For my readers with lower than average GQ, allow me to explain the significance of this movie. George Lucas (the guy that created Star Wars) did a short film in college called THX1138. Later, after he achieved some professional fame (but before he started filming Star Wars), he stretched it into a full length movie. The real significance to a geek like me is that THX1138 influenced much of Lucas’ later work. He hid* “1138” throughout the Star Wars movies. Also, “THX” is the name Lucas gave to the surround sound system his team developed. These days it’s pretty ubiquitous with theater surround sound.

I was pretty excited to find THX on Netflix. Here was a chance to see into the past; to see into the mind that created Star Wars; to see where Star Wars was born. I watched the DVD extras first (cuz I’m geek like that) and most of it talked about the experimental nature of the sound effects. Some of the sound effects were recognizable from Star Wars (the squawky nature of the ship-to-ship radio). Others were created with techniques that were similar, but less mature than when Star Wars was filmed (The light saber sound grew out of the sound effect for “shock sticks”, futuristic tasers).

Now, enough about the geekness. How was the movie? Well, to put it gently, it sucked. It sucked hard. It feels exactly like a film school short stretched to feature length. There’s about 15 minutes worth of story and about 60 minutes worth of brooding, 1984, Brave New World, thought police, big brother, ooh-scary-too-perfect-future. Blah blah blah. There was absolutely nothing creative about it. The acting was sub-par considering the talent (Robert Duvall, for crying out loud!). The effects and cinematography had that funky, 70’s, experimental feel, but it wasn’t enough to carry the horrid script.

The longer Lucas has dragged out the Star Wars franchise, the more I’ve come to realize that he’s really not that creative. Star Wars will always be a classic, but it’s turning Lucas into a one-hit-wonder in my mind. Yeah, you had a great idea, but come on, man. It’s been over 30 years since that idea struck. How about trying something new? I know, I know. Indiana Jones, American Graffiti, whatever. Lucas has been riding the Skywalker wave too long and it’s ruined my opinion of him.

As for THX, unless you are a hard-core, Star Wars geek, don’t bother. One grin for you, Mr. Lucas.

* “Hid” may not be the best term here. 1138 is plastered all over the Star Wars movies.