LOW BUDGET EYE CANDY #1: THX-1138
by Steven Boone
[New note (8/6/09): A new and improved, to say operational, version is now ready and available for your viewing pleasure above as part of our VINYL-wide switch to Vimeo. —rwk]
[New note (2/14/09): A new and improved, to say tighter and cleaner, version is now ready and available. If pressed, or not, Steve might say I jumped the gun on posting the original iteration of this video. What can I say? I was excited; I was impressed. In fact, I still am. This little thing is cool and I'm happy to host it here. —rwk]
[Original note (2/2/09): Steve's credit at the close is for BIG MEDIA VANDALISM. However, as the Odienator has taken over that space for Black History Mumf, we decided to post this video here for the time being. Hope you digg it as much as we do. —rwk]
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It's really amazing how well Lucas SAW things back then. Such a gorgeous, simple sequence. Thanks for this, buddy. A fine reminder of what can be done with the right tools (and friends/colleagues) working together.
ReplyDeleteAlso: "a documentary from the future"!
Terrific. The only DVD with a George Lucas credit that I own (shame about his retrospective vfx tinkering, but whaddaya gonna do.) Next time I ride BART I'll be thinking of this piece.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the Black History Mumf reminder!
Again, with extra emphasis: this is great! Even better! A documentary from the future. (Let's make one.)
ReplyDeleteSo much more fun than watching the actual movie.
ReplyDeleteMore fun than watching the actual movie.
ReplyDeleteExcellent analysis, but as QiDurian says, it's more fun than the movie itself. To me that says something. Not necessarily that it's missing or lacking something, but it does say something.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just post DVD/Avid/MTV, the whole world is more frenetic these days.
Thanks for stopping by, QiDurian and our Anonymous friend. Every time I think about _THX-1138_ I want to watch it but then I never remember to watch it. That said, I don't think it's boring. I think it's very artful, as a matter of fact, and that's part of why I was so happy to get this from Steve in my email... and to watch it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and, while I do get that idea that the world is more frenetic, that is not really the reason I dig something like _The Bourne Ultimatum_. I dig that movie because it's just insane-o with the space-splinters. Makes _Synecdoche_ look like Tarkovsky-style patience (if not T-style brilliance!). Also, that Greengrass is more about a certain affect of speed. The sense of speed in his films (his _Bourne_ films) is the one thing I find least politicized. --Unless, of course, we're talking the speed of information and, I'm assuming, _United 93_.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny about the new trilogy of _Star Wars_ movies is they retain Lucas' odd sense of timing. That is, they're kind of slow. Even the thrill of the "last act" of EPIII is heavy and extended and not all that fast, except in the lightsaber stuff among the lava.
Your anylsis is spot on about Lucas's art. But you missjudge the prequels by throwing words like digital as a negitive context (as if its a bad word and not a tool). If you payattention to Episode 1-3 you will see all these techniques and new ones all over the place. Study the Pod race sequencefrom Phantome Menace and you will see a hyped up version of the same sequence from THX as you have shown. Don't be fooled by famous characters, mytholigical elements or even Jar Jar to think that Lucas has lost his sence of filmmaking. He has not. We are just blinded by Star Wars popularity in thinking that it lacks value or artestry.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm one of those who's really into EPII as a matter of fact. You can read why here. And, yes, the pod race is dope. He still gets space, if not storytelling... (if he ever did?)
ReplyDeletewhere is it possible to view this clip?
ReplyDeletewhat has happened to this clip? I saw it once, and wanted to direct a student to it, but I can't find it anywhere on the web now.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to see it again!
Steve is in the process of uploading his work to a new site, so it'll be available soon. Thanks for stopping by and please stay tuned; we'll have some news soon.
ReplyDeleteLo, behold, if you've subscribed to this comment thread, included here and over at this joint, you can now see the vimeo-style version of this video essay. We thank you for your eyes!
ReplyDelete