Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (PG)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Just before the Earth is to be destroyed, Arthur Dent is whisked away by a friend (who is actually an alien) and set on an improbable journey across the Galaxy with only a few friends and a book for help.
Scott: So I haven't read the book in a while, so some of the movie was vaguely familiar, while other parts were not.
Mike: I also read the book years ago, so didn't remember everything either.I have to note that I LOVED the books.
Scott: I did as well. I also like the DOS based game that was based on the books. Many hours I spent playing that game instead of doing schoolwork.
Mike: I read all 4 books in the trilogy. That's part of the lunacy of Douglas Adams.
Scott: To me, you needed to read the books, and remember them, to be able to follow the movie.
Mike: I disagree. But then again, I did read the books and remember them.
Scott: The movie seemed disjointed at times.
Mike: I didn't remember it having any great plot. I was most concerned about the humor coming through, not necessarily the story. I always thought of the humor as being very Monty Pythonesque.
Scott: There was some humor, and from the sounds in the audience other people got the inside jokes, while I just sat there looking at the screen.
Mike: I will admit as I was watching some things came back to me.
Scott: What or who stood out?
Mike: I would have to say that I thought Sam Rockwell
as Zaphod Beeblebrox was the standout performer.He looked like he was having a great time.
Scott: He stole the scenes he was in, lots of energy.
Mike: My wife, Martha, who has not read the books, also thought he was the best part.
Scott: The thing I remember most from the books was the towel. But what annoyed me, and probably only me, was Arthur's towel kept disappearing and reappearing.
Mike: Yes, the towels. I didn't think that the hero Arthur Dent seemed concerned enough about his.
Scott: It was just that, he left it everywhere, yet it kept following him through the scenes.
Mike: I don't think he really got the importance of the towels.
Scott: It was not explained in the movie, you could have left it out and the unread would not have noticed.
Mike: Yes, they didn't do a great job of explaining the importance in the movie.
Scott: Ford Perfect, played by Mos Def, was a lot of fun.
Mike: I thought he did a good job.
Scott: I remember him in Italian Job and I liked him in that.
Mike: Yeah, I was looking forward to him after having seen him in The Italian Job.
Scott: He played a good straight man in this movie. Good opposite Sam Rockwell.
Mike: I think the weakest link was Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent. Apparently he is a big deal in England, but he didn't do anything for me.
Scott: I didn't get much from Martin either, much like a wet towel. Who I did like, and have liked since Elf, was Trillian, played by Zooey Deschanel. She is a cutie, and she has a really good singing voice as well.
Mike: I also had to admit to having a big crush on Zooey. I think that might be left over from Elf, but she had an endearing quality in this movie.
Scott: Yes, she started out nice and shallow, and then ended up nice and less shallow.
The effects were good, and the planet making machine was awesome.
Mike: I'll get to the effects in a second. You know who we have forgotten?
Scott: Who?
Mike: Marvin, the paranoid android!
Scott: I recognized his voice right away from Galaxy Quest.
Mike: Alan Rickman is hilarious as the Eeyore of the robot world.
Scott: I was split on him, the depressed robot was funny at first, but it seemed to wear a bit thin towards the end.
Mike: I was bumming when I saw the design for the robot, but I laughed every time he was on screen.
Scott: The robot reminded me of another robot, can't place it though.
Mike: Back to the effects. They were amazing. wasn't expecting much, since this is mostly a comedy.
Scott: I loved the tour of earth and the planet building machine.
Mike: That was great. I also liked the Vogons-some sort of Henson creatures, I imagine.
Scott: I kept thinking Snuffy when I saw the Vogons.
Mike: The Vogons made me think back to the Fifth Element.
Scott: Ah, good placement, exactly. They even moved the same way. I recognized the tour guide from Underworld.
Mike: Slartibartfast. I just like saying that! And our second Underworld reference. Who knew?
Scott: BTW, it looks like there will be an Underworld 2, 2 references, and a sequel.
Mike: Underworld 2 due toward the end of this year. Whoo hoo! I am going to see if we can make it to the end of the review without saying Don't Panic!
Scott: Too late.
Mike: Dang I just said it! I think every review I read said that.
Scott: It is the tagline, of the movie and the guide.
Mike: Where can I get one of those guides, anyway?
Scott: I don't think anyone who hasn't read the books will enjoy this movie.
Mike: I don't agree. They may not get all the references, but I think its pushing it saying they won't ENJOY the movie.
Scott: No, I am pretty sure they won't. The movie did not flow well without your own mental reference to what was going on. Too many things were not explained, they just happened.
Mike: Actually, I think they will walk away thinking funny movie.
Scott: Sometimes, things in books that are funny don't translate well to the big screen. One's imagination is better at getting the visual.
Mike: But man, there are some visuals in this film!
Scott: Yes there are. So what do you rate the movie?
Mike: I give it a 4 out of 5 and consider it a DVD renter.
Scott: A 4 in what sense? Overall, or scifi, or comedy?
Mike: Overall.
Mike: What about you?
Scott: Overall, I give it a 2 out of 5, and a cable watcher. With a note that you have to like British humor if you have not read the books in order to enjoy the movie.
Mike: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!
I couldn't resist.
Scott: Yes, I was waiting for that.
Mike: You have to admit it's better than Don't Panic!
