Shandor reacts to THX 1138 (1971) - FIRST TIME WATCHING!!!

[@Blue-qr7qe]

Thanks so much for this one, Shandor. I saw this in the theater when it was released. I was twenty-one. 'loved it's dire message.'So glad you enjoyed it. Please keep them coming.

[@robabiera733]

That's Frank Lloyd Wright's Marin County Civic Center - used for both "THX 1138" and "Gattaca".

[@dansiegel333]

Thanks for bringing more attention to this film!

[@RichardSchaefer-zx9ig]

Enjoyed your reactions to THX1138. I saw this Freshman yr. college @ a Fri. movie in a large science lecture hall. It was quite a shock @ the ending when you realized everything that had happened in the movie had been underground. Thanks for showing. Haven't seen this since 1st viewing. Still holds up. I'll watch whole film .

[@wilhelm-z4t]

I first saw this in my early teens. It was some late-night movie on tv. I remember thinking it was interesting, but terribly depressing and not a little frightening. The future is dystopian. THX 1138 is arguably free at the end, but can he survive in the outside world? It doesn't look promising. He's definitely a tragic hero. By not taking drugs, they were "unplugged" from the "Matrix" and saw the world as it was but could no longer function in that world. When they got caught in the stampede really brought that home. Really, everybody was a robot, not just the police. I remember watching "Star Wars" and having the epiphany that C3PO was inspired by the police from "THX 1138." Of course, Lucas often references the string "THX 1138" in his films.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Great sci-fi. I hadn't watched it some time when I saw your reaction. Great observations in your analysis. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@angelagraves865]

I thought I was alone in liking this one more than Star Wars. SW was a great technical achievement, but this one has more depth, imo. ✌🏽

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

This had some strong influences on the Aeon Flux animated show from the '90s. It's also "throw you in the deep end" stuff, and adds up to great sci-fi. Amazing visual style.

[@RenfrewPrume]

Excellent insightful reaction to one of my favorite SF movies. I saw this when it came out, and, like you, I prefer it over “Star Wars.” It does repay many rewatches because it is so rich in its story and visual style. As you say, it originally did poorly at the box office. I think that was because people were confused by the innovative, “mosaic” narrative, with seemingly disconnected scenes. Also, this went so far beyond any previous dystopian SF film that the general public was, I believe, too frightened and turned off by its vision. BTW, that was the great character actor Donald Pleasance playing SEN. Favorite scenes include the operator who covers up her mistake in administering the mindlock, the chillingly casual voiceover when an instructor is teaching someone how to manipulate THX’s body, and THX relaxing by watching the TV show with the robot repeatedly clubbing a prisoner. My father, a huge SF fan, found this movie so shockingly insightful and grim that he soon after gave up SF, telling me that the real world was becoming too much like a science fiction story.

[@HT-io1eg]

I’d say a capitalist utopia, work and consume. That’s the message

[@reddevilunited77]

Probably my favorite George Lucas film. This is the special edition which has been updated the way the original Star Wars movies were. A few of the cgi cut scenes are out of place but overall it stays true to the original. Definitely an amazing achievement considering the budget and technology at the time.

[@robertjewell9727]

Fascinating film, eh? Every shot reveals all sorts of foreshadowing within the foreboding oppressive atmosphere. Lucas' next film American Graffiti has believe it or not similar themes, but done in a more comedic yet very realistic way, my personal favorite of Lucas ' films. Producer Francis Coppola said to Lucas after THX, 'You think you can make a film that's not so cerebral?' And he did. Have you seen it? Like you I have similar feelings about Star Wars so I've no issues with you preferring this film in that its visials are not action vased, but more designed to evoke characters although Star Wars does this as well, but like I say, the editing is to promote thrills rather an audience really analyzing a dystopian world and what might lead to it. The first Star Wars i thought was great, but then it turned into an action-packed space soap opera. THX, AG and SW all deal with similar idess about individual freedoms and decisions so they reeally are the best Lucas trilogy.

[@joerenaud8292]

There are other hidden Gems out there like Soylent Green, 1975 Rollerball, Scanners, Black Christmas, Videodrome, 1968 Planet of the Apes, 1987 Prince of Darkness, 1982 Tron, Capricorn One, The Car, Repo Man 1984, Vanishing Point 1971.

[@stevesheroan4131]

Vanishing Point and Rollerball in particular have very similar themes and tone to this. I’d actually put Death Race 2000 in the lot as well, as crazy as that may sound. It’s way more schlocky of course, but it has some good dystopia.

[@perrymalcolm3802]

Great and genuine Sci-Fi, not what passes for it these days! Before Lucas went all hyper OCD, he was a really great storyteller and filmmaker. I’m on of the very few who wish he’d stopped Star Wars after the first one n given us more great films like this! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@jaymesguy239]

Interesting take on this movie. You might like "Logan's Run", (1976). It's lower IQ, but visually it works even better. This movie didn't quite do it for me. The 'ah-HA' moment was lacking, but it was interesting. I can now see that the makers of "Logan's Run" took some points from this film.

[@joerenaud8292]

Congratulations on watching a movie very few people have ever watched, especially Star Wars fans, which I too am not a fan of but this movie was always the exception to me because it reeks of pretty much a large percentage of movies that depict oppressive regimes that seem benign, when all they really are is controlling. I especially love all the sound effects and the music seemed almost angelic. George Lucas himself said all his following movies have small parts reminiscent from this one, such as Chewy is from planet THX1138. The amount of reactors who have reacted to this move here on YT could easily be counted on one hand, that's how far ahead you are on the "aware" scale Shandor. Star Wars is like shooting a western movie in outer space, whereas THX went completely underground and it stayed there to this day. What a shame.

[@fronkykoko]

If you like this check out 'Logan's Run' which came out just before Star Wars...

[@beachcomber1505]

It would be great if you reacted to "The Andromeda Strain". Cool SciFi virus film

Not perfect but a great movie, a must watch.

[@MrGadfly772]

You should watch "American Graffiti" sometime. It was a surprise hit and provided George Lucas the credibility to do Star Wars. "THX 1138" may have been his first film but "American Graffiti" was his second. Your off-the-cuff remark about Socialism made me think that perhaps you need to read more about socialism. There are many. many varieties. This film also really mirrors what they have been talking about in Davos. Klaus Schwab, the big guru of Davos, said that in the future "You will own nothing and be happy." Meanwhile Elon Musk is creating a chip that goes in your brain. He assures people that it will not interfere with free will. But should we believe him? Thank you for this review. You watch very interesting movies, and your thoughts are very intriguing.

[@2old4gamez]

George Lucas crippled the tone of this film with his heavy handed directors cut. The original theatrical release was pure dystopia, the directors cut has lost that vibe entirely.

[@ludovicoc7046]

Avoid the sequel--THX 1139.

[@janna2245]

You do realize that THX is going to die. No food, water, shelter