Hitchhiker's Guide

[Cail]

Saw it today. It deviates massively from the book, and loses a lot of the really good jokes, but overall it wasn't bad. Sam Rockwell's Zaphod is hands down the best thing about the movie.

I guess part of the problem for me is that I've read the books so many times, and seen the old BBC series so many times that I've got my own picture of how things should be.

Worth a look, but you may want to catch a matinee.

[The Leper Fairy]

It deviates massively from the book, and loses a lot of the really good jokes

GAH!

...going to see it anyway. Probably not for another month though since I'll be off in Euro-land.

[[Syl]]

I saw it last night. There were a couple aspects that made me wince (the last line, in particular), but overall, I enjoyed it. They did a lot of it right (I figure if I could quote the movie before they said it on the first time through...), and most of what they added was good.

The love story bit... meh. And what's up with Trillian being called "Tricia" or "Trill" ninety percent of the time? I didn't get what was going on with Zaphod, and I just didn't like him (not that most people would, but I always liked him in the books). Marvin was perfect, but I don't recall him ever saying "Brain the size of a planet..." (during the movie, of course)

Spoiler

Ok, and Earth II. How did they get all the people back on it? Let's say they could restore it as part of the program... well, that's kind of forgetting the ship that crashes into Earth and messes everything up.

[Warmark Jay]

Saw it last night as well. I'd give it a "B"; not great, but amusing enough. I think the biggest problem was the direction - watching some of the classic bits ("Should we lie down on the floor, put bags on our heads?""Yes, if you'd like..."), the problem was in the delivery - very few pauses for effect; either because of poor timing on the actors' part or over-editing. (Variol - best example was Deep Thought, I agree; the use of dramatic pause in the book made the scene hysterical: "....though I don't think you're going to like it." and so forth). I found Alan Rickman to be somewhat stale and forced as Marvin (but I didn't like the Marvin of the TV show either).

Cail - as to deviating from the book; yeah, but in terms of the book's plot this might have been necessary. Adding a couple more planets, IMHO, was a good thing - if I recall the book, the action takes place on Earth, the Heart of Gold, and Magrathea. Vogsphere in particular was great - reminded me of both the old TV series and Terry Gilliam's work. Didn't really think the love story (and related apotheosis) worked.

What I did like: Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast. Sam Rockwell as Zaphod (yes, he is as stupid and obnoxious in the books, and the Thinking Cap was a funny addition). The Improbability Drive. Magrathea's Factory Floor. The Vogons. The use of towels. The Guide itself (Stephen Fry is perfect, and the Guide entries are the best part of the movie).

I'd still recommend it, though. I saw it in a theater that seemed to have an equal amout of fans and people who'd never read the books, and everyone had a good time. As someone who thinks that the second book is the best in the series, I'm looking forward to the next movie.

[[Syl]]

Ever had the feeling you've, I don't know... read something before? Kind of like deja vu.

[Edge]

Yeah... it's like deja vu all over again

[Warmark Jay]

Yeah - I'm feeling like a certain ill-fated pot of begonias...

[Tulizar]

I haven't seen the movie yet--probably won't for a little while--but the above reviews are actually encouraging. As a rule I expect movie versions of my favorite books to be pretty bad. If my expectation of a movie is low I usually leave the theater with something positive to say about it. So if all goes well, I won't be terribly dissapointed by this one.



btw, does Zaphod have two heads and three arms in the movie? I've only seen a few clips on tv and he looks pretty normal.

[[Syl]]

Yeah, but not how you expect. No parrot on his shoulder this time.

[I'm Murrin]

Saw it today. Pretty good, but not amazing. Some of the acting didn't seem quite right, and a couple of the jokes fell flat.
There was also one bit in particular that stood out as not being done as well as it could have been - the queue at the Vogon office. The joke was that the original Marvin was standing in the queue. The problem was that they put him in so many shots it just became far too obvious they were trying to make sure you noticed him.
Funniest old part was the sperm whale (voiceover leading into is actually funnier than the monologue, IMO). Funniest new part... hmm. I'll have to think about it.

[aTOMiC]

Saw it yesterday.
I didn't read the book and I saw only a couple of tv episodes about 20 years ago so I enjoyed the film. I had very little to grumble about. My wife really liked it and it was her Mother's Day wish so its all good. I much prefer going to see a film without having read the book. I tend to complain far less and enjoy myself far more.

[Mica]

I saw it last weekend. Not the greatest, but my son enjoyed it.
I never read the books and I didn't get why was so important to carry a towel...I guess I'm getting too old for this kind of humor

[Warmark Jay]

I never read the books and I didn't get why was so important to carry a towel...I guess I'm getting too old for this kind of humor

I think for most fans of the books (myself included) leaving the Guide entry on towels out of the movie was a BIG mistake. When the sequel is filmed, I'm sure we'll get to see that entry.

And you really ought to read the books, the first two anyway. The movie was decent, but the books are brilliant.

[Mica]

I never read the books and I didn't get why was so important to carry a towel...I guess I'm getting too old for this kind of humor

I think for most fans of the books (myself included) leaving the Guide entry on towels out of the movie was a BIG mistake. When the sequel is filmed, I'm sure we'll get to see that entry.

And you really ought to read the books, the first two anyway. The movie was decent, but the books are brilliant.

Yes, my son told me the same, he didn't want to spoiled the story and I guess the next trip to Barnes/Nobles will be a productive one
I have to find out what's the deal with the towel, otherwise I will be like poor Marvin

[Nav]

I saw it at the weekend and really liked it. The only thing that troubled me was that I couldn't quite remember if certain bits were new or if I'd forgotten them since reading the book.

Spoiler

Like the whole reanimation of Earth. I know there was a backup copy, but isn't that where Arthur and Ford end up in the third book, but in the distant past?

Trillian was pretty much nothing like the original character, but Zooey Deschanel is easy on the eye and I quite liked the path the love story took. I thought the introduction of the empathy gun was a good idea, and led to a great little scene. Have to agree that, even with the voice of Helen Mirren, the first Deep Thought scene didn't carry as much weight as it did in the book, which was a bit of a shame.

I also liked how they elaborated on Ford's use of towels as weapons, which wasn't mentioned until Mostly Harmless IIRC. Martin Freeman was perfect as Arthur, bringing an everyman quality to a character who originally was more overtly middle class.

You want us to trust the hunches of a man whose brain is powered by lemons!?

[Mica]

I never read the books and I didn't get why was so important to carry a towel...I guess I'm getting too old for this kind of humor

I think for most fans of the books (myself included) leaving the Guide entry on towels out of the movie was a BIG mistake. When the sequel is filmed, I'm sure we'll get to see that entry.

And you really ought to read the books, the first two anyway. The movie was decent, but the books are brilliant.

You were RIGHT Warmark Jay!!

Wow, I just start reading the book (my daughter got the five novels in one volume) and I'm cracking up my cats think I'm going nuts when I'm laughing alone

[Nathan]

Went to see it and it seemed distinctly average. Aside from the whale song and a couple of other chuckle-worthy parts you'd hardly have known it was a comedy.

"I know how to queue - I'm British." What the hell was that? Have to give them credit for some kickarse theme music though.

The funniest bit was when they were getting slapped in the face with those things from the floor, strange that people being slapped in the face was the most enjoyable part of the film, but oh well.

[kevinswatch]

dmm,jmttbttt

Ok, so I finally saw the Hitchhiker's movie.

And wow, I just want to cry.

Ok, I read the books last during high school, so it's been a good six years since I've read them. So I'm sure I've forgotten a few details.

But personally, I thought the movie just plain sucked.

I mean, it wasn't even funny...

The best parts in the movie were Zephod and Marvin, who were dead on. The intro song was kind of cute. And the best "book to movie" joke that made it was the whale. The whale was perfect.

But wow, the rest of it was simply not really funny. I had a few chuckles, but overall, nothing.

Plus, for people who didn't read the books, I can imagine that they must have been really confused. I saw this with my parents, and they didn't understand it at all. Even with my pathetic attempts to explain it. After a while, it simply wasn't worth it, because even I didn't understand what the movie was doing.

And yeah, I don't remember Trillian having such a large role in the book.

And they totally screwed up the Deep Thought joke.

So...in conclusion...wow. That was just terrible. I knew it was going to be bad, but wow, that was bad.-jay

[dANdeLION]

That's interesting. I bought it and let the kids watch it while I was working, and they loved it. What parts of it I watched looked funny to me. They watched it a second time, and I think between the two viewings I caught all of it, and it still seemed funny to me. I really liked the president dude, he was funny as hell in Galaxy Quest, too. I found the girl to be very cute, so I guess the "She can't act" label applies, even though I thought she could act. So, I guess I have to warn you, Jay; you better tow the line here or I'm gonna have to delete your butt.

[CovenantJr]

No, it was pretty bad. Not as bad as it could have been, but fairly diabolical. I was moderately amused that they kept the old theme music, but the rest was meh.