THX 1138 (1971)

Director: George Lucas
Starring: Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Don Pedro Colley

Synopsis:
A common worker in a tightly regulated and chemically controlled society strays from the rules and becomes an outlaw.

Impressions:
I've seen bits and pieces of this movie over the years, but I'd never sat all the way through it. Even though George Lucas managed to lose a lot of capital with his fans in recent years, I still recognize his contributions and significance to both film and popular culture. As such, it seemed almost obligatory to watch his first feature film, which is actually an expanded remake of a short student film. It's an interesting world that's created, a sterile whitewashed dystopia of empty materialism, drug-induced placidity and constant surveillance. It may well have more relevance now than it did then. It might've been interesting to see Lucas develop on this darker side of scifi along with the throwback space opera that is Star Wars. Robert Duvall hadn't yet become a star when he made this, but he's solid as the titular THX and Donald Pleasence is intriguingly creepy as SEN. It's a slow movie and there's not much excitement to be had, even during the climax, so it may wear on the less patient viewer. It's not perfect by any means, but it's an interesting film and an important one. Any Star Wars fan should take a look at Lucas' roots and anyone who likes dystopian scifi should also get something out of it.

If at all possible, avoid the 2004 director's cut. Lucas is at it again, tampering with his films adding bad incongruous CG and such. I imagine the theatrical cut is hard to come by through normal channels, though.

Rating:
Watch It