Hitchhiker's Guide Thread (Not Guaranteed Spoiler-Free)

[filkertom]

Well, I won't spoil it for you. No, really. Not gonna bother with an in-depth review. I will say that it's fun, the performances are good (yes, all of them), the Jim Henson people did their usual superb job (this outing with the Vogons), they throw in several new things (some of which might be in books 3-5, which I have not read), and they leave it well open for a sequel, of course. Strong 7 out of 10.

Discuss as much as you'd like. I'll certainly chime in, and WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS!

Comments

[shadowriderhope.livejournal.com]

My favorite? That in the credits there is someone whose title is "Head of Hair and Fur."

That's just cool.

I loved the opening sequence/titles, and the reprise at the end. :)

I didn't like how they did the Zaphod head trick, but ah well.

All in all, I was highly entertained, as I expected to be. Alan Rickman rocked as Marvin!

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

Dan and I saw the flick yesterday and laughed out loud numerous times. it was, as you say, fun. We were glad that they had incorporated the TV theme music into the opening credits. We both adored the cameo appearance in the waiting line at the Vogon bureaucracy. We both agreed that the device that caused the final plot twist was a little obviously put into the film for just that purpose. And I knew who was going to use the device and what the outcome would be quite a bit before it happened.

I'm a bit befuddled by several commentators who have claimed that the characterization of Zaphod was influenced by George W. Some lines, such as the one about charm and style winning over substance and intellect, clearly were aimed thataway. But I didn't see W at all in Rockwell's portrayal.

BTW, I don't know if I love or hate the "So Long" song. I was singing it when I left the theater; it's an earworm for sure.

All in all, we were happy campers and glad to have revisited one of favorite works in yet another version.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, the credits were entertaining. I didn't mind the Zaphod head trick, but I always thought the fake head on the TV show looked... well... like a fake head.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I was pleased. I have to say that having all read the books and heard part of the radio show, this is the first time Zaphod actually made any sense to me. The W connection actually was central to my getting him. Though the head thing was disconcerting, I can't see how else it could have been done without being distracting. Enough new stuff to keep it interesting, and enough old stuff so it seemed to fit the Douglas Adams universe for me. And I was glad to hear the radio theme (same as the TV Theme?), too.

Of course, I have noticed now that I almost never see TV or movies that I tend to be more impressed by any movie that I see. In any case, I was pleased with it.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I suspect they're thinking in terms of sheer dialogue re: Dubya, but several of those lines were written by Adams literally decades ago. Certainly the one about the president being a position not of power but of drawing attention away from power.

I do kinda like the song -- not intensely, but it was a fun bit. And, yeah, too damn catchy.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

That was the word that we (Leslie, Mark Bernstein, me) kept coming back to: The new stuff fit. It was a little goofy, but it all worked together in a way which didn't scream, "Oh, that's not part of the Hitchhiker's universe". And that, frankly, is a pretty good accomplishment.

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

Well, there's also the thing that I find Zaphod sexually attractive in a fun fling sort of way, while W <<

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

My head imploded after the last post, but LJ didn't realize it.

[aylinn.livejournal.com]

if anyone's interested, here's Peter David's take on it.
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/002849.html

his LJ feed is here:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/peterdavidblog2/

I'm waiting for the crowd to die down - I'm out of the wheelchair but still on crutches. Need the extra seat to put the foot up. ;)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

'Sokay. Zaphod's got a spare.

[ororo.livejournal.com]

Actually a comment I heard by Sam Rockwell said he included some of his take on Clinton.

While visually stunning, especially Magrathea, I didn't love the flick. My full take on it is here.

[ororo.livejournal.com]

actually, I once had a thing for a guy that looks a lot like Sam Rockwell with the beard, but minus the extra head, though he wasn't quite that vain and nowhere near as stupid as Zaphod was played.

[jss]

Wait. You mean janet_coburn is Zaphod Beeblebrox?!

[catlin.livejournal.com]

Sadly, we had been told the Serenity trailer would be on Hitchhickers... We were most disappointed to find this was not so.

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

No, I believe the implication was that Zaphod would give me head. Or else I just have a really filthy mind. Which can't be true. After all, I'm a respectable married lady.

(hey, stop that snickering)

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

It was included where and when we saw it--and it looked *very* intriguing. They also had trailers for the upcoming Star Wars and the new Herbie horror.

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Said theme based on the Eagles' "Journey of the Sorcerer".
From Hotel California album IIRC

Handi-capable seating in Cinci

[romlc475.livejournal.com]

That's what I love about the National Cinemas "deluxe" theatres here in northern Cincinnati. We had to pay a bit more for the "Director's Hall" tickets, but we got to choose our seating, and the "handicapped" seating is in a really nice place out of the way, but still with a great view of the screen...and if you have the ability to see the movie projected digitally, it's well worth it.

To echo what everyone else has said, the cameos were great, and I thought Stephen Fry nailed the lines being the voice of the Book. One thing the critics have touched on in complaints was the relationship between Trillian and Arthur--I thought it actually added to the story, but if they actually make it to making any of the other books into movies, it could put a damper on Arthur's "future" relationship.

We also saw "Sahara" this afternoon (we were in a movie mood and did a 2-fer), and while it a bit far-fetched in spots, and with a few really rough transitions between scenes (it sure won't win an Oscar for editing!), it was a really fun film. I'd give both a strong B grade.

And neither set of previews showed the Serenity trailer, which was a little disappointing--but the Episode 3 trailer was darned impressive on the big screen!

[crwilley.livejournal.com]

Two hours later, I'm still singing and tapdancing along with "So Long And Thanks For All The Fish"...

Loved Sam Rockwell, but the second-head thing didn't do it for me. (Heck, loved the cast, in general.) And the material that didn't appear in the books didn't bother me in the slightest - it worked.

And we made the day of the ticket-taker when seven adults (two in bathrobes) and three children paraded in, each with a towel slung over one shoulder.

[darkwolf69.livejournal.com]

I mostly liked the movie. Really the only bit that got my undergarments bunched up was the Arthur/Trillian relationship. That REALLY seemed out of place- that and the fact that the Earth Mark II was in use at then end of the movie. It kind of kills the Angst that is Dent- it's as radical a change to his character as Faramir coveting the Ring. And I didn't appreciate THAT, either. ;-)

I had other nits to pick, but they're pretty minor, and probably born of my having read the books, listened to the radio series, and watched the TV series FAR too many times to remain sane on the topic. ;-)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

You mean this whole time it's been an actual song, with a real name and everything?

Wow! That's news to me.

Kinda a bummer, though, since I came up with my own lyrics for the overture.

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

the song and the whole dolphin explanation are by and large book 4. they left out the description the guide had of earth, namely "mostly harmless." IIRC (haven't read the books since high school) arthur and trillian never DO get their relationship sorted out. the bowl of petunias saying 'oh no, not again" is explained in book 3.
i really liked the dedication at the end, reading simply "for Douglas"
very nice.
interestingly, considering stephen fry is the voice of the guide, back before Adams' untimely passing, they (TPTB) had been talking of a movie and had wanted fry's long-time friend and colleague hugh laurie to play arthur. i would have liked to have seen that...

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

:) That's simply great, you real hoopy froods.

Hugh Laurie ...

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

for those on the distaff side of the pond, was the father in Stuart Little and is currently in "House" as the chief doctor. (I have almost all of A Bit of Fry and Laurie on video! Soupy-twist!)

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

FYI: the first incarnation of H2G2 was as a BBC radio series in six parts, first aired in 1978. [I personally voted for it in the Hugo Awards of 1979 but it didn't win.] I had some problems reading the books since they really changed the plot around and went to other planets entirely... then saw the TV series and it all changed again.

What indeed constitutes "Canon" for a "story" that has major plot changes between radio, book, television and now feature film versions? Continuity does not exist. It bothered me for a while until I decided to relax and just enjoy the ride through infinite improbability.

I did not mind Zoey Deschanel as Trillian as much as I thought I would. Some of my friends complain that she did not sound like a Ph.D. scientist but I had to ask them, do they know a lot of Ph.D. scientists? They don't all sound like walking encyclopediae and often have normal human emotions. So there. OK she was American, as was Zaphod, but I can encompass that idea as a trans-Atlantic marketing move. What is an ocean when you are jumping between planets? Besides, she was awfully cute.

Jim is still singing the Fish song. I may have to kill him.

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

I want to hear your words anyway! Share?

[janet-coburn.livejournal.com]

BTW, one of the other trailers I saw was for "Zathura," the "Jumanji sequel" with a space-based game instead of a jungle one. I believe that Jason Porath had a hand in doing the special effects for it.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Well, okay, but they're kinda silly;

So let's ride in a rocket-machine
Just stick out your thumb
Hop on take a journey with me
Straight into the sun

Too late, there's no home to go back to
Let's find us some fun
Let's ride past the planets and stars
And straight into the sun

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

See we were the only hoopy froods in our theatre. No one else brought their towels and I had to EXPLAIN them to several people.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, it's instrumental. No lyrics to speak of.

Re: Hugh Laurie ...

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

hugh was also jasper in "101 Dalmatians," prince george in the "Blackadder" series, and bertie wooster in "Jeeves & Wooster," baseed on the comedies of p.g. wodehouse.
/end fangirl moment
interestingly, i accidentally convinced a British customer at work today that i'm really from yorkshire, not a states-side Yankee born and raised. silly things like actually pronouncing words and speaking in a civil tone do things like that, i've noticed, almost as well as knowing of SEVERAL excellent British television programs and being able to name all the best examples of traditional pub fare at The Pub near my store.
*sigh* maybe i've been British in a past life. or maybe i'm just hanging onto the accent still that i picked up seeing the film testerday.

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

oh, i'll have to see that just because jason's involved! i've only met him once; his stepbrother benji is my ex-boyfriend, so back a few years i got to meet jason when he was home on a school break. he's a wonderful guy and very talented. tho i may have to hurt him someday for the invention of Duck (a nefarious shaping of the hand who seems to have a mind of his own. and it's a dirty one.)

Re: Hugh Laurie ...

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

or even yesterday. woo. see, i take my last final and immediately lose my ability to proofread what i write.

Re: Hugh Laurie ...

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Grin!

I'd forgotten 101 Damnations (g!)

I knew the others of course, but I was thinking of American productions he'd been in, rather than other "obscure" British things (like BlackAdder! And yes, I believe I do have all the BlackAdder on video, including the Comic Relief and Millenium Dome shows)

BlackAdder

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

And the Christmas special :-)

Re: BlackAdder

[sylverwolfe.livejournal.com]

the new flight of the phoenix movie, too.
he really is an amazing actor, to have such a wide range of comedic and dramatic capabilities. the first few episodes i laughed so hard i nearly cried, while at the same time squee-ing about how cool the show is, and now every week i'm almost to tears from the angst and drama as well as the laughter. i think that's the mark of a truly great performer, to have your audience laughing and crying with equal depth of sincere emotion.
tom's done that to me a few times, actually. the first was the first time i'd heard "garboo." i'd laughed myself silly earlier in the album and was just rocked to the core listening to that lovely, sweet song, for the first time truly aware how much i regret not being able to speak to my great-grandmother in Polish and understand what shed wanted to say to me for 18 years before she died.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And thus does the circle become complete. :)

Although I believe "Duck", or something like it, has been "invented" by at least one-quarter of the guys in America at one time in their lives or another.

[delayra.livejournal.com]

I thought it was an interesting take on how to do a 2-headed anything. Original and quite impressively done

[delayra.livejournal.com]

Definitely. The changes absolutely smacked of Douglas Adams *happy sigh*

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Cut out the 5 minutes of gratuitous schmaltz and I loved it. "The one guy who gets me." Gee, y'think you might be biased by the fact that he's the only other member of your species left?

On the other hand, enjoyed everything else, both the old parts and the new bits that fit right in. Especially liked seeing the Vogon technology--perfect. Oh, and the factory floor on Magrathea. Nameseeker said "Ooh, sparklies!" I couldn't argue with that.

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

I'm a Ph.D. scientist (though I'd forgotten Trillian was supposed to be). If someone asked me to go to Madagascar, I'd probably want to wait until the end of the semester. If they had their own spaceship, on the other hand... I'd find where the Vogons keep the forms for Alien Abduction Leave, and go have some fun.