Ahoy, squirts! Quint here... I just wanted to open up a discussion for that big HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY evisceration written by MJ Simpson (who runs fansite Planet Magrathea that hit a day or two ago... Click here to read his Long Spoiler-filled Review or here for his short less spoilerific review. If you don't want to do either, I can tell you he really, really hated the movie.
Now I saw a test screening of THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY and while I didn't think it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, I thought the spirit of Douglas Adams was captured well. There was about 10-15% of the movie I had any problem with and that was all in the (to me) forced romance between Arthur and Trillian.
I've become a recent fan of the books, but it seems I'm not on the same level as Mr. Simpson because he spotted things missing that I never even noticed. He goes into detail in his review, showing what is changed in the film, citing specific quoted examples of both the original text and the film version.
I respect Mr. Simpson's love for Adams' text a whole lot and I respect his opinion on the film, but I have to say... the overall feeling I get from reading his reviews is that he's not seeing the forest for the trees. He seems to be really caught up on single lines (sometimes single words!) missing that he may have missed the bigger picture.
But then again, who knows? The cut I saw is now over 2 months old and apparently the final cut has been changed... I wonder if the romance has been removed since Simpson doesn't mention it at all in his very specific critique. I know I had some debate with Moriarty over what I didn't like. He was firmly in the camp that believes that every version of HITCHHIKERS has been different than the one before it, be it the radio play, the stage play, the TV show, various editions of the books and now the film and to just accept those changes as part of the uniqueness of this outlet for telling Adams' story.
The cut I saw felt so very Adams that it overruled my disagreement over the Arthur/Trillian romance and the opening number "So Long and Thanks For All The Fish" is brilliant and a perfect opening to this picture. It sets the tone for the film. At least that's my opinion. I can't wait to see the final cut of the film and see what the filmmakers have come up with, for good or ill. In the meantime, what do you folks think of this whole thing?
Ahoy again, squirts... Shortly after I posted this article I got hit with another look at the film... consider it a kind of counter-point to the hatred of the above linked review:
Dear Quint
Having read the review that was posted about Hithchiker's, and given my inability to use the talk back feature, I would like to say: What a load of ****.
That review is so over the top, and I'm worried it'll put people off this really great film.
I went to the cast and crew screening in London on Sunday, and although it was an audience full of people who kind of HAVE to laugh, I can say that they loved it. I'm not a massive fan of the book, I read it in my youth, and didn't really notice the changes, but I can say this was funny, fresh, very British, and most of all, a film that regular people can enjoy. It's got good characters, funny dialogue, some great visual gags, and a really great feel of love and warmth towards the original material. It's also got a great scope, really making you feel that people laboured on it for a reason, and got the most out of their budget.
The romance is played down, but still there, and yes, it's a bit forced, but overall the narrative makes sense, although the ending's very diiferent and less bleak.
I think that MJ is clearly a huge fan, and I respect the fact that they're upset with the changes. All fans get upset over things like this, Star Wars, comic geeks, Trekkies, we all get in a tizz if things are changed. My best friend, who is a massive fan, saw these changes. And he understood them. And he liked the film for what it is: a film. Not a book on screen. Not a TV show updated. It's still a story that's been made for a different medium. No, not every version's going to be as you want it to be (Although from what I hear of Sin City this could change...), it can't have everything you liked about the book, TV or radio show, but I like the respect the film-makers had for it, the fun they had making it, and the fact that they could make this sci-fi geek still be amazed by the scope and vision the book had when I was a kid. I laughed, I marvelled, and I had a fun couple of hours.
Adams' widow sent a congratulatory letter about the film (I'd love to see Alan Moore do that...), so maybe I was swayed by this sentimentality, but I think Douglas would have been happy with it.
But it's just fanboy bitching, so I'll leave MJ to stew over it. It's not going to please everyone, but it certainly pleased me.
I hope it does well, and I look forward to Restaurant.
Hmmm. I need to have a clever pseudonym.
Pseudo Simon.
(that's shite...)
