THX 1138

[Greathinker]

Having watched this film again the other night I became irritated that it might never be shown in its original cut on a home format-- reading DVD Savant's review makes me really want to see what it was like on such a minimalistic level, without hordes of people walking around and what not. I'm convinced there was some magic there in the isolated sets that became lost when Lucas filled everything in. What was he thinking? It's a vague film, prone to much interpretation, like a good short story--why does he have to throw in all these unnecessary details and try to turn it into a novel, so to speak?

The car chase at the end takes the cake. Somehow I doubt Lucas the filmmaker of the 70s would have liked what Lucas the businessman is doing today to his work, at least with THX.

Anyhow, it's been awhile since this release and being that star wars is out with no edits, does anyone think there's a possibility likewise for this film?

[The Invunche]

It would be a nice addition, but the original versions of Star Wars are un-anamorphic and not remastered disc's. I guess Lucas didn't want them to look as good as the new versions.

[Joe Buck]

Lucas is a sick monster. He's more money than man....twisted and evil.

[sevenarts]

It would be a nice addition, but the original versions of Star Wars are un-anamorphic and not remastered disc's. I guess Lucas didn't want them to look as good as the new versions.

he'll redo them in time for next christmas, guaranteed.

[The Invunche]

I doubt it. I'm sure he'll make new versions though.

[Greathinker]

Yeah, funny and strange how Lucas is sounding more and more like that electronic holy figure from the film: "Buy, Buy, Buy. And be Happy."

[Cinesimilitude]

Lucas fought the studio so hard that he became one. He literally commands an empire of talent. I am sure that at some point a documentary will be made about his life and how it all came to be. should be very interesting.

[Mr Sausage]

I recall Lucas mentioning on one of the extra features that he purposefully created an a-typical car chase by not filming it in an exciting manner nor showing the spatial relations between each group on camera. Then he goes and adds for the DVD an extended shot of Duvall's car careening through a crowded street, dodging cars while the camera zips kinetically around, rather like a video game cut-scene.

One hardly knows what to say, except that whatever talent Lucas originally possessed has long since disappeared, and he has been slowly taking his revenge on the artifacts of his past.

[skuhn8]

Absolutely the worst kind of a revisitionist, ol' Georgie boy. Can you imagine an aging painter walking through the MOMA with a paint brush and palette retouching his old works? And yet, this shithead doesn't get completely shat on...or only by eccentric forum members...for doing just that.

[Highway 61]

Huh? Except for the most delusional SW fans, virtually everyone despises Lucas.

[BWilson]

I don't mind the revisions at all. If he wants to do them, so be it. It's interesting to compare the old and new versions.

What I dislike is the suppression of the old version.

[BWilson]

I don't mind the revisions at all. If he wants to do them, so be it. It's interesting to compare the old and new versions.

What I dislike is the suppression of the old version.

[Commander Shears]

I can reluctantly tolerate filmmakers fiddling with their works decades later as long as the original is still available. What bothers me about THX 1138 is that the changes are more than distracting and clearly fake, but they are actually detrimental to the tone and atmosphere of the story. It's just bad filmmaking. The stoic camera and limited sets of the original created a great sense of oppressive claustrophobia, only to have Lucas insert majestic panoramic exteriors, and CGI camera sweeps to link scenes. This picture is the perfect example of Lucas' devolution from filmmaker to effects house CEO.

[exte]

Absolutely the worst kind of a revisitionist, ol' Georgie boy. Can you imagine an aging painter walking through the MOMA with a paint brush and palette retouching his old works? And yet, this shithead doesn't get completely shat on...or only by eccentric forum members...for doing just that.

Except the difference is no one is forcing you to buy any of his releases.

...the perfect example of Lucas' devolution from filmmaker to effects house CEO.

I think that says it.

[skuhn8]

Absolutely the worst kind of a revisitionist, ol' Georgie boy. Can you imagine an aging painter walking through the MOMA with a paint brush and palette retouching his old works? And yet, this shithead doesn't get completely shat on...or only by eccentric forum members...for doing just that.

Except the difference is no one is forcing you to buy any of his releases.

So where's the difference?

[exte]

At the museum, once the original is altered, that's it. If you go back there, you won't get to see the original again. But people still have laserdisc releases, vhs releases and 16mm prints. Just because he pumps out whatever he wants to on new dvd releases or upcoming high definition releases doesn't mean you can't still view the originals. He can't destroy or alter everyone's copy. I think he's free to do as he pleases. Clearly they're not just works of art to him, but gigantic streams of money. He can syphon as he pleases.

Just like when people complained the rear channels were switched and THX issued a statement that truly the audience is listening; I'm sure that was done on purpose. Look at the laserdisc releases. There were many flaws that were eventually 'corrected' and I don't see how a painter cashes in the same way by altering the work, since what's done is done there. Lucas claims to have destroyed the original negative and created a new one, but I don't buy that.

I'm sure this year, being 2007, he'll have something announced for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Plus, he definitely intends on doing both trilogies in 3-D, provided that Avatar doesn't flop.

[Roger_Thornhill]

Lucas fought the studio so hard that he became one.

I'm pretty sure he actually admitted that he became everything he despised in the 60's and 70's, and that even said he became "the Emperor." I'll try to dig that quote up somewhere and confirm it. Does anyone else remember him saying that?

Too bad about Lucas' creative deterioration, he was so good and promising in the 70's. I wonder if the divorce from Marcia was the final nail in the coffin of Lucas' young rebellious self? Although I think that happened after Return of the Jedi, which showed the beginnings of Lucas' decline. Still though, Return of the Jedi is light years beyond the prequels even with those fuzzy little bastards in it.

[Jeff]

Due to be released on Blu-ray on September 7, along with several other Warner sci-fi films.

[captveg]

I actually prefer the 2004 version of THX 1138 over the original cut. Aside from the one overcooked shot of the car chase mentioned above, all the other changes were great improvements, IMO, that really helped improve the starkness/coldness of the environment. Would I like the original version to also be available? Sure. But I'm not losing any sleep over this one.

[Svevan]

I'd love the opportunity to know whether I like the original cut or not. Lucas's suppression of his original cuts is censorship, self-imposed or not.

Is there some easy access to the original cut of THX I don't know of?

[captveg]

I know for sure it was released on VHS, but that's Pan & Scanned I believe. People online seem to say there was a widescreen Laserdisc release.

[Dr Amicus]

There was a widescreen vhs released in the UK - I know because I have a copy (and showed it to students on a Science Fiction course I used to run).

I haven't seen the new version, but I really like the original (one of two Lucas films I have time for...)

[atcolomb]

I know for sure it was released on VHS, but that's Pan & Scanned I believe. People online seem to say there was a widescreen Laserdisc release.

I do have the widescreen laserdisc version and it is the original release version.

[NexAmery]

I recorded THX 1148 when it was shown on one of BBC2's cult double bill's back in the 80's the other film was A Boy & His Dog
Derek Malcolm (an early champion of George Lucas) introduced it. The modifications to the original are puzzling and are distracting more than enhancing. At least with the Dvd release you get to see the original Student film plus the 'Bald' featurette.
Coppola said in a Documentary prior to the release of Phantom Menace. That the massive success of Star Wars was as nothing compared to the talent that George Lucas had. Now he seems determined to remake that movie over and over again.

[atcolomb]

I wish Lucas would release both versions on one set. If Criterion can release 3 different versions of Mr. Arkadin then why not THX...give the viewer a choice to view either one!....