"Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Mek]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/mekairinek/Wahey/503379.jpg
"You've got to know where your towel is." - Ford Prefect


Release Date: April 29, 2005
Studio: Touchstone Pictures
Director: Garth Jennings
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, Bill Nighy, Anna Chancellor, John Malkovich, Warwick Davis, Steve Pemberton, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman (voice over)

Plot Summary: Don't Panic... Stick out your thumb to join the most ordinary man in the world on an extraordinary adventure across the universe in the hilarious comedy, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Earthman Arthur Dent is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien and to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur's only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft. For the novice space traveler, the greatest adventure in the universe begins when the world ends. Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems: he learns that a towel is just the most useful thing in the universe, finds the meaning of life, and discovers that everything he needs to know can be found in one book: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."


Visit the official movie website here. (http://hitchhikers.movies.com/)

Comments, anyone?

I'm surprised a talkback hasn't been made yet. >.>

I'll be seeing this movie after some RL hooplah's overwith this weekend.

[silverwings]

Seeing it tonight and having never read the book, I'm really looking forward to it.

However, the critics don't seem to be liking it (I think it's at 60% at RT). Not that I care what they think overall, but I hope it turns out better than the rating suggests.

[Conekiller]

I've been hearing totally mixed things aobut this movie. I'm going in there with an open mind! ^__^

[Lord Dalek]

Most of the negativity seems to stem from reviewers who simply aren't getting the film.

I'll see how it turns out tonight.

[EinBebop]

Don't go in expecting the books.

Every incarnation of hitchikers guide (radio, book, television) have been very different, and I'm definitely seeing scenes in the previews that I don't recognize from the books.

And before questioning the alteration of Douglas's vision, be aware that he did help write the new scenes for the screenplay some 20 years ago.

[Eddie G.]

Most of the negativity seems to stem from reviewers who simply aren't getting the film.Most of the reviews I've read have complained about the pacing and orginzation as well as the humor not being that good. I'm not saying they're right in the quality of the film, but I don't see people freaking out about the crazy concepts and offbeat scfi/fi characters that are at the source material's core or just not getting it.

[Artimus Gigan]

I saw in the trailers the spremwhale/submarine scene, if that doesn't send someone's mind thru the roof, nothing will.


I read pretty much 75% of the series, however I noticed that Zaphod doesn't have his "extra" parts on him. If anything the HHGTTG should be a grpahic novel or somthing, people need the pacing of a book mixed with visuals to understand it clearly...

[Lord Dalek]

...If anything the HHGTTG should be a grpahic novel or somthing...
[COUGH] (http://www.floor42.com/Gallery/Book_Covers/Comic_Books/)

Also [SHAMELESS DALEK DVD REVIEW PLUG] (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=139983)

[UberMonkey]

I'll be catching this this tonight. I've heard all the negative comments, but I think that if I don't go in expecting the books, it should be fine. Besides, they had some clips at Yahoo! Movies that seemed to indicate this would be awesome.

[Artimus Gigan]

[COUGH] (http://www.floor42.com/Gallery/Book_Covers/Comic_Books/)

Also [SHAMELESS DALEK DVD REVIEW PLUG] (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=139983)I ment new and in a condensed form like a TPB

[IanC]

Saw it today. Very good, although i dont how it compares to the books (need to read em)

It finshes at roughly the point end of episode 4 of the TV series, if taht mean much.


Hope they do make a trilogy out of this!

[Adam Tyner]

I just watched it too, and I have to side with the critics on this one. Didn't much care for it, even though I'm a rabid fan of the books. I have three copies of the original, if that's any indication. :)

It sticks too close to the book in some respects, veers away from it in others (it often seems like they'll set up a joke from the book without following through, or they'll follow through without any set-up), and introduces a bunch of things that really don't work. As much as I like Zooey Deschanel, the whole romance angle feels really shoehorned in. Only one of the actors in the movie is convincing (whoever it was playing Slartibartfast)...everyone else sounds like they're reading cold from the printed page. Sam Rockwell's Zaphod -- kind of a flamboyant George W. Bush -- was fairly grating. There are a few solid laughs, but I just don't think this material translates well to the screen at all.

The big changes from the book to the movie:

1. The Vogons are in pursuit for most of the film, part of which takes place on Vogsphere
2. There's a subplot with a competitor of Zaphod's in the presidential race
3. A kinda-love triangle between Zaphod, Trillian, and Arthur

...and then little things like Zaphod's different motivation for his memory loss, a Point-of-View gun, a lemony-fresh Thinking Cap...my memory of the book is a little fuzzy, but Deep Thought wasn't based out of Magrathea, was it? It is in the movie. I thought the Magratheans were just commissioned to build Earth, but the movie makes it sound like everything revolving around the search for the answer-slash-question revolves around Magrathea.

Those smaller, more niggling things didn't really make an impact on me, and really, my only complaint in those changes is #3 and just because it's botched so badly.

The movie's okay. A couple of laughs, but I wouldn't recommend rushing to theaters to see it.

[EinBebop]

Only one of the actors in the movie is convincing (whoever it was playing Slartibartfast)...Bill Nighy. You may remember him as Viktor from Underworld, a role which he's reprising in the sequel. He'll also be playing Davey Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel.

[Lord Dalek]

Saw it. Liked it. Was about ready to cry when The Book appeared on camera to the triumphant sounds of "Journey of the Sorcerer".

[ManicWebb]

I walked into the theatre with my towel wrapped around my neck and everything. My expectations were fairly low, so I wouldn't let myself be disappointed by looking for the greatest movie ever created. Don't get me wrong; the books made me giggle, but I wasn't rolling on the floor with each page I turned.

I was disappointed that I was the only person there with a towel. Then a family of four (a father, 3 daughters) came in covered with towels, and I was happy.

It wasn't the funniest movie I'd ever seen, but it was good enough for me to enjoy myself. It was a great mix of comedy and fantasy. By that, I mean the visuals were fantastic, and the end of the movie was just such a nice thing to watch.

I'd seen the opening dolphin sequence online last week, and I thought it was terrible. However, when they ran the credits through it, it felt more like an opening sequence, and was quite enjoyable. Ah, I never enjoy online clips as much as I enjoy the same scene when I see it in context.

It was a good, fun movie. Nothing mind-blowing, but enjoyable. There are more moments that'll have you smiling and chuckling than cackling like a crazy person.

I don't feel like I wasted my money, if that counts for anything.

About the parallels between Zaphod and G.W. Bush: It didn't bother me at all. Not because I'm anti-Bush ('cause I was a big fan of Clinton, and I loved seeing him get made fun of). I just think we need to stop taking politics so seriously in places where we shouldn't be taking them seriously at all. It's a movie that takes place in outerspace. To quote Trillian, "we're on a spaceship, Arthur!"

[Adam Tyner]

About the parallels between Zaphod and G.W. Bush: It didn't bother me at all.It's not the idea that there was that similarity -- just that it was so blatant and kinda seemed like a square peg. If Sam Rockwell had done a Clinton voice, I would've griped about that too. :) I'm about the most apolitical person on the planet, so that definitely doesn't factor in. Really, just about everything about Rockwell's performance grated. I know the character's supposed to be over the top and everything, but that was borderline-painful. (Plus I always read Zaphod as being more of an inflappably cool eccentric rather than an outright lunatic.)

[Behonkiss]

Saw it, liked it. A lot of the added stuff didn't work (Unlike others, I didn't hate the Humma Kuvula subplot; I just hate that it wasn't resolved. Zaphod needs his 2nd head back, dammit. Also, it would be interesting to see how the romance and Earth Mk II are handled in sequels.), but the movie still achieved its primary goal: It felt like HGTTG. The segments that work really make up for the ones that don't. I could never enjoy the BBC series much because the effects were so bad they were distracting, but the book transitions in this were a joy to watch (I loved the cel-shaded Guide segments, and it was a smart decision to keep the Vogons as puppets- they're easily among the best I've ever seen). The actors also did a much better job with their characters than I expected.

So yeah, this is by no means either a classic or the dream adaptation we hoped for, but it's still great. Gets 4 stars and a recommendation from me.

[Lord Dalek]

Oh and I really dug OG Marvin's cameo.

[Spongebrain2.0]

Wow...saw it...theater was packed....and that was quite possibly the most bizarre...weirdest film I have ever seen....:sad: I never read the books....maybe that is it...I am normally of lover of bizarro weird humor...but this..was just....basically to me, "Star Wars laced with LSD"

P.S. Sorry H2G2 fans, I was never familiar with the books, but the people with us were laughing like hyenas at the stupidest things like the opening with the dolphins...my friends and I...just wern't getting it:shrug:

[Lord Dalek]

I ment new and in a condensed form like a TPBTop row, second from left.

Unless someone does an adaptaition of So Long... and Mostly Harmless, then theres no use whining.

[Charlie]

Got back an hour and a half ago. It was very well done, but I think I set my expectations a bit to high. Not to say it was disapointing, far from it. It just didn't have that spectacular "I'm finaly seeing it! Oh joy!" type of feeling as when I saw Starwars Episode 1 (befor the dissapointment set in afterwards mind you). Mabey it was because this was the first time I went to see a movie alone (I never really saw the point in going alone), it just seems movies are more fun with a friend or companion.

The basic story was there, but some of the things added to it just seemed pointless and where thrown in there for the sheer zaneyness of the movie, some worked but alot felt as though they where forced in (thinking cap comes in mind here, I don't remember if it was in the book or not, but it just felt kind of stupid). Though the audience at my theater seemed a bit alienated from most of the jokes, in the end when we all got out there seemed to be an aura of aproval. But in the end it was enjoyable and entertaining. If I could give it a rating, it would be a 4. Though its leaning twords a 3 1/2, that "Farwell and thanks for all the fish" musical number bumped it up a whole 1/2 point.

[The Frog]

I loved it. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the romance, but I suppose they do have to appeal to a mainstream audience. I also suppose that Trillian was the least developed Heart of Gold passenger in the first book. I was laughing the entire movie. I'm a big fan of the books, but I was really glad that they didn't follow the books exactly. If I wanted to hear the exact book story, I'd read the book. Actually, I didn't even really see the George Bush/Zaphod thing until people here brought it up. I just noticed that his voice sounded a lot like Sawyer from Lost. The puppet Vogons were really good, and I thought the actor they choose to play Slartibartfast was great. The audience was laughing the whole time (which, since is seems a lot of people didn't get it, that most of the audience had read the books).
I also liked the way the passages in the guide were done. The point of view gun was also funny, for the most part. Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie. It was only the forced romance I didn't really like. 4.5/5

[ManicWebb]

Well, when you think about the first book, all Trillian did was sit there and look after the mice. She even got the shaft in terms of dialogue. As far as I'm concerned, the only real way to make her memorable in the movie was to give her a subplot.

Plus it always struck me as odd that Trillian and Arthur were the last two humans in the universe, and barely talked to each other in the books. Or at least the 1 1/2 books I've read so far.

[Lord Dalek]

Well, when you think about the first book, all Trillian did was sit there and look after the mice. She even got the shaft in terms of dialogue. As far as I'm concerned, the only real way to make her memorable in the movie was to give her a subplot.

Plus it always struck me as odd that Trillian and Arthur were the last two humans in the universe, and barely talked to each other in the books. Or at least the 1 1/2 books I've read so far.Agreed, but part of the problem behind why Trillian has very little to do in Restaraunt... is that she did not appear in season 2 of the radio series at all.

[ToOn~g@l]

I saw this movie today and thought it was very good, but ask my mom and she would say that it sucked probably because she had never read the book.

It had been a while since I read the book but some of the scenes brought back memories like the bad poems and the idea of the dolphins leaving the earth. Zaphod was funny though I did nto like how they did his two head thing, or was that how he was in the book, see I cannot remember, I gotta reread it. And that song at the beginning and end was stuck in my head afterward, it was a nice happy song though.

I'll give it 3 out of 4 stars.

[Chris Wood]

I'm afraid I was a little disappointed. I haven't seen the BBC series in years so maybe my expectations were too high, but I didn't get many laughs out of it. I did enjoy the cameo from an old friend, but Marvin in the film got stuck with rather bland dialogue. We get that he's depressed already - you have to make him say something clever for it to be funny.

On the plus side I thought the film looked great, and overall it seemed a decent adaptation of the Hitchhiker universe.

[The Dork Knight]

I saw it today also. I thought it was a pretty good adaptation of the book. I was disappointed that they did not mention about Gengis Khan's ancestor. That and the stegasaurus chair.

I thought the best part of the movie was the song "So Long & Thanks For All The Fish" set to the dolphins swiming. :D

Overall, I gave it..

****

TDK

[90'sCartoonMan]

Well, I'm not familiar with the books (or radio series or anything else). I only know what other people have told me, and I decided I didn't have time to read them and still see the movie in theatres, so I went ahead and saw it.

I laughed out loud at a lot of it, and I really enjoyed the whole universe that was made up for the movie. I'm definitely going to be buying the books now so I know the whole thing.

The ending was the only thing that didn't really do anything for me. I never felt the Arthur/Trillian romance (the movie should've followed its own advice and avoided it), and I wanted the whole thing with the gun involved. Oh well, I'm looking forward to the books.

[The Avatar]

Okay, just wanted to post my thoughts.

The worst actor here was definitely Sam Rockwell. He just really over acted the character. I liked Alan Rickman's voice for Marvin. The rest of the preformances ranged from good to terrible.

Most of the stuff they added was bad. I really didn't like the Trillian and Arthur love plot.

Overall, not a really good movie.


Yeah, I'm not good at reviews.