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Hitchiker needs to keep on walking I decided to go the premiere of Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy because I rarely get to see movies on opening day. I knew it wouldn't be like Ann Arbor and New York, no dressed up freaks to watch *sigh*, but I didn't expect the movie to be as disappointing as it was. No, that's not true. I did expect it to be worse, but starting off good only to fall flat nearly killed me. Call me a hardass, but I perfer movies, especially ones ripped off from another genre, to follow the structure of their predecessors, even if they're going to change some details for their version. This one, however, just went too far. The first half was fairly good. I got over Ford Prefect being black as the actor does a good job portraying an alien. All the scenes and dialogue were true to the originals, and it was nice to see more technologially accurate special effects, as compared the campy British compilation. The plot moves along well and, though I found it a little off kilter, I even was able to accept the dolphins singing a silly tune emphasing their departure during the opening credits. So, about midway into the film, I give up trying to find faults with it. I actually try to enjoy predicting what comes next and how it will look. I'm fascinated with the look of the movie, more than its background, and I get swept away for awhile. That is, until the subject of Magarathea comes up. Magarathea is, in the originals, a planet that designed other planets, including Earth. Zaphod wants to go there to steal what he can find. In the movie, however, the Vogons take on additional responsibilities, including attempting to capture Zaphod, who is President. So, Zaphod needs a way to fight them, and in comes the invention of an empathy gun. This is nowhere in the books or the other movie, so I'm startled to see Hollywood try to liven up the basic sci fi with some sort of violent plot. It isn't too distracting from the expected round of scenes though, so its fairly forgivable. What isn't forgivable about Hitchiker, however, is the romantic subplot. Yes, Trillian and Arthur are the last two humans (for now) in the universe, but that doesn't mean they'll automatically overlook their differences to fall in love. The romantic subplot seems tacked on, and I'm sure even the more plebian of viewer can see right through it. Before seeing it, I gave the casting director props for finding such a nerdy cute girl to play the part, as oppossed to the British's dumb blonde with 80s hair, but once that plot was unleashed, I've come to hate her. She plays such a romantic giggly doe eyed role that it just sickens a person. The blonde Trillian at least knew her place, as a minor character, and let the focus be on the search for the Ultimate Question. Speaking of which, I think the real reason behind the movie's shortcomings was their failure to keep both Hitchiker and Resteraunt together within one film. The British miniseries did it, and the results are much more cohesive than if you focus on both works separetely. If they kept it that way it might have worked out better all around. I, for one, don't want to see Resteraunt at the End of The Universe as its own film. That would be terribly odd. I did appreciate the nods towards old skool Marvin in a couple of scenes. If you watch closely you'll see him 3-4 times in the film. other than that, I bid Jewboy adieu this weekend. He's going to LA to make his fortune. I'll see what I can do here. Daphne |