Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

[catinthehat]

For someone like me who has never read HHG, but always wanted to as a kid, is there a certain 'version' or "edition' that I need to read to be "in the loop"?

Also, if I only read the 1st book, will I essentially know everything about the movie?

FYI, the trailer that mocked movies was freakin' hilarious.

The books will obviously get you up to speed, but another option that I saw today (I think they must have released it for hoopy froods [you'll learn what this means eventually] like yourself) is on yahoo movies. It is a guide to the guide - boy those movie guys are smart.

Here's the link:
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/thehitchhikersguidetothegalaxy.html

p.s. I'm so happy there are so many HHG2G fans here!

 

[barnum42]

For someone like me who has never read HHG, but always wanted to as a kid, is there a certain 'version' or "edition' that I need to read to be "in the loop"?

I'd be interested to see what you think of the film without getting into the loop. See how it stands to someone yet to find out where his towel is.

The books go in a different direction to the radio series so both are worth following. The TV adoption sort of covers the first few episodes of the radio series and the first couple of books.

 

[dxwwf3]

Am I the only one that thinks the trailer to this looks makes the film look like a poor man's Men In Black? I have no desire to see this one at all, but of course I've never read, or even heard of, the book before either. So maybe that has something to do with it, but I've never heard of "Sin City" until a couple months ago and I'm extremely excited to see that one on the big screen?

 

[barnum42]

Am I the only one that thinks the trailer to this looks makes the film look like a poor man's Men In Black? I have no desire to see this one at all, but of course I've never read, or even heard of, the book before either. So maybe that has something to do with it, but I've never heard of "Sin City" until a couple months ago and I'm extremely excited to see that one on the big screen?

The orginal trailer looked like generic Hollywood. The trailer that pokes fun at trailers is IMHO great and gives a better taste of what Hitchhikers is about. They even use some music from Men in Black from it.

 

[Number_6]

The orginal trailer looked like generic Hollywood. The trailer that pokes fun at trailers is IMHO great and gives a better taste of what Hitchhikers is about. They even use some music from Men in Black from it.

I agree. I absolutely love the online trailer that pokes fun at the trailers. I've watched it a few times already. In fact... I think I'll go watch it again now.

 

[hoppypooh]

However being such a long time fan I have too much of an opinon in my head of how it should be and I have some serious concerns about their casting choices. I don't think I will ever be able to acept a black american Fod.

If you are a bit skeptical of Mos Def, you should try and check out the award-winning TV movie "Something the Lord Made" which aired on HBO in the States and also starred Alan Rickman. It's about the pioneering heart surgery for "blue babies" - infants suffering from a congenital heart defect that turns them blue as they slowly suffocate. Mos Def was also in Top Dog/Underdog, a Tony award winning broadway show. For an American "rapper" he really has some acting chops.

 

[catinthehat]

I agree - Mos Def is a great actor. He also was in Italian Job which is something more mainstream that he was in. I have a hard time taking people who are aginst him seriously b/c he is playing an alien. Who says an alien has to be white?

And I also loved the net trailer - one of the best I have seen in a long time.

dxwwf3 - Have you seen the "guide to the guide" on yahoo? It will help you understand the film better and then you'll see that MIB doesn't even compare to this. IMO.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I agree - Mos Def is a great actor. He also was in Italian Job which is something more mainstream that he was in. I have a hard time taking people who are aginst him seriously b/c he is playing an alien. Who says an alien has to be white?

And I also loved the net trailer - one of the best I have seen in a long time.

dxwwf3 - Have you seen the "guide to the guide" on yahoo? It will help you understand the film better and then you'll see that MIB doesn't even compare to this. IMO.

OK, once again the problem isn't that the color of his skin, it is that he is an AMERICAN!!!! If he was a British Black actor I would not mind at all. If he was a white American, or chinise, or any other nationality it would bother me. And yes he is an alein, but up until 5 min after the movie starts Ford and everyone else does not know this. :lookaroun

Really is he just had an accent I wouldn't care. Many British actors gain or lose their depending on the part. Some americans get some depending on the role too (Bridget Jones.)

Thanks for the info on "Something the Lord Made" that does sound very interesting. However I gave up HBO for cable modem.

 

[barnum42]

I don't think any reservation people have with the casting of Mos Def is down to his colour. It's just that the humour is so British and we have become used to the character pretending to be from Guildford.

I'll reserve final judgement on Mr Def's performance until I see the film. I'm going with an open mind, a freshly laundered towel and the intention of having a great time

 

[DisneyPhD]

I don't think any reservation people have with the casting of Mos Def is down to his colour. It's just that the humour is so British and we have become used to the character pretending to be from Guildford.

I'll reserve final judgement on Mr Def's performance until I see the film. I'm going with an open mind, a freshly laundered towel and the intention of having a great time

Thank you, I like my British humor, well British! Can you imagine Monty Pyton with American accents? :lookaroun

 

[barnum42]

Thank you, I like my British humor, well British! Can you imagine Monty Pyton with American accents? :lookaroun

They tried to do an American version of Red Dwarf. Unsurprisingly it never got beyond pilot stage.

 

[DisneyPhD]

They tried to do an American version of Red Dwarf. Unsurprisingly it never got beyond pilot stage.

Like the american verson of coupling too! Not the same. Really when you have made something once that is good, why try to remake it?

(now in the instance of this movie, it wasn't made good the 1st time, and wasn't a movie but a series with NO budget!

 

[catinthehat]

Well British accent or not, the reviews I have been reading seem to not mind the absence of British dialogue. Here's one I saw:

"DON'T PANIC, fervent Douglas Adamites. This movie adaptation of the TV adaptation of the novelisation of the radio series is about as faithful as you can get. Yes, it's been tweaked and twizzled, with a romance inserted here, a new character plopped down there, but everything you love about The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy remains intact - not to mention reinvigorated by its big-screen reincarnation."

Here's the link for the rest: (possible spoilers)

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/incinemas/Review.asp?FID=9807

It seems that this is going to be so good that little things are going to be easy to overlook.

 

[DisneyPhD]

When does this movie open over in England? I know they often get movies months after us.

 

[ogryn]

29th April

 

[barnum42]

29th April

For once, we get it first

 

[Number_6]

For once, we get it first

Same day, just your days starts a few hours before ours does.

 

[DarkMeasures]

Well, I am going to have to go to the movie on the 29th with a towel and a bath robe. And that will be fun. Especially since I have ACTs earlier that week.

 

[ogryn]

The Soundtrack is now on iTunes, featuring a song called "Reasons To Be Miserable" by Stephen Fry

 

[catinthehat]

Well, I am going to have to go to the movie on the 29th with a towel and a bath robe. And that will be fun. Especially since I have ACTs earlier that week.

I'm so with you (well not the ACT's part)! Do you think they will hand out towels before the movie starts? That would be cool. A little over 2 weeks until the wait is ovah!