Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

[jazzbo]

Wow. I really really enjoyed this one. Recommended!

[Dan Gould]

Thanks, Lon. Myself, I was really wondering about it because the commercial I saw made it look like some dumb special effects epic. My wife and I loved the books and enjoyed the BBC show, but I wasn't sure about the movie.

Now I've seen one positive review (in the Times) and one negative review (Ebert, who went into it knowing nothing about the books and thought that it was too much of an inside joke that no one who hadn't read the books would understand).

I think its on the "want to see" list now.

[porcy62]

Damn! I am a huge fan of the books of Adams, (and I trasmitted the passion to my son ) and we have to wait until september to see the movie in Italy!

[Rooster_Ties]

LOVED the books in my younger days, though I haven't read any of them in well over 10 years. Can't imagine any movie doing justice to the books -- but I suppose stranger things have happened. But if I read enough positive reviews in this thread, I'll probably give it a go.

[BFrank]

I saw this yesterday. Never read the book(s), but it was an entertaining film. I have no idea what it was about or even if there was a plot worth following. But the visuals were good (and I don't just mean the SFX) and the humor was atypical for this type of film. Maybe because it was so British.

[jazzbo]

Well, I avoided the books and any BBC show. I felt completely at home in this and the social/anthropological comments it was making, felt it was clever and upbeat and not at all preachy, yet had a message. AND it essentially a clean movie (if you disregard the destruction of a planet here and there) and refreshing in that manner.

I'm so glad I saw it, and I'll probably see it again soon.

"So long and thanks for all the fish!"

[gslade]

A fan of the Books, I was not sure I wanted to see the movie

(my girlfriend has no clue, [TDY] but I am sure I could drag her along)

knowing how usually the films never do justice,

but seeing how there is a lack of good movies (normally untill fall)

we might give it a go

[Rooster_Ties]

Does Vogon poetry figure into the plot at all, or get any mention??

[jazzbo]

Oh yes, within the first twenty minutes. . . .

[sidewinder]

The original 2LP set of the 'Guide' and the single LP 'Restaurant' are the ones to get. Somewhere I have a couple of C90s with these recorded on them. Wish I had the LPs - very cool.

Don't like the new Marvin - it sucks.

[BERIGAN]

It's about the only film I have even a passing interest in this summer....Loved the first book, never read any of the others.

[Jazzmoose]

I've read the books many times; last time was just a couple of months ago. Love the tapes I have of the radio show (about six hours worth, if I remember right), but prefer the books. I'm afraid the movie would come in a very distant third, and really, as much as I enjoy(ed) the books, it's not that big of a deal. I mean, we ain't talking Faulkner here, ya know...

[ejp626]

I'll try to catch this soon, since there is no guarantee how long it will be in theatres. Probably can't convince the wife to go, since there just isn't enough "action" in it, as if blowing up the Earth in the first ten minutes isn't enough ...

Anyway, I've read all the HH books save the last one, and tracked down the radio programs on the internet and then even found the old PC game. I had an original copy of that game (long lost now) -- I recall that it came with a Don't Panic button and completely black sunglasses that were "danger sensitive," i.e. if you were in danger they turned black. I guess of all the various formats, I think the radio program was the best, then the books, then the BBC shows a distant third. Hard to say about the new movie. I was pleased to hear that Adams added a new character to the screenplay, keeping up with the tradition that each format is a bit different.

I was fortunate enough to see Douglas Adams give a reading (of Dirk Gently I think). This probably was in Ann Arbor in the late 1980s. He was witty and charming, as you would expect, particularly during the Q and A session. Well, it was certainly a shame that he died so (relatively) young.

[Dan Gould]

I'll try to catch this soon, since there is no guarantee how long it will be in theatres.

Number one at the box office this weekend, so unless word of mouth kills it, it will probably be around for a while.

[RDK]

Meh. Okay film; fun in spots but also boring in places. Can't touch the original BBC radio program circa 1980 - still the best version of Hitchhikers' Guide out there.

I'm really curious what those who aren't familiar with the book/radio/TV show think of the flick. I'm glad to hear that some "newbies" dig it, but like Ebert I fear it's too much of an in-joke.

I liked that they used "muppets" for the creatures rather than CGI'ing all of them. Gave the film a fun/fresh/retro look; not as over-the-top with SFX as one might expect.

[jazzbo]

Interesting. I wasn't bored at all anywhere.

I don't know what would be so "in joke" about this film. . . . I don't think I missed anything and I've never read the book or perish the thought heard any radio shows (I am NOT a radio show listener!)

I thought this was quite well done in comparison with most movies these days; entertaining, not at all plagued with random sex and violence to give it juice.

[John B]

I saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it. I thought they did a great job casting. Martin Freeman, in particular, was spot on.

I didn't find this to be "in-joke" at all.

[Joe]

Not as bad as I feared it would be, but also not as funnny as it could have been.

However, Sam Rockwell gives a thoroughly mad, almost gratuitous Method performance as Zaphod Beeblebrox, who is ostensibly an alien but is actually the only 'Merican in the entire film. Think, "what if Bill Clinton and George W. Bush shared the same body?"

[sidewinder]

The BBC are currently repeating the original 1980 show and I think the radio series is also being re-broadcast.

[Dr. Rat]

I've seen the TV series (which I recommend) read the first three books and listened to the BBC series.

The movie was surprisingly good, though rough in spots. The last 40 minutes or so was a mess plot-wise, but it held up well enough to get a B from me.

Also, the general philosophico/religio satire came across pretty well: I feared it'd be lost on the cutting room floor.

Solid. Mos Def was a little lost at times, but generally did a good job as well.

--eric

[BruceH]

Never read the books, or listened to the radio show. Nevertheless, I intend to see it this coming weekend. I've got a feeling my kids would like it.

[sidewinder]

I just caught the first BBC radio broadcast of the 'HHG' on the drive back home. Didn't recognise the episode but it had Zaphod failing to pay his bar bill with Amex (I'm sure this wasn't on the original series - maybe Adams wrote some additional episodes?)

Anyway what was uncanny was that the plot featured Arthur Dent being dropped off after hitching a ride on a space ship on the A303 road in Somerset. I was driving along that very same stretch of road at the time

[ejp626]

And you didn't stop to give him a lift!?

[sidewinder]

Adam's parents (his mum anyway) live/lived not too far from there so I guess that's where he got the inspiration.