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

So anyone know when this is going to be shown then folks?

FB

We really should have a triffid smiley.

That would be a triffic smiley

I've been wondering the same myself. This doesn't give much of a clue but I believe it's the most recent news from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7883238.stm

In the meantime, we can watch:

http://player.uk.msn.com/sci-fi/day-of-the-triffids/

I think the remake is just two episodes so it's possible it'll be part of the christmas schedule.

Van

Part 1 is on Monday 28th December 9pm on BBC1
Part 2 is on Tuesday 29th December 9pm on BBC1

So let's see it will feature shakey camera work, out of focus talking head shots, too loud background music and probably over-used CGI for the triffids with lots of shouting and running about.

Or they could do something really radical and use a tripod, use trained cameramen, have subtle unobstrusive music, have a more thoughtful but still exciting script and story, and use physical models for the Triffids(I think this maybe done anyway - they will look better).

I'm only watching it to see how much the BBC mess it up.

Which they will.

You could be wrong Groob...they might get it exactly right... ... ... ... ...sorry fell off my seat laughing at my own jokes...

So, did anyone watch it? I thought it was rather good but it is rather annoying that they don't think it would be exciting if they stuck to the plot in the book.

saw last nights but at work now so will watch part 2 on the iplayer

I watched it. It's not too bad. Didn't expect it to be as good as the 1981 version with John Duttine, which (just my opinion) was close to perfect.

As happened with that 1960s film -- for this new one, they decided they could tell the story better than J Wyndham - and changed it in ways that I don't think improved it at all. But still, it *is* better than that earlier film.

The end was a bit strange. It was sci-fi almost to the very end, then turned sort of voodoo (not to give too much away and spoil it for anyone). I like sci-fi to be sci-fi and spookies to be spooky. I don't think they mix very well.

I thought it was quite good, as for the ending with the voodoo bit, I think there was a slightly more scientific reason why it worked.

But his dad and his mum and the flashbacks; it was all too soap-opera for me. I don't remember the monastery bit but I haven't read the book for a long time. Plot-veering aside, I thought it was good and I'm glad I watched it. And Joely Richardson I didn't recognise her; is she really 44 years old?!

Van

I kind of liked the first part... Then I began remembering more about the book which I've not read now for some time... and it got more annoying as they drifted further from the origional plot, replacing it with plot which was, well less good... If It ain't broke don't fix it... It rushed through bits where they could have spent more time, spent too much time on bits they should have rushed through,
The screenplay/script could have been better written basically.. I'm sure Iremember the previous/older film version being better, but its been a while since I saw that
However, for all its weakeness its about the only thing on all Christmas Ican think of that wans't just a repeat... or totally unwatchible... I lost the plot a bit by teh end of the second part as we'd gotten through a bottle of vodka and a bottle of port by the end

OK, so solve my dilemma. I missed episode 1 (available on i-player I believe) but recorded episode 2. Haven't watched either yet. Should I?

Bearing in mind that in my view, story is about coping with the collapse of society, not a humans v aliens adventure.

Mol

25 mins in ... oooooh ... so far so good ... is that Eddie Izzard?

I'm hugely impressed. They have admittedly taken considerable liberties with the plot. But so far they've kept the key elements and updated it brilliantly for 2009. I was so worried about the 'loads of CGI' thing and needn't have been; the triffids themselves are just as gloriously awkward as they should be, and the CGI of London in chaos was excellent.

So my dilemma *now* is, do I stay up until midnight watching part 2 or save it for tomorrow?

Mol

Must admit I didn't think Eddie Izzard had it in him to play quite such a psychopath...

As it's 20 years since I've read the book I can't remember much about it so I can't comment on how far from the original they strayed, but my only complaint is why they restricted themselves to 2 episodes... It could quite easily have been expanded to double that length without being too long