The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Reviewed by Ogre3000
Posted May 3, 2005

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Finally, after more than 20 years of the promised big budget film version, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is now on screens across the land. Lots of worry and fanbase concern had me nervous until the wonderful opening song with the departing dolphins and then a chill of happiness when the book shows up and the original theme burst out, goosebumps went up and down me.

It proceeds into the story of poor Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) and his doomed home and him learning that all is not that it seems. His best friend, Ford Prefect (Mos Def) is an alien and the big picture is that the Earth is also due for demolition. They escape Earth's destruction by hitching a ride on the Vogon Construction Fleet. They are captured and subjected to the 3rd worst poetry in the universe and then tossed into space. And against all probability they are picked up by the starship Heart of Gold and saved. And thus begins the quest for the answer for the meaning of life, the universe and everything else.

Well, there are some changes, some of my favorite lines not used or altered (I would say mostly for the Hollywood audience that don't get Brit humor at times) but overall, it captured the spirit and heart of the Hitchhiker's series. All the characters worked for me (well, Zaphod was more wacky then uber-cool goofy "glam cosmic rockstar" like I imagined him) and the additions to the story were acceptable and could be added to the story canon.

I have seen it twice and my family enjoyed it too. Oh yes, the 'easter eggs' in the movie were of course the original Arthur Dent (Simon Jones) is the movie's warning message hologram at Magratha, the original Marvin the paranoid android is in the queue on the Vogon planet and of course, the Heart of Gold's last image going into the Improbability Drive is of Douglas Adams' face.

5 stars, will see it again, want the soundtrack and will purchase the dvd.

Till next time,
OGRE3K

 

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