THX-1138

[ijon]

I have a real liking for well done surrealism, and the above named movie was always a favorite, but there's something really strange about the recent DVD release.
It has major additional cgi effects which, personally, I don't think fit the movie at all. At points it feels as if Lucas was trying to go back and turn it into "Star Wars: Episode Zero."
But what felt really strange to me was that nowhere in the commentary track, or anywhere else for that matter, are these major changes acknowledged.
Anybody else have thoughts on this?

[ijon]

Doc, is it surreal movies you hate, or THX in particular? "Beyond the Infinite" is pretty surreal, but admittedly at comes at the end of a very matter-of-fact movie.


But field it more generally then: should a director go back and make major changes to a movie from 30 years back? He has a right to, but my own social philosophy is that we should be allowed to do many things but nevertheless choose not to.

Let me give an example. During THX's first scene in the unit-chapel there's a cut to a lizard perched among bundles of wiring. I always interpreted that as indicating that this society has tried to supplant nature with technology, but nature is too adaptable and continues to exist in the interstices. Lucas explains his idea of the shot as being symbolic of THX as a natural organism imprisoned in a technological environment. Fair enough, as Joel once said, "It can be all those things and more."
But in this new cut Lucas has added cgi fairy wings and antennae to the lizard. The Hell? Seems to me it undercuts his own interpretation of the scene. Lizards are natural, but sorta lizard/butterfly/fairyish thingies ain't. Maybe this here thang eats insulation and is in a smorgasbord rather than a prison.

OK, again I stipulate that it's his movie, and he's free to remake it into THX-1138 1/2 if he pleases. But if the commentary track acknowledged that it had been done, comparing the old and new, that would be one thing. But his pointedly glossing over the fact the changes were made has an almost creepy "Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia" feeling.

Anyway, that's my six or eight cents worth.

[Chuck]

admin said:

I hated THX anyway, so I wouldn't care.

Did you see it on video or projected in a theater? With THX, it makes all the difference in the world. I loved it in the theater, and I HATE it on video.

[ijon]

As for directors messing with their old work, I honestly don't care as long as the original version is still avaliable. George Lucas, sadly, is trying pretend his original work doesn't exist and makes you buy the "enhanced" crap whther you like it or not. It is for this reason, and this reason only, that I have lost a lot of respect for Lucas. Spielberg, for example, released ET on DVD with his updated version AND the old version. This I have no problem with.

Yeah, I think I can sign on to that. Even had I liked the changes I'd want the original version there for comparison.