Slashdot Mirror


THX-1138: The (Digitally Enhanced) Director's Cut

StefanJ writes "This is either a marvelous Photoshop hoax or something really . . . cool? Sacreligious? Unnecessary? Reportedly, George Lucas has given his first commercially released movie, THX1138, a digital workover, enhancing backgrounds and altering scenes for more eye-appeal. Here are some comparisons of original and altered scenes. For those who haven't seen the film: Without giving too much away, it's about a working stiff living in a repressive underground bomb-shelter society. Emotion-suppressing drugs are mandatory; people shuffle from work to home, pausing to buy consumer goods along the way. (The goods aren't used for anything; you just feed them into a disposal unit after you get home. Making them keeps people busy . . .) If the drugs don't work, you can vent your spleen in a confession booth manned by a really bad A.I. It's really bleak, and sometimes ugly, but worth seeing. I hope the enhancements don't add too much color: The drab, sterile, white-on-white environment of the underground city is an important mood-setter. Consume more; be happy!"

22 of 275 comments (clear)

  1. Hey, you bum! by moehoward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Get back to working on Star Wars, you lazy bum. And do it right this time!

    --
    "If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
  2. RE:THX-1138: The (Digitally Enhanced) Director's C by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    " I must have the latest PowerBook"...

  3. Looks exactly like the original... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...with the white-on-white borderless rooms. All the actors seem to be removed in this version. And I don't think I remember the "website cannot be found" message in the original.

  4. Famous last words by kalpol · · Score: 5, Funny

    Them:"Lucas is updating X movie to show his true vision which couldn't be expressed at the time due to technical limitations." Us: "Please God no."

    --
    12:50 - press return.
    1. Re: Famous last words by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny


      > Them:"Lucas is updating X movie to show his true vision which couldn't be expressed at the time due to technical limitations." Us: "Please God no."

      So, you won't be rushing out to buy Jar-Jar 3D?

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  5. All Comments Now Sumariezed: by mythosaz · · Score: 4, Funny

    All replies will be of the following:

    (a) FP!
    (b) GNAA
    (c) How dare he change the film.
    (d) How dare the DVD not have both version.
    (e) Star Wars sucks now, you bastard.
    (f) Proffit!

  6. this would make lucas the... by millahtime · · Score: 4, Funny

    This would make Lucas the Puff Daddy of Movies. Taking existing good movies and "remixing" them to put out something not near as good as the origional.

  7. You forgot one by Cereal+Box · · Score: 3, Funny

    (g) I'll summarize all the posts: ...

  8. New character by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    A hilarious sidekick for THX called JRJRBNKS who adds humor to the movie with his zany hijinks!

  9. Slashdotters won't like this film by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The explosions-to-thinky-bits ratio is entirely too skewed toward the thinking realm for this crowd. There are some car chases that this group might appreciate.

  10. Re:So What? by thelexx · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Its just people shuffling around in bad clothes and having pointless conversations. If I want to see that I can go to the mall on weekdays and watch old people."

    Heh, sounded to me like you were describing teenagers.

    --
    "Gold still represents the ultimate form of payment in the world." - Alan Greenspan, 1999
  11. Good idea... by freeze128 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Sure. Just make your first movie with all white backgrounds and sets. That way, when image manipulation technology becomes mainstream, you can color in the backgrounds and sets without re-shooting. Brilliant!

    Now I'm off to shoot a movie that's all black.

  12. Re:Greedo shoots first?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    New /. poll:

    Who shot first?

    Han
    Greedo
    Cowboy Neal

  13. Don't forget by freeze128 · · Score: 3, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, THX-1138 changes George Lucas!

  14. NO! SHHHHH! by ajservo · · Score: 3, Funny

    If he's busy working on THX, then that means people are thinking independently on what to do on Episode 3.

    Everytime george wasn't in command, we got decent films.

    And we'd all rather him be busy on a less liked film (sorry THX fans...) or "More American Graffiti" (Sorry, you one MAG fan...)

  15. Re:Heh... by SpinyManiac · · Score: 2, Funny

    He deserved the Slashdotting for disabling right click.

    Let it burn!

    --
    It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
  16. laserdisc version good enuf by bobalu · · Score: 2, Funny

    I might go back and watch it (it's been awhile) but if I recall my laserdisc version was pretty nice as it was. I mean really, is it worth it? I think a lot of this buggered-up re-release stuff is just a thin reason to get people to buy again on another type of media. Like what the heck, this is in the bank, let's diddle a few scenes and get the true believers to pop another $20.

    Same for Dark Star mentioned in the first post.

    Of course if anybody can get Gilligan's Island re-mastered with a nude Mary Ann, well I might re-consider.

    --
    The revolution will NOT be televised.
  17. Better by Apreche · · Score: 1, Funny

    He better not make it so greedo shoots first in this remake... or else.

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  18. Re:There are THX fans? by schon · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think that it would be a tie between "THX-1138" and "Desparate Living!" If you do not know what "Desparate Living" is, consider yourself lucky.

    OK, I haven't seen "Desparate Living", but I have seen THX-1138.. and I gotta say, if you think that was the worst movie you've seen, then you've never seen "Santa Claus vs. the Martians" or "Tammy and the T-Rex"

    These are two HUGE stinkers... seriously, I didn't think it was possible to make movies that bad.

  19. Re:Lucas Art? by hambonewilkins · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's an awesome idea! Actually, I wouldn't mind a whole page of Spielberg characters with walkie-talkies (the beach landing from Saving Private Ryan?). Unfortunately my photoshop skills suck.

    --

    God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
  20. an answer by bandy · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, but it does have something to do with Princess Leia's cell number and the license plate in American Graffitti

    --
    "You might as well get your son a ticket to hell as give him a five string banjo." -unknown minister
  21. Re:South park by Siener · · Score: 2, Funny
    My favourite bit in the Free Hat episode:

    Announcer: Coming, this summer! It's the digitally enhanced re-release of the very first pilot episode of South Park! Yes, the classic, rough, hand-made first episode is getting a make-over for 2002! The simple, funny aliens are now super badass and kewl! Flying saucer? No longer cheap construction paper, but a 4.0 megapixel constructed through a masterpiece of technology! Everything's new! New is better!

    Trey Parker: When we first made South Park, we didn't wanna use construction paper. We just had to because it was cheap.

    Matt Stone: And now with new technology we can finally remaster South Park, make it look sharp, clean and focused.

    Trey: Expensive.

    Announcer: Yes, all the charm of a simple little cartoon will melt before your eyes as it is replaced by newer and more standardized animation! Trey: For instance, in the scene at the bus stop, we always meant to have Imperial walkers and giant dewback lizards in the background, but simply couldn't afford it.

    Announcer: Get this special enhanced version quick, because another enhanced version will likely be coming out for 2003!

    It's a very good episode, and it reflects exactly how many people feel about the "improvement" of old movies