keg just saw Hitchhiker's Guide

**keg in kc** · 04-29-2005, 03:51 PM

I though the film was kind of...drab. It was not bad, per se, there were some good moments (mostly at the beginning), some nice effects and some good one-liners, but all in all I wasn't particularly impressed. The romance was particularly annoying to me; it just seemed out of place. Forced. Like they had to shove a hollywood formula into an otherwise unconventional film. This is a problem I've been having a lot with films lately, actually: it's like they can't have a movie without some kind of effing love story. But I digress.

I've never read the book(s), so this is a pretty unbiased reaction, at least in that sense. I really wanted to like the film, it looked and sounded like something I'd get into, but it just fell short. For me at least. And it's not a matter of more explosions or flash or any of that crap. I thought what the film was missing was heart. It just seemed too slick, too polished, not enough meat on the bones to really pull me into the story. Sanitized almost.

Baby Lee · 04-29-2005, 03:58 PM

Hitch is a tough project. It's almost a "you had to be there" book.
And people who aren't familar with the story won't get the humor.
And people who are familar with the story [usually obsessives] will be disappointed that what flowered in their imagination didn't make it to screen.

**keg in kc** · 04-29-2005, 04:04 PM

I'm sure my reaction would have been different had I read the book, but I decided to hold off until after I saw the film because I wanted a clean viewing. That's usually the way I do it - film first, book later - because for me the film rarely matches the book. Everything made sense, though, although I guess there were things I could have missed that I won't even realize I missed until I read...

Baby Lee · 04-29-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'm sure my reaction would have been different had I read the book, but I decided to hold off until after I saw the film because I wanted a clean viewing. That's usually the way I do it - film first, book later - because for me the film rarely matches the book. Everything made sense, though, although I guess there were things I could have missed that I won't even realize I missed until I read...

I'd liken the book to a Far Side cartoon. Offbeat and hard to explain, but tickles you to no end.

John_Wayne · 04-29-2005, 10:18 PM

It sucked. Sorry.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 04-29-2005, 10:23 PM

Interesting... it's been getting pretty good reviews. I was thinking about seeing it this weekend.

**frazod** · 04-29-2005, 10:25 PM

I read Ebert's review today. His take is that unless you're a fan of the books, the movie won't mean much to you. A lot of inside jokes that you won't get otherwise.

I never read the books, so I guess until I do I won't bother with the movie.

Ultra Peanut · 04-29-2005, 10:28 PM

Quote:

I though the film was kind of...drab.

That's actually what I sort of feared, from some of the early reviews. My enthusiasm for seeing it has waned over the past couple of months to the point where I'm not sure if I'll even bother going to see it or just wait for it to be available through Netflix. I do think the cast seems good, though (especially Freeman and Rockwell, and I've had high hopes for Mos Def), and partly just want to go to experience the thing on the big screen and see how it turns out.

I'd highly suggest reading the book(s), though. You can find the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide (all of them in one book) for, like, $15.

Quote:

I read Ebert's review today. His take is that unless you're a fan of the books, the movie won't mean much to you. A lot of inside jokes that you won't get otherwise.

Hmm.

Guess I need to check what other fans of the book are saying before I come to my decision.

wazu · 04-29-2005, 10:38 PM

I saw it. eh. I think I would have liked it more if there hadn't been some guys who were obviously "fans" scream laughing at every joke no matter how lame.

Hint for hardcore "Hitchhiker" fans: the robot isn't that funny.

Miles · 04-29-2005, 11:14 PM

Hitchhiking is cool, towels are good.

Just got back from seeing it and it was much better than I was expecting. I felt it did a pretty good job of capturing the humor from the book and not making it more mainstream.

The cast was also solid. Rockwell was excellent as usual and I am quickly becoming a fan of Mos Def's acting.

Branden Albert's Huge Balls · 04-29-2005, 11:20 PM

I have a confession to make: I'm going to feel left out when I watch this movie. I've never read the book apart from the first chapter or so.

I have failed as a nerd.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 04-29-2005, 11:24 PM

Is keg turning into Bob Dole with the bit of referring himself in the third person? Fire Me Boy! doesn't like that.

Miles · 04-29-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Is keg turning into Bob Dole with the bit of referring himself in the third person? Fire Me Boy! doesn't like that.

"JIM....JIMMY WONT FORGET YOU KRAMER...

JIMMY HOLDS GRUDGES. LET JIMMY GO......"

**alanm** · 04-30-2005, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles

Hitchhiking is cool, towels are good.

Just got back from seeing it and it was much better than I was expecting. I felt it did a pretty good job of capturing the humor from the book and not making it more mainstream.

The cast was also solid. Rockwell was excellent as usual and I am quickly becoming a fan of Mos Def's acting.

That's good to know because I was going to go see it tomorrow. If it's even remotely close to the book I'll be happy. Hollywood is famous for butchering great books.

Rausch · 04-30-2005, 02:37 AM

I've decided to stick with Netflix (thank Gaz) and pretty much given up on going to movies.

04-29-2005, 03:51 PM
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $325788	keg just saw Hitchhiker's Guide I though the film was kind of...drab. It was not bad, per se, there were some good moments (mostly at the beginning), some nice effects and some good one-liners, but all in all I wasn't particularly impressed. The romance was particularly annoying to me; it just seemed out of place. Forced. Like they had to shove a hollywood formula into an otherwise unconventional film. This is a problem I've been having a lot with films lately, actually: it's like they can't have a movie without some kind of effing love story. But I digress. I've never read the book(s), so this is a pretty unbiased reaction, at least in that sense. I really wanted to like the film, it looked and sounded like something I'd get into, but it just fell short. For me at least. And it's not a matter of more explosions or flash or any of that crap. I thought what the film was missing was heart. It just seemed too slick, too polished, not enough meat on the bones to really pull me into the story. Sanitized almost.
Posts: 46,220

04-29-2005, 03:58 PM	#2
Baby Lee Easy Going Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: State of Sedated Bliss Casino cash: $93683	Hitch is a tough project. It's almost a "you had to be there" book. And people who aren't familar with the story won't get the humor. And people who are familar with the story [usually obsessives] will be disappointed that what flowered in their imagination didn't make it to screen. __________________ "Matthew McConaughey is a pilgrim in search of a shirt. He does not realize the shirt was inside him the whole time."
Posts: 33,571

04-29-2005, 04:04 PM	#3
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $325788	I'm sure my reaction would have been different had I read the book, but I decided to hold off until after I saw the film because I wanted a clean viewing. That's usually the way I do it - film first, book later - because for me the film rarely matches the book. Everything made sense, though, although I guess there were things I could have missed that I won't even realize I missed until I read...
Posts: 46,220

04-29-2005, 10:18 PM	#5
John_Wayne MVP Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NE Kansas Casino cash: $29076	It sucked. Sorry.
Posts: 10,119

04-29-2005, 10:23 PM	#6
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $34912	Interesting... it's been getting pretty good reviews. I was thinking about seeing it this weekend.
Posts: 19,076

04-29-2005, 10:25 PM	#7
frazod Keep firing, assholes! Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2832513	I read Ebert's review today. His take is that unless you're a fan of the books, the movie won't mean much to you. A lot of inside jokes that you won't get otherwise. I never read the books, so I guess until I do I won't bother with the movie. __________________ I'm not mean; I just don't like you.
Posts: 84,814

04-29-2005, 10:38 PM	#9
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Casino cash: $985328	I saw it. eh. I think I would have liked it more if there hadn't been some guys who were obviously "fans" scream laughing at every joke no matter how lame. Hint for hardcore "Hitchhiker" fans: the robot isn't that funny.
Posts: 11,000

04-29-2005, 11:14 PM	#10
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $44068	Hitchhiking is cool, towels are good. Just got back from seeing it and it was much better than I was expecting. I felt it did a pretty good job of capturing the humor from the book and not making it more mainstream. The cast was also solid. Rockwell was excellent as usual and I am quickly becoming a fan of Mos Def's acting.
Posts: 11,890

04-29-2005, 11:20 PM	#11
Branden Albert's Huge Balls ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In the Soup Nazis Kitchen Casino cash: $151713	I have a confession to make: I'm going to feel left out when I watch this movie. I've never read the book apart from the first chapter or so. I have failed as a nerd. __________________ Alex Smith's career record when the opponent scores at least 24 points: 2-27-1
Posts: 150,218

04-29-2005, 11:24 PM	#12
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $34912	Is keg turning into Bob Dole with the bit of referring himself in the third person? Fire Me Boy! doesn't like that.
Posts: 19,076

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