THX 1138 (1971)

THX 1138 - Drug Evasion is a Felony

THX 1138 was a very interesting film made by George Lukas back in 1970. It was visually exciting, a bit cerebral and required some real effort to follow. I saw this film one Saturday night in 1970 and it failed to interest my date as well as most of the other people in the audience. It struck a note with my own interests and managed to score about 3 stars in my book.

In fact a large percent of the Connecticut audience walked out on this movie which described a future in which drug use was state supported and evasion was a felony. A bleak future was projected by this movie as all citizens wore the same white colored clothes and mindless consumerism was a state sponsored virtue. Robots were included in this nightmarish vision of the future working as public servants in the form of police officers. Though quite humane in their police duties, robots and computers supervised all aspects of human activity which were not permitted to deviate even slightly without investigation and possible arrest.

One really has to listen carefully to the bland narrative constantly playing in the background to catch the important verbal cues that are needed to understand this film. In fact, I didn't notice during my first screening that one announcement was made stating that all state sponsored functions would only be permitted to continue when under the allocated budget or estimated to be at most 10% over budget. It is this rule that allowed the main character to escape the pursuit of two robot officers who were chasing him down for the crime of drug evasion and successfully climb to the surface leaving the city limits.

The dated display of FORTRAN was presented on the screen clearly illustrating the current estimate of the cost of the ongoing pursuit as the chase progressed. Once this cost exceeded budget by 10% the two robot officers called out after the main character stating that they must return and urgently wished him to return with them since he could not survive on the surface. One could not help feeling sorry for these slaves of technology as they were only attempting to apprehend him for what they believed was his own protection.

Definitely not a movie for everybody, this film almost ended the career of George Lukas who went on to make the Star Wars epics which took off in 1976 really placing his name on the map. This film was thoughtfully done and visually very original.
April 13, 2008

Georgie screws it up (again)

When I first saw THX 1138 back in the '70s I was spellbound. George Lucas' vision of an antiseptic consumer driven dystopia where not taking drugs was a crime really resonated with me and was original for the time. So I bought this DVD thinking that by "Director's Cut" I'd get extra scenes that were edited out of the original, WRONG! Instead George Lucas has added scenes of modern CG that are completely out of character with the original movie. The original movie was claustrophobic and paranoid. Everything occurred in white hallways or small spartan rooms, or on video monitors. The one exception being the "white out" detention center where the only color came from a few pieces of furniture and the actors faces. Now we have wide angle city shots interjected throughout that completely destroy that ominous and powerful claustrophobic mood of the original. That's not the worst of it though. There's some awful CG character animation as well. George has seen fit to replace the shell dwellers. Originally they were supposed to be humans that had mutated from prolonged exposure to industrial wastes and were played by little people with wild matted hair. And what did Lucas replace them with? CG monkeys, yes that's right, CG monkeys. Nasty ones to be sure, but fake looking, obvious bits of animation nonetheless. He also adds an equally fake looking scorpion-like animal that frightens Donald Pleasance's character SEN. Well we see a foot next to a scorpion-like animal and then Pleasance scurrying away going back to the city. And there's now a car race scene during rush hour traffic that adds nothing to the movie, looks like a video game and once again detracts from the original mood. The worst new bit though is the masturbation machine THX uses while watching holograms looking like a giant milking machine descending from the ceiling. It manages to be simultaneously vulgar, pointless and really really silly. What I find most annoying about this director's cut is that no mention was made re the new added effects. When will George Lucas realize that it's not a good idea to do change a movie simply because he can? Most likely never. Unlike modern DVD's of the '70s era Dr. Who TV show, you are not given the choice of either watching the original movie or watching scenes with newer special effects added. You get what George Lucas decides to give you and that's it. The additions to THX somehow degrade the movie and make it a less than adult film. The movie seems more childish, more fantastic and much less real. I've since sold my Director's Cut and have ordered a used VHS tape of the original movie, which is the only way I can see the splendid original since it hasn't been released on DVD. Yeah I still have a VCR, thank god. February 2, 2008

Interesting

Pretty good and interesting movie. A different take for its time and a very intelligent look into the future. It isn't for everybody and people who immediatley see 'George Lucas' and think "well I liked Star Wars so I will probably like this are probably going to be disappointed.

I liked it. January 18, 2008

Lucas' Premier Movie (Meaning his First)

This is a really fantastic movie!! And I mean that literally as well as figuratively. The society it portrays is of a different world-- but which is an extension of ours. Any movie which pits the protagonist against society for falling in love with his roommate (because she substitued his daily drug dosage with placebos) is worth a look to begin with, but this one is particularly fascinating -- one of the major characters is a hologram.

I'll bet this film helped Lucas on his way to his wonderful career in movies.

Definately well worth seeing, but you have to buy it (I did on line for peanuts) in order to see it because it is totally overlooked in the film biz.

Nowadays when you go to a movie theater it often begins with a sound system credit for THX. hmmmmmm May 13, 2007

Great Movie Buy

The movie is in great condition and couldn't believe I would find it but I did and at a great value. This is one of George Lucas, as a young director and I am happy that I have it. January 4, 2007

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