NationStates Jolt Archive

I've read all five books and am finally going to see the movie in about two hours.

Has anyone else read all the books and seen the movie as well? What were your impressions? Did it do the books justice?

NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!

As long as you don't expect it to mimic the book exactly, you'll be pleased. It takes elements of all the books, not just Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The screenplay was written by Douglas Adams, though, so it definately has his style.

It combines various bits of the books, radio series (which came before the books ) and lots of other little bits that weren't in the books (like bit out of the BBC tv series, ohhh those great production values ;) ). So as for doing the books themselves justice, no i don't think it did, but as every version of the HGTTG is slightly different, the movie is also. But you will know pretty much eveyr bit anyways I would think.

If you enjoyed the books, you'll at least understand the movie. Like Sdaeriji sed, it draws on bits from all the books. You do need to be expecting something that isnt quite exactly like the books though. :p

it was true enough to the book.
i just dont think that disney understood adams cheeky humor well enough to make the joke work on screen.

I've read all five books and am finally going to see the movie in about two hours.

Has anyone else read all the books and seen the movie as well? What were your impressions? Did it do the books justice?

NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!
I saw the movie (didnt read the books)

I went to go see it on April 30th (galctic Towle Day). Oh, make sure to bring your towel, never go anywhere without it (I cose mymikey mosue towle).

At the end when the credits were on I was dancing in the ails. I got an encore. teehee.

Ok the movies good. Im not sure if its as good as the book, but its very similar to the show apparently. And the little robot guy is the CUTEST thing ever. And Im pretty sure Snape from HarryPotter does his voice.

My only major criticism of the movie was that the dialog didn't have the snap of the earlier itterations, no matter what form they took. Other than that, I enjoyed it.

Ok the movies good. Im not sure if its as good as the book, but its very similar to the show apparently. And the little robot guy is the CUTEST thing ever. And Im pretty sure Snape from HarryPotter does his voice.
yes yes he did. alan rickman. excellent choice for the voice. wonderful robot. it deserved more screen time.

42!

yes yes he did. alan rickman. excellent choice for the voice. wonderful robot. it deserved more screen time.
Incidentally, also the bad guy from Die Hard. Now Snape makes sense...

H2G2 is a good film, when held on its merits. Some supreme fanboys may not be pleased by certain things (I can't give them away) but a certain whale and a certain bowl of petunias made it in - these are some of the funniest things in the book, I felt. I've read all five, and I'd say it's a good film. Go watch it, at least, even if you don't end up liking it (which I can't see happening)

Well the movie, while probably being of the utmost enterntainment quaility, isn't really faithful to the book or the original movie in that most of the cast are Americans! I thinj from the trailer about one person is British!
The origninal had fundamental British concepts of humoUr in it, so this may be a slight drawback for hardcore fans.

Well the movie, while probably being of the utmost enterntainment quaility, isn't really faithful to the book or the original movie in that most of the cast are Americans! I thinj from the trailer about one person is British!
The origninal had fundamental British concepts of humoUr in it, so this may be a slight drawback for hardcore fans.

Ford Prefect, played by Mos Def, and quite well I thought is american, Arthur Dent is played by a brit, so is beeblebrox (sam rockwell), Marvin is voiced by alan rickman (another brit) and trillian is played by a american though, Zooey Deschanel.

Ford Prefect, played by Mos Def, and quite well I thought is american, Arthur Dent is played by a brit, so is beeblebrox (sam rockwell), Marvin is voiced by alan rickman (another brit) and trillian is played by a american though, Zooey Deschanel.
Sam Rockwell had A US accent both in the film and at the premiere. :confused:

yes yes he did. alan rickman. excellent choice for the voice. wonderful robot. it deserved more screen time.
Im going to find an action figure or a plushy doll and carry it with me everywhere (for the duration of 1 day).

Sam Rockwell had A US accent both in the film and at the premiere. :confused:

Sam Rockwell is, in fact, and American. From California.

Sam Rockwell is, in fact, and American. From California.

I've just had 4 words pop into my head.

self
foot
in
shot

:D

Incidentally, also the bad guy from Die Hard. Now Snape makes sense...

H2G2 is a good film, when held on its merits. Some supreme fanboys may not be pleased by certain things (I can't give them away) but a certain whale and a certain bowl of petunias made it in - these are some of the funniest things in the book, I felt. I've read all five, and I'd say it's a good film. Go watch it, at least, even if you don't end up liking it (which I can't see happening)

I loved that bit where
the bowl of petunias is suddenly brought into existence miles above the ground an the only thing that goes though its mind as its plummeting toward the ground is "oh no, not again".

I never expected it to be absolutely faithful to the books so i wasnt dissappointed that way and the new bits were rather good i thought.

Okay...I'm back.

It was good. Not as good as the books, but good. I couldn't help but thinking that I (and maybe a few other people) was the only one in the theater actually *got* the film.

I also think that Douglas must have had HELL trying to translate that to the big screen. It's true that the humor didn't quite translate well. Add to that the fact that a vast majority of Americans just don't *get* dry British humor.

And yes, I'm VERY happy that the whale and bowl of flowers were in the movie. I would have been supremely disappointed if they'd been left out.

Also, from the editing of the movie and spastic nature of the cuts, you can tell a LOT of the film went to the cutting room floor. Hopefully the DVD (which I will buy) will have deleted scenes. What would be incredible is if they release a "director's cut". I would definitely buy that version.

All in all: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

PS: Alan Rickman was PERFECT as Marvin. I *so* want a Marvin bobble head doll. :D

He's also...going back even further...the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.
And in Dogma as 'the Voice of God.'
And an alien/actor in that Space Odessy comedy and...
Love Actually with Bill Nighy. (Brit)
And...ok I forget. My friend had an obsession with him for a while.

I went with this friend, and she'd read the books. I haven't, yet, but had heard bits and seen some of the tv show clips. I think it's true to say I enjoyed it more than her because of the changed ending and she also wanted more of the perennially happy spaceship.

John Malkovich...what nationality is he? I've a feeling he's a naturalised American...or was that Anthony Hopkins?

Anyone who hasn't seen it yet, look out for the scene with big white cliffs, and a lighthouse on top. That's my home! Well, not the lighthouse, though I used to know the previous occupants, but the town behind the big cliff behind that cliff. And no, it's not Dover. It's the same set of chalk cliffs as seen in Robin Hood PoT, and in Pearl Harbour, because Dover's cliffs aren't pretty enough.

One flaw imo...the song. Ok it wasn't too bad, my friend loved it, but they could have come up with another tune for the end credits too.

Personally, I hated the opening dolphin number. I really thought they should've kept Chapter 1 of the book in there, instead.

I went to go see it on April 30th (galctic Towle Day). Oh, make sure to bring your towel, never go anywhere without it (I cose mymikey mosue towle).


I thought that was May 25th.... :confused: :confused:

By "that space odyssey" I presume you mean Galaxy Quest, and not the Hitcock/Clarke masterpiece :P

John Malkovich...what nationality is he? I've a feeling he's a naturalised American...or was that Anthony Hopkins?


John Malkovich is from Illinois, and Anthony Hopkins is from Wales.