Customer Reviews

THX 1138 (The George Lucas Director's Cut)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Remember the scenes of the robotic-like cop beating the human? Well, those sounds are used to start off the first track of the Nine Inch Nails album "Downward Spiral." Pretty cool, huh?

This is a great movie if you "get it". I do but not everyone does. Check it out and make your own decision.

George Lucas shows us a world where everyone is controlled through work, drugs, and the media (sound familiar?). The hero (Robert Duvall) finds out that real freedom comes from within.

[DW]

In a repressive sterilized world, one man fights for freedom.

"THX-1138" is an spiritual, introspective and minimalist movie, directed in 1971 by George Lucas, in a period before his spectacular "Star Wars" original trilogy. This movie has good things, for example, it has an intelligent central issue: the extermination of the human spirit. However, the execution wasn't the best, and this is an evidence that when George Lucas is more ambitious, worst are the results that he gets. Just take a look to the pretentious movies "Star Wars, episode I & II", even though those are entertaining movies, pale when compared to the original trilogy.

George Lucas is not the best director when comes the time to create stories that are supported by the performances of the cast, he is not good directing dramatic scenes, he is a magician creating fantastic movies with spectacular details and scenes, in result, "THX-1138" is a minor movie, the intentions are good, but the execution isn't, the central issue can make you thought about it, but the movie by itself is mediocre.

George Lucas`s first film....it`s a dark,scary and all to possible conclusion for the human race.Freewill and its costs are put on display when THX1138 with the help of his roommate,decides that there must be something better and strives to find it at all costs.A stunning look into the possible future finds humans reduced to slaves,where sex is forbidden,religion is used as a pacifier to the masses and brutal violence is inflicted by robot police officers for every infraction.What ensues is one mans race to find that freedom....but when forced to decide which is more important - freedom and its unknowns or the supposed safety of his current life - what is he to do?I say that this is the best film George Lucas ever made.When it comes out on dvd it will be cause for celebration - the sound and visuals are if nothing else stunning.Until then check it out and afterwards you to will question your role in your own society.Is tomorrow really worth looking forward to?
Be afraid...be very afraid.

THX-1138 was George Lucas' first major motion picture. It is an extended version of one of his student films at USC. The movie is set in the future where people are objects controlled by machines and medicines, unable to think for themselves. People have no names, only numbers. However, THX-1138's mate has other plans and starts reducing the medications she and THX (Tex) take. This leads to an awakening within THX for which he is imprisoned and escapes.

THX-1138 is a film more about the cinema of light and sound telling a story than action and dialogue; though the last fifteen minutes of the film really speed up. The movie seems like a cross between 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, LOGAN'S RUN, and STAR WARS. Watching carefully, one can pick up on things that Lucas would later use and expand upon in STAR WARS.

As a movie, THX-1138 is rather boring. As a piece of cinema, it's worth watching because it was George Lucas first film and clearly had an influence upon how he made STAR WARS. Also, if you're a 2001 fan, you'll probably enjoy this movie. However, definitely not for everyone.

I had heard about this movie in Eye magazine back in 1968 or 69. It never came to my area so I had forgotten about it. I finally got to see it on the CBS Late Night Movie back in the mid 70s and enjoyed it very much. When the video came out I purchased it immediately. Still a great movie, but I am somewhat disappointed in the quality of the VHS version which is why I give it only 4 stars. Some of the framing when the movie was 'shrunk' to fit the average tvs aspect ratio is quite poor. One instance that comes to mind is the first appearance of the hologram in the void. Other than that I would recommend the film highly. Walter Murch does his usual great job sound wise. Thought provoking. Wish they would come out with a good version on dvd. (are you lstening George??)

This movie is good in concept and idea, however tend to be boring but nevertheless captivating.

Interesting if anyone who has read Ayn Rand's "Anthem" can see the comparison in these two tales. What is even more interesting, however, is the contrast of independence of thinking in Thx's view on life, compared to the concepts of destiny and fate that the Star Wars saga illustrates. Does Lucas hold that we are beings of fate, who's history is written for us, or that we are independent beings who's actions and successes are a result of a greater purpose?