# Anybody find the 1138 reference in AOTC yet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357 "2002-09-06T22:48:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peta\_Tzunami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@Peta\_Tzunami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peta_Tzunami)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/21 "2002-09-07T22:42:32Z")
Some selective knowledge/info being spread here. Probably based on the fact that bad reviews seem to garner more attention than positive. There are a lot of SW fans who have enjoyed the last two films a lot. I submit the following informal polls as evidence (cites). These represent the opinions of SW fans since the reference above is to “Star Wars geeks”–not a cross-section movie audience at large. [TheForce.Net](http://TheForce.Net)’s internet poll on “Ep II, ATOC”… [Where does rate ATOC?](http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/surveys/survey212.shtml) Of the 42837 fans voting… 21.91% ranked it 1st 30.74% ranked it 2nd 27.22% ranked it 3rd (in relation to the all five movies) In an older internet poll on [TheForce.net](http://TheForce.net) about “Ep I, TPM”… [What do you rate Episode I, TPM?](http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/surveys/survey41.shtml) Of the 20647 voters… 48% gave it 5 stars 32% gave it 4 stars Additional polls of interest… [How many times have you seen ATOC?](http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/surveys/survey213.shtml) (Keeping in mind it is not available on video/dvd yet.) 82.82% of the 30795 voters saw the movie at more than once and more than 50% saw it 3 or more times. [How many times did you see Ep I in its first week of release?](http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/surveys/survey43.shtml) Of the 16414 voters… 71% saw it 2 or more times in the FIRST WEEK of release. Now, I’ll grant that these aren’t the most scientific surveys. [TheForce.net](http://TheForce.net) **does** issue a cookie to minimize repeat voting (though no cookie is infalliable). While it measures primarily internet fans and specifically fans who know about the website, with response and visitor rates as high as this website gets, I think it still would be safe to call it representative of the fan base. Therefore, I proposed that this debunks the idea that the “majority” of fans feel these movies failed to entertain or meet the expectations based on the original trilogy. Offering further cites which may expand to all audiences (beyond mere SW fans): “Ep I, TPM” is the fourth top grossing movie [U.S.] of all-time to date with $431,065,444. While “Ep II, ATOC” didn’t break the top 10 all-time grossing [either U.S. or worldwide], it comes in at 13 with $300,669,320 [U.S.], which is still pretty damn respectible. Worldwide, “Ep I” moves up to 3rd place top-grossing film with $922,300,000 USD and “Ep II” retains spot 13 with $624,600,000 USD. So, let’s see, in the U.S. all-time box office rankings George Lucas holds: 2nd: “SW, A New Hope” (Worldwide = 3rd) 4th: “SW, The Phantom Menance” (3rd) 11th: “SW, Return of the Jedi” (16th) 13th: “SW, Attack of the Clones” (13th) 15th: “SW, The Empire Strikes Back” (19th) Not including the non-SW collaboration, a little film entitled “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” which places in the Top 100. All that said, I still don’t consider Lucas a “whore” or “sell-out” just because Lucas makes films that are popular and that people, including Lucas himself, like to watch…again and again, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/22 "2002-09-08T09:51:03Z")
A lot of people go see Rocky Horroy Picture show twice a month or more. Must mean thats a great movie. OK, kidding aside. Perhaps there is a similarity between the two. Star Wars has become a part of our collective popular culture, and something people my age (who went with their parent(s) the first time) are now having kids of an age similar to ours when we went. There are certainly a lot of people who will enjoy the films no matter how many Ewoks Lucas puts in them, hey Ewoks are fun for the kids. Right? Still your died in the wool movie geeks are dissapointed in the series ever since ROTJ, although ATOC has won some of the core back. Anyhow, who cares about opinion polls? Are you trying to say that you think the majority is intelligent enough to say what is good theater stock? The majority kept Ally McBeal on Tv for however many seasons it was on, the majority made NSYNC and Brittney Spears rich beyond belief. The majority has never heard of Tom Waits. BTW: Titanic sold an ass-load of seats too. James Cameron must be an artistic genius. Wonder what was wrong with the majority when it came to Dark Angel? Popularity does not equal good art, it makes for pop art. Peter Max even stopped with his pop art experiments. Lucas is a good craftsman, but while craft can refine art, and art can inspire craft they can be mutually exclusive as well. Still, I won’t fault you for your opinion. After all, there are more of you than of me. ---
**Author:** ![Peta\_Tzunami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@Peta\_Tzunami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peta_Tzunami)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/23 "2002-09-08T16:47:14Z")
Whatever. Like him, his films or don’t…I personally don’t give a F. I was not arguing about whether his movies were “art” or not, I was addressing whether people ENJOY his films. Whether he is good at pleasing the audience, I think he is and since I knew that making that statement alone would be challenged, I attempted to provide cites supporting my position. IMHO, it is narrow sighted to assume that because something is a commercial success it must be devoid of artist worth. Not all art has to be heady or obscure to be true art. Also, I was more specifically addressing the comments that “the majority of Star Wars geeks” think he failed Lucas failed in the last two movies. In the words of “Forest Gump” (no doubt another popular film you find completely lacking any artistic value or merit), that’s all I have to say about that. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/24 "2002-09-08T17:33:31Z")
What you said precisely was: _“All that said, I still don’t consider Lucas a “whore” or “sell-out” just because Lucas makes films that are popular and that people, including Lucas himself, like to watch…again and again, apparently.”_ Making your point based on relative popularity. I countered with an argument that relative popularity isn’t a good indicator of quality. You obvioulsy cared enought to respond with a “Whatever” and drop an “F” bomb in the middle of it. Passive agressive form won’t win you any arguments, but it does demonstrate an emotional investment in the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/25 "2002-09-08T19:47:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Making your point based on relative popularity. I countered with an argument that relative popularity isn’t a good indicator of quality. You obvioulsy cared enought to respond with a “Whatever” and drop an “F” bomb in the middle of it. Passive agressive form won’t win you any arguments, but it does demonstrate an emotional investment in the outcome. Umm… **Peta** ’s point was _based_ on relative popularity, it was _about_ relative popularity. You said most SW fans didn’t like the last two movies. She countered by showing that most SW fans did, indeed, enjoy the last two movies. The only person here talking about the _quality_ of the movies is you. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/26 "2002-09-09T00:33:11Z")
Miller: no I didn’t say most SW fans disliked the last two movies. Not that I think most of the SW fand did like it either. I said Lucas is a whore and implied this had something to do with Ewoks later on. I did say “dyed in the wool movie geeks don’t like the films” which is obviously a subjective. Anyone can claim this status, and it seems anyone with an opinion on any film considers him/her self an expert of movies and cinema. But I still never said “most”. Hell half the people who claim to be trufans don’t know the names of the original cast let alone who Carrie Fishers mother is. Do you review the points you make when jumping to someone’s defense or just take the gallant approach figuring that no one will notice? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/27 "2002-12-18T00:05:18Z")
I thought I’d update my own thread, since I just found [this](http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0121765) info on the IMDb’s Trivia listing: > [@](#): > > Director Trademark: [George Lucas] [1138] The LED lights on the back of the clone trooper helmets display a serial number. Although illegible, they all read “THX 1138”. Does anyone have a link to a screenshot of this? As for the rumor that it was in the sand - I was sorta able to make out the “11” in the sand after Amidala rolls to a stop, but I never thought the rest of it looked like a 3 and 8. I’m glad that wasn’t the actual reference. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/28 "2002-12-18T01:16:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*IIRC in Star Wars Luke and Han rescue Leia from the Death Star brig. She was in cell 1138. \*\* \ Luke and Han, disguised as stormtroopers, explained that Chewbacca was a “Prisoner transfer from cell block 1138.” Princess Leia’s cell number was completely different. \ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/29 "2002-12-18T01:20:46Z")
If you go to the _Star Tours_ attraction at DisneyLand or Disney World, when you’re on the long winding track that is the entrance to he ride, you can hear a ecrded announcement tellig the owner of the vehicl with registration place THX 1138 that his lights are on. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/30 "2002-12-18T01:27:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > **Princess Leia’s cell number was completely different.** Cell 2187, Detention Block AA 23. goo-HAY!!! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/31 "2002-12-18T02:55:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\*Cell 2187, Detention Block AA 23. > > goo-HAY!!! \*\* “2187” was the name of another experimental movie Lucas made in Film School. That was the year it was set, I think. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/32 "2002-12-18T02:59:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zen101 \* > **more specifically THX1138 was the licence plate of his car in college.** Actually it was a license plate in “American Graffiti” - Harrison Ford’s car, indeed. And of course, THX is what he has named his sound system specifications, so it’s become of a well known phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/33 "2002-12-18T03:03:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > Princess Leia’s cell number was completely different. This is too perfect. But I can’t think of a joke! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/34 "2002-12-18T04:58:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zen101 \* > [I said Lucas is a whore and implied this had something to do with Ewoks later on. I’m not even sure why this sentence sounds obscene to me…but it does. I am a sick, sick, puppy. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/35 "2002-12-18T05:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Achernar \* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by tracer_ > > **Princess Leia’s cell number was completely different.** > > \*\*This is too perfect. But I can’t think of a joke! \*\* And after the Empire blew up her local calling area planet, she was _always_ paying roaming charges. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/36 "2002-12-18T11:42:12Z")
There is an easter egg on the dvd dealing with THX1138. I was sitting there, but I didnt actually do it. My SO did. You go to one of the option screens and highlight the THX logo. Then press in 1138 and you SHOULD go to an outtake/blooper short. It took her maybe 20 mintues to figure it out and then she was able to repeat it about one out of every 10 times she tried it. And the payoff wasn’t THAT great. Jango dancing in front of a green screen with an umbrella and Anakin falling down 100 times is funny though. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/37 "2002-12-18T14:38:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > \*\*Actually it was a license plate in “American Graffiti” - Harrison Ford’s car, indeed. > \*\* Actually, we’re talking about Lucas’ car in college, not Harrison Ford’s. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357/38 "2002-12-19T01:55:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Munch \* > \*\*Actually, we’re talking about Lucas’ car in college, not Harrison Ford’s. \*\* Yes, I know. I was correcting you, because you were getting it mixed up with a license plate in a movie, and it’s not a genuine one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-find-the-1138-reference-in-aotc-yet/127357.md?page=1)