Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

AICN-Downunder: Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, the review...

Dude, insane. by Ole Gravy Leg	Apr 30th, 2005 02:27:27 PM
Loved the book.
Damn by flossygomez	Apr 30th, 2005 03:04:40 PM
I was hoping they wouldn't give to many blowjobs to make it marketable to americans. The whole point of the book is it's completely ascerbic british humor.
the POV gun, the love triangle... by adambalm	Apr 30th, 2005 03:04:52 PM
...were all from Douglas Adams' drafts. DA didn't just write the first draft, he wrote two drafts for the current producer and had been working off and on on the movie in various incarnations for decades. Karey Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run) didn't write further drafts, he edited DA's drafts together and used the man's previous notes. God, this review was a complete waste of everyone's time.
Can't wait to see it by moviemaniac-7	Apr 30th, 2005 03:10:23 PM
At the moment I am re-reading the books once more and unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the other incarnations of what truly is the funniest book of our time. I do however have a good relationship with my towel.
adambalm: is it at all possible that adams could've fucked up? by therightclique	Apr 30th, 2005 03:19:02 PM
i hate this whole argument about whether it was written by adams or kirkpatrick... the point is that it is very very lame. i don't care who is to blame. my opinion's the same. i'm not concerned with names. i don't have time for games. i'm only concerned with whether or not it was good and whether or not it captured the feeling of the book, WHICH IT DID NOT. it was a really C minus kind of a deal.. really half asssed. thats more sad than if they had flat out fucked it up, because they were really close at times. this review is pretty accurate to the way a lot of people are feeling after seeing this movie. don't dismiss just because YOU think "douglas adams can do no wrong"... because i assure you, anybody can suck at times.
What a pointless and uninteresting review. by Breck	Apr 30th, 2005 03:31:33 PM
If you really like Douglas Adams' work, you should stop citing it as your greatest influence, as that just makes it look bad.
Everyone's humor is different, but... by ChivalRuss	Apr 30th, 2005 03:42:59 PM
I think they were spot-on when it comes to the heart of the project - a WHOLE lot more than I would have believed Disney to allow (nothing they've every done before has been nearly this quirky). All I can say is, bring on "The Restaraunt At The End Of The Universe"!!!
I mostly agree with you Latauro... by morGoth	Apr 30th, 2005 03:43:05 PM
Completely agree about the romance
therightclique by adambalm	Apr 30th, 2005 03:48:13 PM
You're 100% correct. Adams could have fucked it up royal. I didn't think he did, for me at least, as I enjoyed the film. But art is neither right nor wrong, it's either effective or ineffective, and whether it is for you depends on the person. But if you hate the film, that's entirely valid. But one should hate it for the right reasons. And, don't, as this reviewer did, hate it for reasons that can be debunked by 30 seconds of googling.
a couple notes by NNNOOO!!!	Apr 30th, 2005 03:55:26 PM
1: Trillian has been American before. I much preferred Deschanel's low-key interpretation to that disco nightmare chick from the BBCTV production. 2: To my ears, Rickman's reading of Marvin is less condescending and more depressed than previous versions. There were times when I could genuinely believe that Marvin was just barely hanging on. 3. It would have been nice if the film had explained the slapping sticks. Apparently, they're the force that knocked all capacity for original thought out of the Vogons-- henbce their smashed-in noses. 4. If you go, bring some old red/blue 3D glasses. They'll come in handy about midway through the film.
There was dialog in the various trailers I don't recall seeing i by FrankDrebin	Apr 30th, 2005 04:10:42 PM
The vogon tells earth to "Have a nice day." Marvin says, "That does absolutely nothing for me." And Zaphod's "Is this a great galaxy or what?!" I think they edited the daylights out of it. The dvd better have an extended cut.
The ultimate joke in the book is "42" and I don't think the movi by FrankDrebin	Apr 30th, 2005 04:17:04 PM
The movie sped through it. We should have seen eons go by, civilizations rise and fall, ice ages come and go, while everyone waited for the answer to be computed. And then the movie left out the punchline: when the computer says "42", somebody was supposed to say, "We should have asked it to show it's work."
Is it really necessary by A G	Apr 30th, 2005 04:19:45 PM
to have a review that long to discuss whether or not a film is Good, Ok or Bad ?
Saw it today... by Fuzzyjefe	Apr 30th, 2005 06:29:25 PM
and I wasn't entirely disappointed. I wasn't entirely satisfied either. It's one of those movies that just sort of "is". It hits its beats, but that's all it does. It seemed a bit cobbled together, and not didn't flow well. And the worst thing, in my opinion: while it was humorous many times, it was funny just a few. It has some great visuals, and I applaud the effort of those involved (Sam Rockwell rocks), but I found myself checking my watch on Vogsphere. Never a good sign. Very middle of the road in my opinion.
"..and not didn't flow well"? by Fuzzyjefe	Apr 30th, 2005 06:31:07 PM
Me am good with the speaking English.
Just saw the movie...thought it was great. by AkiraKaneda	Apr 30th, 2005 06:44:58 PM
I may the only person on the planet who likes the Arthur/Trillian triangle. It adds a lot to the story that was never there before. The new bits had me laughing. The old bits had me smiling. It's not perfect -- AND NEITHER IS THE BOOK -- but both are darn funny.
the line i miss most? " Ford, you're turning into a penguin, sto by Obscura	Apr 30th, 2005 07:01:15 PM
ive heard the radio show, watched the tv show ( i havent read the books yet).... but.... was it me or was the end just totally made up? i remeber reading on here it was 80% original douglas material...thats utter bollocks. BUT i did enjoy myself. and i did walk out wanting more. plus maybe the best thing about the whole thing (apart from all references to the tv series) is that it'll make many more people read the books and realize just how much of a genius Douglas Adams was.
A V E R A G E!!!!!!!!!! by alucardvsdracula	Apr 30th, 2005 07:28:09 PM
Just saw it and have to say, while some of it is inspired, it simply just doesn't work as a whole. And while some of the gags are funny, it none-the-less comes across as below par Gilliam, at best. Mos Def in particular is crap, mumbling his way though the entire film - should have got Richard E Grant to play Ford Prefect instead. Tim 'Office' bloke is okayish as Arthur and Sam Rockwell is decent too - best thing about the film is Stephen Fry as the narrater/book type thing - excellent. Oh and the effects are shoddy by the way. Seriously doubt there'll be a sequel after this miss-fire. 2.5 / 5
WEAK by jonahmavesin	Apr 30th, 2005 09:53:00 PM
Doesn't hold together as a movie very well at all. Rushed, fairly botched, doesn't feel right. The love stuff is just CRAP when you think about the ethos of Adams' books, it totally doesn't fit. The feminist bit with the point of view gun (doesn't work on a woman???) is such a lame modern one-liner. the delivery of both the sperm whale and the 42 lines is somehow really rushed and not articulated well, which is too bad. and marvin is fine, but not really used well, until the decision to make us think he's dead (oh no!! the cute widdle robot!!), and then he saves the day (hooray for marvin!!) - both totally unnecessary, hollywoodish moments. well, after Blade 2 and Hellboy, chalk this up to yet another movie I shouldn't listen to AICN about. my new rule: read AICN, wait until after opening weekend, and read the talkbacks. then make a decision. the best sequence is the opening one with the dolphins, everything else is downhill. ehh.
HHGTTG by Human Worm Baby	Apr 30th, 2005 10:45:22 PM
Where can I find the radio show, either in disc or audio file?
Human Worm Baby by RichJohnston	May 1st, 2005 06:40:57 AM
The Hitch Hikers Original Radio Series: First and Second Phase http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/o bidos/ASIN/0563477024/ref=ase_ lyinginthegut-21 BBC Radio 4 have been producing third, fourth and fifth phases, adapting the books Life The Universe And Everything, So Long And Thanks For All The Fish and Mostly Harmless. The Tertiary Phase is out: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/o bidos/ASIN/0563510439/lyingint hegut-21
may not have been perfect, but it was pretty damn good. by mikkimouse	May 1st, 2005 12:29:42 PM
i picked up the book a few months ago, determined to read it before the movie came out. it's not my favorite adaptation of a literary source (lotr holds that crown and will for some time to come) but it made me laugh, there were more hits than misses, and i thought that there was quite a bit that kept to the spirit of the book. i wasn't crazy about the arthur/trillian love story (coming from a girl! gasp!) but it wasn't complete shit. i really liked the movie. of course, one thing confuses me...did it show the main title twice? why?
I'm not disappointed by it's quality... by iamnicksaicnsn	May 1st, 2005 01:40:58 PM
I thought it was decent, I'm just disappointed that a lot of it is going to go over the head of people who don't have any prior Hitchhiker's experience, and therefore, is going to do terribly at the box-office. Mos Def was only mildly awkward as Ford and they should have given him more lines and explained more about him. But I dunno, fuck Disney, that's all that really matters.
the audience by abcdefz1	May 1st, 2005 03:47:14 PM
"... Ninety nine percent of the time this sentence would infuriate me to but it really was like looking at patterned wallpaper on acid
Gapethatass by ANGELS-EGG	May 1st, 2005 06:23:34 PM
....you sir are clearly a geek whos scared of girls...feel inferior that a girl went to see this film? Does it make you come out in a cold sweat? Enjoy your lonely life fucktard. I went to see this film with my girlfriend..shes a Adams fanatic yet enjoyed the film...understood that in disneys hands it could of really been a LOT worse...understood that there was a lot of faults with the movie but also it was a fun film too with its HEART in the right place. As for the Title being twice...Im still reckoning its because disney had a lot to play in the final result (the music was so annoyingly twee aprt from the dolphin song and the original theme)....I reckon the original opening of the film was going to use the guide for the title. Its clear that the filmakers had something more accurate in mind ...but had to make do with a happy medium to get the film made (it has been in dev hell for too long). At the end of the day...they had the task of making adams creation mainstream on yank money and my girlfriend was happy enough with that...she did have a gripe about deep thought as they did cock that up....but still enjoyed the film. Guess that makes her a dumbass eh? Or just someone who enjoys films. Someone who doesnt feel that its harming Adams book/radioplay etc (if anything it brings attention to Adams work for a new generation)...you dont like the film? then just stick with the originals...its that easy....Moaning about waht could be is futile...the films there...live with it.
Additional Note.... by ANGELS-EGG	May 1st, 2005 06:31:22 PM
...I liked the film because for a change it was totally un-offensive...you could take your youngest kid to see it...and I think thats half the point..bringing attention to the youngsters to adams creations.
winning the lottery by jezza	May 1st, 2005 10:22:58 PM
fer the amount of shitty brit movies that've been made on lottery money, you think hitchhikers could've been made as a completely, uncompromised british thing. the only time the special effects mattered in the film version was the slartibartfast/arthur trolley ride past the planets in construction: I admit, this was one time in the film that I got a lump in my throat.
Hahaha by ANGELS-EGG	May 2nd, 2005 05:07:30 AM
....Your one REALLY funny guy Gapethatass. You not only dont like being with girls...youve a fetish for rectums too...I rest my case. And whats with the disability bashing? I bow down to you...your a god...Y'know what youve said is right...the films a letdown ooooh! (I wont say HUGE because you like it HUGE doncha?) ...Im so crushed...so crushed by your harsh words. M8....dont get all rude just because somebody else likes a film you dont...like I said its too bad...the films there so live with it...if you cant...then do us decent folk a favour and kill yourself. Simple like me & my GF really eh?
Then it must be... by ANGELS-EGG	May 2nd, 2005 09:49:37 AM
...torrets you suffer with then? My emotions are in full control buddy...you on the other hand?
Dude, control ur emotions. Jeez, I didnt think I'd get to you th by ANGELS-EGG	May 2nd, 2005 11:14:50 AM
..N'uff said.
Clearly... by ANGELS-EGG	May 2nd, 2005 11:34:11 AM
...You dont get irony? Quite ironic when you love the HGTTG book so much. Annoyed enough yet? ^_^
Saw it, and it was mediocre. Can't believe how AICN put this mov by The Founder	May 2nd, 2005 01:50:28 PM
This site and the people that post here are full of crap, and some of the biggest fakes. I've always thought we fanboys had a little more taste then the average moviegoer, and knew the real incompantence of those Hollywood suits. Every topic mentioned about XXX2 was negative and like good sheep, talkbackers joined in, and Harry is the ringleader. Reviewers and talkbackers went on about the suckage of the film, and put in every racial reference they could think of, even though it wasn't called for. All the Ice Cube bashing was endless. Now i saw XXX2, and it wasn't a good movie, but it had it's moments, much like the famed HGTG, and i saw that, and it was the same as XXX2. Both had some moments here and there, but in the end, neither shouldn't have wasted the budgets that was spent to make them, especially when so much poverty is going on in the world.
GapeThatAss by balajazz	May 2nd, 2005 02:05:01 PM
You know, the only thing more pathetic than a brit talking with hip-hop slang is someone who can't take criticism or accept opposing views. Can I now expect a witty riposte, or will I be told to shag my disabled mother?
So glad you reinstated the talkback registration, Harry by MrBoinfoint	May 2nd, 2005 02:49:19 PM
Really classes the place up.
I'm probably in the minority, but I agreed with much of this rev by minderbinder	May 2nd, 2005 02:57:13 PM
Liked the movie, room for improvement. The best thing about it is that it is a decent enough starting point that they can fix the problems when (hopefully) they make sequels. It had a good opening weekend, but anyone know what it cost?
I cant understand ... by ANGELS-EGG	May 2nd, 2005 04:58:55 PM
...Why cant the talkback facility be more like a forum? With moderators that can ban the sorts who make abusive comments?
'I only happen to be .....' by Hig Hurtenflurst	May 3rd, 2005 07:10:32 AM
Great review Latauro. Could not agree more with your conclusions.

Talkbacks

AICN-Downunder: Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, the review...

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks