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

First impressions are "Mrs Doubtfire", but BMH is a lot less pretentious and a lot funnier. And Robin Williams is nowhere in sight.

Ok, sure, Martin Lawrence's act is the same one he's used before, but it's not nearly as worn out as Williams'.

BMH is a big old 'Happy Meal' of a movie - it's not Michelin-rated dining but you know exactly what you're getting, and it'll fill you up until you can eat something more nutritious.

I was forced to see this movie against my will. But it turned out alright.

Ok, dumb plot, nothing new here whatsoever. But ML is quite watchable. A helluva lot more watchable than Eddie Murphy.

And no way am I going to see his Nutty Professor sequel. The preview is irredeemable.

ML *is* quite watchable, and quite surprising that his 15 minutes of fame has lasted this long.

I don't know about there being *nothing* new. I certainly would've remembered seeing a nude scene like the one in this film...

True, Mustapha. Has there ever been a bathroom scene quite like that: toilet followed by strip!

I only hope Hollywood doesn't try to push that particular boundary back any further.

Beats the hell out of a bidet...

That scene must have been an interesting challenge for the sound effects department!

The importance of good sound FX in comedy is highly unappreciated.

IMHO, the Kings of Comedy Sound are the SFX people from Bottom, Britain's answer to The Three Stooges at least in terms of comedic violence. The satisfyingly painful crunch of a nutshot, or the fart that sounds uncannily like a small motorbike - these shall always be things of amusement.

I'd like to see the resumé of a sound effects person. Do people grow up dreaming of spending their adult life making strange noises in dark rooms? Oops, that sort of question could lead almost anywhere!

There are a small group of people who, due to a happy accident in their brain's wiring, are literally able to see sounds or hear colours, or smells, etc. Perhaps this is the case with some sound effects people, or anyone with an affinity for music, though perhaps not to the same extreme.

But it does seem to be the only explanation for someone like Star Wars' Ben Burtt who came up with the idea of combining a baby elephant trumpeting with a car driving over a wet road to make the sound of a TIE fighter.

Many of the incidental sounds in movies, such as the striking of a match, the closing of a door, are not picked up properly during filming. So they're added later. But the sound of a match striking may not necessarily be made with a match. Sometimes the real thing doesn't sound 'real' enough, so they use something - anything - else.

Aah, the old "car-door slam" punch...

At least, I hope they don't pick up the sounds during filming.

I'd be much more comfortable if I thought Big Momma's toilet episode was done with sound effects, rather than the 'real' thing!

You're not a fan of "reality" tv or film then?

The next big BBC medical doco - The Miracle of Flatulence...

Reality? Like snuff movies? I think I can only handle a certain amount of reality!

I think a doco on flatulence would be more of 'sniff movie'...

Gross!

Did Gladiator pass your way yet? Determined *not* to see Patriot, we decided to see Gladiator again. And it does stand up to a second viewing.

I think Patriot is out this week, Gladiator might be out next week.

I believe Patriot is not so much a BOAT, more a CRAP (Cinematic Rewrite of American Past). (That word has more meaning in England than the US - you'll probably know that!)