The Fly and The Thing Return To Hollywood

I recently attended a double feature of David Cronenberg's THE FLY (1986) and John Carpenter's THE THING (1982). The first film starred Jeff Goldblum (Thank God It's Friday, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)), and the second starred Kurt Russell (Escape From New York, Big Trouble In Little China). Both movies showcase directors and actors at the top of their game, as well as the special effects teams.
As far as horror-science fiction hybrids go, these films are loads of fun. In Cronenberg's Fly, the gradual transformation Goldblum's character goes through is both horrible and yet strangely beautiful at the same time. The same can also be said for the titular character in The Thing. Nothing in these films is wasted, either in terms of the gore or the acting.
Some people would say the original versions of FLY and THING are the only true versions, and that the remakes pale in comparison. I disagree. I actually found the remakes to be enjoyable in their own right, and stand on their own as great examples of classic cinema.