The Thing

Saw a cool movie recently while babysitting.

The Thing: shipwrecked, shape-shifting, blood-thirsty aliens rampaging through an isolated Antarctic science station in the middle of winter. And a soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.

Hells, yeah!

I'm fairly sure I've read the story it's based on ("Who Goes There"), but I didn't know that until I watched the movie. It was one of those cultural icons I missed growing up. Sort of like Star Wars, although I've since managed to catch up on that score. (Next up: The Blob!)

Is anyone here not familiar with Ennio Morricone? He wrote the score for, oh, a zillion westerns, including all the Sergio Leone movies you've heard of. Remember The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? The Mission? The Untouchables? Red Sonja? (Possibly my favourite theme song; actually, I haven't seen the movie. It's bound to be good, right? *snicker*)

So, in addition to enjoying the ass-kicking soundtrack, I also learned a few things:

1) Aliens are invariably slimy and love to bellow in victory. rrrar-RAWRRGH! (Serious, aliens are never cute by mammalian standards.)

2) Scientists at remote Antarctic research stations are invariably supplied with thermite, dynamite, grenades, assorted blasting charges, remote detonators, pistols, and not one -- but two -- kerosene-fueled flamethrowers.

I *love* being a scientist.