classic

John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) - 4/5

It's a classic for the horror genre, and the creature effects clearly demonstrate why it's still relevant 36 years later. Though the practical effects are definitely antiquated, the editing very cleverly conceals an impressive amount of what could otherwise have been flaws. This movie would have done better to provide enough information that The Thing could be traced upon repeat viewings, and the ending is anticlimactic. These do not detract from the flim as much as they are missed opportunities. Sill, I would be excited to watch it again so I have to give it the 4/5.

The Third Man - 3/5

This1949 black and white classic is all about the cinematography. The acting is fine and the dialogue is quite good in that golden age of cinema kind of way. But all in all I don't see the appeal beyond film snob mineutia, though if you're into films it's one you probably should see for reference if nothing else. Better alternatives are Casablanca, To Have and Have Not, or The Maltese Falcon.

Shane (1953) - 4/5

This is a classic old western so the pace is slower than modern films tend to be, but it adds to the mood and the movie's better for it. Nice slow build of tension and stakes, so that it's much more of a drama than an action piece. Some spotty acting in various places, and the argument about why the heroes do what they do was unsatisfyingly off the mark. But I can certainly see why Logan referenced it so heavily.