Hitch Hikers’ disappointment

I went to the cinema last night with my girlfriend in anticipation of reacquainting myself with one of my all time favourite stories, 'The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy'.  It started reasonably enough, appearing to follow the original story.  However it quickly became evident that this polished sci-fi reproduction, while having all good intentions in following Adam's plotline simply failed to capture the whackiness and finesse of the original.  Martin Freeman (Tim from 'The Office') as Arthur Dent and Mos Def as Ford Prefect do their best to recapture the atmosphere of the book and the TV series, but it fails to hang together. 

Part of the problem was that I knew what was coming, and while the humour should have been fresh, it fell flat and we ended up with a mildly amusing film at best.  Freeman would have done well to have studied the performances of Simon Jones from the TV series, rather than attempting to put his own stamp on a part which Jones made immortal. 

The film is saved from complete mediocrity by the superb Sam Rockwell as Zaphod Beeblebrox and the attractive and suitably oddly named Zooey Deschanel as Trillian.

I was so disappointed and my girlfriend so bored (A non Adams fan) that we left early and drowned our sorrows in a nearby winebar.

4/10

 

[loulou]

wouldn't you have been better off to go see a comedy and stuff yourself with popcorn and minstrels 10/10

Loulou why do you have to trivialise everything?

[robbie]

Bounty, you are a half-wit.

[loulou]

Loulou why do you have to trivialise everything?

What's that mean?

[goldencup]

I'm very disappointed now  as I was looking forward to seeing the film, also being a great fan of the books and especially the TV series. I even partly bought my last house because it was No. 42!  I shall see it anyway though.  Bounty, is it right that there's a new character invented for it too?  I would have thought that unnecessary.

I saw it last night too.

Whilst I can see where you are coming from Bounty, I read an article that warned that HHs would not like it.

I went therefore with an open mind and watched it for what it was.

Yes, I cried out when I saw the original Marvin and Arthur, but the hangar where the 2nd Earth was created was worth the admission alone.

Incidentally the new Zaphod grated on me.

I STAYED right to the end and would give it 7.5/10.

[loulou]

pham did you have popcorn and sweets?

SHARED a popcorn and coke.

[oldspice]

I am not a Hitch Hikers fan. I should be because I like wacky humour - but I don't like Sci Fi or fantasy fiction.

[loulou]

Me neither.