HHGTTG

John · Post by **John** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:39 pm

I watched the movie in theatres and on DVD! Is it like the book? I've been told it isn't.

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:40 pm

the early series is on region 1 DVD.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:19 pm

Gamelver wrote:well, yes, kind of...it's a pretty old series (er, I think)....and I don't think there are any region 1 DVDs of it...

My set is a universal version a guy from my dads work gave to him.

Post by **Black Six** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:51 pm

Douglas Adams spent a lot of time working on the script, and I don't think it was altered that much after his death. You have to remember, if you read the introductions to certain versions of the guide, he clearly states that the radio series, book, TV show, and now the movie are by no means identical. Events happen in different orders, characters and events are added in some places and not in others. Each was adapted to fit best to its own medium. As Ben stated, not much happens in the first book, so he had to flesh it out. Most movies have a clear protagonist and antagonist, hence the addition of Humma Kavoola (sp?), as well as a story line. The first book is hilarious and I love it, but a direct translation would have failed much more than the actual movie did, there would have been absolutely no point to most viewers, the majority of which are looking for a well-defined plot. I hope that clears up some of the misconceptions about the movie and its relation to the rest of the H2G2 universe.

Post by **benheck** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:13 pm

Right, in the first book:

Earth blows up.

Vogons get them

The heart of gold picks them up

They find the lost planet

The "42" computer stuff

Arthur visits planet factory

Mice show up, the end

and that's it. Sure they took liberties, but think about it, stuff like a POV gun fired by Marvin is a lot quicker and more visual than him hooking up to a ship computer and depressing it to death (it's hard to show data transfers on-screen)

Books are always better anyways, except maybe for Jaws.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:13 pm

Thats nice that they wanted to add all those wonderful classic story elements. But the big problem is that it ruined the flavor of the story. This is why I dont like Hollywood, they stick to the old ideas for so long that when they make the transition to a new one its only because it's be come mainstream.

Throwing in parts were they saw that character that wanted the point of view gun, was really just out there. I'm not saying it wasnt humorous a bit but I dont like have things like that dropped in my lap when they dont hold to the line of the movie too much.

MajorLag · Post by **MajorLag** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:31 pm

Gamelver wrote:well, yes, kind of...it's a pretty old series (er, I think)....and I don't think there are any region 1 DVDs of it...

Indeed there are, for I own one.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... d&n=507846

Black Six wrote:Douglas Adams spent a lot of time working on the script, and I don't think it was altered that much after his death. You have to remember, if you read the introductions to certain versions of the guide, he clearly states that the radio series, book, TV show, and now the movie are by no means identical.

Since I have experienced all ther versions of the guide I already know this. I'm not complaining that the movie wasn't identical to any given version of the guide, I'm saying it isn't even really the hitchiker's guide. It has a story thats very similar in a lot of respects, but it doesn't even come close to matching the real versions of the guide in pacing, humor, dialog, or anything else that really matters. So if it was true to the script DA was working on, then he totally fouled it up.

but a direct translation would have failed much more than the actual movie did

Why would that be? The TV series is more or less a direct translation and its very good. Whats so different about a movie that it wouldn't have worked?

and that's it. Sure they took liberties, but think about it, stuff like a POV gun fired by Marvin is a lot quicker and more visual than him hooking up to a ship computer and depressing it to death (it's hard to show data transfers on-screen)

But they could just have easily used the "computer bank" explosion. Of course, that doesn't have the nice happy ending that people want so it is logical that they come up with something else. But see, they missed the point entirely. They were going to restore the earth from a backup, so it would be restored very near the end of the program, so why were the mice so disguested by the idea of having to wait (at the very most, depending on when they backed up) a few years for the program to complete? In the other versions of the guide, the earth experiment has to be started over from scratch and the mice would have to wait annother 10 million years, and thats why they'd rather have arthur's brain. Its huge glaring plotholes like this that totally ruined the HHGTTG experience in the movie.

Post by **Black Six** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:34 am

MajorLag wrote:
Black Six wrote:Douglas Adams spent a lot of time working on the script, and I don't think it was altered that much after his death. You have to remember, if you read the introductions to certain versions of the guide, he clearly states that the radio series, book, TV show, and now the movie are by no means identical.
Since I have experienced all ther versions of the guide I already know this. I'm not complaining that the movie wasn't identical to any given version of the guide, I'm saying it isn't even really the hitchiker's guide. It has a story thats very similar in a lot of respects, but it doesn't even come close to matching the real versions of the guide in pacing, humor, dialog, or anything else that really matters. So if it was true to the script DA was working on, then he totally fouled it up.

Some of that could be due to bad acting/directing, and misinterpretation of the script. However, I personally think the movie captured the spirit of the guide wonderfully and brought it to the silver screen in a good way.

but a direct translation would have failed much more than the actual movie did
Why would that be? The TV series is more or less a direct translation and its very good. Whats so different about a movie that it wouldn't have worked?

The TV series was aimed at a British niche market and doubtfully would have succeeded in the States. Generally speaking, we just have differemt tastes, it's not the kind of thing most Americans would have gone for.

and that's it. Sure they took liberties, but think about it, stuff like a POV gun fired by Marvin is a lot quicker and more visual than him hooking up to a ship computer and depressing it to death (it's hard to show data transfers on-screen)
But they could just have easily used the "computer bank" explosion. Of course, that doesn't have the nice happy ending that people want so it is logical that they come up with something else. But see, they missed the point entirely. They were going to restore the earth from a backup, so it would be restored very near the end of the program, so why were the mice so disguested by the idea of having to wait (at the very most, depending on when they backed up) a few years for the program to complete? In the other versions of the guide, the earth experiment has to be started over from scratch and the mice would have to wait annother 10 million years, and thats why they'd rather have arthur's brain. Its huge glaring plotholes like this that totally ruined the HHGTTG experience in the movie.

I don't know, they still had to do a lot of work on the backup, and as I saw it, just because it was an exact replica of the earth at that point didn't mean it would have the answer. Just like a clone of you would look exactly the same, but have none of the same memories. Where's the plot hole there?

Post by **Gamelver** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:39 pm

you guys should watch the commentary on the DVD....first thing I did after I watched the movie on DVD

....

the director of the movie said that he knew it wasn't a perfect translation of the books/radio series, but that it was a slightly different guide story, but with all the same feeling and, erm, awesomeness of the book

MajorLag · Post by **MajorLag** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:48 pm

Black Six wrote: Some of that could be due to bad acting/directing, and misinterpretation of the script. However, I personally think the movie captured the spirit of the guide wonderfully and brought it to the silver screen in a good way.[/qtuoe]
I guess we have totally different misconceptions about the spirit of the Guide. I don't see how slapstick comedy found its way into your conception.

The TV series was aimed at a British niche market and doubtfully would have succeeded in the States. Generally speaking, we just have differemt tastes, it's not the kind of thing most Americans would have gone for.
Ok, so probably not. But forgive me if I don't care at all about what the majority of the american public wants to see. These are the people keeping reality TV on the air for crying out loud.

I don't know, they still had to do a lot of work on the backup, and as I saw it, just because it was an exact replica of the earth at that point didn't mean it would have the answer. Just like a clone of you would look exactly the same, but have none of the same memories. Where's the plot hole there?
What was the point of having a backup if it didn't actually back up anything important (to the mice, who commisioned the project)? Its just totally stupid.

the director of the movie said that he knew it wasn't a perfect translation of the books/radio series, but that it was a slightly different guide story, but with all the same feeling and, erm, awesomeness of the book

He's a liar then. It pailed in comparison to all other version of the guide. Including the infocom game, which was the version most departed from the original radio series (but was still totally awesome and very definatly had that Guide feeling).