MSN has the first trailer for the long dormant The Thing PRELUDE. Remember how it was stressed that this was not a remake or a prequel but a PRELUDE? The Thing is…IT’S TOTALLY A REMAKE!

I don’t care what sort of clever line the producers are trying to hand people about respecting the orginal yada yada yada and not wanting to “paint a mustache on the Mona Lisa”…one look at this trailer and the doubt I was giving them the benefit of has gone out the window. The addition of a female (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and changing the characters’ names do nothing to disguise this fact. There are shots that are virtually identical to the original. It is a tribute to the original that I remember it so vividly, but then again, it’s a favorite and I’ve seen it many times.  Perhaps the producers are creating this one for a new generation who has not seen John Carpenter’s original. If that’s the case, just say so.

Having said all that, this one does have Joel Edgerton.  I’ll probably see it at a matinee just for him. And to find out if I’m right or completely mistaken. If I’m wrong, I will freely admit it. Cross my heart.  What are your thoughts? Will you see a new version of The Thing when it opens on October 14?