its appeal is knowing what awaits in the next film. The ending that is interspersed with the credits leads directly into the opening scene of John Carpenter's original. From the screening I was at, it was very clear that no one knew what that meant and indeed, if you don't remember that opening scene, this one just seems anti-climactic. 
But hey, the flame-thrower is back!
But hey, the flame-thrower is back!
