The Hitchhiker's Guide - movie - Page 4

Azisien · 05-03-2005, 09:48 PM

Got back from the movie an hour ago. Good for a few chuckles, but overall: Not terribly good. A disappointment, but not a complete failure.

Sega Kid · 05-04-2005, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFD

I liked it as well. Proving to me, once again, that critics search out the flaws, and fail to grasp the wonderful parts.

Oh, and stay for the credits.

....What was in the credits? I usually stay for those but the people I was with were in a hurry. and they HATED the movie! I thought it kicked ass..

Possible spoilers:Best part in my opinion, was when the whale was falling, the many thoughts going through his head, was funny as hell, "Hey gound, will you be my friend?" *WHAM!*

Thikyngdum · 05-05-2005, 05:34 AM

I was so scared when I went to see this. I have been waiting almost my whole life to see it. My father raised me on this stuff. I mean, he read it to me as a bed time story. With so many bad reviews, I was terrified they were going to destroy the story. I nearly cried when that song started the movie...and not in a good way. They did make up for it (for me at least) when they played the old BBC show's theme. For me, that was the real opening. Still, all in all it was a lot better than I expected. And on further review, I like the dolphins' song a lot better now that I know the movie didn't suck.

shiney · 05-05-2005, 07:27 AM

Personally, I hated it. I know it doesn't add much to the conversation but damn. It strayed too much for my tastes, and a lot of the actual jokes seemed mumbled, unimportant. It felt often like they would fast forward through parts of the actual book(s) so they could get to the stuff they made up.

Solid Shadow · 05-06-2005, 02:26 AM

Spoilers ahead!!! ARG!!!!

SO anyway.. My wife and I went to see it. I've been a big fan of the books for many years, ever since discovering them around the time Douglas Adams was a guest on Coast to Coast A.M. with Art Bell (must've been about 1991 or so, IIRC). I've watched the trailers, read the reviews, etc. Blah blah blah. I went in expecting a not-so-good adaption of my favorite series of novels.

Within five minutes I was angry. They left out pretty much the entire Arthur/Prosser conversation. They left out the entire Ford/Prosser conversation, instead resorting to Ford passing out beer to the construction workers. At this point, I'm thinking to myself, What the Fuck?

Twenty minutes into the movie, MY WIFE FELL ASLEEP. This is the same woman who will watch British romance/drama on PBS with what can only be described as rapt attention, and she dozed off shortly after Ford and Arthur were turned into sofas.

The only reason I understood any of what what going on was because I've read the books many, many times. I can't imagine what the casual moviegoer or the uninitiated viewed might have thought. Personally, I felt the whole thing was an ill-contrived mess whose script/screenplay was more than likely altered significantly after the untimely death of our dear, beloved Douglas Adams.

Mos Def as Ford Prefect? Who sat up all night smoking crack in order to come up with this idea? Maybe he was good in the other movies he's been in, but I'm sorry, I could come up with at least ten actors infinately better suited for this role.

This morning I drove to the nearest Barnes & Noble and bought the 2-disc DVD set of the 1981 H2G2 BBC television serial. It's far, far better than this movie. Plus, I needed to replace my worn-out VHS copy and now seemed as good a time as any. Currently, as I type this, the wife and I are listening to my copy of the original radio show. Far more entertaining, IMHO.

Gineko · 05-06-2005, 03:25 AM

I haven't read the book so in my naive opiniun, it rocked! Which is why it's in my sig.

Jhonka · 05-06-2005, 12:03 PM

I enjoyed the movie, but only because I was fully expecting it to suck. It did suck, but only as an adaptaion of the book. As a movie, if you imagined it as a new and original thing, it was acceptable. And I burst out laughing at the "Take his brain!" line.

Illuminatus · 05-06-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiney

Personally, I hated it. I know it doesn't add much to the conversation but damn. It strayed too much for my tastes, and a lot of the actual jokes seemed mumbled, unimportant. It felt often like they would fast forward through parts of the actual book(s) so they could get to the stuff they made up.

Shiney, it wasn't a laugh riot and it wasn't the book, but you have to admit that it had its shining moments...the dolphin song is absolutely hysterical (lets be honest) and the queque scene is also quite clever. Plus, some of the best parts of the book (The whale, Slartibartifast talking about making Norway, Vogon poetry, etc.) are still in there.

I mean, you're welcome to disagree with me, but I don' think it was all THAT bad.

BitVyper · 05-07-2005, 12:15 AM

I loved the mouse scene. Granted, I think the original turned out funnier, but the bit where spoiler: they were coming for his head was awesome. I don't know anything about Mos Def, but I thought he played Prefect well enough, though I'm not sure he would have been my first choice. I especially liked the scene of his first meeting with Arthur.

Living Bobbeh · 05-07-2005, 02:46 AM

Went to see the movie yesterday and as a person who has never read the books I though it was quite good. I did love the Dolphin song at the start and the earth being made at the end was quite clever. It did have a very british feel about the film, I don't know why though. It was probably Stephen Fry doing the voice of guide that made it feel British.
Although, the only problem I had with it was it didn't explain everything, namely why the towels were so important, and why didn't the Girl in black at the end get affected by the POV Gun? Who the hell was she anyway?

05-05-2005, 05:34 AM	#33
Thikyngdum Dealing in Chaos Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Here and there, but mostly there. Posts: 12	I was so scared when I went to see this. I have been waiting almost my whole life to see it. My father raised me on this stuff. I mean, he read it to me as a bed time story. With so many bad reviews, I was terrified they were going to destroy the story. I nearly cried when that song started the movie...and not in a good way. They did make up for it (for me at least) when they played the old BBC show's theme. For me, that was the real opening. Still, all in all it was a lot better than I expected. And on further review, I like the dolphins' song a lot better now that I know the movie didn't suck. __________________ The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but that doesn't mean it isn't on the list.

05-05-2005, 07:27 AM	#34
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	Personally, I hated it. I know it doesn't add much to the conversation but damn. It strayed too much for my tastes, and a lot of the actual jokes seemed mumbled, unimportant. It felt often like they would fast forward through parts of the actual book(s) so they could get to the stuff they made up. __________________ boop

05-06-2005, 02:26 AM	#35
Solid Shadow Earth-Pig Borne Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Past, Present, and Footure Posts: 237	Spoilers ahead!!! ARG!!!! SO anyway.. My wife and I went to see it. I've been a big fan of the books for many years, ever since discovering them around the time Douglas Adams was a guest on Coast to Coast A.M. with Art Bell (must've been about 1991 or so, IIRC). I've watched the trailers, read the reviews, etc. Blah blah blah. I went in expecting a not-so-good adaption of my favorite series of novels. Within five minutes I was angry. They left out pretty much the entire Arthur/Prosser conversation. They left out the entire Ford/Prosser conversation, instead resorting to Ford passing out beer to the construction workers. At this point, I'm thinking to myself, What the Fuck? Twenty minutes into the movie, MY WIFE FELL ASLEEP. This is the same woman who will watch British romance/drama on PBS with what can only be described as rapt attention, and she dozed off shortly after Ford and Arthur were turned into sofas. The only reason I understood any of what what going on was because I've read the books many, many times. I can't imagine what the casual moviegoer or the uninitiated viewed might have thought. Personally, I felt the whole thing was an ill-contrived mess whose script/screenplay was more than likely altered significantly after the untimely death of our dear, beloved Douglas Adams. Mos Def as Ford Prefect? Who sat up all night smoking crack in order to come up with this idea? Maybe he was good in the other movies he's been in, but I'm sorry, I could come up with at least ten actors infinately better suited for this role. This morning I drove to the nearest Barnes & Noble and bought the 2-disc DVD set of the 1981 H2G2 BBC television serial. It's far, far better than this movie. Plus, I needed to replace my worn-out VHS copy and now seemed as good a time as any. Currently, as I type this, the wife and I are listening to my copy of the original radio show. Far more entertaining, IMHO. __________________ "Sometimes I go into my own little world...but that's ok. They know me there." -Joel Hodgson "Tears are our pre-payment for laughter ahead" -Mara the Malevolent solidshadow.blogspot.com

05-06-2005, 03:25 AM	#36
Gineko AI = Artificial Idiot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: a box outside, free to a good home Posts: 543	I haven't read the book so in my naive opiniun, it rocked! Which is why it's in my sig. __________________ Wierd things my brother said this week: Bro-"[Gineko], can you come help me with this IQ test?" _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations." -David Friedman Had this been an actual emergency, I would have screamed, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

05-07-2005, 12:15 AM	#39
BitVyper History's Strongest Dilettante Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Arcadia Posts: 6,662	I loved the mouse scene. Granted, I think the original turned out funnier, but the bit where spoiler: they were coming for his head was awesome. I don't know anything about Mos Def, but I thought he played Prefect well enough, though I'm not sure he would have been my first choice. I especially liked the scene of his first meeting with Arthur. __________________ "There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea is asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, somewhere else the tea's getting cold. Come on, Ace; we've got work to do!" Awesome art be here.

05-03-2005, 09:48 PM	#31
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	Got back from the movie an hour ago. Good for a few chuckles, but overall: Not terribly good. A disappointment, but not a complete failure.

05-06-2005, 12:03 PM	#37
Jhonka Octopus Waffles Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 124	I enjoyed the movie, but only because I was fully expecting it to suck. It did suck, but only as an adaptaion of the book. As a movie, if you imagined it as a new and original thing, it was acceptable. And I burst out laughing at the "Take his brain!" line.

05-07-2005, 02:46 AM	#40
Living Bobbeh That's NumberWang! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Twenty X'DY six! Posts: 1,127	Went to see the movie yesterday and as a person who has never read the books I though it was quite good. I did love the Dolphin song at the start and the earth being made at the end was quite clever. It did have a very british feel about the film, I don't know why though. It was probably Stephen Fry doing the voice of guide that made it feel British. Although, the only problem I had with it was it didn't explain everything, namely why the towels were so important, and why didn't the Girl in black at the end get affected by the POV Gun? Who the hell was she anyway? __________________ Be confident, Wear a Cape!