Terror at the South Pole
July 15, 2009 10:52 am animation, documentary, horror, kids movies, science fiction/fantasy Scientists match wits with an alien invader in “John Carpenter’s The Thing”
If “Halloween” made John Carpenter famous, “The Thing” cemented his reputation as a master of horror.
Set at an Antarctic research base in the deep of winter, “John Carpenter’s The Thing” pits a team of American scientists led by MacReady (Kurt Russell) against the title creature.
Life at the base is quiet and uneventful — until a helicopter from a nearby Norwegian research base arrives in hot pursuit of a lone dog.
Unable to figure out the Norwegians’ motives, the Americans take in the stray pooch. As animals and humans fall prey to mysterious attacks, however, the team discovers there’s a vicious, shape-shifting alien in their midst.
Originally released in 1982, “The Thing” has held up remarkably well over the years. Today it’s a considered a cult classic of the science fiction-horror genre.
In fact, Variety magazine reported earlier this year that Universal Studios is considering a “Thing” remake.
The movie, helmed by Dutch director Matthijs Van Heijningen, would take its inspiration from John W. Campbell Jr.’s amazing novella, “Who Goes There?” — the same source material used by John Carpenter and Howard Hawks’ 1951 film “The Thing From Another World.”
Watch “The Thing” at 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.
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Later this week, San Luis Obispo gets “Fresh.”
On Friday, HopeDance magazine invites film buffs and foodies to watch “Fresh,” a documentary celebrating the farmers, activists and chefs dedicated to reinventing America’s food system.
The film features appearances by sustainable farmer Joel Salatin, supermarket owner David Ball, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” author Michael Pollan and urban farmer Will Allen, recepient of a 2008 McArthur Genius Award.
A retired basketball player, Allen serves as director of Growing Power, an innovative urban farming program in the Milwaukee area.
“Fresh” screens at 7 p.m. Friday at the San Luis Obispo City Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Show up an hour early for locally crafted goodies.
The film also screens on July 23 at Cafe Vio, 1111 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles, and on July 24 at Vineyard Church of Christ, 601 S. Main St. in Templeton.
A $5 to $10 donation is suggested for each showing.
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The San Luis Obispo library kicks off a series of “Spectacular Summer Saturdays” this weekend with a screening of “Tinker Bell.”
A follow-up to Disney’s beloved “Peter Pan,” “Tinker Bell” chronicles the continuing adventures of the blonde, playful pixie.
The computer-animated film features the voices of Kristin Chenowith (“Pusing Daisies”), Lucy Liu (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Kung Fu Panda”), America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”) and Raven-Symone (“That’s So Raven”), among others.
“Tinker Bell” screens at 2 p.m. Friday at the library’s community room, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. The free screening includes popcorn and drinks.
For more information, call 781-5775 or visit the library online.
The Man from Moqui :
Date: July 16, 2009 @ 8:02 am
When I was in college in San Diego, I actually did work for this film. Not while it was filming, however. After. I worked for Taylor Research in San Diego, which was hired to do market research regarding the movie’s one sheet. Before the film’s release in June of 1982, I took 8 1/2- by 11-inch copies of suggested movie posters for “The Thing” and asked people what they thought the movie was about. We also did similar research for another movie released later that same summer: “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
“Se til helvete og kom dere vekk. Det er ikke en bikkje, det er en slags ting! Det imiterer en bikkje, det er ikke virkelig! KOM DERE VEKK IDIOTER!!