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

Is it just me or is this one of the most over-hyped mediocre *bestsellers* of all time?

It seems I can't open a newspaper these days without seeing an article related to this book or its author.

Having just read it this past week all I can say is . . .



Feel free to disagree.


azahar

I disagree. I read it and I loved it. It was very well thought out and written.

I do think it may be over-hyped though.

will be even more hyped when the movie comes out in 2006

directed by Ron Howard (Happy Days fame)
Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon

source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/
http://www.danbrown.com/

may the hype with you

I'm not sure the movie is a good idea... so much of the book depended on understand the clues and such that the movie might just be boring as heck...

ever read "rising sun" by Michael Crichton?
ever seen movie "rising sun" with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107969/

if the first is yes and second no. my advice is do not see movie, because you will be disapointed.

if first is no, then read book!
if second is yes.. poor you! read book!

I didn't know it had been hyped (I don't read the papers), I read it on the recommendation of a friend who was interested in it from a feminist point of view - probably the first modern novel I've read in about 10 years (shameful admission, not a boast. But hey, test me on Postman Pat and I'm way ahead).

I thought it clunked a bit in places ("Robert quickly explained to her the history and symbolism of the Masonic movement" kind of thing) but I enjoyed it, and thought it flagged up some interesting questions about the role of women in Christianity. Also flagged up to me personally (and not for the first time) my unforgivable ignorance about Christian teaching, so I did take it with a pinch of salt.

Tom Hanks? Interesting. It's fast moving, it twists and turns, it should make a good film, but probably at the expense of the cultural and intellectual references. And I'm not sure I want to watch a monk beating himself up.

Mol

Loved the book but I'm not sure I want to watch the film if it's got Tom Hanks in it

I think the book was pretty good but a movie would lose a lot of the aspects of what made the book really good, plus it would lose a lot of detail from cutting it down to 2 hours or so. Also I also really don't think that Tom Hanks is a good choice for Robert. He really doesn't seem to be the right type of actor.

But, under the right circumstances, seeing a monk beating himself up would be REALLY funny.

What is wrong with Tom Hanks then?

He's too tall for the part.

Mol

Mmmm... he's not so tall...

No ... but he's *too* tall.

I *know* he's a top, Oscar-winning actor, probably America's finest at the moment. I *know* this is completely illogical because, er, well how tall is Robert anyway? I don't think we know. It's just this gut feeling I have.

Mol

Oh.

Well who do YOU think should play the part then?

Well, somebody that good, but fractionally shorter.

Mol

Mmmm...

I vote for Johnny Depp.

I don't know how he would handle the role, but I would spend $9.50 to watch him for 2 hours even if he was p***ing on a good book...

Oh, well, if we're choosing the star *that* way, I'll have the guy who played Aragorn. Not so good without his sword and leather coat, obviously, and he needs to be beardless but just slightly stubbly for optimum effect ... but I'd watch him for a couple of hours.

Mol

Lol.

Two interesting points.

1) Viggo Mortensen is actually also a very talented artist. And was really hot in "Dial M for Murder" with Michael Douglas.

2) Stuart Townsend was originally going to play Aragorn. Who'd'a thunk?



As far as actual suggestions go in regards to The DaVinci Code - maybe Ewan McGregor? He's shorter...

Viggo, Viggo, that was his name. Stuart who? Nevererdovvim.

Ewan's rubbish at accents.

Mol

Townsend... ummm... he was in Queen of the Damned and few movies since... sort of a dreamy kind of dark bloke... think he's Irish or something....

Okay, well I cannot think of anyone else. Your turn to play casting director, Mol!!

I've chosen Viggo. He can stride around with a smart Parisienne for a bit instead of mooning over somebody with pointy ears and an implausibly husky voice.

Actually didn't az ask a serious question at the start here?

Mol