BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie

Subject: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: robomatic
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 10:51 PM

The new movie does NOT fulfill the Douglas Adams vision. But to start, Douglas Adams didn't have an initial 'vision', he authored a radio script, and then a five book 'trilogy'. A TV show followed the radio show. It was done at a low budget, ?Dr. Who? style, but made an attempt to furnish the scenes and bon mots of the original radio series.

The movie tries to capture the feel and a sort of 'message' of the Adams original, but in doing so it sacrifices plot, characters, events, pacing, and several cherished scenes of the original series.

First let's talk about language. The original radio series had as its main sentient characters exclusively 'English' English speakers, of the kind who can deliver witty lines fast and furious, while being very clear on the transatlantic ear. The computers and mechanized beings were mentally dense, they wanted to be effusively friendly at the expense of all intelligence and commonsense. There was more happening here than was ever explicitly stated. There was a subtext that spoke to anyone who was ever offended, even if they didn't know why, at being escorted through a Disney universe by robots mouthing historical platitudes, and grinning people acting like robots and dressing in big cartoon costumes). When Eddie ?your shipboard computa? apologizes for his uselessness in any situation where he is truly needed, he is acting out what we all know, that technology often gives us more and more of less and less. Linking the useless hyper-modernity with Americanism and the haplessly quaint tea-drinking Arthur Dent with a British core was no accident. Hip hop artist Mos Def as Ford Prefect, and Zooey Deschanel as Trillian rip apart this delicate but vital distinction. Worse still, we don't get anything in return. The worst feature of the 80's English television venture was the use of an American high pitched bimbo as Trillian. Zooey is a far better choice, but she is as awkward to place as was Trillian in the original series, who drifted out of the latter radio installments. In today's movie there is an entire excursion about rescuing her from the Vogons that seemed to be 'tacked in', and there was an attractive but useless addition to the cast who led the Vogons in the pursuit of Zaphod Beeblebrox. In the case of Zaphod, Sam Rockwell (American) did a capable rendition, with the second head and the third arm cleverly installed, although there is UPA (useless plot addition in having him leave one of the heads as a surety while he picks up a 'special gun' from Megrathea).

In the less than two hours that the screenwriters had to establish the themes and tie up the loose ends they seemed to settle for visitation rights on the theme of displacement ? the whole intersteller bypass shtick, and such items as the manifestation of a whale in the upper atmosphere along with a bowl of petunias, and the visit to Megrathea.

The effects are for the most part well done, Marvin is well simulated and well voiced. The Planet Factory is excellent, The Vogons superb, and there is a now a Hitchhiker's Movie theme song, ?So Long And Thanks For All The Fish? If you thought you'd get to see Ford Prefect chat up a robot waitress at Milliways, or Zaphod put into the Total Perspective Vortex, you're going to have to wait for the sequel.

I have just done watching ?Gormenghast?, which was a far better rendition of a series to a visual medium. I'd give Hitchhiker a B+ for effects, and a C- for theme delivery. It is worth seeing in the cinema if you get off work early and get a couple of beers down you first.

Overall I'd give it a 6 out of 10 because they really did try not to bugger it up.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: CarolC
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 11:21 PM

I haven't seen the movie yet, but from what I've seen in the trailers, I'm very disappointed with the design of Marvin and also of the Vogons. The way the Vogons were characterized in the TV show was way funnier than what I saw in the movie trailer. The cutified CGI Marvin design is a slap in the face to Alan Rickman as well as to Marvin. They could have done way better... especially with someone like Rickman providing the voice. Terrible waste of a really good and funny actor.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:27 AM

Marvin is NOT CGI (He may be CG'd in some situations, but...) That's Warwick Davis in a suit!

"The new movie does NOT fulfill the Douglas Adams vision"
I'll wager it fulfills Adams vision for THIS movie....   Remember, he did write most of the screen play for this film...   And I seem to recall hims saying something about what he was doing in "Salmon Of Doubt"... about how 'die hard fans' of the book or radio or BBC TV version were probably NOT gonna like what he was doing this time around, and that he really didn't care.

But I'm not gonna defend it too strongly... I haven't seen it... yet.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: The Walrus
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 06:28 AM

"[In the radio series]...There was a subtext that spoke to anyone who was ever offended, even if they didn't know why, at being escorted through a Disney universe by robots mouthing historical platitudes, and grinning people acting like robots and dressing in big cartoon costumes)..."

Well, I'm sure you can forget that in this film, after all it was produced by Disney Studios.


Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Bainbo
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 07:14 AM

After the original radio series, the only version I saw that came anywhere close to the spirit of the piece was a theatre show which toured Britain in the 80s by a small Welsh company called (Ithink) Theatre Clwyd, from Mold.

They decided there was no way they could capture the huge landscape that you can on radio, (Vogon constructor fleetts and the like) and so didn't even try for flashy special effects. They ley us use our imagination.

Arthur's house was demolished by a toy bulldozer trundling on stage; Zaphod's second head was a ventriloquist's dummy head which he held up with his left hand; The Vogon captain stood on stepladders on stage to deliver his poetry while Arthur and Ford sat in the theatre stalls and screamed; and, best of all, when they materialised in the hold of the 'B' Ark, they wandered round the audience, grabbing audience members and claiming to have found dead telephone sanitisers and account executives.

It was absolute magic, because the story, the characters and the humour were allowed to shine. Other versions seem to have too caught up with wizz-bang sci-fi special effects. THEY'RE NOT THE POINT!

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Gray D
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 07:51 AM

It was Theatre Clwyd, Bainbo. I was in the audience at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff the night that the set fell down . . . and the actors just worked it into the story and got a good laugh from the audience out of it. The toy bulldozer was a stroke of genius and the security guards attacking the heroes with ping-pong ball guns from the audience, and, and, and, oh, h£ll, it was just a fantastic production.

Have to say that I'm a bit worried about the film, from the trailers I've seen so far, though.

Gray D

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: sian, west wales
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 08:28 AM

I was the Marketing Officer at the Sherman at the time. Sighs of relief were heard well into the following morning ...

siân

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 08:49 AM

Saw it yesterday. Agree with Robomatic.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 09:19 AM

Just sent a review to the New York Times, they made me chop my above verbosity to 1500 characters! With the whole world wide web around me and they force me to contain myself to 1500 characters.

When "Independence Day" came out I had a student radio show. I went on about how that movie sucked like a Hoover for five minutes on the radio. god that felt good.

1500 characters!

blam damn love my own spam!

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,artbrooks
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 10:55 AM

CNN review

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Firecat
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 11:47 AM

If you're in the UK, you can see the original series on BBC2 on Tuesdays at 11.20pm

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Donuel
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:04 PM

I have the book, the radio play, the original TV DVD and the computer game. Perhaps next I should pursue the Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy action figures, movie props and cocktail napkins* on ebay.

* From the restaurant at the end of the universe.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: CarolC
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:29 PM

CGI or not, Clinton, I'm still disappointed with the way they designed the look. Waaaayyyy to cute to be Marvin.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:51 PM

What if that's how Douglas wanted him to be? Could he be wrong?

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: CarolC
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 01:14 PM

I don't believe it ...and you can't make me.

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 01:24 PM

I'll never forget bringing my just recorded off-the-air Dolby cassette over to a friend's house so we could listen to the world end on high powered speakers.


Nothing beats the pictures produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop from the original series.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 01:36 PM

Saw it last night. I thought Marvin was great............he was always my favourite and I loved him in the film.

Not too sure about Arthur; but the two-headed Zaphod was great. I thought it was about ten minutes too long - but a personal opinion my daughter (23) thought it should have been longer.

As for the pictures, I heard the very first episode on the radio and went around telling all my friends how good it was. The pictures were brilliant (as they always are on radio).

Best regards,

TV-less Dave

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Ken former DWFCA member
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 10:11 PM

From what I have here, it sounds like I should forgo this movie and catch the BBC version when it comes on on this side of the pond. A toast with Old Janx Spirit for you all.
A sidenote here, Douglas Adams did work on Doctor Who. He wrote "The Pirtae Planet," second episode in the Key of Time series which aired in 1978. During 1979-80 season he served as the script editor for the series. He also wrote another episode, but due to a strike at the Beeb, it never came into fruition. You can see small parts of it in the episode titled "Doctor Who and the Five Doctors."

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: artbrooks
Date: 01 May 05 - 01:16 AM

BBC version (assuming you are referring to the original and not a re-do of some kind) is available in the US on DVD...at Borders, for example.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 May 05 - 04:44 AM

you can see the original series on BBC2 on Tuesdays at 11.20pm

Showing yer age, Firecat:D

Us old fogeys Remember the ORIGINAL, original series on radio - Which is incidentaly being repeated on Radio 4 from Tuesday May 3 at 6:30PM.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: John J
Date: 01 May 05 - 06:48 AM

The pictures a far better on the wireless.

John

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: robomatic
Date: 01 May 05 - 08:35 AM

As for the BBC TV series of the early 80's, I got around to seeing it about three years ago. It tried very hard and with moderate cleverness to adhere to the events of the radio series, but it paled in comparison for two main reasons: 1) A 'Doctor Who' approach to scenery which to my American eyes led me to continually hope they wouldn't lean against anything for fear of knocking it over or put a hole in the cardboard, and 2) the casting of Trillian as a 'bimbo' with a high pitched American accent.

The original radio series was one of those exceptional intersections of writer, performance artists, and sound specialists. I long kept them on Dolby cassettes and I often duped them for newbies. I now have high quality mp3 copies.

Until that time the only thing I valued so much for its delightfully off-kilter plots and sound effects were Goon Shows. Monty Python recordings were quite good, but Hitchhiker advanced the medium.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Anti HGTTU League
Date: 01 May 05 - 09:16 AM

this film is bound to be shit..

same as the tv show.. the books .. the rdio show...

it was all shit in the 1st place..


unfunny self indulgent tedious drivel..




you lot are worse than trekkies and whovians

,.. at least they've got a sense of humour..

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Firecat
Date: 01 May 05 - 12:54 PM

I wasn't even born when the TV series was first shown, so what do you mean, showing my age???

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 May 05 - 12:56 PM

"He wrote "The Pirtae Planet," second episode in the Key of Time series"

Which blew....

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Ken former DWFCA member
Date: 01 May 05 - 09:12 PM

Thank you Clinton Hammond for showing the error I have made. I meant "The Pirate Planet."

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 May 05 - 09:13 PM

I think that's what Dave meant, Firecat. "Showing your age" can equally mean "showing your youth."

Quite fun, but they tried to get far too much into the time. They'd have done much better to cut out lots of it and leave it for a possible sequel.

Much too rushed, for that reason. The action crowded out the words. And Marvin? That's not my idea of what a paranoid android should be like (and he wasn't even an android, but a robot. Big difference.) And I didn't much like what they did with the music.

It's generally agreed that the authentic version is the one you first came across. I'm glad it was the radio original for me.

But Bill Nighy made it. He tends to do that to films that aren't quite up to the mark. God knows how.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 01 May 05 - 09:49 PM

Anti-HGTTU-league?
Anybody any guesses on what that might mean?

Normal initials are HHGG or H2G2. And if You're being pedantic, and using all the words, it is THGTTG.

Even badly written rants can provoke questions.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: CarolC
Date: 01 May 05 - 10:44 PM

GUEST,Anti HGTTU League, you sound like a Vogon. You're a Vogon, aren't you?

Read us some poetry...

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST
Date: 02 May 05 - 09:13 AM

Somebody up above said you can see the original series on BBC2. That is quite an achievement for a radio show!

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Amos
Date: 02 May 05 - 09:53 AM

technology often gives us more and more of less and less.

What a wonderful, paradoxical line this is, Robo!


A

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Anti HGTTG League
Date: 02 May 05 - 10:28 AM

.. well just shows how much I care >>



U niverse.. G alaxy.. same bleedin' difference !!


who gives a monkeys..

..its still trite unfunny shite

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Pro HHGTTG
Date: 02 May 05 - 10:32 AM

It's a compliment to the material when one is moved to post twice to a thread based on something one does not find funny. And without explaining why it's unfunny, just to windge on about it.

It's funny, that.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Anti HGTTG League
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:01 PM

sorry.. nothing complimentary or funny >>

I was asked for poetry..

so being the kind sort that I am..

I provided some..


here it is again..


"its still trite unfunny shite "

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: CarolC
Date: 02 May 05 - 12:26 PM

Yes! That's it. Vogon poetry for sure... blew out all of my windows, my head hurts, and I can't hear a thing, and I've gone completely mad...

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Coyote Breath (without cookie) beware adware
Date: 02 May 05 - 01:34 PM

Heard it first when I checked the tapes out of our local library. Listened to it on a long cross country trip and after almost running off the road several times because I was laughing so hard, would take hour-long breaks and sit, car cozied against the winter rains and laugh 'til tears. Then found numerous books by Adams and delighted anew was I. Then saw the BBC on the cheap TV series and was slightly disappointed that the characters didn't quite live up to my inner vision but lost THAT quickly as Arthur Dent seemed more in line with the radio version than the book version did and Vogons were perfect as was Prefect.

I am keen to see the current film. I hope that it is funny first and true to the "original(s)" second. I am in need of cheering up, it's been a cold damp winter.

CB

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: *Laura*
Date: 02 May 05 - 01:57 PM

I dodn't quite understand why Ford has an american accent. I don't think it works.
But then I haven't seen it yet so I won't judge yet.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 May 05 - 01:59 PM

Would't Ford have a Betelegusian (sp?) accent? Maybe it just SOUNDS American...

Going to see the movie tonight...

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 May 05 - 03:42 PM

Anti - don't you mean that you don't care a pair of foetid dingos' kidneys?

I liked the film, loved the song and was thrilled that they kept the original theme music and that the last image of the film is the face of Douglas Adams.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 03 May 05 - 11:10 AM

I sat and read all this drivel, and me with a brain the size of a planet

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 03 May 05 - 11:53 AM

Just saw it two nights ago. I'd never read or seen the book, radio, or TV shows. It was a bit flat. At least five people got up and walked out, but since I'm a film programmer at another theater, I decided to stick it out, hoping for a boffo ending. No luck.

I really enjoyed the dolphin antics and photography, thought the black character was reminiscent of the dude in "Brother From Another Planet," found Alan Rickman's voice perhaps the most compelling character in the film, and was slightly disappointed in the role given to Bill Nighy - although he did the best he could with a minor part.

The most appealing sequence was the planet factory where they were rebuilding earth. It rated about 4, with 10 being the top.
It was like going to somebody else's family reunion and not getting all the little inside jokes.

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Schantieman
Date: 03 May 05 - 11:54 AM

But Ford's accent will surely be modulated by the Babelfish?

I agree with the previous posts that the pictures are better on the radio. I was a Sixth Former when the series was first on - just the right age, I think, and listened to it late at night in bed (we were less adventurous 30 years ago, Firecat et al.) and could sort of imagine the scenes. Much later I read some of the books and saw the TV series - MUCH less good. From what I've seen of the film trailers, I don't think I'll bother, but I am going to try out what sounds like a remake of the radio series, starting at 6.30 tonight.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: John J
Date: 03 May 05 - 12:04 PM

Marvin looks nowt like that!

John

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 May 05 - 01:23 PM

*Spoiliers*

I saw it last night... I had a BUCKET of fun! Especially in the nods to the BBC TV series... like having Simon Jones (The BBC Arthur Dent) as the Magrathean Warning Head... The BBC "Marvin" standing in line on Vogsphere... And the best was the 'face' that the Heart Of Gold 'flashed' into RIGHT at the end...

*End Spoilers*

LOVED Zaphod... o.k... loved to HATE him... Trillian was cool and sexy in a geeky kinda way just like she's supposed to be... Arthur was dead on... Marvin, my only beef is that we didn't get enough of him... Mos was ROCKIN' as Ford... And the Vogons were SO perfectly British it was astounding!

I was glad for the changes to the story as well... cause over-all, in broad strokes, the story was there, but the details were tweaked so it didn't feel like I was sitting through a tired old Monty Python re-run... This had surprises, in a story I already knew and loved. What could be better than that?

I can't WAIT for the DVD, to see what they CUT...

And I'm hopeful there will be at least ONE sequel

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: GUEST,Diva
Date: 03 May 05 - 02:08 PM

We saw it last night and loved it. Came out doing soft shoe shuffle and singing "So long and thanks for all the fish" Damm, we didn't stay to the very end of credits, we might have to go back!!!!!! I am of an age to have heard the radio series and the BBC tv adaptation, as is my partner and he read the books too. My daughter has only seen the film and loved it too. It was lots of fun, true to the spirit of the original. As they only had a couple of hours to play with and make it accessible to our friends across the pond who might not have our anorak status I think they did bloody well.
Marvin was our fav, Zaphod was magic and Bill Nighy was brill as ever

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 May 05 - 02:17 PM

Was it just me, or do you think Bill Nighy was sorta playing the role as if he was Christopher Walken???

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Amergin
Date: 03 May 05 - 04:18 PM

Incidentally, those on the American side of the pond can order the radio series on cd at amazon.co.uk...

apparently quandary and quinessential phases are coming out soon too...

Subject: RE: BS: The New Hitchhiker Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 May 05 - 05:25 PM

Or you can fire up eMule or other File Sharer and download it for free... DNA doesn't need the money any more...