Re: THE THING - Shout Factory Sept: New 2K Transfer, Extras!
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 10:50 am
by Monterey Jack
BTW, happy 35th anniversary to The Thing!
Wait...thirty-five years?! You've gotta be F-Bombing kidding!
Re: THE THING - Shout Factory Sept: New 2K Transfer, Extras!
Posted: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:40 am
by AndyDursin
Arrow's limited edition packages (one's a steelbook, the other a deluxe packaged set with a book) are quickly selling out already...picking this up for the 4K transfer but the Shout release's extras aren't being replicated here, so looks like it'll be essential to own both of these.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative, supervised and approved by director John Carpenter and director of photography Dean Cundey
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio commentary by John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell
Who Goes There? In Search of The Thing an all-new feature length documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the history of The Thing, from the original novella to John Carpenter's terrifying science fiction classic. Featuring new interviews with the cast and crew, as well as authors, historians, and critics
1982: One Amazing Summer an all-new retrospective documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures about the unforgettable films released in the summer of 1982
John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape archive documentary on the background and production of the film
Vintage Featurettes
Outtakes
Behind-the-Scenes
Trailers, Teasers, TV and Radio Spots
Still Galleries
Poster
Lobby Cards
Book containing new writing on the film
Limited edition pic:
Steelbook pic, not crazy about the title font:
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2017 1:37 pm
by AndyDursin
Arrow's initial LE sold out but they are adding another 2000 units of the Limited Edition (the Steelbook will remain at 4000 copies because it hasn't sold out yet). Info here:
Here's a remarkably in-depth dissection of the myriad of differences between the initial DVD/laserdisc commentary, and the bowdlerized Blu-Ray version:
Wow that is unreal. I just thought they cleaned up the TK Carter stuff and some supposedly offensive joke. Why are portions of it rerecorded? That's jaw dropping, how many things were taken out or dubbed over ..again I am stunned there are "different takes" from them for the same scene!
Are the Arrow and Shout commentaries exactly the same?
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:32 pm
by Monterey Jack
AndyDursin wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2019 10:10 pm
Wow that is unreal. I just thought they cleaned up the TK Carter stuff and some supposedly offensive joke. Why are portions of it rerecorded? That's jaw dropping, how many things were taken out or dubbed over ..again I am stunned there are "different takes" from them for the same scene!
That is bizarre. I know that a lot of commentaries are comprised of various "takes" and edited later to remove redundancies, but recording different versions of certain sections?
Are the Arrow and Shout commentaries exactly the same?
From what I gather, the Shout and Arrow commentaries are the same edited version. You have to get the DVD to hear what was released initially (which is why I re-bought the DVD and threw it in a three-disc case with the Shout discs to create my own "combo pack" ).
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 3:06 pm
by Monterey Jack
Ahhh, hindsight...
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 4:11 pm
by AndyDursin
There were actually very, very few critics of any kind that gave it a good review.
1.5 stars in Leonard Maltin's book! (I think it ended up being "bumped" up to 2.5 stars years after the fact like BLADE RUNNER)
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:19 pm
by Monterey Jack
AndyDursin wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 4:11 pm
There were actually very, very few critics of any kind that gave it a good review.
Owen Gleiberman claims he considered it "close to an instant classic" when he reviewed it for the Boston Phoenix in '82, but -- frustratingly -- I have never been able to find that review online. The entire run of the paper is supposedly being held in some Boston library, so one of these days I'm going to inquire if those back issues are available to the public, and see if I can photocopy that review just to prove that SOMEone like that movie back in the day.
AndyDursin wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 4:11 pm
1.5 stars in Leonard Maltin's book! (I think it ended up being "bumped" up to 2.5 stars years after the fact like BLADE RUNNER)
"Non-stop parade of slimy, repulsive special effects turn this into a freakshow and drown out most of the suspense".
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:41 pm
by Monterey Jack
Supposedly a UHD is planned for this fall.
Re: THE THING - Arrow UK October, New 4K Transfer
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:43 pm
by AndyDursin
Universal in house release allegedly!
Re: THE THING - 4K UHD Coming This Fall
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:51 pm
by Monterey Jack
Considering Universal's UHD track record over the last few years, I expect this to look phenomenal. Plus, I can fully sate my collector's OCD by putting this in my "Original & Remake" section alongside 1951's The Thing From Another World, because I have the Arrow release in my John Carpenter section and the SF release next to the 2011 prequel (which is ensconced inside the "extra" slipcover that SF offered with pre-orders of their release five years ago ). It'd be nice to have the 2011 version on UHD at the same time, really, if only because we need more of MEW in HDR.
Re: THE THING - 4K UHD Coming This Fall
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 8:19 pm
by AndyDursin
Don't like this art but I'm sure there will be other options
Re: THE THING - 4K UHD Coming This Fall
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:02 pm
by Monterey Jack
I don't mind the cover...the Scream Factory release has the classic Drew Struzan poster under the slipcover, and the Arrow release has a custom job, so it's nice to have options. Considering Universal's recent track record with catalogue UHD releases, this ought to look spectacular.
Re: THE THING - 4K UHD Coming This Fall
Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2021 9:11 pm
by AndyDursin
I think it belongs in your crappy artwork thread but I agree the disc should look terrific. I might spend my money elsewhere though if there's anything better than that.
The entire run of the paper is supposedly being held in some Boston library, so one of these days I'm going to inquire if those back issues are available to the public, and see if I can photocopy that review just to prove that SOMEone like that movie back in the day. 
