Changes to DVD Version - Detailed w/ Images

[TUX8527]

Hi SEN5241,

Yes, I am a hardcore Fan of THX, and have been since the first time I saw the Film in the mid 80's. I also have the Ben Bova Book, which is very interesting to have, as it features more than what is in the Film.

I see your point that we should be glad that we are getting a DVD Release, especially as (like you said) we are in the minority. And, don't get me wrong, I am glad that a DVD is coming out, it's just that I am also a purist and want things to be the way they were originally.

I look at THX 2238 4EB (And it is 2238, not 1138 as you stated in your Post) as a separate entity to THX 1138. I look upon it as an early concept for what became THX 1138.

If this DVD is going to be yet another chapter in the THX concept, like you say, then should'nt it be given a slightly different name, to state this fact?

Calling it THX 1138 states it's the 1971 Film, therefore it should be exactly that, no changes.

Just my opinion.

[SEN5241]

OK...

I think we all have valid points to ponder and discuss. I think we all agree that we welcome the DVD, we welcome updates even if you view this as a new version, and we all love the original  :lol:

You are correct in your statement about E L being a beginning...
That is my whole point. GL has developed this whole thing for 30+ years.


TUX8527.... Please look at this information:
http://cinema-tv.usc.edu/Archives/lucas/thx.html
and for your viewing pleasure.......



Please note the numbers on the forehead.
I believe it is 1138...not 2238.:wink:

Any news on the real release date? Sept 14th or note ?

SEN

[TUX8527]

Hi SEN5241,

Thanks for Posting the Pic from Electronic Labyrinth. That is very strange that the link you gave actually calls it THX1138 4EB, I have got a GL Documentary on Video that I taped off of the TV a few years ago that clearly stated it as 2238, GL was even interviewed on it! Plus they showed some clips from both versions of the Film.

It was'nt a Documentary just about THX though, it was about his whole Career, I also have a Radio Documantary on Audio Tape somewhere.

Somehow, someone here in the UK has got their facts wrong.

Thanks for showing me the proof, much appreciated.  

As far as I know, the DVD is still slated for Sept 14th ok.

[nickgold]

I will know that this movie is cool if he keeps the shot of the albino lizard.  If he cut that, that's bad.  The albino lizard is KEY.

[POP-0334]

SEN, you're kidding yourself.  George Lucas is lying again.  just like he lied about wanting to write a Star Wars trilogy before Star Wars was made.  he lied!  he's a revisionist.  he wrote Star Wars as a complete movie.  it begin and ended beautifully.  he left darth vader spinning off into the void because he was hoping to be able to make a sequal.  only after the success of star wars did lucas start coming up with this story that he was always planning to make 3 films.

the same thing with indiana jones.  watch the DVDs recently released, watch the interview with Spielberg.  at one point he says (i'm paraphrasing) "well george came to me with this idea for a film" [explains the indiana jones (or i think it was smith at first :)] " and claimed to have ideas for 2 more films.  well that was just pure bull, he had no plans for more movies".

after making the first star wars trilogy george goes and starts saying how he actually meant the movies to look a little different.  he makes the SE's where he actually changes some key scenes (did Han shoot first???)

he added all that unnecessary crap (btw, i could only stand watching star wars SE, maybe empire SE and jedi SE were better).

now he's telling us that back in 1971 he had a different vision for thx, that only now technology has caught up with his "genius vision"?  i call BuLL.  i say the man is a rediculous egomaniac and that's why we'll never see the originals.  he's like a director analogy of Stalin.  he's changing the past.

if michaelangelo came back to life today and said: "you know, i think the mona lisa shouldn't have that smile, that was a mistake" should he be allowed to change the original?  no way.  these are works of art that have been shown to the public, they have become part of film making history.  the original films, vhs, and laserdiscs will deteriorate and disappear and we'll be left only with these damn SE versions.  what's the point?

i think the perfect proof that he's lying about his vision of the film is one i mentioned earlier.  the one where he changed robert duvall's eyes in the mind lock sequence.  you have to be kidding me!  he didn't have the tools or technology to ask duvall to roll his eyes back in 1971???  please.  he's just talking bunk and making crap up and he's no better than those idiots who tried to colorized most black and white films in the late 80s to mid 90s.  why??

i just want the original.  if i can have the original then i'll also gladly pay extra for his SE version so i can compare.  but no, george won't let us have the original.

well those originals do exist in digital form at the ILS studios.  may someone will "leak" them out.  maybe when george passes on, a next of kin will release "the original versions".

ugh.

[SEN5241]

POP....
Seems like you are a little too close to this issue.
I better just let that last posting rest in its place :shock:

You can always boycott the DVD version and maybe even
start a letter campaign to GL? Just a suggestion.

SEN

[POP-0334]

POP....
Seems like you are a little too close to this issue.
I better just let that last posting rest in its place :shock:

You can always boycott the DVD version and maybe even
start a letter campaign to GL? Just a suggestion.

SEN

i did boycott it.  it was in my pre-order queue on amazon since the day it was announced.  it was this website (thx-1138.org) that made me decide to remove it.

and i've written letters and emails to GL since the original Star Wars SE's were released because even back then i had a gnawing feeling he'd kill the original versions and they'd never be available in dvd.  sadly, i was right.

[TUX8527]

Well, that's your choice POP,

I want the original on DVD too, but I am not boycotting this SE, as I want that too.

Personally, I can't see GL taking any notice of your complaints, as he is a law to himself and will do what he wants, regardless of what we want. Sorry, but that's the harsh reality.

Maybe one day we will get the original print on DVD, but, for now, I am gonna have to make do with this new version and just relish in the fact that I have the original on VHS, to watch whenever I want.

[POP-0334]

how ironic that in a way you're behaving just like the "consumers" in the original film :)

buy the red cubes that george is selling you.  consume consume.

anyway, i don't expect anyone to understand me, just wanted a place to vent my frustration, and since this is the thread in which i learned about the dvd changes, i felt it was the right place to speak my mind.

it sounds like you guys think i'm some sort of freak.  well, i didn't see any of the new star wars movies and have no desire to see them.  i don't think much of george lucas.  i think he made 2 great, groundbreaking films in his life, and then rest of his career was all around merchendising and building a legend around himself.

i'm going to go watch some tarkovsky film now.  that's sure to make me feel better ;-)

[TUX8527]

Well, think what you want POP!

But if I was like the average consumer, I would'nt even like THX! As it's not a cool film to like. I would be a Star Wars freak instead! As this Film is cool to like!

I do enjoy Star Wars but it don't make me feel half so good as a good bit of THX!! I rate a lot of films higher than Star Wars! And most of them are'nt box office smashes! I don't care for the media, never have done! I always judge things on their own merit.

With a Film, I only need to see it once to know if I like it, and with music I only need to hear it once. I don't go for image in Music, just the sound.

And, for the record, 99% of modern music that the Media tells us is fantastic, I happen to think is pure bile!!!!!!!

So I am not a consumer type person, just a completist when it comes to my few favourite things, THX being one of them.

[SG]

First off - I am impressed with the images Umberto posted.
I am beginning to wonder if I'll actually enjoy the changes.
But there is a whole different issue and that is the integrity of the original which every one has made excellent points about.

Here's the problem with the whole "GL's final/true vision of his films" arguement:  It's bull.

Just one example:  I'll never forget a brief interview I caught in which Lucas said he wasn't sure whether JarJar would be written into episode 2.
???  If GL has this huge vision how can he nit pick whether or not characters are involved in specific story lines?
And I guess George wanted Obi Wan's light saber to go out while facing off against Vader in SW4 - cuz he didn't bother fixing that - as well as some other things he might have repaired but chose to make droids clonking each other over the head.  Yeah, I'm real sure Geroge sat there in 1975 going "Geez, if I could only get a great big animal in this scene so a jawa could end up dangling from it's reins.  That would really improve the film."

So this is what worries me about the re-release of THX 1138.

And another thing - Can you imagine the comentary on the DVD?
"...And here, in this scene we changed X, Y and Z because I didn't feel it conveyed the appropriate sense of depth... And this shot was enhanced by applying effects A, B and C for a variety of reasons...We added this whole scene by combining some original footage with CGI because I always felt there was a continuity problem so I just fixed that...Here you'll notice in the backround, we added..."

I'm just confused.  I really think the new version may be quite interesting.
But we all know that this DVD should offer the original cut with a fresh, insightful commentary.

[TUX8527]

Hi SG,

You have included a very interesting argument here about GL's future vision. Maybe you are right, he makes it all up as he goes on and is just talking complete garbage, trying to convince us all that this was his intension all along!

I can't imagine myself being able to sit through THX with commentary, GL would just anger me so much that I would have to turn it off! Plus, I don't really watch the Commentary versions of the Films I already have on DVD, as it just ruins the feel of the film for me, I would rather have it as just an audio Soundtrack, so I can just listen to it.

In fact, this is probably what I will end up doing, I will audio the Commentary off the DVD, so I can just listen to that as a separate entity.

I only like Commentary on a Film if it was there in the first place, like with the original cut of Bladerunner, the Directors Cut just does'nt seem right without it.

Anyway, that's a whole different Film to what we are discussing here, I was just using it as a comparison.

All I got to say is, it's about time GL got his act together and embraced his past by giving us the original Prints on DVD as well as his new CGI Versions! I live in hope that one day he will realise the error of his ways and give the Fans (us) what they want.

[shelldweller]

I am new to this site , but I cannot believe some of you "dis-ing" on the new DVD. Geessss. If you are truely a fan of THX the original you should be happy for any type of THX fix. Hell, I would even support a Broadway Play, TV Series, Animated Cartoons, Bobble Head Dolls, Board Game, or THX Pajamas, Anything!!!!!!!

Yes, it is going to be altered to some degree.... But hey it is THX1138!

I say we celebrate and have a costume party. ( I will be a PB848 )

Thanks you... and this forum ROCKS!
Hats off to Chris!


ShellDweller0000

[TUX8527]

Hi Shelldweller,

Welcome to this great Forum for us mad THX Fans to get together!

I love your Post!!!!!!!! I would love THX Pyjama's!! That would be so cool!!!!

A THX Boardgame, now that sounds intrigueing!! Not sure about the Bobble Head Dolls though Mate!! And I can't imagine THX as a Cartoon, but I would love to see it if someone made it!!

Yes, I will do anything for my THX fix! THX ROCKS!!!!!! That's for sure!  

I have actually dressed up like THX before! My late friend and I were gonna make up ID Badges and get Clothes similar to THX, shave our heads and walk down the Street like it, but sadly we never got round to doing that, but it would've been fun if we had though! We wanted to see what kind of reaction we would've got from people if we had walked into Exeter Town Centre like it!

Great to meet another THX freak! There's not enough of us about.

[SG]

BUZZKILL

Hey, you guys, cut it out.  Don't dress like THX.
I can hear Lalo Schifrin now...

Ha Ha.  I just don't know how you do it.
I take everything so seriously.
My pal and I once dressed up in ape suits and ran around at dusk in the park.

oh, well.  I'll be a confessional booth.  ha ha.