The Thing is definetly my favourite Carpenter movie and has been since sometime in my teens. It is brilliant!
I have to say though - the norwegian guy hunting the dog from the chopper at the start of the movie, what kind of norwegian language is that? It's possible to make out, but they should've gotten some real norwegians for the job, not some 3rd generation immigrant to the states.
I guess it's only noticed by about 1/1000th of the people who ever watch it though.