Take one, pass it on

[kingandy]

Don't panic.  Courtesy pax_draconis et al.

It does look quite good, albeit different.  I very much doubt that they'll have kept the same theme tune (which will be a crime of some degree), I am not fantastically keen on an American Ford Prefect (and I miss the blazer), and I very strongly disapprove of the weedy voice they've given the Vogon Prostetnic, but overall it looks remarkably hopeful.

I just hope it has proper cutaway Book sequences, it is an important narative device that lends a lot to the tone of the beast.

Comments

[ubernils.livejournal.com]

There's a few reviews of test screenings over on Ain't It Cool News, and the general consensus seems to be that it's quite good, but has a couple problems. As to the guide, it sounds like the totally-interrupt-the-narrative-for-a-bit-o'=exposition style is largely intact, so kudos to them for that one.

[damiennightbane.livejournal.com]

Remarkably hopeful? Did you not see Zaphod, Marvin, Deep Thought, and the Heart of Gold?

[kingandy]

Hopeful: I remain positive and cautiously optimistic, but remain aware that it is entirely possible that Hollywood may yet crush all that is good from this movie.

The Heart of Gold, if I'm thinking of the right ship, looked not at all like a training shoe.

[ubernils.livejournal.com]

This isn't really a hollywood production. It's financed, yes, but all the real work has been done mainly outside of the usual realm.

[kingandy]

They crush! All that is good!

[renniek.livejournal.com]

It's true!

Every time I get hopeful about a Hollywood film, I force myself to think of Judge Dredd.

[kermix.livejournal.com]

Expectations on this side of the pond, I imagine, are a little different than his. I'm in agreement on the "quite good, albeit different" statement. Actually, I really like what they've done with the place, whether it's what the Ghost of Douglas Adams wants or not.

Part of why I'm excited is, I'm not as much of a purist as I used to be.

[ubernils.livejournal.com]

From what I hear, Douglas Adams did quite a bit of work on the script they're using. I mean, this movie has been in one form of pre-production or other for close to 20 years now, so it's had enough time to get a good Adams-ish foundation to it.

[ubernils.livejournal.com]

Dude, Marvin's awesome. The Heart of Gold is awesome. Deep Thought is awesome. Zaphod is interesting, but you can't poo-poo the reworking of the two-headed, three-armed bit until you've seen it in context, because what I've read suggests that there are narrative reasons for not going with the more familiar TV-cemeted side-by-side arrangement.

Crap, man, I'm surprised you're not complaining about Ford being black.

[damiennightbane.livejournal.com]

The fact that they're making Ford the token black guy takes a back seat to the fact that they're mutilating things that were rather clearly described in the book.

[kingandy]

They could make it all go away by hanging a lantern on it.

FORD: What if I told you I was not in fact from Guildford as I have always claimed, but instead from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse? That I was, in fact, an alien?
ARTHUR: Well, that would certainly explain the accent.

[myki.livejournal.com]

Indeedy, Ford in the book at least was described as having red hair. Actually I'm quite fond of the TV series "astrophysics postgrad at a redbrick uni in the home counties" look for Ford. It's a shame that guy couldn't act.

[ubernils.livejournal.com]

You can't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting some form of the HGTTG story, and none of them are alike. The TV show changes the book changes the computer game changes the radio play...it goes on and on. HGTTG is a purist's nightmare. Seriously.

[kingandy]

That doesn't directly contradict anything in the text. Or, come to that, the original radio show. (Of course, Trillian was played with a US accent for the TV version, but then she never claimed to come from Guildford.)

Anyway, I'm not screaming blue murder and baying for blood, just noting that it shows definite promise despite certain changes to the established mythos.

[kingandy]

Actually, I can see Felix Dexter filling the role quite nicely.

[pkgem.livejournal.com]

Zaphod appears to be played by the guy who played "Guy - the extra" in Galaxy Quest - this is promising. It does look all very Hollywood but as a different interpretation on the original book, it looks like it could be a highly enjoyable movie in its own right.

[kingandy]

I think the radio series came first. It's worth noting that each time Adams told the story it was substantially different from the previous in several key ways. The man realised that each medium is a different beast, with different requirements and opportunities, and was eager to adapt the story to the medium, not just the storytelling.