Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4645 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-09-13
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Director's Cut, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 82 minutes

DVD features
George Lucas's fascinating, almost art-house, film just took a quantum leap into the digital future. Never has the world of THX 1138 looked as bright, clear, and antiseptic as it does on this remastered version. It is equally impressive how far Lucas and the camera crew push the widescreen 2.35 aspect ratio, particularly on a film that emphasizes minimalism. For those that fault the film as being "soundless," prepare yourself for a shock. The new "THX enhanced" THX 1138 sports a newly remastered DTS audio track that enhances every wonderfully subtle, ambient sound of Lalo Schifrin's soundscape. Complaints are likely to be aimed at the restoration. As many assumed, the newly restored (and retitled) THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut underwent a few CGI alterations. In one aspect, the computer graphics are stunning, they're not excessive, and they don't take anything away from the film's storyline. In some aspects the CGI scenes bridge some empty gaps. However, the modern effects do look a little out of place in comparison with the rest of the film. Though a futuristic sci-fi film, THX 1138 is still very '70s in its look and feel. When the newly added scenes appear, it is pretty obvious what has been added. Yes, the purists will cry "Blasphemy!" but in all honesty those new to the film may not notice the differences, and most viewers will probably not care.

THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut DVD set contains pretty much everything you could ever want with regard to the film. It includes the new documentary Artifact from the Future: The Making of THX 1138 (30 minutes) as well as the original production featurette Bald (8 minutes). There is also the excellent 63-minute documentary A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope, featuring Zoetrope founder Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, John Milius, and Walter Murch. The DVD's informative and entertaining commentary is a combination of separate tracks by George Lucas and co-writer/sound designer Walter Murch. Though not an action-packed thrill ride, THX 1138 is nonetheless a very interesting, meditative film that hits a lot closer to our home than a galaxy far, far away. --Rob Bracco

DVD Description
Dystopian futuristic story about a man struggling to escape a robot-like society that forbids sex and enforces human assimilation. Directed by George Lucas

Synopsis
In George Lucas's fascinating feature debut (based on his short student film), the young director creates a futuristic, underground world in which bald, dronelike workers are forced to take drugs to regulate their moods and stifle their libidos. THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) and his mate, LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie), are factory workers, building the robotic police that keep order in their stark world. The soundtrack to their lives is a news service that continually lists information about factory accidents, as well as sex and drug crimes, ala George Orwell's 1984. There are electronic confessionals for workers to admit to mistakes they've made, and THX uses these outlets to express his unhappiness with his life. When LUH decides she and THX should stop taking their medication, their sense of humanity--and their desire and love for each other as a couple--is unleashed. It's not long, however, before they are imprisoned for this crime, and LUH learns then that she is pregnant. Separated, THX embarks on a journey to find her with the help of rebel SEN (Donald Pleasence) and hologram SRT (Don Pedro Colley), eventually attempting escape to the outside world. Combining complex editing and sound techniques with brilliantly subtle performances, THX 1138 is a little-known and vastly underrated sci-fi masterpiece. In an eerily prophetic moment, Lucas also predicts what people will be watching on TV in this future--news, sexually explicit films, and vapid comedy shows.

Customer Reviews

Consumption is being standardized -BUY THX 1138 -
THX 1138 is a film based in a future dystopia similair to 1984 -

The people of the future are drug users doped up to keep them productive as workers and emotionless - willing to do whatever ordered . It is quickly established that humans are now produced in labs and are given 'serial numbers' instead of names (THX 1138 being Robert Duvall, the main protagonists name) . THX is feeling strange and we find out this is because in an act of defiance his 'mate' LUH is replacing his sedatives with placebos - so he is essentially becoming more human .

The story follows THX'S awakening and fight to escape .

The main thing that differentiates this film from others in the genre is the dream like quality and almost white washed look of the film - This is such a great thing because it makes the film less dated. Everything is bright white and all the characters are bald - none of those 70's haircuts to detract from the story and mood! Although there is obviousely a plot the film is more like a series of memorable set pieces and if you are like myself you will find yourself muttering all the excellent quotes much to your confused friends dismay . Key scenes such as the robotic confession box where THX relays his problem to a badly synched tape recorder and a glowing portrait of ohm are excellent. The sound and look of the motorbikes chasing THX through tunnels ... There are some excellent 'what IS happening ' moments - the film is quirky as hell . Lucas nerds will notice the similaritys between the officers electric shock sticks and the light sabres ..

The other amazing thing about this film is the unique sound - in the double disk edition is an excellent featurette documenting how it was made . There are no cheesy theremins here , it truly is a real piece of work . Alot of the sound you here on the film are messages being relayed from characters through radio - there is just something about the crackling frequency -wobbling audio, and the music is spacey and haunting . I haven't seen the original but can guess at a couple of inserted scenes involving cars but i think thats it . In my opinion though this film hasn't aged badly at all when compared to other late 60's early 70's sci fi . I was apprehensive because of Lucas's new star wars twaddle (although this is his first film and pre dates the trilogy ) but was very happy . It is not a fast moving film , i wouldn't even call it a thriller thriller - there won't be surprising revelations and clever plot twists. Everything is calculated up to the ending because this is the society of the future . Consumption is being standardised - buy more - buy more and be happy .

Jolly Good.
This was a blind purchase for me. But it turned out to be a right one. I've been a fan of Mr. Lucas for some time. But this demonstrates his work well. I think after star wars, he should definatly go back to making original films.

Weirdddd....
That just about sums up how you'll feel after watching this film. It's just so odd. I'm a Star Wars fan, hence why I decided to take a look at this in the first place. It's Lucas' remake of his first film originally made at college. Now, I'm not a film student, I just like being entertained. This film certainly did that - you keep watching and watching, just to try and work out what on earth is going on. You follow the life of THX-1138 - a name given to a man who works in some kind of stark white underground factory, and is forced to take pills to keep him subdued/brainwashed into conforming. Sex is forbidden, however, all humans in this world are assigned a roomate to share their room (read: cell) with. THX shares with a woman, who he has feelings for. She stops him taking the pills, they have sexual relations, and are punished. The ending is excellent (I won't put it here) and whilst you are always unsure exactly as to the film's meaning, you can't just turn it off. It looks beautiful - crisp and clean and very futuristic. I don't think its aged at all. Robert Duvall is wonderful, although I still don't understand who or what Donald Pleasance was supposed to be. Well worth watching to the end. Concentration is key though.