THX 1138
DIRECTORS CUT

THX 1138 DVD Rating - A

STARS:
Robert Duvall 
Donald Pleasance 
Don Pedro Colley 
Maggie McOmie 
Ian Wolfe

Directed by George Lucas
Executive Producer - Francis Ford Coppola
Story by George Lucas 
Screenplay by George Lucas & Walter Murch

I watched this film as a young adult and  I just couldn't get through it. The sound track was horrible, and the movie just moved so slow. So it wouldn't be expected of me to tell you now how great the film is. It's not. 

George Lucas's directors cut of THX 1138 looks excellent. He's gone the extra mile getting the DVD ready. There's even some new special effects for the film. I am more into films these days and have sat through some real crap when nothing else was on, so I was able to watch the entire film this time around. The movie moves along at such a slow pace the viewer gets bored. What action there is takes place towards the end of the film but lacks any real excitement.

THX 1138 is one of Lucas' early films done in 1970, just 7 years before Star Wars. Francis Ford Coppola was executive producer on the film. Coppola is still producing projects today some 30 plus years later. 

VIDEO
The video quality is an easy 9 out of 10. The images are sharp and the colors vibrant. While most of the film uses black and white material the colors when used are almost piercing.  There's no pixelation or wash out throughout the film. 

AUDIO
The audio is likely is clear with no fades or garble. Being from the 70's the films audio is extremely limited and won't push your surround system to any audible limits or impress you at all. But the sound is good. 

EXTRAS 
George has issued bonus material disc with his THX 1138 director's cut. It contains four featurettes and the movie trailers. 
* A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope
* Artifact from the Future: The Making of THX 1138
* Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB George Lucas's Student Film
* BALD Classic Featurette 
* Trailers

OVERALL VIEW 
I still think THX 1138 is a cinematic bore. But Lucas' new letterbox cut of the film looks excellent on the DVD. 

While watching the film I was often reminded of the death star scenes from Star Wars. The way the interior scenes were shot were like the scenes Lucas used on the death star. Many of the sound effects from THX 1138 were used in Star Wars seven years later. 

If your a Lucas fan you'll buy it. The casual viewer may find this nothing more than a rental item. Many will find the film unique and even purchase the disc. Either way the DVD quality is excellent. 

THX 1138 DVD Rating - A

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