Movie Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[akhhorus]

Saw it yesterday afternoon, my quick review.

If you're a huge fan of the books and want a pure adaptation of the first book. Dont see it. Adams(the alterations are definitly Adams' doing--too funny not to be) wrote a somewhat different script for this movie and while it has a lot of the elements from the first book, there are major changes to the plot and some new characters are added in.

As a big fan of the books, I hated the movie. But as a fan of movies, it was hilarious. Mixed review, but I'll give it a thumbs up. If you're a casual fan of the books or havent read them, check it out; if you're a diehard fan of the books, don't.

[RedskinRyan]

the movie looked dumb to me, alot like sliders, which i didnt like, so i wasnt planning on seeing it. i know joe saw it though, but his opinion may differ from yours.

[akhhorus]

the movie looked dumb to me, alot like sliders, which i didnt like, so i wasnt planning on seeing it. i know joe saw it though, but his opinion may differ from yours.

Its nothing like Sliders. Its far less sci fi crap and more like a comedy with sci fi elements.

[smoak]

Ireally enjoyed the movie, and I'm about halfway through the 5 part trilogy. I read something from Adams that the radio shows were different from the books as well so I expected some change.

The interesting thing (for me at least) was that after I saw the movie (Saturday), the public broadcasting station (again I have no cable) was running the old TV series. It was great (and by great I mean very dry with ancient special effects). that series seemed to follow the books to a T.

[akhhorus]

Ireally enjoyed the movie, and I'm about halfway through the 5 part trilogy. I read something from Adams that the radio shows were different from the books as well so I expected some change.

The interesting thing (for me at least) was that after I saw the movie (Saturday), the public broadcasting station (again I have no cable) was running the old TV series. It was great (and by great I mean very dry with ancient special effects). that series seemed to follow the books to a T.

If you looked carefully in the Vogon office(where they fill out the paperwork) Marvin from the old TV series was in line. And Adams wrote several versions of the books for various Radio adaptations. Some are pretty good, some arent. I love the books(Life, the Universe and Everything is my favorite), I try to put it in my reading pile every now and again.

[whitskins]

I thought the movie was pretty good, I laughed a lot and the cast was excellent. I was pleased.

[LATrueRedskin]

I thought this movie was terrible. One of the worst I've ever seen. I came in with high hopes to laugh, but I didn't find much funny at all. The story seemed all over the place, and wasn't original. There were some funny parts, but I can catch the last 15 minutes of Seinfeld and be just as satisfied. It was a total let down to me. I haven't read the books (and I've heard they're VERY good), but I thought this movie would be much better. Mos Def was great though, I thought.

[smoak]

If you looked carefully in the Vogon office(where they fill out the paperwork) Marvin from the old TV series was in line. And Adams wrote several versions of the books for various Radio adaptations. Some are pretty good, some arent. I love the books(Life, the Universe and Everything is my favorite), I try to put it in my reading pile every now and again.

Really? I missed that! The awful special effect on the TV series made the story even more amusing (for me).

[akhhorus]

I thought this movie was terrible. One of the worst I've ever seen. I came in with high hopes to laugh, but I didn't find much funny at all. The story seemed all over the place, and wasn't original. There were some funny parts, but I can catch the last 15 minutes of Seinfeld and be just as satisfied. It was a total let down to me. I haven't read the books (and I've heard they're VERY good), but I thought this movie would be much better. Mos Def was great though, I thought.

Well, I would recommend that you read the books. Its a funny story, but the books probably would make it more accessible.

[akhhorus]

Really? I missed that! The awful special effect on the TV series made the story even more amusing (for me).

Yeah, its quick, and you have to know what you're looking for, but he's there. Arthur does a double take when he sees him.

[akhhorus]

Also, if it hits a certain box office figure(which it will because this will be big in Britain), then they have an option to make Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

[LATrueRedskin]

Well, I would recommend that you read the books. Its a funny story, but the books probably would make it more accessible.

Yeah I figured. About halfway through the movie, I realized I had to read the books.

[akhhorus]

Yeah I figured. About halfway through the movie, I realized I had to read the books.

I think you would dig the books.

[AGibbsGirl]

Absolutely one of the worst movies I've ever seen (thank you for the fish) I literally fell asleep (sorry Mike, I didn't know there was a thread devoted to the movie when I posted this in the other thread) I wouldn't want to read the books after seeing the movie...don't get mad at me for saying that Gussy....

[akhhorus]

Absolutely one of the worst movies I've ever seen (thank you for the fish) I literally fell asleep (sorry Mike, I didn't know there was a thread devoted to the movie when I posted this in the other thread) I wouldn't want to read the books after seeing the movie...don't get mad at me for saying that Gussy....


Ok, everyone is entitled to my opinion. But I would recommend that you at least read the first book. It's not very long and is funnier. But alot of the jokes are very dry jokes.

[AGibbsGirl]

Ok, everyone is entitled to my opinion. But I would recommend that you at least read the first book. It's not very long and is funnier. But alot of the jokes are very dry jokes.

Seems as if it was written by a British drug addicted, Hippy, in the '70's...oh wait....:D

[akhhorus]

Seems as if it was written by a British drug addicted, Hippy, in the '70's...oh wait....:D

Adams was as square as they got. But his books are hilarious.

[AGibbsGirl]

Adams was as square as they got. But his books are hilarious.

Not what Hubbo (who read the books, hence me being forced to see the movie) said...I'm off to Goggle.....

[smoak]

Not what Hubbo (who read the books, hence me being forced to see the movie) said...I'm off to Goggle.....

Yeah I thought I read in the Foreward that Adams originall thought of the "Guide" when he was passed out in a field drunk with a copy of "The Hitchhikers Guide to Europe"?? I could be wrong as I am new to the books/movies/series.

[LATrueRedskin]

I think you would dig the books.

I think I would, too. I'm down with that kind of stuff. I see your sig, that was one of the funniest parts in the movie. The other funny part was when they were being slapped in the face by that thing that comes out of the ground if they thought something.

[akhhorus]

I think I would, too. I'm down with that kind of stuff. I see your sig, that was one of the funniest parts in the movie. The other funny part was when they were being slapped in the face by that thing that comes out of the ground if they thought something.

Neither one of those were in the book. But the books are full of stuff like that. Thats Douglas Adams' style of humor, the ridiculous ironic.

[AGibbsGirl]

I did like the robot...he made me laugh...is that wrong?

OK wait...so did the President dude...he was funny....

[LATrueRedskin]

I did like the robot...he made me laugh...is that wrong?

OK wait...so did the President dude...he was funny....

Yeah the robot was funny, but he reminded me too much of C-3PO from Star Wars. Same kind of thing.

[smoak]

Yeah the robot was funny, but he reminded me too much of C-3PO from Star Wars. Same kind of thing.

Maybe it comes through better in the books, but Marvin is much cooler. He is manically depressed rather than whiney/annoying.

I was disappointed they played down the ANNOYING personality of the ship computer (doors sighed when opening).

[akhhorus]

I did like the robot...he made me laugh...is that wrong?

OK wait...so did the President dude...he was funny....

What about Zaphod? Both of them, Marvin and Zaphod are much funnier in the book than the movie.

[AGibbsGirl]

What about Zaphod? Both of them, Marvin and Zaphod are much funnier in the book than the movie.

uhmmm...remember me :sleeping: who were they again?

[akhhorus]

uhmmm...remember me :sleeping: who were they again?

Marvin was the robot, Zaphod is the President.

[whitskins]

No movie could possibly do this book justice, too much of the humor is simply in the writing, the descriptions and the tangents that Adams goes off on which are hilarious. The Guide does a good job of this in the movie but the book is much more rewarding.

I think the movie works best as a nice compliment to the book, something that fans have been waiting for a loooooong time. Considering that the movie is so unfriendly to those who have not read the book, it is amazing the movie was even made.

My favorite line: Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they tell me to take you up to the bridge. Call that job satisfaction? Cause I don't. --Marvin

[smoak]

Not a bad rating on IMDB.com so far...

User Rating: 7.1/10 (4,560 votes)

[akhhorus]

No movie could possibly do this book justice, too much of the humor is simply in the writing, the descriptions and the tangents that Adams goes off on which are hilarious. The Guide does a good job of this in the movie but the book is much more rewarding.

I think the movie works best as a nice compliment to the book, something that fans have been waiting for a loooooong time. Considering that the movie is so unfriendly to those who have not read the book, it is amazing the movie was even made.

My favorite line: Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they tell me to take you up to the bridge. Call that job satisfaction? Cause I don't. --Marvin

The tangents and asides were what I was most concerned about. How to do those, without slowing down the movie, and for the most part, they did a great job keeping them moving and keeping in the spirit of the book.

[akhhorus]

Not a bad rating on IMDB.com so far...

User Rating: 7.1/10 (4,560 votes)

The box office was around 30 million in the US so far. Thats more than I thought it would do. It will be a big hit in the UK.

[whitskins]

The tangents and asides were what I was most concerned about. How to do those, without slowing down the movie, and for the most part, they did a great job keeping them moving and keeping in the spirit of the book.

I was very happy to hear my favorite aside about when the universe was created and this was generally seen as a bad move. That and the part about digital watches in the book are when I really fell in love with it, so much of the book still makes me laugh and I've re-read it several times.

I also liked the nods to the British mini-series, the Marvin robot that you mentioned, and the theme song when The Guide was introduced was great, although I assume that music was part of the radio play, which I have never heard.

[akhhorus]

I was very happy to hear my favorite aside about when the universe was created and this was generally seen as a bad move. That and the part about digital watches in the book are when I really fell in love with it, so much of the book still makes me laugh and I've re-read it several times.

I also liked the nods to the British mini-series, the Marvin robot that you mentioned, and the theme song when The Guide was introduced was great, although I assume that music was part of the radio play, which I have never heard.


the guy who played Arthur in the old series had a quick cameo in it. And the last image you see in the movie is Douglas Adams' face.

[whitskins]

the guy who played Arthur in the old series had a quick cameo in it. And the last image you see in the movie is Douglas Adams' face.

Yeah I liked Adams' face at the end, missed Simon Jones' cameo though, I couldn't spot it.

Oh yeah, another hilarious part, where the whale is plummeting through the sky "What? Where am I? What am I doing? What's my purpose in life?..."