NationStates Jolt Archive

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS



So I went out with a friend a few nights ago to see the much-anticipated release of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and to compare it to the book.

My initial comments on the movie are that it is a fantastic movie. The special affects are brilliant. One of my favorites was the Heart of Gold turning into a series of completely random objects before transiting to improbability drive. Upon return to normality, the crew is the species/object that the ship was last.

The characters were also very well done. Actually British, and not faked. Made the movie much better. The cast actually did a fair amount to compliment each other, adding to the emjoyment of the movie. Marvin was brillaint. There is nothing better than a depressed robot but the vocal inflections and attitude of the robot were right on que with the book.

A few complaints about the movie now. Overall, they do a decent job of following the book. There are a few major deviances though. Trillian gets kidnapped and the rest of the crew has to travel to Vogsphere (the planet of the Vogons) to rescue her. While it was a funny segment within the movie, there is no such incident in the book. Also, Arthur and Slartibartfast don't land on the factory floor of Maragathea and visit Earth II, as they do in the movie. Again, funny, Again, no mention by DA.

The final complaint was that there was never any love story between Arthur and Trillian in the books. Thye just interact, they don't fall in love.

Those were the three major course changes in the movie that don't follow the book.

Overall, 4 1/2 stars for the movie. Original idea. Good premise, excellent screen writing, good cast, good affects.

A few complaints about the movie now. Overall, they do a decent job of following the book. There are a few major deviances though. Trillian gets kidnapped and the rest of the crew has to travel to Vogsphere (the planet of the Vogons) to rescue her. While it was a funny segment within the movie, there is no such incident in the book. Also, Arthur and Slartibartfast don't land on the factory floor of Maragathea and visit Earth II, as they do in the movie. Again, funny, Again, no mention by DA.

The final complaint was that there was never any love story between Arthur and Trillian in the books. Thye just interact, they don't fall in love.
Spoiler Warning: More discusion of plot details below

The book was contradicted the radio series. The television series contradicted the book and the radio series. Douglas Adams wrote both of these himself. Hitchhiker tradition absolutely nessecitates that te movie contradict all versions which came before it. Douglas Adams wanted it to be different. He, himself, said that a love story between Arthur and Trillian ought to be added to the movie.

My opinion of the film was that it was as good as one could have expected it to be considering that Adams was not around to finish it himself. The addition of the Point of View Gun, especially when Marvin fired it at the Vogons at the end, was genius. I really hope that the BBC, or someone, produces the other movies, especially Mostly Harmless. That was Douglas Adams' masterpeice.

I agree with most of your comments. I thought the deviations from the book were part of what made it great as its always good to see new material. The only major gripe i had was with the love angle. It really did seem like an afterthought tacked on to placate the more mainstream audiences.

I'd be interested to hear comments from people who hadnt read the book but saw the movie. Myself and my friend had both read the book a while ago before seeing the movie and where laughing nearly all the way through but a lot of other people in the audience seem to give it a resounding 'wuh...? what was that all about?' and not really get it at all.

I've seen the film but not read the book and I still thought it was brilliant! I was really excited about the film coming out and i wasn't dissapointed, i thought it was really funny and the acting was fantastic, especially Martin Freeman

I actually saw it this afternoon, weird :eek:

Though I did like it, and thought it was good that it was not simply a rehash of the book/the radio series/TV series and that the plot was changed (rather then bastardised like I was semi-expecting).

I also liked the way how they included the original (? the one from the TV series) Marvin in the film :D.

Up until recently, I had treated any deviations of my beloved book as an act of absolute heresy (read about a week ago) even in the full knowledge that the radio show came first, what mattered, obviously, was that I read the books first. But since then, my attitudes have somewhat mellowed. I figure that as long as it doesn't detract from the movie (there's no point adding in a scene if it sucks) then within limits, go with it. Limits, for example, like splicing in Schindlers list after the opening title screen and letting it run to finish. Whilst unexpected... not entirely in the vein of hitchikers. The main reason I was going to avoid this movie is that I thought it'd be a stinker. Given that there's very few people think that, I might actually go to see it.

I haven't seen the movie yet. *cries*

I had never read the book, but, now that I have seen it, I might be reading the book now.

I read/have the original Radio scripts and all 5 books of the trilogy.

My bigest gripe was Humma Kavula. Perhaps Douglas had something in mind for him, but it was lost when he died. The whole scene/concept seemed forced and abandoned as soon as they left the church.

Making Zaphod a trigger-happy wild-man Texan with 1/2 a brain was a fun political commentary - whether you like Bush or not.

The Dope-Slap plants of Vogosphere explain a lot.

The Arthur/Trillian love interest didn't bother me... Not having No Tea did.

Having the Simon Jones as the Magrethean Computer Recording/Head was good too.

I thought the movie was brilliant.

As for the love angle, Arthur and Trillian do end up together in the books. Hell, they even have a kid. The movie just expanded on it quite a bit.

I thought the movie was brilliant.

As for the love angle, Arthur and Trillian do end up together in the books. Hell, they even have a kid. The movie just expanded on it quite a bit.

I'm inclined to correct you on this point, but I'm not sure at what point that becomes a spoiler.

My bigest gripe was Humma Kavula. Perhaps Douglas had something in mind for him, but it was lost when he died. The whole scene/concept seemed forced and abandoned as soon as they left the church.


What do you think the sequel is going to be about? They still have to get the POV gun to Humma Kavula to recover Zaphod's second head.

Spoiler Warning: More discusion of plot details below

The book was contradicted the radio series. The television series contradicted the book and the radio series. Douglas Adams wrote both of these himself. Hitchhiker tradition absolutely nessecitates that te movie contradict all versions which came before it. Douglas Adams wanted it to be different. He, himself, said that a love story between Arthur and Trillian ought to be added to the movie.

My opinion of the film was that it was as good as one could have expected it to be considering that Adams was not around to finish it himself. The addition of the Point of View Gun, especially when Marvin fired it at the Vogons at the end, was genius. I really hope that the BBC, or someone, produces the other movies, especially Mostly Harmless. That was Douglas Adams' masterpeice.

Where did Douglas Adams say that a love story between Arthur and Trillian ought to be added to the film?

I'm inclined to correct you on this point, but I'm not sure at what point that becomes a spoiler.

How could it be a spoiler? It isn't covered in the movie? It's from other books.

Besides, what is to correct?

I loved the film but I do keep getting confused & saying it stars Morgan Freeman instead of Martin Freeman :eek:

GREAT Movie!

I haven't read the books yet, but plan to!

The love interest was necessary I thought, they WERE the only 2 eathlings left after all ;)
I thought it was done well, jealousy and indifference and back biting ::Grins::

The effects were dazzling. It was goofy, zany, hilarious and all around very recommendable!