Hey guys, I've just received my 1998 edition of The Thing from Ebay, which I bought cheaply. The insert had a proof-of-purchase or somesuch on the backside, and it's been cut out, taking some of the text on the other side with it. Oh well, that's what I get for 5 bucks. I suppose it's the same text on the DVD's production notes.

So, I have a very stupid question. How do I find the music-only track?? It isn't in the Special Features, or even listed on the box. Is it hidden somewhere? I do have the 1998 U.S. Region 1 edition.

me too...but thank Christ I have both versions. Since IMS's used to be my rare, fave feature on a dvd...I'd been a fool to dump the original.

from dvdreview.com

Go to the “Bonus Materials” form the main menu and there select the “Terror Takes Shape” documentary. Then go to “Language Selection” and you will find an entry that says “Music Score”.


it's the full score of the movie...not the doc.

AH! Strange that it's hidden like that. Thanks Lee Ving! (Beef beef beef, beef bologna! All I want is MORE BEER!)

most people think i'm asian.

Oh man....

Let's have a war!
Jack up the Dow Jones!
Let's have a war!
It can start in New Jersey!
Let's have a war!
Blame it on the middle-class!
Let's have a war!
We're like rats in a cage!

Bump. I've read on an audiophile forum that the music-only track on the 1998 Thing is NOT the score to the film, just the doc, and that the 1991 CD (now out-of-print and sought after) has several cues that didn't make it into the film. My big thing is that people think the 1998 DVD's music-only track is the same thing as the film soundtrack, and it isn't.

I didn't even realize there was another edition out.

Can anyone explain the difference between the 1988 version and the newer one?

Besides the lack of the music only track?

Yeah, the 1988 version was on VHS.


If you mean the 1998 version, well the new one has all the same bonus features (minus the music track) but it has a new ANAMORPHIC transfer.

Wrong, it is the score to the film, but it plays as an alternate audio track during the "making of" documentary.

That's certainly possible.

Why is other people's potential ignorance of this fact a "big thing" for you?

Okay, I'm sold.

I'll have to pick up the new version.

Thanks for the info!

Keep your insert from the old release if you get rid of it... No insert in the new edition. If you're into that sort of thing...

But yeah, the newer edition pretty much rocks.

You are 100% certain of this?

Because it got me to buy the damn DVD, that's why.

In terms of how the music is heard in the film, the '98 non-anamorphic DVD alternate audio track for "Terror Takes Shape" does not represent the soundtrack of The Thing. The "isolated score" contains 40+ min. of music recorded by Ennio Morricone for use in the film that Carpenter had decided not to use and at the same time does not contain all the different versions of the cues that Carpenter did use in the film. The documentary itself has this music - used and unused, one cue after another - playing throughout(sometimes at levels so low as to be virtually inaudible). The alternate audio track also includes gaps of silence and occasional bits of sound from clips used in the doc. The track is a good representation of the music recorded for the film but is both less than and more than a true isolated score. Forgive me if I sound pedantic, but I just thought the air could cleared on this matter.

I actually ripped this music from the DVD, boosted the sound level a smidge to give it more oomph, then used editing software to chop out the dead patches; I burned it to CD and have lived with a glorious smile on my face ever since. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find out the score CD has cues not present on the isolated DVD score, but since it's long out of print and costly as hell, I'm more than satisfied with my rip.

the new anamorphic one is the way to go

Thanks for clearing that up! I didn't think that audio track could have the music as heard in the film itself.