prillalar | Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie

In a word: meh.

In three words: what the fuck?

In a few paragraphs:

While I went in with low expectations, I was still hopeful for a fun time. But the movie missed the whole point in a big, big way. You know, just the same as any time there's a US remake of an excellent UK television series. All the sharpness is gone, they use a mallet instead of a needle.

And the ending? Happy, happy, the earth is back but Arthur won't stay because now he loves adventure? Sure, right. This Arthur is never going to be the Sandwich Maker because he's too busy being bloody ~~James T Kirk~~ David Livingston.

I weep.

That said, I did enjoy Martin Freeman's performance. Sam Rockwell is always fun. Mos Def was, hmm, poorly directed? I didn't really like Zooey Deschanel that much. Stephen Fry was, as always, wonderful and I thought the way they animated the Guide was excellent.

Humma Kavula was really cool, but it seemed like that thread was completely dropped.

Some of the design I liked a lot -- Magrathea especially. The dolphin song was très fun.

And Ford couldn't keep his hands off Arthur.

In the end, though, it was wrong, and worse than that, it was dull. Douglas deserved so much better.

There was a credit cookie, so if you're there, be sure to stay for it.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

In the end, though, it was wrong, and worse than that, it was dull.

Yikes, that pretty much sums up exactly what I was afraid of. I probably won't be rushing to see it, though it seems like one of those movies that I might want to see on the big screen for the effects. Because without the added entertainment of big screen special effects it would be even more dull, I suppose.

*sigh*

Yes. It was just... dull. I honestly checked my watch around five times, which is never a good sign. They just seemed to... miss the point. Really, really miss the point. And it seemed to drag in places as well.

Plus, it wasn't even all that funny.

I mean, there were good bits, but as a whole? Not so much.

Yeah, I saw it too and I agree with you so much. I was expecting better as Douglas is actually credited with the screenplay but apparently they've made several additions since his death.

Though the dolphins were awesome.

I didn't think it was bad, but I left feeling sad that there wasn't more to make me fall rabidly in love with it. I did like Zaphod a lot. I remember reading (by Neil Gaiman, probably?) about how each version of Hitchhiker's Guide that works is a reinvention of it that also does new things with the medium it's created in, and I guess this just didn't quite do that for me. I already knew the big jokes from the books, so it was disappointing to have less to laugh at. I don't have any hatred for it, but maybe it was a little too safe and that's part of the problem.

Squee. Methinks there's a possibility for Ford/Arthur if you completely throw out the Arthur/Trillian plotline.

Humma Kavula = Elton John. It was scary.

Hi, btw! Read the fic you co-wrote with

laurashapiro, More Things in Heaven and Earth (http://prillalar.com/fic/stories/000104.php), and I've been meaning to fangirl you.

::flail flail::

::fangirls you::

I thought it was pretty funny, but I have not read the book. I'm sure that the book must be better, as is usually the case, but the movie amused me for what it was. I got a kick out of some of it, and I watched it on little sleep so maybe that helped.

If you're going to see it, the theatre is probably better than waiting for the DVD. It wasn't as dull for me as some films (The Incredibles, for example, bored the hell out of me) but neither was it as sharp and engrossing as it should have been.

I bet getting drunk first would help.

I know. :( It makes me sad.

The producers keep making a big deal about how they were mainly sticking with DNA's screenplay, but I just can't believe they would have missed the point in such a big way if they had. *sigh*

The dolphins indeed were awesome. And I loved Humma Kuvala -- I wish he'd come into it again at the end.

I remember reading (by Neil Gaiman, probably?) about how each version of Hitchhiker's Guide that works is a reinvention of it that also does new things with the medium it's created in, and I guess this just didn't quite do that for me.

Yeah, that's about it. All the other versions worked for me. It felt like they didn't know why the other versions were funny and so they couldn't make this version funny as well.

Thanks for the flailing! We appreciate it. :) And you're right about the Elton John thing -- I never thought about it until now.

Ooh, I was hoping I could find someone who had seen the film but not any of the previous incarnations (radio play, Infocom game, TV show, books, towel).

Could you follow what was going on? I wondered if it would be too weird and confusing. What parts amused you most?

They probably did feel that they were sticking closely to his screenplay; the movie industry also thought that the movie "I, Robot" had anything to do with Asimov.

Humma Kuvala was okay...I think I was busy going WTF at that little extra plot bit to pay much attention to him.

Well, DA himself said that "each new version of HHGttG contradicts all the previous ones" if that's what you're thinking of...

I didn't find it hard to follow, although I felt that there might have been something missing in the overall.

I was most amused by the part with the whale falling to its death, for some reason it's thoughts just cracked me up, and then the bowl of petunias. XD I also enjoyed the "I think I'm a sofa" bit, because it was so delightfully random. The narration was fun too, which is why I think the books would be fun. Also, the fact that the movie began with a bunch of dolphins singing also helped. XD

I think the random-ness is what really made me enjoy it.

... I remember when red was yellow / Me and Suzy had so much fun...

It was EERIE how much John Malkovich looked like the Rocket Man.

::twitch::

... you're in the Stargate SG-1 fandom, aren't you?

... you're in the Stargate SG-1 fandom, aren't you?

Yes, somewhat. I haven't produced a lot of SG fic, but I have written some and I sometimes comment on the eps.

Ah, you're right, they've both said something about that. I think what I was trying to remember specifically was Neil Gaiman talking about why the Hitchhiker's comic never did as well as the other versions of the story, but I'm not sure if it was in his blog or the "Don't Panic!" book.

He could have, I haven't read either so I don't know.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie

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