Watched THX1138 for the first time
- Thread starter sycor
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Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
I watched it years ago and really thought it was quite interesting. For me the film is more interesting visually than the story. But I also try and place myself in the mindset of the times. What was going on in the world when the piece was created.
Understandably not everyone's cup of tea. Certainly not a traditional storyline. But I found it so different that I think that was part of the appeal for me.
Interesting as I was grumbling about people being so locked into their personal electronics packages that 'real people' right next to them seem inconsequential. And I thought about THX-1138. Not exactly the same thing but there was something there. A society wrapped up in their video confessionals and chemical stimulants...
Looking forward to other input as well.
Ted.
I watched it years ago and really thought it was quite interesting. For me the film is more interesting visually than the story. But I also try and place myself in the mindset of the times. What was going on in the world when the piece was created.
Understandably not everyone's cup of tea. Certainly not a traditional storyline. But I found it so different that I think that was part of the appeal for me.
Interesting as I was grumbling about people being so locked into their personal electronics packages that 'real people' right next to them seem inconsequential. And I thought about THX-1138. Not exactly the same thing but there was something there. A society wrapped up in their video confessionals and chemical stimulants...
Looking forward to other input as well.
Ted.
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
That might be a lot of the reason I didn't enjoy it. Being only 33 I didn't live though things the way an older person would have around that time frame. I can make the correlation of things now and I can appreciate what Lucas was trying to do but I've seen much better examples of it. Visually it was good. But again, to me, the movie just seemed kinda of pointless.
That might be a lot of the reason I didn't enjoy it. Being only 33 I didn't live though things the way an older person would have around that time frame. I can make the correlation of things now and I can appreciate what Lucas was trying to do but I've seen much better examples of it. Visually it was good. But again, to me, the movie just seemed kinda of pointless.
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
The point was, society wants you to conform as long as they don't have to go over budget to keep you there.
The point was, society wants you to conform as long as they don't have to go over budget to keep you there.
Carson Dyle
Sr Member
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
The "point" of THX is that human beings living in a technological society run the risk of loosing touch with what it means to be human.
This is a theme sci-fi fans will no doubt be familiar with, but THX expresses it in a uniquely personal way. Clearly the film was not intended to be a crowd pleaser, but narratively and stylistically it was well ahead of it's time.
Of course, the aforementioned themes are more relevant today than ever before. The difference (if you'll pardon me for saying so) is that, generally speaking, contemporary audiences have been so conditioned by classical narrative structure that they have a hard time accepting anything else (just ask David Lynch).
THX isn't one of those movies I feel compelled to re-watch on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it remains on my short list of "important" sci-fi films -- and one of the few I consider a work of art.
The remastered version also has a terrific commentary track by Lucas and Walter Murch. I normally avoid commentary tracks, but in this case it's highly recommended.
Lucas gets called a lot of pejorative names on this forum (some are even deserved), but listening to the THX commentary it's the artist, more than anything else, that comes across.
The "point" of THX is that human beings living in a technological society run the risk of loosing touch with what it means to be human.
This is a theme sci-fi fans will no doubt be familiar with, but THX expresses it in a uniquely personal way. Clearly the film was not intended to be a crowd pleaser, but narratively and stylistically it was well ahead of it's time.
Of course, the aforementioned themes are more relevant today than ever before. The difference (if you'll pardon me for saying so) is that, generally speaking, contemporary audiences have been so conditioned by classical narrative structure that they have a hard time accepting anything else (just ask David Lynch).
THX isn't one of those movies I feel compelled to re-watch on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it remains on my short list of "important" sci-fi films -- and one of the few I consider a work of art.
The remastered version also has a terrific commentary track by Lucas and Walter Murch. I normally avoid commentary tracks, but in this case it's highly recommended.
Lucas gets called a lot of pejorative names on this forum (some are even deserved), but listening to the THX commentary it's the artist, more than anything else, that comes across.
Colin Droidmilk
Sr Member
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
It's a great film as far as I'm concerned. A pity it no longer exists in its original form, though. It's now been souped up with CGI - but it IS some of the most subtle. tasteful, tactful CGI ever put on screen, which is very interesting, actually - to see Lucas do art CGI, instead of the candy glop he and Hollywood usually put out.
It's a great film as far as I'm concerned. A pity it no longer exists in its original form, though. It's now been souped up with CGI - but it IS some of the most subtle. tasteful, tactful CGI ever put on screen, which is very interesting, actually - to see Lucas do art CGI, instead of the candy glop he and Hollywood usually put out.
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
I like what you had to say, Colin Droidmilk.
I've seen this movie 3-4 times, and I could swear that I've seen different endings. Not dramatically different, but distinct enough.
How about Donald Pleasance?! I know he did a lot of notoriously schlocky movies, but he hit that role out of the park and was a lot of fun to watch.
I like what you had to say, Colin Droidmilk.
I've seen this movie 3-4 times, and I could swear that I've seen different endings. Not dramatically different, but distinct enough.
How about Donald Pleasance?! I know he did a lot of notoriously schlocky movies, but he hit that role out of the park and was a lot of fun to watch.
0neiros
Master Member
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
I HATE the cgi'd version. They made the Shell dwellers some sort of crappy looking monkey creatures, instead of Mutated humans using little people in the role. Other than that, I really can't comment on it without going political, but I will say the seeds of such a society are being sewn today.
I HATE the cgi'd version. They made the Shell dwellers some sort of crappy looking monkey creatures, instead of Mutated humans using little people in the role. Other than that, I really can't comment on it without going political, but I will say the seeds of such a society are being sewn today.
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
I picked up on both of these. Maybe the reason it didn't impact me is that I think we may have already passed the point that THX is trying to warn us about. Especially the second one.
I picked up on both of these. Maybe the reason it didn't impact me is that I think we may have already passed the point that THX is trying to warn us about. Especially the second one.
Jedi2016
Sr Member
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
One of the things I never got was the cars. Yeah, he wanted a chase scene at the end, but there was never any indication in the film that these people had a use for cars. Seems like they were all just going through their lives, taking the train, walking around in big masses of humanity, but never hopping in the car to go out to dinner. And yet, especially in the special edition, there's a whole bustling metropolis of freeways and traffic that doesn't appear to have any purpose except as an excuse to have a car chase in the film.
One of the things I never got was the cars. Yeah, he wanted a chase scene at the end, but there was never any indication in the film that these people had a use for cars. Seems like they were all just going through their lives, taking the train, walking around in big masses of humanity, but never hopping in the car to go out to dinner. And yet, especially in the special edition, there's a whole bustling metropolis of freeways and traffic that doesn't appear to have any purpose except as an excuse to have a car chase in the film.
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
I can't. I watched it for the first time 25 years ago.
Oh, you mean you watched it...
I can't. I watched it for the first time 25 years ago.
Oh, you mean you watched it...
Re: Watch THX1138 for the first time
Yep.
It's freekin' Coruscant out there all of a sudden.
Fits like Oprah in a bikini.
Yep.
It's freekin' Coruscant out there all of a sudden.
Fits like Oprah in a bikini.
What's wrong?
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I Understand. Take four red capsules. In 10 minutes, take two more.
For more enjoyment and greater efficiency, consumption is being standardized. We are sorry ...
Everything will be all right. You are in my hands. I am here to protect you. You have nowhere to go. You have nowhere to go.
Buy more. Buy more now. Buy. And be happy.
I've watched the college short it's based on more recently than the movie. It's only 15 minutes. You can find it on YouTube.
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