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

It's on my list of better(or is it worse) cult classics.

When you consider the pool of talent assembled for this film, it's a wonder that so many people have never heard of it - a real shame too; it's brilliant!

Have you seen 'Big Meat Eater'? It's even more campy, but equally brilliant, in its own way.

JTG

No, I'd like to see more cult classics, but I never run across many except by accident. Such was the case with buckaroo bonzai, it just showed up one day at the library, sounded interesting.

I don't know, is Tron a cult classic? I don't think I've seen too many, come to think of it.

That's the trouble with cult movies: unless you have access to a really good rental outlet, or a good library, many of them are hard to find.

The 'Buckaroo Banzai' thing was written for my friend Fenchurch, who had put together a really good page about cult movies. Unfortunately, she seems to have gawn awf for a while, and her Entries are still hidden.

I don't know about 'Tron' being a cult film. It could be, I suppose. I guess it really depends on whether or not there is a group of hardcore fans. 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' would probably be a good example of a cult movie. The definition seems to hang on whether or not a film attracts a devoted group of fans, usually despite the lack of mainstream attention.

JTG

Wait, maybe I've got one.

It was called Time Bandits, with a bunch of midgets and a little kid. I'm not sure if it has that much of a cult following or not though.

Hmm...

It should... it was great! John Cleese was brilliant as Robin Hood. And the scene with the boat rising out of the sea resting on the giants head is pure genius.

Yes, I agree, it was very good. My favorite scene was the one with Napoleon.

Have you seen 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen"? It's a similar sort of surreal adventure starring John Neville and Eric Idle. It also features the lovely Uma Thurman in her film debut (I think).

JTG

I saw an animated version, and I think I've seen part of the live action. Did one scene involve Robin Williams as a giant blue guy?

I don't remember that part, which suggests that either he wasn't or that there is something seriously wrong with my brain. It doesn't seem like something one would easily forget.

I don't know, come to think it doesn't really fit with the story I remember from the animated version either. Then again, all I can remember from the cartoon is the baron riding cannonballs.

Apart from the wonderful characterization of John Neville, the most memorable bits are Eric Idle racing around in clouds of dust with thighs like those of a Jack Rabbit and Uma Thurman as Venus emerging from a giant clam shell.