I am a big fan of Wikipedia, and often use it on my blog to provide greater detail if my readers want to delve deeper in to a topic that I briefly discuss. In the same way, I will use Wikipedia to further illustrate each film I am watching on my scratch poster. One of the main reasons that I choose to use Wikipedia is due to the lack of advertising content. This is very important to me. I even pay a significant sum – in my opinion – to WordPress so that visitors don’t get distracted by adverts and can just concentrate on what I have written.
I originally planned to watch many of these feature films on Amazon prime video, I even added the vast majority of titles to my watchlist. However after ordering Raising Arizona to enjoy one afternoon, I was frustrated to find it did not come with subtitles. This forced me to request a refund from Amazon as I am not in the habit of throwing money away for an inaccessible film. I thought this might be a one-off and a few days later I ordered Sex, Lies and Videotape in the hope of conjuring a little afternoon delight, but this title also did not have subtitles. As I am hard of hearing, I rely on subtitles to keep up with the story of the film. Again I received a refund with no real problem, but I was surprised and disappointed that Amazon do not offer subtitles on every film.
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”Changeable. Alterable. Mutable. Variable. Versatile. Moldable. Movable. Fluctuate. Undulate. Flicker. Flutter. Pulsate. Vibrate. Alternate. Plastic”.
Wikipedia begins to try to sum up the plot of this film in the following manner:
In the future, sexual intercourse and reproduction are prohibited, whereas use of mind-altering drugs is mandatory to enforce compliance among the citizens and to ensure their ability to conduct dangerous and demanding tasks. Emotions and the concept of family are taboo. Workers are clad in identical white uniforms and have shaven heads to emphasize uniformity, likewise with police androids who wear black and monks who are robed. Instead of names, people have designations with three arbitrary letters (referred to as the “prefix”) and four digits, shown on an identity badge worn at all times.
This odd film did little for me as I need to relate to a film in some way. Anyone who has bothered to read any of my books, knows that I am not scared to tell stories using unconventional techniques. However, I no longer have the patience to decode films and just wish movie makers would follow linear and straightforward story structures when making entertainment that is accessible to everyone.
This film stars Robert Duval and Donald Pleasence, but did little for me. I suppose I should be impressed with all the ‘names’ associated with this production, which was directed by George Lucas and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Fortunately, although I have respect for such artistic talents, I do not automatically worship canonised members of the status quo.
Click here to get a deeper understanding of this film.
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THX 1138 panel from my scratch poster:
