THX 1138 (1971) User Reviews (265)

"Drug Abstinence Felony"

[tim-764-291856 · 8/10 · 10 April 2012]

In George Lucas' 1971 view of 25th century "life", it's not the taking of drugs that lands you in trouble with the 'chrome robots' (police) but the NOT taking of them, for this is a chemically controlled population and environment. And, as ever, a couple of rebels try to break free from these chains....

Robert Duval (THX1138) goes through withdrawal symptoms as he stops the pill-popping, gets his libido back and makes love to his mate, LUH (Maggie McOmie). In a CCT governed environment these felonies don't go unnoticed and THX1138 is charged with sexual deviancy and drug abstinence. It soon comes clear that his sentence will be death and his body used for organ transplantation.

Naturally, Duval and other inmates of the 'detention unit' decide to escape, through the labyrinth of tunnels and with about the only action in the entire film, in futuristic cars, all the while, the soul-less robot policemen in pursuit use pleasant pre-recorded warnings.

I'd not seen or heard of THX1138 until looking up George Lucas on the IMDb. Then, I wondered if a snippet of memory from decades ago of a nude couple in a huge white void being approached by robots was one of the very same. And, yes, so it was, and is. I don't know when, or where I'd seen it before, but the pertinent thing was, that it had imprinted something indelible into my psyche.

Which is a mark of a good film. Not the chases at the end, which to many seem to be the only bits worthy of mention. To me, it is the minimalist, art-house sets that are both the most disturbing and memorable, of rows and rows of technicians and lab assistants. The story now, has been used a lot by now so that it's hardly original, but back 41 years ago (yes!, almost as old as I am) it must have painted a very chilling picture indeed.

It's also quite a dour, solemn picture; contrast that to say, 'Logan's Run', that at least some semblance of freedom on the outside that the couple had sampled and wanted to bring back to their City. I won't spoil those who've not seen THX how code no. 1138 fares and whether he finds freedom, or not.

Overall, a sobering, intelligent and superbly designed film rather than a great epic, far-reaching odyssey that Lucas was to move onto, of course. There are big hints at Lucas' genius at work here, this being his debut release, such as the robotic policemen and the ideas that he was to take into Star Wars.

One then, for the George Lucas fan club and for sci-fi enthusiasts. Mainstream audiences may well be a bit bored and baffled. The script is often confusing, with either nothing said and visuals only to tell us what's going on or, as with the rantings of Donald Pleasance in the Detention Unit, distracting and unnecessary to the story. These faults aside, this is a good sci-fi film, one to jostle the mind and a good grounding from which Lucas made such an epic career.

George Lucas presents a grim Kubrick-style vision of the future - "Star Wars" fans will be surprised!

[MovieAddict2016 · 8/10 · 12 February 2005]

This is simply a solid, well-made film, produced on a low budget and directed by George Lucas based on his early student film of (roughly) the same title. (Which is included on the Director's Cut edition of the DVD.) Fans of "A Clockwork Orange," "1984," "Brazil," and similar films about oppressive bureaucracies will love this. It's a grim and gritty vision of the future in which people are controlled and monitored (think Big Brother on a large scale). Robert Duvall (THX 1138 being his "assigned name") breaks the laws of the world by falling in love, engaging in sex and therefore rebelling, placing him and his love in danger.

This is a very clear moral story and allusion to politics and so on and so forth. It excels as both story and study. Duvall gives a good performance (his breakthrough role in "The Godfather" would come next year) but the real surprise here is Lucas, who goes for a Kubrick-like edge to his film that really separates it from his later work. You won't believe this is from the guy who created Jar-Jar Binks.

If anyone accuses George Lucas of being the schmaltzy sell-out he has now become, direct them to this film in order to prove that, at one point in his life, he really did have a bleak outlook on life and the future, and it didn't start with the words "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...".

2004 - More Than a Curiosity Piece

[GRMacE · 8/10 · 20 August 2004]

This movie has been seen by most film buffs many, many years ago on late night TV. If you are like me, it was an interesting film purely as a reference point for a young George Lucas. If you remembered it at all, it was for the use of white space and the long periods during which almost nothing discernible happens.

Well, it is almost 35 years later (35 YEARS!) and for reasons best known to film and DVD marketers, George Lucas has pulled it out of the vaults. Instead of just transferring the original print to new film stock, Lucas has re-cut several critical scenes; added a tasteful bit of CGI; zipped up the sound track and film score; and, best of all, turned it into the best reason yet for digital projection. Whether this is the original version he had in his head as a 26-year-old or one that he has fleshed out over the years is sort of beside the point. What is on the screen now is definitely worth your $10.

Yes, it is still a bit tedious at times (in a '2001: A Space Odyssey' kind of way) and, yes, the plot holes and infamous continuity issues are still there.

But, Wow! The plot is a weird stew in which an allegorical Adam and Eve story is crossed with 'Brave New World.' (The Catholic act of confession will never be the same after you see it re-imagined here.) The crystal clear cinematography is a revelation. The characters' multiple layers are wonderful. Donald Pleasence's performance as the would-be leader/rebel is downright creepy. The way the camera lingers on a scene rather than quick cutting for effect is a welcome relief. This is adult subject matter and it is not what you expect out of Lucas. You have to ask why he didn't pursue themes like this in later films. (Who knows, maybe the upcoming Darth Vader fest will return us to the dark side.)

Be forewarned, this is not a casual film that you can sit back and munch popcorn while it plays out in front of you. This is definitely art-house fare by a young director finding his chops.

Many of the message boards and most of the reviews of this film point out how many elements carry over to later Lucas films. (C3PO, the climactic chase scene, drones in service to masters, etc.) For me, the touchstone is not for Lucas, but for the Executive Producer, Francis Ford Coppola. Many of the themes explored in THX show up in Coppola's 'The Conversation' three years later. Gene Hackman's Harry Caul character is a clone of Robert Duvall's loner forced to confront a faceless progenitor. See if you don't agree.

Though they are releasing the film to theaters ahead of the DVD release, the place to see it is in a theater with digital projection. Similar to 'Lawrence of Arabia,' much of the action takes place in the far corners of the scene and I can't imagine seeing this on anything less than a very large HDTV screen.

Huxley and Orwell meet the French New Wave

[grendelkhan · 18 September 2004]

George Lucas has a fairly small body of work, as a director; and most of it is fairly simplistic, except this film. Lucas' first feature is steeped in the French New Wave mode of philosophical musings and strange visuals. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily make for an exciting film. However, there are enough intriguing ideas to sustain some interest, although you do have to fight off the boredom factor.

Lucas is, and has always been, a visual filmmaker. He is not great with actors and his films aren't noted for their performances, except American Graffiti. That was a more personal film, and Lucas probably had a clearer idea of the characters thoughts and emotions. Here, emotions are stifled by drugs and the wooden performances reinforce this.

According to Lucas, the film is the story of escape, told in three different forms: an escape from the drugs that keep people in check, an escape from a prison with no visible barriers, and an escape from the city itself. The final sequence contains most of the action, but is marred by the budget constraints.

Robert Duvall commands attention when he is on screen, but you never really feel like you get to know THX. Donald Pleasance, as SEN, provides a nice turn as the antagonist, of sorts. The rest of the cast is fairly forgettable, with only minor moments. The philosophical underpinnings of the film are often lost in pretension, the same flaw which hit the Matrix in its sequels. Lucas could have delivered his message in a far simpler fashion, probably with greater result. Still, the film does have its interesting moments and memorable ideas and images. The robot police are quite chilling, although they are used sparingly. The white prison is quite unsettling as well. The final escape is the most riveting sequence of the film.

The new DVD has Lucas' trademark tinkering. Only this time, the alterations help to add scope to the film. The city scenes are expanded to add complexity to the environment that was missing in the original. There are no fundamental story changes, as in the Star Wars Special Edition (Greedo shoots first). The commentary and featurettes help the viewer to understand the intent of the story and help to establish the context in which it was made. Lucas makes a statement that he would like to return to this kind of film. Given the disappointing nature of the Star Wars prequels, I wouldn't mind seeing Lucas take another crack at a more cerebral sci-fi story. My only request is that he works with a great scriptwriter.

Lucas demonstrates great vision in an okay film

[Movie_Muse_Reviews · 6/10 · 18 May 2009]

Before "Star Wars," George Lucas had another vision of the future, particularly in a long time from now in a galaxy that happens to be our own. "THX 1138" is his Distopia film, his "1984" or "Brave New World." It's directly inspired from those works, borrowing the ideas of drugs to sedate human emotion (Brave New World) and sex being illegal (1984). It's a visionary work, not a revolutionary one, but for the early 70s, it impresses. Lucas manages to bring his concept to life, even if it's not exactly as thrilling or interesting as what the Star Wars saga would be.

THX 1139 (Robert Duvall) is an ideal member of this "utopian" community where religion means stay calm and do as you're told. When his roommate, LUH, begins to change out his sedatives with other pills, he begins to fall in love with her. Consequently, the "big brother" equivalent finds out, and THX is taken captive.

"THX" can be boring at times. Though you can tell Lucas has put a lot of thought into this world, he doesn't care to offer any help to those struggling to make sense of it. There is no clarification dialogue -- you have to pay close attention to the images and surroundings to understand it. This is admirable, but makes things difficult for most viewers. The film therefore drags at points not necessarily because what's going on isn't interesting, but the viewer is missing contextual help to illuminate the action on screen.

Fans of the genre will appreciate Lucas' contribution and his imagination, but probably not love it. The themes are light and the drama low. There's no sense of danger or incredibly sympathy for the main characters. One thing to note is not to watch the Special Edition. As Lucas loves to do, the SE goes back and adds CGI to the film, which is a travesty. Part of what makes these movies so great is that they offer a vision of the future from the perspective of 30 years ago and today's technology doesn't interfere. Do your best to get a non-remastered copy.

Was loving it... was loving it... hated it.

[rooprect · 6/10 · 6 August 2007]

===EDIT: The following review was written before I knew the extent of the cgi doctoring that Lucas added recently. These are the "cheap action scenes" I'm talking about below. If you can find a copy of the original undoctored THX-1138, that's the one to watch.===

Aw man. This film had so much promise. It starts out abstract, minimalist, challenging and poetic. It gets deeper, more bizarre and artistic. But then it suddenly degenerates into a cheap action flick with hi-tech car chases, and it ends with the most simplistic, meaningless resolution. Total letdown.

It's as if Hamlet's famous soliloquy went:

"To be, or not to be: that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows... and CARS! and MOTORCYCLES! and fast whizzy things BAM!! The End!!!!"

I suspect that Lucas began this film with a fantastic premise & with artistic intent, but then he suddenly realized "hey wait, I don't know what I'm doing. How do I end this damn thing?" True, it's an interesting dystopian drama. George must've been reading a lot of Kurt Vonnegut when he filmed this. Yes, it's very much in the style of 2001: A Space Odyssey. George must've been watching a lot of Kubrick. But that's where it ends. George fails to present anything original. And as it unravels into a simplistic action flick in the last 20 minutes, you realize that George has been fooling you for the last hour and a half. Literally, it ended, and I said out loud, "Uh... is this where Lucas got bored and stopped filming?"

Still, I have to give him an "A" for effort. Like most of the other reviewers, I was blown away by the fact that George Lucas was capable of this type of abstract poetry. With the exception of those cheezy action scenes (which I'm sure Lucas added ex post facto, like he did with Star Wars + CGI) it is reminiscent of the old Michael Crichton films (Andromeda Strain, Westworld) with maybe a dash of Rollerball.

The early 70s was a wonderful time for scifi, because all the directors were scrambling to emulate Kubrick's masterpiece. But like this film, the effort ran out of gas and eventually slumped into plot-driven cheese. What is so frustrating is that Lucas could have made something truly great if he had just followed up on Donald Pleasence's cryptic ramblings midway. Unfortunately, he chose to go in the other direction, and the film ends with no dialogue for the last 20 minutes. Instead we get a lot of (ex post facto CGI) special effects and chase scenes. What a shame. We literally see before our eyes the unfortunate turning point of Lucas' career.

In space, sometimes a nebula--for all its swirling promise--never quite consolidates itself into a star. This movie, like Lucas, like the failed nebula, is the big one that got away.

P.S. George, if you're listening, please stop adding "new" special effects to the old films! You're not impressing anyone. You & Ted Turner both...

the first Lucas - a visionary sci-fi movie

[dromasca · 9/10 · 26 November 2004]

The first big screen commercial film of George Lucas 'THX 1138' is now back in a re-made production. I did not yet form a clear opinion about directors re-visiting their films decades after the original production. It's certainly their right to do it, but I cannot refrain from suspecting that this shows some sort of dilution of their creative force. In other words, I would rather prefer George Lucas doing something completely new, rather then re-doing old films of his.

However, 'THX 1138' is a visionary movie, almost a masterpiece. I liked it. It is one of the first Orwellian films in describing a world of the future controlled by an omni-present mind-control machine. These theme means a lot of me, and for many people who have spent part of their lives in a system that tried to create 'a new man' by using a system of control and repression that was targeting towards suppression of individual freedom and personality. What is however very strong in 'THX 1138' is the visual quality of the world created by Lucas. This is what cinema is for, this is what real art is about - creating a new world from existing materials, transporting the viewers in an alternate world of the future using the cinema art means. Although realized about 20 years before computer graphics in films, the vision is fresh and impressing.

An ageless Robert Duvall does here one of the best roles of his career. Donald Pleasance is a very good counter-part. I liked very much Maggie McOmie, how does it come that this film did not launch her in a star career? It actually looks like this is the only film she did, according to IMDb.

The extra features on the DVD are interesting and bring a lot of new information for fans of science fiction, of the 70s films and of Lucas. The film itself gets 9 out of 10 on my personal scale.

Hardly profound, but interesting enough for at least one viewing.

[TOMASBBloodhound · 7/10 · 14 December 2005]

THX 1138, as we all probably know, was the first official film of George Lucas. It was made largely while he was still a film student, and it was actually produced by Francis Ford Coppola. For a first film, it is a rather impressive effort, but it's hardly 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The film centers around the life of THX 1138 who is played by Robert Duvall. He is a man living in a futuristic society where everyone is drugged up, nobody is allowed to have sex, and big brother always seems to be watching. Citizens are expected to just take their meds and conform. Order is kept by a bunch of chrome-plated robots dressed as police officers. They speak softly but carry big sticks to keep people in line. People are constantly being reminded over loud speakers to increase productivity and remain cost-efficient. There is some semblance of religion, but it's hardly compelling as a source of strength to these future citizens. The world which we are shown seems to be entirely underground and synthetic. Emotion is not encouraged, and the meds help with that aim.

We see THX go through his usual routines. He appears to work at an assembly plant where the police robots are constructed. It's dangerous work, and we see a meltdown occur in a nearby facility in one of the best early scenes of the film. The work is apparently too stressful for a person to do it unless they're highly sedated. THX 1138 is experiencing some personal problems the society cannot tolerate. He and his female roommate have been going off their meds, and having sexual relations. They are about as in love as two people can be in this strange world, and the powers that be quickly try to re-program THX 1138, and take him away from his woman. All of this happens within the first half hour. What follows is mostly ponderous, and the story drags somewhat.

THX 1138 is placed in a virtual prison with others who cannot seem to conform. One of these persons is played by Donald Pleasance. He has designs to lead the others out of their prison, but we find that he can only talk the talk. When the possibility of escape is presented to him, he panics and tries to get back inside the only world he knows. Our hero THX 1138 simply "keeps his wits about him" and climbs out of the city to a freedom we can only speculate about.

The film has its strengths. Considering the limited budget it had, the film is an absolute treat in terms of its appearance. The color white is certainly dominant in the sterile society these people live in. Lucas even at this early stage of his career showed his ability to dazzle the audience with sound. The film has a unique kinetic energy in some scenes, but then goes flat as a pancake in others. The CGI that Lucas added for the director's cut is unnecessary, but pleasant to look at.

The story needed some buffering. Even at 88 minutes, you may be tempted to hit the FF button. There are a few scenes that really don't amount to much, and many questions are left unanswered. Lucas obviously had 2001 in mind when you consider some of the ambiguity we are presented with. The conclusion of THX 1138 is in some ways a rebuttal to the ascension of man's intellect we saw in 2001. In THX 1138, the objective seems to be for the hero to break away from the futuristic society and retreat back to a more primitive existence.

I guess I'd give it 7 of 10 stars. What we needed was more plot added; not more CGI images! The Hound.

A piece of art!

[Boba_Fett1138 · 10/10 · 6 March 2005]

This movie truly is a piece of cinematic science-fiction art. People who say the last couple of years that George Lucas is a bad writer and director should be forced to go and watch this movie.

The movie is very artistic and therefor is not really that watchable for everybody. Fans of the science-fiction genre however will love this movie. Star Wars fans will also notice some subtle things and elements in this movie, that Lucas later used, mostly in "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope".

A lot of professional people were involved in this brilliant serious big movie debut by George Lucas. Producer Francis Ford Coppola, composer Lalo Schifrin, Walter Murch and actor Donald Pleasence. Robert Duvall plays the main part in the movie but he was a fairly unknown actor at the time. Donald Pleasence really was a wonderful actor and he shows that once more in this movie. Robert Duvall also really is excellent as the main character THX 1138.

The story really is secondary in this movie. It's all about the visuals. The special effects in this movie were also surprising good especially when considering that this movie was made in 1971.

The movie also knows to be tense at the right times and the end chase is pretty spectacular and nicely done.

I for one truly love this perfect piece of visual art. Not a movie for everyone though.

10/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

George Lucas's first movie about a futuristic world in which society is robotized and love is forbidden

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 15 July 2015]

Set in the futuristic 25th century in the ¨1984¨ moody vein , it describes the automatism and slavery of a robotic future whose terrifying vision comes to life . Mankind lives under the surface of Earth where lifelike androids carry out survey and control of slaved people with drugs used to limit their will and they confess at confessional booths . The story centers around a man and a woman who rebel against their rigidly controlled society under command of robotlike where sex is prohibited and love is the ultimate crime . There in a totalitarian future society in which everything looks the same , a man whose daily work is a mechanical routine attempts to rebel by falling in love . As a valiant who handles radioactive materials in a factory begins to have thoughts of rebellion and love for a fellow member . Who controls the present controls the past .

Dystopian as well as imaginative story which a futuristic , state-run society controlled by a superior robotized intelligence and it packs a polemic denounce to totalitarianism . "THX 1138" is a workmanlike rendition based on an interesting screenplay from George Lucas and Walter Murch that captures the desolation and misery within a terrible future world . This thought-provoking as well as visually breathtaking film boasts vicious robots , intelligent but submitted humans who attempt to flee and a trick ending that is intriguing and unique . George Lucas has worked the title of this film , or parts of it, in some of his other film ; in American Graffiti (1973), the license plate of one car is "THX 138". In Star Wars (1977), a reference is made to "prison cell 1138" ; the cinema sound certification his company developed is called "THX". Impressive as well as evocatively atmospheric production design has been rendered with meticulous attention to period detail , the underground chase near the end was shot in a not-yet-completed segment of the subway system in San Francisco ; in addition , numerous scenes were inspired by Japanese theater, design and graphics . Very good acting by Robert Duvall as a human slave who finds himself stuck in a rebellion of the Earth of the future , he is a tragic figure who dares to fall in love within a totalitarian society where emotions are outlawed . Supported by Donald Pleasence who is perfect , as usual . Furthermore , brief appearances from Sid Haig , Ian Wolfe , Don Pedro Colley , Johnny Wissmuller Jr and David Ogden Stiers's film debut . The picture is rated : ¨PG¨, Parents Guide , for violence , nudism and some strong scenes .

George Lucas's original plan was to shoot the film in Japan , but Francis Ford Coppola did not give Lucas enough money in the film's budget to take the entire production to Japan , the feature was shot in San Francisco and Los Angeles . Adequate as well as strange musical score by Lalo Schifrin , usual composer of the seventies , and the music playing during the end credits is the first movement from Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244 . And many of the electronic sound effects heard throughout the film are derived from telephone dial tones, pitch-shifted and electronically modified . The motion picture was well produced by Francis Ford Coppola , his first film for American Zoetrope , and compellingly directed by George Lucas , pre-Star Wars , and he considers to be one of the greatest achievements of his career . This film was made as a result of George Lucas's student film short project at USC, being an expanded of a prize-winning featurette . George Lucas , subsequently , would go on with big successes such as American Graffiti and many others . This is a superior science-fiction movie that will appeal to cinema buffs and interested in to watch an example of the kind of work filmmaker Lucas was doing at the beginning .

Failed to Connect

[view_and_review · 5/10 · 8 January 2020]

THX 1138 is some early dabbling in sci-fi by George Lucas. I wouldn't say it was a failure, but I will say that in comparison to Star Wars it looks like the day after Burning Man.

The biggest problem with the movie to me was connection--or more accurately, its failure to connect. I didn't fully understand what was going on and that can be for one of several reasons. Eliminating viewer intellect as a reason for misunderstanding the onus has to fall on the writer and/or director, which in this case was Lucas on both counts.

Either he assumed we'd pick up on the jargon and the action as the movie progressed or he didn't care whether or not we picked up on the jargon and the action. THX 1138 went the way of artsy and esoteric thereby leaving behind us simpler viewers that are looking for a story and a plot that we can actually grasp.

I could fathom that the movie is a dystopian future movie in which we are over reliant upon technology. From what I did catch, we have been turned into workers and consumers with no other freedoms besides working and consuming. The world the people were living in was a sanitized monochromatic world devoid of nature. But I was only able to snatch a few words here and there to give me direction and understanding-- far too little to give me appreciation.

As I mentioned, there was a connection issue. I failed to connect with the story or the characters, which are two major necessities. If a movie can't connect you to its plot and its characters then it will lose you. This movie lost me.

WHAT'S WRONG??? Subterranean Homesick Human.

[dpantz74 · 10/10 · 2 October 2004]

I'm going to keep it simple..."THX-1138" is no doubt, one of the best sci-fi films ever...and probably one of the most important...it's a strong contender to Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", and "THX-1138" could easily be a sequel to "2001".

Personally, I think that George Lucas should've went into this direction instead of the direction he chose with his "Star Wars" films, which, many (legions of geeks) would argue, is his best work. But "THX-1138" is significantly a different kind of film experience altogether.

It's not overblown, or over budget, and it doesn't feature any cloyingly cute or overtly annoying characters to make millions of dollars to merchandise. I can't imagine a Robert Duvall "THX-1138" action figure, but if this film was made after "Star Wars" instead, trust me, Lucas would have probably sold it.

Lucas has made a fortune from a franchise of sci-fi films, that are silly and repetitive of themselves, but with "THX-1138", his first film he managed to create something that he has never come close to doing again. If it wasn't for the style, design and fx of this film THERE WOULD BE NO STAR WARS FILMS PERIOD.

It's a shame this film, even after the release of the director's cut, some thirty odd years later, is still underrated and overlooked. Maybe now that it's on DVD, it will find a new larger audience of appreciative fans.

I still prefer the original version over the director's cut, but I still love this film.

BE HAPPY...BUY MORE...this film is a must see!!!

Cult in the 70's, Boring in the Present Days

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 1 August 2012]

In an undefined future, a dystopian underground society is oriented to production and consumption in the malls. The population is controlled by drugs and people do not feel affection or sympathy for the others. Sexual intercourse are absolutely forbidden and roommates are chosen by the computer. Faceless androids are responsible for the surveillance of the behavior of the dwellers and people pray in Unichapels for their god OMM 0910 that responds through recorded electronic messages.

The worker THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) handles radioactive materials in a factory and lives with his roommate LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie). When she decides to stop using drugs, she becomes lucid and replaces the drugs of her partner for harmless pills. THX becomes emotional again and falls in love with LUH. He plans to escape with LUH to the superstructure, where they expect to live in freedom. But when SEN 5241 (Donald Pleasance) manipulates the computer to live with THX, he reports a complaint to the authorities and SEN is arrested. When THX commits a mistake in his work, the Powers That Be discover that THX and LUH are not taking drugs and having sexual intercourse and they are sentenced to be imprisoned in a weird white place. THX and SEN plan to escape with the hologram SRT (Don Pedro Colley) and THX discover that LUH was killed by the authorities and he decides to find the way out to the surface.

"THX 1138" was a cult-movie in Brazil in the earlier 70's; however watching it again in 2012, I found it a plagiarism of the Logan's Run novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson that was published in 1967 and become a cult-movie in 1976. "THX 11238" is also very similar to George Orwell's "1984"; Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"; and Fritz Lang's "Metropolis".

The narrative is boring in many moments and the excessive white landscapes are tedious. Anyway, this is a film mandatory for any cinema lover or student. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "THX 1138"

Cannot believe how BORING this was!

[billsoccer · 5/10 · 23 December 2020]

Anyone looking for an early George Lucas should be advised to view the first few minutes, then the last 10. The first few will clue you in to the emptiness of the rest of the movie (trust me - NOTHING interesting happens). The last 10 minutes has some CGI, an interesting car chase scene, and an ending which might supply some meaning. In between is a high-school-level movie with acting, scenery and script barely reaching that level. More art-house than anything approaching 1984 and the like

it Stands the Test of Time

[surferdevil-46740 · 7/10 · 2 May 2021]

After all these years this movie never gets old! They did add some extra CGI stuff in the later releases but it really was not necessary.

star wars antithesis

[dbdumonteil · 7/10 · 11 February 2007]

In 1977, George Lucas acceded to fame and fortune when "Star Wars" rode high all over the world. I can easily comprehend many viewers's enthusiasm about this epic saga while not sharing it. For me, "Star Wars" represents the turning point when science-fiction began to seriously regress from an artistic perspective. All Lucas' efforts to create a mythology gave way to childish stories with monotonous, extravagant actions sequences.

Most of "Star Wars" lovers forgot that prior to this cultural phenomenon and even before he embarked on a fruitful career as a producer, George Lucas had signed a personal, pessimistic science-fiction work that showed a more adult direction from him: "THX 1138" (1971). It depicts a humanity living under ground and one will never know the reasons that prompted these bald human beings all dressed in white to live beneath the surface of the earth. Its inhabitants are incapable to feel and live in an artificial way with pills and drugs as diets. This is a nightmarish universe, a mix of George Orwell and Philip K. Dick that Lucas presents us in which religion is of little help (the scene when Robert Duvall has to "confess" is self-explanatory).Lucas' making is very elaborated and captures the stifling atmosphere and the imprisonment that touches all these nameless human beings who can't feel anything and we're queasy while hearing these voices that keep on telling orders and these numbers that scroll on these computer screens. "2001: a Space Odyssey" (1968) was also among Lucas' credentials because like in Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, white is bright and the obsession of control are two central themes in both films. Some elements of the story will also be used in "Star Wars" like the vigilante robots who precede Dark Vader's white robot soldiers. But also, THX 1138's rebellious demeanor against an evil system or even the car chase at the end of the film.

This was a promising practice run from a man who could have been a true auteur. But sadly, Lucas didn't persevere in that way. He said that he had two alternatives: either to elaborate entertaining films, either to make films destined to film libraries. He chose the first one with the results we all know don't we?

This is your life already

[timmeah11 · 9/10 · 29 March 2019]

Working for meaningless objects . taking pills to suppress human nature . conformity .the whole time being unaware that you really have no need for it at all .

Great fodder for film school

[Mr-Fusion · 6/10 · 11 May 2015]

The first time I saw "THX 1138" was back in the '90s (hey, points for being an inquisitive teenager), and I distinctly remember a rap video that "borrowed" the staff-wielding motorcycle cops from the movie. That was one memory about this movie that stuck in my head for almost twenty years. The other is the distinct coldness I felt after watching it. And as an adult, I feel the same way. Cold. I dunno what it says about my I.Q. that I vastly prefer "Star Wars" to this, but . . . eh, what're ya gonna do? That said, this is still worthy of anyone's attention for its technical merits; its inventive use of sound and Lucas' austere visuals. But for me, it's a curious experiment at best. It's a well-realized world, but such clinical environs aren't ones I want to hang around in.

6/10

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

[vic-232 · 9/10 · 12 September 2008]

... George Lucas made a thoughtful, intelligent movie called THX 1138.

Those who prefer space opera to genuine science fiction will be disappointed. "Was he on drugs?" some will wonder. "Why WASN'T he on drugs?" others will protest.

The future dystopia is a staple of the science fiction genre, including such greats as Fritz Lang's "Metropolis," Truffaut's adaptation of Bradbury's "Farenheit 451," and Jean Luc Godard's "Alphaville." THX 1138 belongs in this group of classics.

If you are enough of an immature male to truly enjoy Lucas's interminable "Star Wars" series, you probably will be bored to death with THX 1138. It's most significant special effects generator was the hair clipper used to give all the actors, male and female, that classic antiseptic skinhead look. Nevertheless, it is as socially and intellectually relevant today as it was when Lucas made it back in 1971 -- and, sadly, probably far MORE relevant.

Try it. You just might wish he'd done more like this.

Futuristic environment. A trip farther than tomorrow.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 20 February 2002]

What a way to start a meteoric career. The first major project written and directed by George Lucas. Sci-Fi from the expanding corners of a mastermind. A look so far into the future, it is still timeless. We get a view of a very technical, mechanized society in a subterranean world in the 25th century. Forget looking for a reason or purpose; if there are any questions to be answered...they change with each viewing of this classic. Top shelf Sci-Fi. The cast includes:Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Ian Wolfe and Maggie McOmie. Permission to access is granted.

need to be high or crazy to like it

[midge56 · 1/10 · 24 December 2012]

The idea of depicting a drugged unisex, robot controlled society was promising, but the bad direction, poor screen writing, inaudible dialog & unintelligible storyline made this movie unwatchable. You'd have to be high or crazy to like this film. It is nauseatingly boring with a bad soundtrack & a mumbling, insensible dialog. If not for the Wikipedia review explanation; it still would not have made any sense.

I taped the original & have not seen the upgrade version. I try to watch it every 10 years to see if it gets any better. It doesn't. It always gives me a nauseas headache & I mean that quite literally.

I hear the updated version isn't any better but I hope they at least fixed the soundtrack. It was bad when originally released. I hope Lucas didn't insist on using the grade school style scene wipes for the upgrade like he did on his star wars upgrade.

This film was as boring & lacking a storyline as Kubrick's 2001. Both bored the straight & sober audience to tears. You'd have to be high to tolerate either film. It might have been different if either had a story you could follow (or a soundtrack with dialog you could hear; in the case of this film).

I was surprised the phone company allowed them to film scenes in one of their longlines toll switching Centers. AT&T longlines was the portion of MA Bell which handled the long distance (toll) & international circuits & calls before the breakup. I was astounded that they allowed these actors & metallic robots with metal poles to navigate the equipment aisles & lean thru the racks dangerously close to the circuits. It looks like it might have been the LA longlines office which was an international hub but could have been any phone office toll center or Cama office. These old equipment offices were mostly all replaced by the 80's. Truly the only interesting part of the movie for me with the old phone office nostalgia.

It is almost painful to watch this movie. I really have tried to give it a chance but it never gets any better. I also have to agree with the reviewers who feel the car chase scene was totally out of character for the theme & design of this movie. Cars in an underground, drug controlled community just didn't fit. The ending also should have been extended to show either a lush countryside with bountiful greenery & waterfalls Or conversely, a post apocalyptic wasteland that forced everyone underground to explain the need to create a drug controlled society.

This premise might have a chance if it was totally rewritten & refilmed by a better director than the one-movie theme wonder who has ridden his Star Wars Muppet movie fame for 3 decades. Would it surprise you to learn he didn't invent the laser swords? He lifted that idea from a 60's Robot war movie.

I love good scifi & futuristic themes but I can't recommend this movie. That should have been obvious by my rating. I truly dislike this movie & the terrible job by the director, poor screen writing, awful dialog, poor thematic concept and terrible soundtrack.

THX1138: A combination

[mrdavidpyoung · 9/10 · 19 March 2021]

George Lucas had learned from the future...1948 and Brave New World. Although this film may be slow in places, the story is important. As prophetic as Orwell and Huxley. Ahead of its time in 1971 and even more frightening in 2020. Worth the time. And Robert Duvall. Always good.

Not entirely the Orwell i was expecting

[PeterKurten911 · 6/10 · 25 August 2005]

I encountered this nightmare on DVD while i had already screened "1984". Rarely have i seen such similar movies. Both of them can really be defined as a 'vision of a high-tech totalitarian society where an individual fruitlessly tries to enjoy the newly discovered miracle of love'.

THE GOOD In some fields, "THX" outscores the adaption of George Orwells novel. Robert Duvall is easier to root for than his paedophile counterpart, especially when his acting lives up to his portrayal of Robert E. Lee in "Gods and generals".

Even though it was shaped 13 years earlier, their futuristic world is more convincing , with a slick Klendathu look. Compare the misleadingly interactive Big Brother confession chapels with Orwells propaganda posters. Compare the dual approach to constant video surveillance to never seeing the forces behind it on screen. Decide whether the SS-like Thought Police sends colder shivers down your spine than the officers in THX. Their mouthless metallic faces seem to express different emotions according to their actions, and to the post- T2 generation they are creepily reminiscent of Robert Patrick's most memorable role.

THE BAD Donald Pleasance. He should've either switched parts with Duvall or tried to recreate his Dr. Michaels, also a bald guy in shiny white tights. As Sen-, he's too disgusting to like and too laughable to hate. I won't even waste two phrases on the holographic sidekick. Maybe it was intended not to put THX 1138 up against an adversary of flesh and blood as his real enemy is the system, but even an anti-hero needs a reliable or wisecracking companion. Lovable LUH'd been better: i shall get back to that.

THE UGLY I am facing one dilemma: compare the phony friendliness of the authorities with the openly brute attitude of Minluv. Most of the time, the communist attitude of public service as seen in "THX" works better, but once Duvall has been put in isolation, i'd have preferred to see the authorities drop the charade & get down to some refined psychological and physical torture. Sure, i wouldn't like sitting in the endless blank which serves him as a prison myself, but still.

The Car Chase. The execution is fairly good, although some quarterbacking between Duvall's vehicle and the motorcycles'd have been swell, while you're taking a break from the overall Orwellian calm, where rebellion is indulged in a soothing shawl of human warmth and governmental strikes are quick cuts rather than violent blows. However, is such an atmospheric break defendable ?

A perfectly open ending, what demons from the depths of Hell created thee ? THX 1138 standing all alone of the surface with capturers probably still on his heels on relatively short distance doesn't feel very cheery. The only hint to a happy ending is the sun, but it is a sunset which looks like it'll turn into solid blood any minute. A sunrise would've tipped the balance, but the sunset maintains a torturing equilibrium. This is why LUH should've still been around: an escape as a couple would've been as effective as a sunrise. This is where Orwell is once more the better man: there was simply no escape.

Dull and disappointing science fiction flick

[The_Void · 2/10 · 29 June 2005]

George Lucas will, of course, always be remembered for his masterpiece; the Star Wars series, and for good reason; as he hasn't done much else. While American Graffiti was a nice non-Star Wars film for the man, this one; THX-1138 certainly isn't. For a man who made such a big impact on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genres with Star Wars, you would expect his first foray into those territories to be at least an acceptable film; but this isn't. Plodding along with an astute dullness, it's hard to be left anything but cold by this film. It's obvious that Lucas wanted to throw in as much Sci-Fi as possible into the film, and this has resulted in the movie resembling a mish-mash of science fiction orientated sequences, which comes very much at the expense of the story. The thin plot follows two people, living in the distant future where sex and love in general have been banned, who have found themselves in jail for breaking the laws of the place they live in. They then decide to breakout with the help of some guy they meet in there.

Lucas has seen fit to give the film a style similar to that of Sci-Fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey and this style-stealing is somewhat ironic considering that this is the same man that would go on to revitalise the genre six years later with his masterpiece. The people in the film all sport white uniforms and shaved heads and while this enables Lucas to present a regimented vision of the future that compliments the plot and style of the movie, it also means that none of the actors stand out, and since all of them, even the great Robert Duvall and the normally solid Donald Pleasance, find themselves with not a lot to do; it can't be said that this is an actor's movie. The way that the plot meanders and never really allows the audience the plug into it, is the film's major downfall. Unlike Star Wars, which relied on storytelling to be a success; this movie relies more on atmosphere and visuals and while Lucas can do these things, he's far too set on doing them and this kills the movie. The same thing happened with the first two Star Wars prequels. Overall - a major disappointment!