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

This afternoon, I have been to the cinema (and can I just say that I thoroughly recommend going to the pictures on a weekday afternoon – there were only about 20 people in the theatre).

Yes, I finally got around to seeing “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” and it’s great! Martin Freeman is perfectly cast as Arthur Dent, ditto Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast – but then you don’t need to see the film to know that. Sam Rockwell is brilliantly irritating as Zaphod, and I like Zooey Dechannel’s Trillian (and I didn't mind the love triangle thing either - I thought that worked quite well). I even liked Mos Def as Ford Prefect. Yes, it’s true that Mos Def is a little difficult to understand in places but it still worked for me. The use of famous voices is excellent too – Helen Mirren is the voice of Deep Thought the computer (I never thought of a computer being female before), Bill Bailey’s voice makes for a hilarious whale, Alan Rickman is as good as you’d expect as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android and no one else but the excellent Stephen Fry could have voiced the The Guide itself. The animatronics are excellent and I loved all the special effects. Yes folks, I liked this movie.

I understand that some Adams purists have complained that it’s not enough like the books or the radio series or the TV show. This is of course nonsense given that Douglas Adams wrote the screenplay for this film. It is a terrible shame that he didn’t live to see the film completed. I was surprised just how much of the dialogue that I recognised from the BBC TV series (particularly as the last time I saw it was about four years ago!) I recognised something else too - in one scene (the one where Arthur, Ford and Zaphod are queuing on the Vogon planet) I spotted in the background what appeared to be the same robot that was used as Marvin in the TV series.

Yes, I loved it, loved it, loved it. And the ending is left WIDE open for a sequel. I hope to see our intrepid travellers on screen again soon – perhaps dining at the restaurant at the end of the universe. See it if you get chance – and don’t forget your

I hate to admit this, but I read the book and while parts were really funny, I actually stopped before the end because it was not funny; was it supposed to be funny? Is the movie funny? Or do I not get the whole thing?
GLad you enjoyed it though Lizz; it sound like a great way to play hookey going to the movie on a weekday afternoon; I will have to give it a go some time!

The fact that it was "not enough" Like the books, radio or TV series was a bonus for me- one of the big things with the whole Hitchhikers franchise is that no two versions are the same- the film being completely different just carries on the tradition.

Another famous voice- Richard Griffiths as Jeltz

Yes, that was the 'original' Marvin in the queue. I don't know if you noticed, but the Magrathean answerphone message was Simon Jones (the original Arthur Dent), and there were numerous sightings of Douglas Adams throughout the whole film (the final face at the end of the HOG improbability drive bit at the very end of the film for one, and one of the planets being built by the Magratheans for another.).

I'd be interested to know if anyone knows of any other appearances by the original cast and crew that I missed...

TK[1]

I found the film very funny, but then, I found the books hilarious. Couldn't read more than a couple of paragraphs without chuckling out loud- and that includes each time I've re-read it.

So you might not find the film funny.

TK[1]

I have to confess to not having read the books, but they are on my 'to do' list. It was the TV series that introduced me to 'The Guide'.

Snow - if you didn't laugh at the books then you wont laugh at the film. I think that the humour is quite British and that doesn't always translate. I laughed out loud a fair bit in the cinema this afternoon.

TK - I recognised the face of the ansaphone person but I didn't realise it was Simon Jones. I have to say that the whole film did have a sort of familar feel to it, which I really liked.

Well, perhaps I shall wait til it comes out on video; unless you think the visual effects are amazing; then I'll just wait til its in a repetoire theatre.....
THURSDAY IS STAR WARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited! I was considering going to the hairdresser to get some funky braided Leia hairdoo.............
: )
Great movies abound for all!
Is Star Wars very big in England?

I thought the special effects were good, but then please bear in mind that the last time I went to the pictures was four years ago.

Yeah, Star Wars is big here. One of the TV stations here is very fond of doing surveys of best song, best album, best pop video etc and they did a top 100 favourite films a couple of years ago. The original Star Wars film was voted the No 1 film. I saw 'Star Wars', 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi' at the cinema but I have no interest in the three new episodes.

Oh Lizz! The new ones are great too! A very different feel; but still fabulous; the continuity of the musical score really helps keep the original flavour.
Anikin is so HOT in the third movie; a really cool Luke if you will; I always went for Han Solo over Luke because he was more manly but still a tad too rough for me; this Anikin is perfect! Though too young; sigh! : (
They changed him over to the dark side a tad too quickly for my taste; 40 min. more and some struggle should have done it better........
But I loved it! I wish men would dress like that; high boots, capes, YUM!
Let's re-vamp fashion, shall we? I could go with the flowy long gowns too.........and the funky hairdo's..........

I'd go with the boots and capes in a second if I had the figure for it, and if I thought I wouldn't get lynched...

TK[1]<pirate.

Oh, Sir Bandit you would not get lynched! Unless it was by many jealous males because women are swarming your swaggery self.........
I mean, Anikin was REALLY HOT! And I think an outfit like that could go with any figure really; I mean, I think it is best with long and lean and six-pack abs and blue eyes, but it's not tight fitting or anything..........
I am so frustrated with the world we live in today; where has all the magic gone?
It's all business and go-go; ah well,...........