Brain the size of a planet and they can't make a movie

[Gwilym]

Books are always better anyway.

[Popcorn]

I saw it yesterday and, uh, I have to say I thought it was dire. I've always loved the books so maybe that was a contributing factor, but I was horribly underwhelmed. If it lends me any backup, I saw it with two other guys, neither of whom had read the books, and they didn't like it either. On the other hand, as we got up, I heard someone else on the other side of the audience exclaim "That was good!", so maybe it was just us. I know for a fact that Neil is going to JUST LOVE IT, for example.

The whole film seemed to be a confused, unfunny, technicolour mess. I was never desperate for it to be totally true to the books, or whatever, but as has been pointed out before, some of the best lines were cut out for no apparent reason, and what jokes were left in-- and the whole film seemed mostly disorientating and surreal rather than funny-- were poorly-timed or otherwise badly executed. Each of the characters were sorely underdeveloped, and the Trillian-Arthur love plot was forced and bewildering. I really disliked the general set and costume design, and the use of music was terrible-- really overbearing and 'zany' the whole time. Moreover, the whole fucking film seemed to be trying to cram far too much in at once. It went along at a pace far too fast for its own good, leaving the jokes, already molested and sobbing, in its dust; each frame was an explosion of far too many things trying to happen simultaneously.

I will, however, say that the scene where the earth was demolished-- followed by the first twangs of Journey of the Sorcerer-- sent tingles down my spine.

[-wyvern]

I'm gonna see it tomorrow, although all of a sudden I'm less enthusiastic. Does this mean that we have to take down the "MJ Simpson is a gay" banner?

[Koosh Koosh!]

I know for a fact that Neil is going to JUST LOVE IT, for example.

Okay.

[Omni Hunter]

I'm gonna see it tomorrow, although all of a sudden I'm less enthusiastic. Does this mean that we have to take down the "MJ Simpson is a gay" banner?

No, please, let's keep it. It looks good.

[chriscaffee]

It's going to be funny when this movie ends up sucking anyway.

[Baba O'Reily]

Suck it, Chris.

[plasticwingsband]

I quite enjoyed it. I did have some issues with the movie, but it was easily worth the entry fee. Alan Rickman as Martin was brilliant, I thought.

[Esrever]

I'm seeing it tonight. We'll see how it goes!

[Neo Yi]

If my sister can schedule with her friends, I'll be seeing it with her and her friend tomorrow.
~Neo

[Popcorn]

I quite enjoyed it. I did have some issues with the movie, but it was easily worth the entry fee. Alan Rickman as Martin was brilliant, I thought.

But he had like six lines in the whole damn movie. In fact, like pretty much all of the characters, he served no purpose in the film at all.

[j-man]

I know I'm a little late (been out drinking for two days), but Don't Panic - I fucking loved every minute :). I will concede that there were a few minor issues, and I agree with Pop on some things such as the pacing (the film whooshes by like Adams' famed deadlines) and as a result you rarely get time to take stock of what is happening. Then again, that's what repeat viewings are for, and I intend to go and see it again in the near future to catch the stuff I missed while blinking.

I had no beef with casting at all (Zaphod had me creasing, and I loved Eddie's sickly-sweet chirpiness), nor did I find it too watered-down (some jokes that were missing had been "replaced" with ones equally as funny, and I loved the POV Gun sequence :p). Although it indeed very "movie", and you can see a rigid structure in place that was never before seen in an incarnation of the story, I don't think it affects things too drastically. It's still the same characters enacting the same story, in a reasonably pleasing, and yet almost entirely new, order.

It was a shame that we didn't get to see Zaphod going back to see Humma Kavula to regain his head, and instead we have to make do with a quick mention at the end and the hope of his appearance in a sequel, if such a thing is made. I also would have liked to hear a bit more from Marvin, although I don't think he was as underused as everyone said. I actually liked the handling of Arthur and Trillian's romance, as well as the hint of something between Zaphod and Questular that even I didn't see coming.

The fact I had to make a mad 30-second dash to the bathroom after an exceptionally large Pepsi Max was the only real thing that ruined the experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and each little Douglassy detail had me grinning like I was dropping beans. The opening sequence alone was pure unadulterated perfection, and I couldn't help giggling every time a door sighed or every time Zaphod's second head popped up and started being a dick to everyone.

It's maybe not entirely Hitchhiker's...but it's bloody well as Mostly Hitchhiker's as anybody could have done, even with Adams still alive. Roll on the DVD so we can all relish in the Things They Left Out, of which I'm sure there will be enough to warrant a second disc and stop everyone whining. ;)

[minnietguinea]

I liked watching the planet factory scene. That whole part with the rail thing was amazing. And I thought the clip of them all made of yarn was well done too.

[Esrever]

I liked it! It wasn't astoundingly good, but I thought it was solidly enjoyable. I still think the book lent itself more to a serialized format like a mini series, but if the goal is to cram the entire first book into a workable film, I don't think you could do much better than they did.

I only have a couple of complaints. One, I have the feeling that anyone who had not read the book would have no idea what was going on, particularly at the end where the mice want Arthur's brain. If I hadn't read the original, I don't think I would have understood why the mice needed it. They never really spell it out that the mice thought humans were a part of the earth computer.

And two, I agree that the Trillian and Arthur romance was kind of a silly idea. I don't have any complaints about the execution, though... it worked, but it wasn't necessary. Still, I can kind of understand why they did it. The odds of them ever getting to make a sequel are almost nill, which means we'll probably never see Fenchurch on the big screen.

But there was so much to like... unlike Pop, I loved the art direction. I'm really glad that CG was used sparingly. The Vogans, the Heart of Gold, Deep Thought, Marvin... it all looked great, and had a wonderful sort of old-fashioned feel to them. The planet factory floor looked great. The guide itself was perfect, both in voice and in look. And the casting was much better than I expected. I thought I would have a problem with Mos Def, but I didn't... although though that might be simply because Ford is just not as important in the film as he is in the book.

[-wyvern]

I know this has been done to death and that everyone's seen it, but hey. I just saw the film, and I'd like to add that the first minutes are a little confusing, but once it gets going and all the plotlines sort themselves out it's great fun. Sure, as I went through the film I saw places where they could have done a certain line better, but in some situations you can't have everything. The friends I went with didn't say any worse than "it was good", which is surprising coming from the cynical bums I hang out with.

I'm very sure that they will be doing a sequel, and that all the guide entries that they left out will be stuck in wherever they are appropriate. I had no problems with Arthur and Trillian or with the fact that the plot deviates rather drastically from the novels, although when the script deviates into completely untrodden territory, it's not as good as Douglas. Arthur's lines to trillian seemed... just a little awkward. Although the ending bit was fantastic. So yeah. Go see, books or no books.

[Baba O'Reily]

Definitely worth seeing. And for those who complain about the whole confusion regarding the mice, it's implied that he's part of the computer.

[VGJustice]

I say, if you liked the TV series, you'll like the movie. They just ripped the TV serie's script, anyway.

[-wyvern]

No they didn't.

[j-man]

I say, if you liked the TV series, you'll like the movie. They just ripped the TV serie's script, anyway.

It is exactly fuck-all like the TV series, which is why it's great.

[Kishi]

My favorite shot in the whole movie is near the beginning of the planet factory scene, but not because of the whole spectacle of world-building. Rather, it was Arthur's posture and expression as he took it all in himself--slumped over, eyes wide, brow furrowed, looking hopelessly worried. In that moment, Martin Freeman gave the perfect visual incapsulation of Arthur Dent's character. It was cathartic or something.

[j-man]

I didn't think he looked worried, I'd say more overcome with emotion. I imagine seeing a room big enough to build planets in would rather take your breath away.

[Kishi]

Emotional, sure. His face just said, "Oh, dear, what the devil is all this and what does it mean about my existence and all the billions of years of human evolution and cultural development and will I ever get to drink a decent cup of tea again?"

[j-man]

I was thinking more like "Shit. That's a big room."

[VGJustice]

I say, if you liked the TV series, you'll like the movie. They just ripped the TV serie's script, anyway.

It is exactly fuck-all like the TV series, which is why it's great.

Glad to see someone else liked the TV series. Also good to see I'm right. ;)

[-wyvern]

No you're not.