h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello - hope you don't mind be briefly intruding.

I'm surprised that there wasn't such a huge reception in other areas of the US - I went on Friday night, at 7:00, and the theatre was packed; we had to go all the way to the top before we found seats. When we came out at around 9:00, there were crowds of people lined up to get seats for the next showing, many of them with towels.

A lot of people are saying they weren't very impressed by the movie. I think that you have to treat it as something entirely different - yet something very DNA-esque - constantly comparing it to the radio series and the books isn't going to really help your estimation of it.

My favourite parts were the bits with the Guide - especially when it came floating out in space and Journey of the Sorcerer (the original theme) played. Stephen Fry was an excellent book - I won't start comparing him to Peter Jones, but he was still seriously good. Zooey Deschanel is a *major* improvement Trillian-wise. Though I saw her in some interviews and she acts and sounds like such a complete California valley-girl idiot. So I wouldn't get too excited about her, Kat - I was underwhelmed.

The one thing I'm really pissed they left out is the conversation where Ford tries to talk the Vogon guard into a career change, just before he throws them into the airlock. I was greatly anticipating that scene and was mildly annoyed when it didn't occur.

But, all in all, definitely 9 stars out of 10, at least. Maybe 9.5.

<>

What-EVER!

I'll forgive the valley girl thing from Deschanel just because of her singing voice. Check out the film "Elf" for a great rendition of "Baby it's cold outside".

*intrigued*

Who does she duet with in Elf?

I saw the film, rather enjoyed it and loved the song. I know one of the singers for the dolphin song, an odd fact which I didn't discover until after I saw it. I may have to buy the soundtrack now - who wouldn't want to add 'So Long and Thanks For All the Fish' to their music collection? Oh. Maybe I'm the only one...

David

I don't know who the other person in the duet is. I have not seen the film yet. I think that I found an mp3 while looking for other articles about her after I found out that she was going to be in HHGTTG.

The soundtrack is well worth it.

There's a new version of the classic "Marvin" song (called "Reasons To Be Miserable" here), and a song called "Vote Zaphod" which I think is hilarious.

Oh, I *love* the soundtrack. I bought it from iTunes as soon as it was advertised.

You do know it's Stephen Fry doing the 'Reasons to be Miserable' song?

Yes. Just as he did in the classic "Marvin The Paranoid Android" song, which also features the same lyrics and rythm.

I just heard part of the soundtrack on the radio!

There was a commercial for some Chicago-based radio talk show, and they used the beginning of the "Infinite Improbability Drive" track as background music. They never got to the part where it changed to a disco beat, though, they just kept looping through the beginning of it.

Some fantastically silly Hitchhikers themed sites set up by hammer & Tongs, the Production company behind the film:

http://www.siriuscybernetics.org/
http://www.lunkwillfook.com/
http://www.universaltowels.com

My heart is truly broken EMR if she acts like a cheerleader ...although what with living in England and not being in the 'industry' and the like...and her probably having a boyfriend...there wasn't much chance for me anyway

If it's any consolation I don't have a chance with her either Kat, and I am rather taken with her as well.

Wow, these are great websites!

Saw it last night.

There were several touches from the tv series I liked: the theme tune when the guide was first shown on screen and the way it floated in space, the original Arthur Dent as the warning from Magrathea and the original Marvin in the queue on Vogonsphere.

Overall I enjoyed it, but there were a couple of times I felt it dragged a little, H nodded off briefly! It was good, but it could have been better.

I enjoyed it, once I managed to convince my mind that it simply *couldn't* be 'like in the books'

But I'm wondering if the books might be given more justice if it was a TV series rather than 'just' a film?

*whisper* I didn't like the books though

No one's going to stone you to death, Kat. I myself hated the tv series. It still works best in the original medium, radio, though. I don't think any of the further adaptations have quite lived up to the original in that regard.

I believe that the first exposure to the material that one has is the key. I read the books first and I like that medium the best. I have only heard some tf the radio plays but they were good. I don't like the TV show at all. I loved the film, however. I think that the casting was really spot on (non English Trillian aside). I *really* want to see The Restaurant at the End of The Universe made in to a film, I must say.

I liked Trillian. I thought she was a major improvement on the previous one... but what she was doing in England with Arthur was something that puzzled me. I agree about the casting, though. A lot of people hate it but I think it really 'worked'. I don't see what else they would have done. I mean, they've got some of the best actors in the business. What else can the public want?

It likely does not help that I am besotten with Zooey Deschanel. I really like her in all both films I have seen her in.