THX 1138 (1971)

Before the incredibly well-known Star Wars series, George Lucas made THX 1138. Based on a short-film he'd made in college, THX 1138 is set in the 25th century in a strict underground society where daily sedative consumption is required and everyone has been assigned a function. Cameras and computers monitor every move. It's not too far outside the vein of books like The Giver or 1984.

When THX 1138 and his roommate LUH 3417 stop taking their medication, they start to have feelings - like attraction. This new awakening leads to actions that throw them in the spotlight, where they are deemed unfit for regular existence and arrested.

It's difficult to say too much more without giving the whole story away because there's not too much more of the story. In fact, throughout the film it feels like you're circling outside a story, never really getting into details or why things are the way they are, just hanging in space as things happen in front of you. It's borderline trippy.

Weirdly enough, it sort of works. The vague, lost quality of it all lets the audience feel what it's like to live in THX's society. Also, it's very apt for Lucas, who's known for only speaking minimally to his actors while directing. He's always seemed to have a strong vision for his films but not always the best success of fully sharing it with everyone else. Here the visuals do a lot of the speaking for him.

Time spent in quiet, all white, endless rooms contrasts with that spent in loud, crowded, grittier transportation areas. In fact those transportation areas are the most fantastic of the visual sequences. They seem to be paving the way for running down the trenches of the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope. In reality it was clever use of places like the San Francisco International Airport, Caldecott Tunnel, and the (at the time) unfinished BART subway system.

Robert Duvall also helps with his commitment to the character of THX 1138. Without saying much, he's easy to latch onto and take seriously.

This movie might not be for those who thrive on a great story, but it's definitely something different than what you can see any given day.

Rating: 3/5

Recommended for: Adults who'd like to see pre-stormtroopers