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New Cast Information For 'Hitchhiker's' Movie

Kathleen writes "I was listening to the old Hitchiker's radio plays, and feeling nostalgic, I decide to check out how the movie version was going along. Well, they've filled out some important parts, Zaphod and Marvin have been cast. Zaphod is played by Sam Rockwell who's most recently been in Matchstick Men and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Marvin is being played by Warwick Davis (Who was Willow Ufgood in Willow). Slartibartfast will be played by Bill Nighy. This news is a little distressing, since I was under the impression that Stephen Moore would still be handling the voice of Marvin."

420 comments

  1. More information by ankit · · Score: 5, Informative
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    Don't Panic
  2. Dear God ... by rholliday · · Score: 1

    Please let this one be better than the last one. well, the little video game battle section was pretty good, I guess.

    --
    Xbox reviews.. We think they're funny.
  3. Missing Data! by focitrixilous+P · · Score: 5, Funny

    Who is playing the Vogons? I vote for Jim Carrey, but that might be too graphic for most people. I mean, I can't handle him reading normal lines. What will Vogon poetry sound like in the mouth of the child of satan himself?

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    SAILING MISHAP
    1. Re:Missing Data! by trentfoley · · Score: 4, Funny
      ...child of satan himself?

      Wouldn't that be Adam Sandler

    2. Re:Missing Data! by dodgyville · · Score: 5, Funny

      Jim Carrey would be an excellent vogon.

      For the entire time I was watching that Grinch film I was wishing my colon would jump up and strangle my brain. I even nibbled on my own leg to see what the feasibility of gnawing it off would be.

      ---

      --
      apt-get install deathstar && deathstar alderaan && echo "You're far too trusting"
    3. Re:Missing Data! by UserGoogol · · Score: 3, Funny

      Be fair. Jim was good in The Cable Guy.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    4. Re:Missing Data! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      I even nibbled on my own leg to see what the feasibility of gnawing it off would be.
      Why would you try to gnaw off you own leg? All that would do is make it more difficult to run away. :)
    5. Re:Missing Data! by focitrixilous+P · · Score: 5, Funny

      Jim was good in The Cable Guy.
      Yes, but he was in Ace Ventura, Ace Ventura 2 AND Batman Forever. If we can't agree that he is a filithy, hideous creature, we have nothing in common. The man is meant to be a Vogon.

      To be fair, I liked him in The Truman Show.

      --
      SAILING MISHAP
    6. Re:Missing Data! by robbot · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Man on the Moon is also brilliant.

    7. Re:Missing Data! by kfg · · Score: 3, Funny

      Me too. It was the worst five minutes of my life.

      KFG

    8. Re:Missing Data! by bad_fx · · Score: 2, Funny

      How about Bill Shatner? I think the "transformed man" already illustrated he has the required poetic abilities... Mr. Tambourine Man alone should get him the part.

    9. Re:Missing Data! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't understand what the big deal is. I like Jim Carey.

      He's funny. I'll admit that I watching most of his movies more than once is pushing it, but he's not that bad.

    10. Re:Missing Data! by CrystalFalcon · · Score: 1

      To be as fair, I loved him in Batman Forever. He was absolutely brilliant as the Utterly Mad Scientist Who Doesn't Understand People.

      It was like Jim Carrey was born for the part. :-)

    11. Re:Missing Data! by MegaFur · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He was in The Truman Show, dammit. And, say what you will, I liked The Mask. He's not a bad actor--he just does things you don't like. At all.

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
    12. Re:Missing Data! by bonch · · Score: 1

      Strange, The Cable Guy is the movie generally regarded as the beginning of his decline. That movie was off-putting.

    13. Re:Missing Data! by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      Yes yes, of course. I was trying to remember that movie when I was writing that post.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    14. Re:Missing Data! by whig · · Score: 3, Funny

      Missing Data? Do you think they'd cast Brent Spiner for the role? He's been known to recite awful poetry on ST:TNG, after all.

      Personally, though, I *quite* like "Oh Freddled Gruntbuggly." It's right up there with Jabberwocky as some of the best nonsense verse I've read.

      --
      Peace and love, y'all
    15. Re:Missing Data! by chad_r · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree with the awful roles he's done. I thought Jerry Lewis was annoying, and Carrey's humorous roles were just a lame copy. When I first heard he was going to be in Charlie Kaufman's next movie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I was fearful. But I just saw the trailer today. Damn, that looks good.

    16. Re:Missing Data! by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1
      Gee, have you read "Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese"?

      If not, you would especially appreciate what he has to say about Jim Carrey.

      Jim Carrey wouldn't be a good Vogon, IMO. He's too thin and ropy and goofy. You need someone really huge, with a deep booming voice and terminal constipation. Not someone who causes terminal constipation.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    17. Re:Missing Data! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's not a bad actor--he just does things you don't like.

      In fact, that's a sign that he's a good actor - no matter how bad the movie is, he mixes well. Most people a little something that holds them back from that sort of achievement, namely taste.

    18. Re:Missing Data! by Ctrl-Z · · Score: 2, Funny

      And he could really use the work, what with the whole Priceline thing.

      --
      www.timcoleman.com is a total waste of your time. Never go there.
    19. Re:Missing Data! by nelsonal · · Score: 1

      I'm looking forward to Eternal Sunshine of a Guiltless Mind, it looks interesting. I can't say I've liked everything he did, he seems to be trying too hard to win an oscar lately, but Liar, Liar and Dumb and Dumber were both retty good. I keep meaning to check out Man on the Moon, too.

      --
      Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
    20. Re:Missing Data! by Vellmont · · Score: 1

      Carrey has actually done some decent films. The man you're thinking of is Keanu Reeves. How can you top the dialog delivery in Speed or Point Break? Combined with the mediocre everything in Chain Reaction, he's the perfect choice for mediocrity.

      --
      AccountKiller
    21. Re:Missing Data! by Jonner · · Score: 1

      Yes, I agree completely. Batman Forever was pretty weak overall, but the Riddler was pretty funny.

    22. Re:Missing Data! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Richard Griffiths (Harry's Uncle from Harry Potter, Swelter from Gormenghast) would be a perfect choice for the Vogon Captain.

    23. Re:Missing Data! by erroneous · · Score: 1

      I'd cast Ricky Tomlinson as Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, and both Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay would make excellent Vogon guards.

      These are three fairly well-known comedians in Britain although don't suppose they've crossed the pond yet.

      --
      erroneous: look me up in a dictionary
    24. Re:Missing Data! by TwistedGreen · · Score: 1

      He was in Speed?

    25. Re:Missing Data! by MrBlint · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Brian Blessed would make a good Vogon. In fact I suspect he might actually be a Vogon.

      --
      That's very perceptive of you Mr Stapleton and rather unexpected in a G Major
    26. Re:Missing Data! by Hognoxious · · Score: 0
      Brian Blessed would make a good Vogon.
      Him or Gimli out of LoTR.
      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    27. Re:Missing Data! by Frizzle+Fry · · Score: 1

      The Cable Guy wsa the beginning of his decline because it was his first big failure commercially. This is because dark comedies are hard to sell to a mainstream audience, and those who do like them don't coincide much with Carrey's fan base. It is not because he did a poor job acting in the movie.

      --
      I'd rather be lucky than good.
    28. Re:Missing Data! by Lars+T. · · Score: 1

      Let's waste the whole budget on Marlon Brando.

      --

      Lars T.

      To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

    29. Re:Missing Data! by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      I'll take mediocrity and the Costner-level of emoting (i.e., he'd have to get worked up to look bored) over the thick, slimy, festering mess that is Jim Carrey. Just reading a review of "The Cable Guy" scarred me for life. Reeves may be a lame actor, but at least he's been in movies I would actually want to watch.

      And let's not even get into how they're completely raping the works of our poor, beloved, late Dr. Seuss. I don't know what's worse, the reptilian smarminess of Jim Carrey or the crushing, leaden unfunniness of Mike Myers, who makes Walter Cronkite look like Robin Williams.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  4. Narrator by Jonin893 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can only hope they have a compotent narrator, a good percentage of the jokes in the book/radio show are from the narration of book passages and exposition.

    1. Re:Narrator by rholliday · · Score: 4, Funny

      James Earl Jones would be good, though a more British accent would probably fit better. Maybe Sean Connery? Picure James Bond saying, "Oddly enough, the only thought that went through the bowl of petunia's mind was, 'Oh no, not again.'"

      --
      Xbox reviews.. We think they're funny.
    2. Re:Narrator by Jonin893 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, I figure it shouldn't be that hard to find a good narrator. Basically every video that my teachers try and make me watch in history courses is narrated by some guy with a british accent. Although Bond talking about digital watches would have a certain level of entertainment value.

    3. Re:Narrator by Mononoke · · Score: 5, Informative
      I can only hope they have a compotent narrator, a good percentage of the jokes in the book/radio show are from the narration of book passages and exposition.
      Nothing in the radio show is from the book, as the radio show came first. Obviously this required verbal exposition in the radio show to actually tell the story.

      If they want to do this well, they will go back to the original radio and TV scripts for the majority of their inspiration, as the book was actually the third generation of the story. (IMHO)

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    4. Re:Narrator by Xolotl · · Score: 3, Insightful
      The best would have been Peter Jones, the narrator from both the original radio series and the TV series. He had a particularly distinctive voice which made him wonderful as The Book (the narration in the HHG is actually the voice of the Guide itself), so much so that a number of documentaries even had their narration done in the same style with him reading it.

      Unfortunately, he died in 2000, but there are so many recordings of him, including all the right fragments from the radio series, that if they really wanted to they could use his voice anyway.

    5. Re:Narrator by Bloater · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Probably Howard Stableford, he used to present the BBCs Tommorrows World, but now he does just about every narration I've heard in the last few years.

    6. Re:Narrator by TomV · · Score: 5, Informative

      Nothing in the radio show is from the book, as the radio show came first. Obviously this required verbal exposition in the radio show to actually tell the story.

      Not passage from "the book", passages from "The Book" (as in "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, starring Peter Jones as The Book")

    7. Re:Narrator by Patik · · Score: 1

      Adam West (original Batman) does some excellent narrations.

    8. Re:Narrator by bluewee · · Score: 0

      what would be better is if they got the guy that does the SNL sketches, as Sean Connery on Jeopardy.

      --
      [blue] - The Ministry of Information approved this message...
    9. Re:Narrator by iamanatom · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I think Tom Baker would be excellent. He was one of the Doctor Whos and narrated 'Little Britain' (sketch comedy show made last year in Britain (oddly enough). His voice is quite deep and gravely but with lots of range when he uses it and it is totally English. It's a very nice voice to listen to explaining things.

      --
      "This is crazy, you realise we could all go to jail for this?" - my manager, somewhere I used to work.
    10. Re:Narrator by 26199 · · Score: 1

      Er. You know Sean Connery is Scottish, right? Geographically a British accent, but doesn't 'British accent' generally refer to received English? (aka BBC English, Queens' English)

      I don't know, I live here, it's not something I talk about much ;-)

    11. Re:Narrator by rholliday · · Score: 1

      That's why I said a "more" British accent. :) It's vaguely in the realm of that group of islands over there.

      --
      Xbox reviews.. We think they're funny.
    12. Re:Narrator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Apparently when sorting out the casting, Douglas Adams said that the book should have a "Peter Jonesy type voice". After much head scratching over who could manage a voice like Peter Jones someone suggested actually asking Peter Jones. They were stunned when he said yes.

      If they had any sense the current producers would ask the original producers who they had as plan B.

    13. Re:Narrator by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      no fucking way - that fat prick is eking out an existence doing ads for loansharks on cable TV

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    14. Re:Narrator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Er that would be Stapleford. Yeah Tommorrow's World used to be great til the BBC tried to modernise it. Judith was kinda hot too.

    15. Re:Narrator by MegaFur · · Score: 1

      Only Peter Jones can be "the book". If he's dead or unavailable or something, then we're screwed.

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
    16. Re:Narrator by Hythlodaeus · · Score: 2, Informative

      The book passages in question are from that fictional Wholly Remarkable Book, not the novels.

      --
      For great justice.
    17. Re:Narrator by mj01nir · · Score: 2, Informative

      Lewis Wilson was the first actor to portray Batman in the 1943 serial.

      I tried to find a decent link, but this was the best I could do.

      --
      the no .sig .sig
    18. Re:Narrator by red+floyd · · Score: 1

      How about Patrick Stewart for the barman at the Horse and Groom?

      --
      The only reason we have the rights we have is that people just like us died to gain those rights. -- Cheerio Boy
    19. Re:Narrator by rishistar · · Score: 1

      Philippa Forrester was hotter. And Robot Wars hasn't been the same since she left either. The Guardian interview she discusses her techy gadgets.

      --
      Professor Karmadillo Songs of Science
    20. Re:Narrator by Jonin893 · · Score: 1

      Exactly! Thank you so much for answering that before I had to.
      I wonder which version of the movie they'll be using. The book's or the radio show's. The order of events and structure is very different yet both have their own merits. Personally, I'm hoping for the radio show's structure.

    21. Re:Narrator by kalidasa · · Score: 1

      The book was the second gen. The TV series was the third gen. The book came out in 1979, the TV series in 1982.

    22. Re:Narrator by Optikal · · Score: 1

      I can picture David Hyde Pierce for that. If you check out his narration for The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human, it would fit pretty well with H2G2.

    23. Re:Narrator by lortho · · Score: 4, Funny

      Doesn't Sean Connery pretty much have his own accent, independent of any country?

      Example phrase: "Well, isn't that interesting?"

      English (cockney): "Wew, in't da' intrestin', luv?"
      Scottish: "Wael, ehsn't dat interestin', ya bloody bastard?"
      Sean Connery: "Wahl, izhn't thaht intereshting, Alexsh? I believe I had sexsh with your mother lahsht night..."

      Of course, IANADC* so I admit the above may be a bit crude in translation, but I think it makes my point (all apologies to the English, Scottish, and Alex Trebek's mother).

      *DC = "Dialect Coach"

    24. Re:Narrator by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 2, Insightful

      James Earl Jones would be good,

      Bloody fucking hell.

      James Earl Jones as The Book:

      Here is what to do if you want to get a lift from a Vogon: forget it. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the Galaxy--not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous. They wouldn't even lift a finger to save their own grandmothers from the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal without orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycles as firelighters. Search your feelings, Luke, for you know it to be true.

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    25. Re:Narrator by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      Screw that, Patrick Stewart as the Vogon captain!

      Failing that, Patrick Stewart as the captain of the B ark!

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    26. Re:Narrator by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      Well, it's like this. It's real simple what you can expect.

      Remember Max Headroom?

      'nuff said.

      (purposely not mentioning the American version of the Red Dwarf pilot for fear it'll scare ya to death)

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    27. Re:Narrator by albionsoft · · Score: 3, Informative

      the book was actually the third generation of the story.

      Second. The novel predates the TV series.

    28. Re:Narrator by Ithika · · Score: 1

      Brass Eye!

    29. Re:Narrator by Surak_Prime · · Score: 1

      Patrick Stewart? He certainly does enough commercial narration to make him a possibility. And he has a particularly nice British accent, especially for a Frenchman.

      --
      :::The Spear in the heart of the Other is the Spear in the heart of You; You are He - Surak of Vulcan:::
    30. Re:Narrator by MrBlint · · Score: 1

      Not to forget "Don't get soap in my eye"

      --
      That's very perceptive of you Mr Stapleton and rather unexpected in a G Major
    31. Re:Narrator by Polkyb · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately Peter jones isn't around anymore... I'd quite like to see Andrew Sachs or somebody else with a newsreader/documentary voice.

      --
      I've never shoed a horse, but I once told a donkey to piss off!
    32. Re:Narrator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speaking of what should carry over from the radio version, they really should consider keeping the Eagles "Journey of the Sorceror" as the HHTG theme song. Maybe even get the Eagles involved in all the music, like Queen was for Highlander.

    33. Re:Narrator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I can only hope they have a compotent narrator
      Ron Howard.
    34. Re:Narrator by Xolotl · · Score: 1
      ROTFL. I didn't know that, it's wonderful! *grin*

      It's a pity you're AC, I don't know who to thank for that info. And not much chance of a mod either.

    35. Re:Narrator by argel · · Score: 1

      Douglas Adams did the readings for HHGttG audio books so they could actually use him for the narration!

      --

      -- Argel
    36. Re:Narrator by newcombe · · Score: 1

      I have it on good authority (the actor himself announced it at a BBC radio show I recently saw being recorded) that the voice of the guide will be played by William Franklyn imdb.com, well known in Britain for his Schweppes TV commercials in the sixties or seventies. Shhhhhhhhhhhhh..........

    37. Re:Narrator by Wolfrider · · Score: 1

      --He's not FRENCH, you goovbol:

      [[ Born Mirfield, Yorkshire, England.
      Is a fan of Beavis and Butthead.
      Is a fan of "Red Dwarf" (1988)

      http://imdb.com/name/nm0001772/
      ]]

      --
      .
      == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
  5. Marvin by Mononoke · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Marvin is being played by Warwick Davis (Who was Willow Ufgood in Willow). ... This news is a little distressing, since I was under the impression that Stephen Moore would still be handling the voice of Marvin.
    This may not be as bad as it initially sounds; James Earl Jones didn't 'play' Darth Vader, either. However, he did a nice job as Vader's voice.

    --
    NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    1. Re:Marvin by kfg · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You beat me to it. There is indeed precedent for hiring a little person to fit inside the robot "costume", but having someone else provide the voice.

      Actually I think that would be the majority of robot movies.

      We don't need to fear. . .yet.

      KFG

    2. Re:Marvin by dupper · · Score: 1

      Good point. I doubt even non-purists would stand for Marvin blurting out yub-yub every 5 seconds.

    3. Re:Marvin by PressReturn · · Score: 4, Insightful
      But wasn't Marvin actually tall?
      video still

      --
      When I speak, no one believes me. When I write it down, people know it's true. (Basquiat)
    4. Re:Marvin by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Man, in some ways that picture is almost as disturbing as the 912 robot/manlove one.

      Yeah, the robot is tall. The chest cavity where the little person is stuffed is not.

      I imagine the casting document went something like this:

      Needed: Little person with a SAG card, a bit of marquee recongnition, and a proven ability to turn in a mechanical performance.

      Pretty much narrowed the field down.

      Kinda like when Rob Reiner was asked why he took a chance on casting Andre the Giant in a movie:

      "The script said "giant.""

      KFG

    5. Re:Marvin by Vargasan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "Actually I think that would be the majority of robot movies."

      Fine example being Dot Matrix from "Spaceballs". Voice by Joan Rivers, but the actual actor was Lorene Yarnell.

      --
      Putting the romance back into necromancer.
    6. Re:Marvin by fenix+down · · Score: 5, Funny

      Which of these looks more like the kind of product that would actually be marketed as "Your plastic pal who's fun to be with?"

    7. Re:Marvin by fbform · · Score: 1

      James Earl Jones didn't 'play' Darth Vader, either. However, he did a nice job as Vader's voice

      The man in the Vader costume was actually David Prowse.
      He spoke all of Vader's lines, and apparently did not know he would be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until the premiere.
      Of course, that last part might just be an urban legend.

      --
      Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
    8. Re:Marvin by Spad · · Score: 3, Informative

      I always liked the Marvin from the Illustrated HHGTTG.

      Actually, I liked the Zaphod & the Trillian too.

    9. Re:Marvin by CB-in-Tokyo · · Score: 1

      And, interestingly enough, David Prowse was Hotblack's Body Guard in the Hitchhiker TV Series.

    10. Re:Marvin by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      And, interestingly enough, David Prowse was Hotblack's Body Guard in the Hitchhiker TV Series.

      Well, in that case I think it's pretty obvious that as much as I like the little guy, David Prowse needs to play Marvin, speak all the lines and so forth, while James Earl Jones does the voice.

      Marvin needs a deep voice, like Eeyore (like he has in the tv series, and I think the radio one, but it's been awhile since I heard that). NOT a whiny high-pitched voice.

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    11. Re:Marvin by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

      Can you seriously imagine anyone else playing the role of the giant in Princess Bride? Knowing Americans they would have cast Tom Cruise because he has "box office bankability"...

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    12. Re:Marvin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One crucial constraint on the appearance of Marvin should be this: his leg ought to be able to double as a cricket stump. It should be much the same length and shape as the Argabuthon Sceptre of Justice and the wooden stump the English burned after losing to Australia, and suitable in conjunction with them to support the drive core of the Heart of Gold and the Rory Award for the Most Gratuitous Use of the Word 'Fuck' In A Serious Screenplay.

    13. Re:Marvin by jameskojiro · · Score: 0

      I like the clunky looking TV series one, It looks like something that Sirus Cybernetics did a rush job on and then pushed it out the door marketing it towards the wrong demographic!

      Just like Sirus Cbyernetics to pull something like that!!

      --
      Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
  6. I, for one... by thestarz · · Score: 4, Funny

    I, for one, welcome the return of our old Vogon overlords.

    --

    c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */
    1. Re:I, for one... by telekon · · Score: 4, Funny
      Oh, the foolishness of the young.

      Some of us wish we could forget our days as resistance fighters during the Second Vogon Colonial Wars. The harsh oppression visited upon us day in and day out was eclipsed only by the horror of the mandatory poetry recitals. Never Again!

      Vive la Resistance!

      --

      To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion.

    2. Re:I, for one... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I, for one, welcome the return of our old Vogon overlords. "

      I would complain about the idiotic overuse of this joke, but ever since I got my digital watch I've been quite serene.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:I, for one... by TomV · · Score: 5, Funny

      I (hic), for one, welcome the return of That Ol' Janx Spirit (hic).

    4. Re:I, for one... by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just wait...as soon as you hear their poetry, you won't be nearly as welcoming.

      --
      Goo goo g'joob.
    5. Re:I, for one... by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      I don't see what Douglas Adams's problem with digital watches was. They are slightly cheaper, easier to read, and capable of having alarms in them.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    6. Re:I, for one... by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "I don't see what Douglas Adams's problem with digital watches was. They are slightly cheaper, easier to read, and capable of having alarms in them."

      Think about the early 80's/late 70's when digital watches were the newest fad. In the early/mid 90's it would have been pagers, and today ... or maybe a handful of years back, it'd be cell phones.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    7. Re:I, for one... by jacoplane · · Score: 1

      You do realise, that by welcoming the Vogon overlords, you are welcoming the destruction of the planet earth to make way for an interstellar bypass....

    8. Re:I, for one... by Lane.exe · · Score: 2, Funny
      "Resistance is useless!"

      --
      IAALS.
    9. Re:I, for one... by The_Unforgiven · · Score: 1

      Irrelevant! Resistance is irrelevant!

      What kind of geek are you!? :P

      --
      http://wsulug.org
    10. Re:I, for one... by Ultra64 · · Score: 1

      He's the kind of geek who has actually read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

    11. Re:I, for one... by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

      Not the old ones that you had to press a button to make a red readout light up so that you could tell the time. They were neither simpler, cheaper or able to set an alarm. IIRC it is one of those sort that is shown in the TV series (though it's been a while).

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    12. Re:I, for one... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't have a problem with digital watches. He had a problem with brainless people who constantly went around babbling about how good digital watches were. Remind you of anyone?

    13. Re:I, for one... by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      Yeah, okay, that sounds about right. It's just that in the introduction to the comic, it says that the comic book artist wanted to change it to Cel Phones to update it, and Adams told him off. Ahh... maybe Adams just isn't keen on people "updating" his stuff.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
  7. Fucking Willow?! by dupper · · Score: 4, Funny
    The man was Wicket Warrick in Return of the Jedi, for god's sake, and you should identify him as such!

    I'm sorry, Kathleen, but I have to confiscate your Geek license. Please hand in your badge and toy phaser, on your way out.

    1. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Cyno01 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Which role do you think he'd rather be associated with...

      --
      "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
    2. Re:Fucking Willow?! by sofakingl · · Score: 1

      But we could see what he actually looks like in Willow, as apposed to him being in a costume in RotJ.

    3. Re:Fucking Willow?! by LowTolerance · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ever seen Leprechaun? Guess who plays the little bastard?

    4. Re:Fucking Willow?! by PressReturn · · Score: 4, Funny

      Which is important, we'll want to recognize him inside the robot costume in HHGTG...

      --
      When I speak, no one believes me. When I write it down, people know it's true. (Basquiat)
    5. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Uncle_Destroy · · Score: 1

      Watch out, he'll turn you into a goat you fool!

    6. Re:Fucking Willow?! by mooseykathleen · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Any quick peruse of his IMDB profile will tell you that. However, how are the casual readers supposed to identify him if I refer to the role where he was in a large fuzzy suit and you could neither hear his voice nor see his face. Willow Ufgood is probably his most recognizable role. May a thousand Brownies torment you by lodging in your undergarments until my geek badge is rightfully returned. visit septic Korea!

    7. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He doesn't have the authority to revoke your geek badge.

      Moreover, if you believe someone has the authority to revoke your geek badge, it's already revoked.

    8. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not every geek gives a shit about fucking Star Wars.

      Such awful movies.

    9. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Such awful movies.

      At least the prequels have been a little better than the originals.

    10. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      The man was Wicket Warrick in Return of the Jedi, for god's sake, and you should identify him as such!

      I dunno. I think he's probably more known for Professor Flitwick now.

    11. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sure. Not my first choice of the cast members, but she'll do, in a pinch. Can we have both, though?

    12. Re:Fucking Willow?! by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      Shut the fuck up about Wicket. We can with a lot LESS return of the jedi and a LOT MORE WILLOW.

      Speaking as a die hard star wars freak. Jedi sucked hard balls. Makes any movie look good, by comparison. If I were Warwick Davis, I'd much rather be remembered in Time Bandits, geek boy.

      You thought you were a geek, I bet you haven't even heard of Time Bandits, have you?

      Yeah, you don't know who you're dealing with!

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    13. Re:Fucking Willow?! by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      You could have pointed out that he was the gang leader of the midgets that stole THE MAP!

      RETURN THE MAP! RETURN THAT WHICH YOU HAVE STOLEN!

      Best midget movie ever made. :)

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
    14. Re:Fucking Willow?! by BlackHawk-666 · · Score: 1

      With the one where he had a leading role and you could see him act...not the walk on in a fuzzy beer suit role.

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
    15. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Yaruar · · Score: 1

      Warwick Davis wasn't in time bandits though.

      --
      Working for the (other) man
    16. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Randal was the leader. David Rappaport.

    17. Re:Fucking Willow?! by hplasm · · Score: 1

      I want a fuzzy beer suit!

      --
      ...and he grinned, like a fox eating shit out of a wire brush.
    18. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that was the point numb nutz

    19. Re:Fucking Willow?! by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 1

      er...completely wrong. He wasn't even in that film, let alone played the Gang Leader. In fact, I'd guess he would still be a boy around the time that film was made.

      Still, it was a great film - you got one bit right.

      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
    20. Re:Fucking Willow?! by bagsc · · Score: 1

      Um, what about the Leprechaun? He made 6 movies as that character, including "Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood." That is absolute genius.

      --
      http://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
  8. I wonder by Bobdoer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How far will they have to pare down the book to make a three hour (or so) movie?

  9. Known for Willow? I don't think so. by Sloppy · · Score: 3, Funny
    Sorry, but when I think of Warwick Davis...

    There once was a robot from Sirius
    His lust for my gold was quite serious
    He let out a cry
    As I punctured his eye
    Now he's depressed and delirious!

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  10. My Hero! by bbsguru · · Score: 4, Funny
    I had no idea!
    I'm Thrilled!
    This means that one of my favorite stories will feature one of my favorite Televsion personalities!
    Bill Nighy the Science Guy will be in HHGTG!

    Wow. What's that? Nye? Not Nighy?

    ...Never mind.

    1. Re:My Hero! by IchBinDasWalross · · Score: 0

      The exact same thought ran through my mind.

      Brothers we are.

      --
      Mod "Overrated" instead of replying "I disagree with you," you coward.
    2. Re:My Hero! by yerM)M · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but they can get eight Nighy's for one pu so it all works out in the end.

    3. Re:My Hero! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't disrespect Nighy, he was awesome in Underworld.

    4. Re:My Hero! by Gleef · · Score: 1

      "... I told you it was not important."

      --

      ----
      Open mind, insert foot.
    5. Re:My Hero! by Myrmi · · Score: 1

      I loved those science videos. They were so funny, and always brightened up a science lesson of one form or another. After a quick Google, Bill Nye is his real name, which I didn't know.

      --
      "I think everyone is an agnostic but just doesn't know" - Frazz
    6. Re:My Hero! by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 1

      I got the joke, even it none of the mods did. :)

      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
  11. Well, I'll probably watch it. by ArekRashan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sam Rockwell seems like a particularly good choice for Mr. Beeblebrox. I just wonder who will get the tap to be Mr. Prefect.

    1. Re:Well, I'll probably watch it. by bpm140 · · Score: 3, Informative

      As previously announced, that part has been awarded to Mos Def, who has turned in some pretty solid performances. His was one of the only watchable roles in The Italian Job remake and he did a great tirn with a minor role in Monster's Ball.

    2. Re:Well, I'll probably watch it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My vote Bill Murray. Think about it. Dry, Sarcastic, Disaffected.

    3. Re:Well, I'll probably watch it. by fenix+down · · Score: 1

      ...twice Arthur's age.

    4. Re:Well, I'll probably watch it. by MsGeek · · Score: 1

      Bill Murray was my choice for Zaphod. Alas, he's too old to play him now. However, this would not be an impediment if they did Hitchhiker's the right way and did it as an ANIMATED movie.

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  12. Alan Rickman ... and Darl by benk · · Score: 5, Funny
    I always thought Alan Rickman would be a good Zaphod.


    And why not cast Darl as a Vogon?

    --
    -- "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong." -- HL Mencken
    1. Re:Alan Rickman ... and Darl by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Funny

      "And why not cast Darl as a Vogon? "

      I'd cast him as Zaphod. His two-facedness would save them $$$ on prosthetic makeup.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:Alan Rickman ... and Darl by Grave · · Score: 1

      The whole trilogy? Are you out of your mind? Getting anybody in Hollywood to greenlight the film adaptation of the three parts of Lord of the Rings was hard enough, let alone the five books of the H2G2 trilogy.

      Not that I wouldn't be lining up for the first showing of each film, mind you.

  13. Movies always suck by ixplodestuff8 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Movies never live up to the books, I predict critics will give this a SIX * NINE out of a hundred rating.

    1. Re:Movies always suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't you mean SIX*SEVEN??

    2. Re:Movies always suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. After roughly 10 million years of calculation, the greatest computer ever created, the Earth, appears to have arrived at "what do you get if you multiply six by nine" as being the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything (the answer to which was already known to be 42).

    3. Re:Movies always suck by bluewee · · Score: 0

      my bet is that they give it a fourty two out of a hundred, just as a joke...

      --
      [blue] - The Ministry of Information approved this message...
    4. Re:Movies always suck by BlueCup · · Score: 1

      Pish, SIX * NINE? Please. They'll definitely be giving it the rating of 47.

      --
      WANNAWIKI Wannawiki WannaWiki WANNAWIKI!
    5. Re:Movies always suck by Von+Helmet · · Score: 1

      Try 6 * 9 in base 13 and see what you come up with.

    6. Re:Movies always suck by Gimpy-Joe · · Score: 1

      no no no 6*9 is correct from the book tv show etc. it is bad math based on the fact that its arthur pulling the tiles out and he has some golgafrinchian (sp?) in him, which would alter the result

      --
      Good luck in hell.
    7. Re:Movies always suck by BlueCup · · Score: 1

      Err... 42... damnit =(

      --
      WANNAWIKI Wannawiki WannaWiki WANNAWIKI!
    8. Re:Movies always suck by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 1

      Well, yes, but The Answer was "fourty-two", which is obviously not a base 13 'spelling' for "fifty-four". Then again - according to "Lexx" - the Earth is a "Type 13 planet in its last stages". Enh, that just had nothing to do with anything.

    9. Re:Movies always suck by jrockway · · Score: 1

      36 :-D

      But if we convert that to base 10, 42 emerges. Amazing.

      --
      My other car is first.
    10. Re:Movies always suck by mlyle · · Score: 1

      You're confused.

      According to bc:

      obase=13
      ibase=13
      6*9
      42


      I suspect you did the ibase and obase in the reverse order and did the math in base 16.

      6*9 = 54 = 4*13 + 2 = 42 base 13.

    11. Re:Movies always suck by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      As Douglas Adams has pointed out, no one writes jokes in Base-13.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
  14. Burn Hollywood Burn by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 3, Insightful


    another American atrocity this way comes

    --
    That was classic intercourse!
    1. Re:Burn Hollywood Burn by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      I worry that they don't even know the real Ultimate Question and will screw that up, or that they'll try to correct the math in the wrong Question. (That not many people know the real Question, nor that it was stated twice in the third book doesn't bode well.)

      It would be a pity not to have Stephen Moore. He's been the voice of Marvin for the radio series, the TV series, the song Marvin I Love You, and even did an edition of the books on tape (seek them out if you want to hear him sing "How I Hate The Night").

      The only other person I think I could accept as Marvin is a male voice actor who has done the voice of Eeyore, like Peter Cullen or Ralph Wright. A deep voice of depression. Warwick Davis I fear would need too much electronic manipulation to get the tone needed which would get in the way of his acting ability as heavy alien makeup gets in the way for actors in front of cameras. (See Paul Blake's (uncredited) portrayal of Greedo, later to be replaced by computer animation, for an extreme example.)

      Though I confess I haven't heard his work lately. The last thing I saw him in that I liked, he was an Ewok (I did not like Willow).

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  15. Marvin is played by... by telekon · · Score: 3, Funny
    Warwick Davis?

    This explains soooo much! He wasn't a paranoid android, he was just self-conscious about his height! Really, there needs to be a support group for midget robots.

    Wait, no, that's not politically correct! What is the PC term for those like Marvin?

    "Little Androids?"
    "Dwarfbots?"
    "Vertically Challenged Metallic Artificial Persons?"

    --

    To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion.

    1. Re:Marvin is played by... by TomV · · Score: 2, Funny

      According to this Sirius Cybernetics brochure which has dropped through a freak wormhole onto my desk, it's called "Genuine People Personalities".

      Sounds Ghastly.

    2. Re:Marvin is played by... by BigBadBri · · Score: 1
      On that note, will Marvin be introduced by Randy Newman's marvellous 'Short People' at each entrance?

      Seriously, though, Marvin is the Eeyore of HGTG, and really needs a deep voice to carry off the dialogue (well, monologue in his case, but you know what I mean).

      Itty bitty voices going squeak,squeak,squeak just isn't going to cut the mustard.

      --
      oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
  16. What? by illuminata · · Score: 0, Interesting

    You mean Warwick Davis won't be up for the next season of The Littlest Groom.

    Son of a bitch.

    --


    Until Slashdot fixes the funny modifier, use insightful or interesting. The poster knows your intentions.
  17. It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Mos Def as Ford Prefect?

    I know they are going to ruin it now. It's going to flop and everyone is going to talk about how much the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy sucks without knowing the triumph of the original radio, television and book series.

    In the original radio, TV and book series, Ford Prefect was an alien who tried to assume a hipster personality circa 1978. I guess the choice of Mos Def is supposed to have a hipster character that is appropriate to 2004. But all you HHGTTG fans and I know that this is going to wind up being the HHGTTG meets Men In Black. I'll bet it will have some funky hip-hop soundtrack as well. Sorry, but to me, this is like a parody of a parody within a parody. It's like Saturday Night Live doing Masterpiece Theater with Nelly as host. HOw disappointing.

    1. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he's a pretty good actor. Also, he's not one of those ignorant bling-bling hip-hoppers.

    2. Re:It's going to blow by tealover · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I like the choioce. I'd much rather see this production take some chances than emulate something that's already been done. Otherwise there's no purpose in it being made again.

      I certainly have no desire to see another stilted, British production. I can only put up with about half an hour of that stuff per month (thanks PBS).

      --
      -- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
    3. Re:It's going to blow by Kupek · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Someone else on slashdot, during the last hitchiker thread, addressed the issue of changes quite well: the series has appeared in a variety of mediums, and each time it was different than it was in the other mediums. It's going to be no different with the movies. So try to just enjoy the ride instead of saying, prematurely, "This person isn't right for this party for reasons x, y and z."

    4. Re:It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I tend to think British productions are much higher in quality and presentation. Personally, I could watch hours of British programming as long as it's not DIY or gardening stuff. Dramas, Comedies and especially Mysteries tend to be the best programmes from the UK.

    5. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, and they're still stilted.

      Enough with the period pieces and Hugh Grant already. And there's nothing funnier than a British "gangster" film.

      We already know you guys have brown teeth, so that doesn't shock us. Trying to look tough and talking in a gay British accent is just too funny.

      Like that nerd Dizzy Rascal. WTF is up with that loser ?

    6. Re:It's going to blow by MyFourthAccount · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm enthrilled to see that the mods agree with this racist bullshit.

      Just cause the guy is black doesn't mean it's going to be Men in Black nor that there will be Hip Hop. JC what a bunch of stereo-typical crap.

      Maybe there IS going to be Hip Hop. So the fuck what?

      I don't remember Douglas Adams ever pointing out the color of Ford's skin.

    7. Re:It's going to blow by istewart · · Score: 1

      When reading the books, for some reason I always imagined Ford Prefect as looking exactly like Jeff Goldblum.

      However, perhaps the movie will be better off without him, considering that string of inexplicably retarded Apple commercials.

    8. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think Mos Def is a real hip-hop talent and will make a decent actor, but this casting SCREAMS of targeting an audience. The posters comments may be racist, but not any less racist than Mos' casting. This is a clear attempt to widen an audience beyond the perception of white geeks only. As good as I think Mos is, the only reason he got Ford's gig is because he is black.

    9. Re:It's going to blow by EngMedic · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Having seem some of the films Mos Def was in (The Italian Job, for one), i'm not too worried about it. Talented actor, and somehow he works as ford in my head. what about that guy from Red Dwarf though?

      --
      filter: +3. Hey, look! all the trolls went away!
    10. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a clear attempt to widen an audience beyond the perception of white geeks only. As good as I think Mos is, the only reason he got Ford's gig is because he is black.

      First, I can guarantee you casting one black person in this production will not put one more black person in the seats. The target audience for this is nerdy white people.

      Secondly, this is the only time I've heard that Hollywood thinks casting black people will increase the gate, rather than negate it.

      You sound like a typical whiteboy.

    11. Re:It's going to blow by poulbailey · · Score: 3, Informative

      > Just cause the guy is black doesn't mean [...] that there will be Hip Hop

      Do you even know who Mos Def is?

      Connecting him with hip-hop is not being racist. That's what he did (quite well I might add) before he decided to be a mediocre actor.

    12. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And again strikes the mod of "(+5, Politically Correct)"...

    13. Re:It's going to blow by fermion · · Score: 1
      How many things are wrong with this

      • Ford did not try to take on any personality. He acted the exact same way as Zaphod. Therefore we can assume that the way he acted were the way these aliens acted. Any relation to human culture, as the fiction disclaimers go, were coincidental.
      • H2G2, like so many BBC shows, is about the use of language and the human experience. While it is possible that you may believe certain people are not part of the human experience, others might disagree. If, for instance, they decide to deliver the lines as a rythm, that will not affect the story.
      • The only danger to this story is that fx will be overdone. Let's hope it is closer to MIB than MIIB. Will Smith rulez.
      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    14. Re:It's going to blow by blincoln · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Just cause the guy is black doesn't mean it's going to be Men in Black nor that there will be Hip Hop. JC what a bunch of stereo-typical crap.

      Uh, somehow I don't think it's because he's black, but because he's a hip-hop musician.

      I'm not familiar with his work, but usually when Hollywood hires a musician for a part, it's to cash in on the image they've already built up for themselves (e.g. David Bowie in Labyrinth, Sting in Dune, Henry Rollins in every film he's ever been in).

      --
      "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
    15. Re:It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Hmmmm... you folks are definitely out to lunch who think I'm racist. I mean, my cousin is considered black for god's sake (her father was black/native american). My point is that Hip-Hop and the HHGTTG don't mix any more than Masterpiece Theater and an Italian Gangster film do. I wouldn't mind if they picked say... Laurence Fishburne to play Ford, I think he'd do a good job with it. I mean... you're not going to pick Britney Spears to play Anne Frank, Marie Curie or even a Doctor Who companion and actually think it would work? As far as the other person who suggested that guy from RedDwarf (I'm assuming you mean the Lister character) I think he'd be an excellent choice.

      Sorry, you can be an idiot and paint me with the racism brush, but it's not going to stick. The only problem I've got with the casting is that they didn't pick a more British type of hipster. Thank god they didn't cast that idiot Kidd Rock as Zaphod. Now that would have been a total tragedy.

    16. Re:It's going to blow by Von+Helmet · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, and they're still stilted.

      I assume you're basing this on TV that's actually made it over to the US, right? In which case yeah, it probably sucks. There's good British TV and films, but hardly any of it is popular, so I doubt much of it makes it over the pond.

      Enough with the period pieces and Hugh Grant already. And there's nothing funnier than a British "gangster" film.

      Period pieces? You mean Pride And Prejudice or Shakespeare or something? It's great literature. Get over it. Just because it wasn't made in the last 20 minutes doesn't mean it's worthless.
      As for Hugh Grant, believe me, we're all as sick of him as you are.
      Gangster films? I assume you mean Guy Ritchie's films - Lock, Stock... and Snatch, right? You'll be referring to them as they're about the only British gangster films going, and certainly the only ones that will have made it as far as the states. I guess they're a bit of an acquired taste, but the truth is if you know anything about London, Cockney's, Pikey's etc they're fucking hilarious films.

      We already know you guys have brown teeth, so that doesn't shock us. Trying to look tough and talking in a gay British accent is just too funny.

      Brown teeth? Whatever. Go tell Vinnie Jones he's got a "gay" accent... see how far that gets you.

      Like that nerd Dizzy Rascal. WTF is up with that loser ?

      That's Dizzee Rascal. And yes, loser. Won the Mercury Music Prize, though goodness knows how.

      Anyway. Please refrain from sweeping generalisations about our country. Believe me, we could all come up with some pretty brutal generalisations about yours given what we see of it on TV.

    17. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Relax. Get out more, maybe.

    18. Re:It's going to blow by mikedaisey · · Score: 1


      Maybe you don't know this, but Mos Def is a pretty remarkable actor--he did a star turn in TOPDOG/UNDERDOG two years ago, and he's an extremely funny, charismatic performer.

    19. Re:It's going to blow by Doktor+Memory · · Score: 2, Informative

      Everyone else here has mentioned "The Italian Job" already, so I'll content myself with pointing out that Mos Def also does a lot of on- and off-Broadway live theater work in New York City, for which he's won an Obie award and been nominated for a Tony.

      He's an extremely talented actor who happens to also be a pretty good lyricist as well. Get over it.

      --

      News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters? Like hell.

    20. Re:It's going to blow by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      The only problem I've got with the casting is that they didn't pick a more British type of hipster.

      When I thought 'Black British Hipster', my first thought was the demo man from Ocean's 11. Second was Lister from Red Dwarf. Unfortunately, I saw this piece of crap while I was on IMDB. What ever happened to doing something new?

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    21. Re:It's going to blow by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 0

      Which one? If you mean Chris Barrie then yeah, maybe - though he does uptight much better than he does relaxed, and Ford's a pretty relaxed character. If you mean Danny John-Jules then who knows? If you mean Craig Charles, then fuck off! He's a talentless coke-snorting egomaniac rapist.

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    22. Re:It's going to blow by MegaFur · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ford Prefect doesn't have to be white--it's not essential to his character. He does have to be an alien and more than a little odd however--that is essential to his character.

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
    23. Re:It's going to blow by sgtron · · Score: 1

      Well, since Ocean's 11 was a remake itself, I guess complaining about Ocean's 12 is pointless.

      --
      No todo lo que es oro brilla
    24. Re:It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 2, Informative

      Again I say... WHEN did I say Ford had to be white? There are plenty of British actors who are black. I wish people would stop turning this into a race baiting thread. Just to be completely clear:

      1. I have no problem with a black actor playing Ford
      2. I DO have a problem with American actors in a British work
      3. I don't think that Americans are very good at sarcasm without coming off as mean spirited
      4. I don't think hip-hop and the HHGTTG mix regardless of whether the hip-hop artist is white or black. Eminem as Ford would be equally bad as Ford in my opinion.
      5. Just because I dislike what passes for mainstream hip-hop these days, doesn't mean I dislike black people. If anything, that's a pretty racist viewpoint on the part of the people who accused me of being racist.

    25. Re:It's going to blow by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      Plus it's somewhat hard to throw Chris Barrie into a show without him being instantly recognised. Everyone spotted him in Tomb Raider, how much more likely would it be if the movie was a sci fi in a similar vein of humour as the show which made his fame?

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    26. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's a talentless coke-snorting egomaniac rapist.

      Hey, those talentless coke-snorting egomaniacs aren't raping themselves.

    27. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, If by automatically assuming that bcos he's a young black male that there's going to be hip-hop in it, you're at least a borderline racist....

    28. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Posting as AC because I am a lurker and much to lazy to be bothered with making an account that would probably take less time than typing this lame explanation. :)

      ANYHOO - I also read at gaming-age forums.. and they (along with presumably everyone else using the same board software) have a nifty little feature.

      There's an html-like tag called [spoiler]. It makes the text inside the tag black on black, so you have to highlight it to read. I notice in threads like this there are always a number of spoilers.. in this case about the books, or in other threads about say, the LOTR movies. What do you guys think about implementing something similar?

    29. Re:It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 1

      No. I happened to know that he is a hip-hop artist. It wouldn't matter if he was purple, as long as he does mainstream hip-hop, I'm going to bitch about this. Hip-Hop + Ford Prefect don't mix. Does anyone here even understand the humor of Ford's name? If not, then you need to educate yourself some more about HHGTTG.

    30. Re:It's going to blow by Entropy248 · · Score: 1

      Let's feed the trolls... Mos Def is one of the most intelligent hip hop artists I can name. His lyrics express a deep feeling of inequality & injustice; they paint a picture of all of the problems he perceives in race relations in the world. He was a BROADWAY actor recently in New York City (Yeah, the ORIGNAL BROADWAY) major musical I forget the name of. Yeah, of course everyone remembers the Italian Job. I'm a fan as a performer of all kinds and appreciate his versatility. The only horrendous thing I can imagine happening is the script casting him as a Shaft-like character. Any hint of that, and there is no fucking way I will EVER watch that movie lest I kill myself in shame.

    31. Re:It's going to blow by tornado2258 · · Score: 1
      Does anyone here even understand the humor of Ford's name?

      Anybody who has read the book ought to understand that. It is explained after all.

    32. Re:It's going to blow by Hittite+Creosote · · Score: 1
      they're about the only British gangster films going

      Sadly, that's not true. There was a period (when the National Lottery funded large numbers of films, and tax breaks made them a good dodge for investors), and so there was a sudden rush to accept any script they could get their hands on, which meant a sudden onrush of gangster films, almost all of them utterly crap - especially the ones with Sadie Frost in.

      On the other hand, Gangster No 1 and Sexy Beast are OK.

    33. Re:It's going to blow by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 1

      Rapist? The courts beg to differ with you on that one. Still, who cares about reality, hum? Let's all stick to our predudices.

      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
    34. Re:It's going to blow by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 1

      The details of the case were extremely seedy, he's obviously a fucking scumbag.

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    35. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Funny.

      Mos Def isn't generally considered mainstream hip-hop.

      Try again?

    36. Re:It's going to blow by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 1

      Maybe. But he's not a rapist. To accuse him of a serious crime he didn't commit just because you don't like his lifestyle is a bit low, don't you think?

      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
    37. Re:It's going to blow by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 1

      I didn't accuse him - that woman he and his friend raped did THAT.

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    38. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey dummy... it's a BRITISH-written book and radio show, not a lousy American one. You might note that they waited until after Douglas Adams died to bring out this crap. Welcome to yet another Hollywood ruination of a classic. Blech! Boycott EVERYTHING Hollywood!

    39. Re:It's going to blow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unfortunately it's likely that you're going to be killing yourself from shame with this production anyway... the list of things that Hollywood has ruined is so long it's rediculous. I can't even watch the original Grinch anymore because of the horrid remake, and I didn't even WATCH it! Just the fact that it exists totally ruins it for me.

    40. Re:It's going to blow by Jim+the+Bad · · Score: 1
      I didn't accuse him

      Er, yes you did:
      "He's a talentless coke-snorting egomaniac rapist"
      "that woman he and his friend raped"

      The results of the court case revealed that he may be many unsavoury things, but he is not a rapist. Does the phrase "Not guilty" mean anything to you?
      --
      -- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
    41. Re:It's going to blow by MegaFur · · Score: 1

      Would it be okay if he did it with a British accent? Or had that not occured to you?

      Isn't it a little simplistic of you to think that just 'cause this guy does hiphop, then that automatically means he'll be a hiphop lovin' character? I admit, there's a good chance you'd be right, but it still comes off sounding like some of the *worst* stereotyping I've read in a long time.
      And, in case that wasn't clear, stereotyping isn't much better than racism. :-P

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
    42. Re:It's going to blow by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 1

      I'll clarify my point al ittle further. I also dislike it when an actor poorly fakes an accent or dialect. If Mos Def can successfully fake a biritish accent and play the Ford character as it was meant to be played (a 70s british hipster), then it would be fine. But I doubt the makers of this new film want Ford to be a 70s british hispter. They want him to probably be an up to the minute 21st century AMERICAN hipster. Again, I wouldn't have aproblem if they played that the new Ford likes raves and has done some D.J.ing in the trance music world. That fits, because it's more Euro than American. However, if they want American audiences to relate (which is a big mistake),they are probably going to want to make him either a hip-hop guy or some kind of rocker (as the hero as opposed to the ridiculous character that Hotblack was). Either one being a poor choice.

      I also want to point out that I never made any assumptions about Mos Def being black or white before posting my original comment. I was unaware of his race until enough people bitched about it here. It doesn't matter to me if he was white or not, if he is a modern hip-hop artist, it's unlikely that he has much to bring to HHGTTG.

    43. Re:It's going to blow by MegaFur · · Score: 1

      Ok.

      Your cynicism is understood, accepted, and also shared by me. :-) Thank you for your clarifications.

      And the cats are right.

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
  18. Martin Freeman by BitchAss · · Score: 5, Informative

    Great choice for Arthur Dent. He's from The Office. Anyone else seen that - it seems like a /. show. It's like Office Space with more bite.

    --
    Like sex? Read and write about it! Indecent Blogging
    1. Re:Martin Freeman by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Holy shit, he IS Arthur as he lived in my head for all those years. Check him out.

    2. Re:Martin Freeman by simcop2387 · · Score: 0

      for those of you who don't know who he is, i found this site on google

      http://www.martinfreeman.com/

      his official site

  19. Mos Def [nt] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    no means no text

    1. Re:Mos Def [nt] by ArekRashan · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, I don't have any idea what you're talking about. [ Insert obvious babelfish joke here ]. Care to communicate a little less briefly?

    2. Re:Mos Def [nt] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      type "Mos Def" into google and press "I'm feeling lucky"

  20. Re:PETITION TO GET MICHAEL FIRED by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who is michael and why should I care about him having a job or not?

  21. Eeek! Which will it be? by BillsPetMonkey · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Zaphod is played by Sam Rockwell

    Is he going to feign an English accent, pretend to be Scottish or just forget the origins of the book and use his native Californian accent?

    Odds are on the last one I think.

    --
    "It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
    1. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I sure hope he uses his real accent. Nothing grates my ear like USian actors trying to do UKian accents. The average French actor would do a better job.

    2. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 1

      But Zaphod always had a transatlantic accent!

      What are you on about?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    3. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Dmala · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, I don't think Zaphod with an American accent is all that far off. I always took Zaphod's character to be a parody of the stereotypical American anyway.

    4. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All you have to do to emulate a british accent is put a pole up your ass. I believe Prince Charles does that even though he's already british. Of course after he's dipped it his girlie's stinky tampon.

    5. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by UserGoogol · · Score: 1

      Some characters make sense to be given American accents. The hip playboy President of the Galaxy is one of them.

      --
      "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." -- Hanlon's Razor
    6. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by JayBlalock · · Score: 4, Informative
      I have to ask, have you heard the radio series? (or seen the TV production) Zaphod's never had a British accent per se. The performance of him has always sounded sort of like a Brit attempting to put on a California accent.

      That being said, Rockwell can do a lot of different voices, and I have little doubt he could do British if that was the direction they went with the character. Although I hope not.

      --
      Bush: He's Liberal in all the wrong ways.
    7. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by black+mariah · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I never read Zaphod as having a British accent. He always seemed like the typical Californian surfer dude to me.

      --
      'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
    8. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. Zaphod isn't actually speaking English at all, but it makes perfect sense for the Babel fish to 'interpret' what he's saying into an American accent. By the same token, it should interpret the Book into a calm and reassuring British accent as suitable for how that should sound to Arthur.

    9. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep. Arthur = English, Zaphod = American, Trillian = English, Ford maybe a little ambiguous but could probably get away with being American if necessary, Book should be English.

    10. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I sure hope he uses his real accent. Nothing grates my ear like USian actors trying to do UKian accents.

      There is something worse: a British actor emulating how an American director (presumably) feels a British accent should sound.

    11. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by MegaFur · · Score: 1

      Yeah. The guy that played Zaphod in the BBC TV miniseries said he saw Zaphod as a sort of intergalactic beach bum. Although, I think that really only covers one part of his character. When you do surgery on your own brain, you've got to admit that you're pretty weird. .. Unless you burn that part of your brain out I suppose...

      --
      Furry cows moo and decompress.
    12. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by covenant_uk · · Score: 1

      Resulting in a pretty poor 'emulation' and with about as accurate a result as suggesting that to do a convincing American acent one would have to throw away all concessions to democracy, 'elect' a President in a decidedly undemocratic fashion and then charge around the world kicking the crap out of anyone who doesn't agree with your fsckd, twinkie-stuffed ideals. About as fair and on the mark as your comment, non?

    13. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is he going to feign an English accent, pretend to be Scottish or just forget the origins of the book and use his native Californian accent?

      I think he'll realize that he's playing an ALIEN who has spent a grand total of ONE EVENING OF HIS LIFE in England. There's no reason for any of the alien characters except Ford to talk like they learned English in Britain. If I were casting the movie, I would put British accents in all the human roles and American accents in all the alien roles (again, except Ford). Of course, I would also cast William Shatner as one of Zaphod's heads, and he's Canadian, but that's close enough.

    14. Re:Eeek! Which will it be? by Rary · · Score: 1
      "Is he going to feign an English accent, pretend to be Scottish or just forget the origins of the book and use his native Californian accent?"

      Zaphod was neither English nor Scottish. To be true to the book, he should have a Betelguesian accent.

      --

      "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein

  22. Sam Rockwell... by Masem · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...is probably better know to the Slashdot crowd as the "extra/red-shirt/6th crew member" in "Galaxy Quest". He also played the main villian in the first "Charlie's Angels" movie, and is actually slowly moving up the Hollywood chain of success. I think this is a good choice, though certainly others could work as well. (for example, I think Robin Williams could do that part well).

    --
    "Pinky, you've left the lens cap of your mind on again." - P&TB
    "I can see my house from here!" - ST:
    1. Re:Sam Rockwell... by MariaK · · Score: 1

      dude... *that* Sam Rockwell? This could be mightily amusing.

    2. Re:Sam Rockwell... by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 0, Troll

      everything that Robin Williams touches turns to shit - he's like King Midas in reverse

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    3. Re:Sam Rockwell... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The best Sam Rockwell movie is The Heist, with Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, and Danny Devito...and of course, the amazing Ricky Jay.

      He's a pretty versatile guy, so it'll be interesting to see him in this.

  23. Mos Def by denisonbigred · · Score: 1

    Mos Def is playing Ford Prefect.

    --

    "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals."
    1. Re:Mos Def by molafson · · Score: 1

      Mos Def is playing Ford Prefect.

      That's a bleeding outrage. Clearly, Big Baby Jesus was born to play Ford.

    2. Re:Mos Def by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      at least the drunken shenanigans at milliways.

  24. My vote for Ford Prefect by jjeffries · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know it's been decided but I can't help that Rowan Atkinson would be a great Ford Prefect... there's just something not quite right about his nose...

    1. Re:My vote for Ford Prefect by nomadic · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I can actually see him as Arthur Dent more...

    2. Re:My vote for Ford Prefect by Von+Helmet · · Score: 1

      Nah, Rowan Atkinson isn't right. He's either too smart (a la Blackadder) or too idiotic (Mr Bean). You need someone more utterly in between. Someone who's clearly clever and has been round the block, but is also capable of acting utterly lost.

      I saw Lost In Translation a few weeks back, and thought Bill Murray was awesome in that. He knew his stuff, but he was totally lost when he was out of his own territory. That's the kind of the thing you need. Not exactly Bill Murray, but something close to that.

    3. Re:My vote for Ford Prefect by moosesocks · · Score: 1

      True....

      He's british to boot, and judging by his sense of humor, he's most definitely read Adams' work.

      Not to mention that an actor such as him DESERVES a good role as this. He's just been casted in too many horrible roles in bad movies.

      --
      -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  25. That was... by telekon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Almost as bad as Vogon poetry.

    --

    To understand recursion, you must first understand recursion.

  26. The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Cordath · · Score: 1

    Sooner or later, people are going to whine about Garth Jennings, a complete film n00b, being entrusted with everybody's most beloved franchise: Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy. This is inevitable.

    Then the Garth Jennings Fan club will speak up about how he's really such a wonderful music video director and how ignorant slobs who would dare to diss him should shut up. This is also inevitable.

    I'd like to say two things however...

    First, to the Garth Jennings Fan club, when was the last time you heard the phrase: "That flick was like a two-hour MTV music video!" used in a complimentary fashion?

    Second, to the anti-Garth Jennings camp, could it possibly be any worse than a low budget 1980's BBC TV production?

    Personally, I don't expect a film that is going to come even close to the books. Not from Garth Jennings at least. (It'd be hit or miss with the best directors out there!) However, the material is so damned funny that Jennings have to be a total moron to render 2 hours of Douglas Adams goodness completely unwatchable! I actually sorta liked the BBC TV series, believe it or not.

    1. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 1, Informative

      The radio series came first, dimwit

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    2. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Snad · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Second, to the anti-Garth Jennings camp, could it possibly be any worse than a low budget 1980's BBC TV production?

      Yes, it could easily be much, much, worse. I'm taking bets it will be an unwatchable disaster but hope to be amazed to the contrary. Jenning's moron value aside, most of the casting announced is already extremely dodgy. Add to that the film is being made in Hollywood and you've got an almost sure fire loser.

      Not that I have anything against Hollywood per se, but they just don't seem to get British culture (witness the absolute travesty that is the upcoming Thunderbirds movie - did they even watch any of the TV series?).

      I actually sorta liked the BBC TV series, believe it or not.

      One of the reasons the BBC TV series really worked was because of the limited effects, though some of them were really complicated for the TV of the time. All the "computer" parts for the Guide were (apparently) done by hand...

      Anyway, with the (comparative) lack of budget they had to rely more on (shock!) acting and (horror!) humour to make it work. And it did (Trillian perhaps excepted).

      Putting an MTV director in charge of Guide style humour and class is like having Bill Clinton teach Japanese schoolgirls - you know damn well someone is going to get screwed, and there's going to be a hell of a mess!

    3. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by black+mariah · · Score: 1

      Not everyone that directs music videos is a dumbass like Rob Zombie. Check out what Spike Jonze did with Being John Malkovich. Not very music video-inspired.

      --
      'Standards' in computing only impress those who are impressed by things like 'standards'.
    4. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by randomaxe · · Score: 1

      when was the last time you heard the phrase: "That flick was like a two-hour MTV music video!" used in a complimentary fashion?

      Um... Magnolia , actually. After all, it was nominated for an award or two.

    5. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not that I have anything against Hollywood per se, but they just don't seem to get British culture (witness the absolute travesty that is the upcoming Thunderbirds movie - did they even watch any of the TV series?).

      What exactly about the movie do you not like? I'm very curious to hear.

      One of the reasons the BBC TV series really worked was because of the limited effects

      Perhaps, but not in the manner you suggest. It helped make the series a camp success. Nothing more. Let's be honest. Shitty production values are shitty production values.

      Not too many peolple (other than nerds or British people) will ultimately care about this adaptation. I personally enjoyed this stuff when I was in junior high school but have no affection for it today.

    6. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by BigBadBri · · Score: 1
      Trillian perhaps excepted

      Call the delightful Sandra Dickinson at thy peril, scurvy knave!

      I thought she was rather good in the TV series - I had always thought of Trillian as slightly manipulative and fake-bimboish, even though the radio Trillian (Susan Sheridan) was less obviously bimboish, and was probably overlooked for the TV series because she wasn't telegenic enough.

      Besides, that hint of Geordie in Trillian's radio voice was probably too sexy for television in 1981 ;)

      --
      oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
    7. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by yoz · · Score: 1

      Apparently anyone who doesn't think he will be a complete disaster as a director is in the "Garth Jennings Fan Club". But what the hell...

      First, to the Garth Jennings Fan club, when was the last time you heard the phrase: "That flick was like a two-hour MTV music video!" used in a complimentary fashion?

      Sorry, is that meant to be an argument of some kind?

      As has already been pointed out, many music video directors know the difference between a 4-minute pop promo and a 2-hour feature film.

      Second, to the anti-Garth Jennings camp, could it possibly be any worse than a low budget 1980's BBC TV production?

      So the BBC production (which I though was okay, if not great) was the worst thing ever, and purely because of the budgetary constraints? Thus, all we need for a fantastic film is as much money as the studio can throw at it! No problem.

      Personally, I don't expect a film that is going to come even close to the books. Not from Garth Jennings at least.

      Given that you apparently know nothing about him other than that he's directed some music videos, on what basis do you make this judgement? Or is it just because he's never directed a feature before? Clearly, nobody's first film can possibly be any good.

    8. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by slipgun · · Score: 1

      Besides, that hint of Geordie in Trillian's radio voice was probably too sexy for television in 1981 ;)

      You find the Geordie accent sexy? Wow, that's really strange.

      --
      SpamNet - a spam blocker that really works
    9. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by BigBadBri · · Score: 1
      I've had a number of 'Close Encounters of the Geordie Kind' while working away in the North East - it's nearly as sexy as Glaswegian (in that you know as soon as the lass lets on, you're going to get in her pants).

      So yes, the Geordie accent is sexy!

      --
      oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
    10. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by adrianbaugh · · Score: 1

      As you say, Garth Jennings is a new director. Give him a chance - would you have entrusted Lord of the Rings to Peter Jackson on the strength of Bad Taste?

      --
      "'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.'"
      - JRR Tolkien.
    11. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      I dunno, one of the best things about the original production was Douglas Adams bearing his butt to the camera. Something tells me they won't dig him up to repeat that stunt, so maybe the director should do it instead.

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    12. Re:The Garth Jennings Fan Club by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

      Not that I have anything against Hollywood per se, but they just don't seem to get British culture...

      Know what you mean, but Mike Meyers** got it right particularly with the third Austin Powers film... that was absolutley tops IMHO. (**accepting that he did live in the UK at one point)

      I think the problem with Hollywood is its cynysism (which, I've just discovered, I can't spell!). It dumbs things down to appeal to the largest audience, it doesn't take any risks.

      Hopefully it will be good, but capturing that certain something without the presence of Douglas Adams is going to be a tough call -- lets hope they don't cock it up! :)

  27. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  28. Sam Rockwell by solprovider · · Score: 1

    I thought Sam Rockwell did an incredible job in Charlie's Angels.
    [Spoiler]For an action movie about watching beautiful women, he was great transforming from innocent victim to evil mastermind.[/Spoiler]
    - It was the first (and still only) time I had seen him act, and I wondered how he did so well if it was his first production, but IMDB shows an impressive resume starting in 1988. I think he will do great with Zaphod's completely-strange-but-said-naturally lines.

    --
    I spend my life entertaining my brain.
  29. Weird casting, or what?! by MROD · · Score: 4, Funny

    OK, so does this mean that we're getting a Marvin of small statue and squeaky voice? I do hope not. In the pevious discussion I made some snide remarks about the studios changing Marvin into a C3-PO like character. Maybe I didn't go far enough with my cynicisum, they maybe making him into a cross between R2-D2 and an Ewok. (eek! :-))

    I can see that the producers might be one of the first against the wall when the revolution comes. (After the board of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, of course.)

    --

    Agrajag: "Oh no, not again!"
    1. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by kryptkpr · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I always pictured Marvin as looking something like Bender from Futurama, maybe a bit taller.

      --
      DJ kRYPT's Free MP3s!
    2. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by meldroc · · Score: 1

      I hope not. I always imagined Marvin to be relatively tall, with square, blocky features, and baleful red eyes.

      --

      Meldroc, Waster of Electrons
    3. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by iabervon · · Score: 1

      I think a cross between R2-D2 and an Ewok would be great, if the lines were all delivered in a properly depressed tone of voice, and he moved appropriately. He is supposed to be "your plastic friend who's fun to be with", except for software problems and faulty hardware. Having him in a body totally inappropriate for his behavior would be just the thing, I think.

    4. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by fenix+down · · Score: 1

      He's a commercial product, why would he look like that? He's your plastic pal who's fun to be with, not your frightening industrial assasin-droid you're afraid to be left alone with.

    5. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by ttrafford · · Score: 1

      Whoah. I always thought of him as massive; but slouched over so far that his hands touched the floor.

    6. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by Trejkaz · · Score: 1

      Marvin as QRIO!

      --
      Karma: It's all a bunch of tree-huggin' hippy crap!
    7. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by Jeremi · · Score: 2, Funny
      He's a commercial product, why would he look like that? He's your plastic pal who's fun to be with, not your frightening industrial assasin-droid you're afraid to be left alone with.


      He's made by the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, that's why. They screwed up everything else, what makes you think they would get the case design right?

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    8. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well considering there's a picture of Warwick in this suit here, I'd say it's still on...

    9. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by TwistedGreen · · Score: 1

      Screwed up everything else? Hey, go stick your head in a pig, man.

    10. Re:Weird casting, or what?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Super Weak! I liked the tv series Marvin, you would trust him to park your car. I wouldn't trust that pile of poo as far as i could spit a rat.

  30. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  31. The same Bill Nighy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bill Nighy The Slartibartfast Guy?

    1. Re:The same Bill Nighy? by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 1

      no, Bill Nighy, the lycanthrope-hating lord of vampires guy. http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/66/53/16m.jpg

  32. This is Good by tealover · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since it's not a BBC production, it stands a chance of having production values above that of a 2nd grade art class.

    --
    -- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
    1. Re:This is Good by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Since it's not a BBC production, it stands a chance of having production values above that of a 2nd grade art class."

      Crack jokes about it if you like. But HGtGttG was and Dr. Who were far better than the scifi we have today. When you have '2nd grade art class' effects, you have to focus more on making the script interesting.

      Frankly, I wouldn't complain a whole lot about the fx they had back then. I recently purchased the DVD for Hitchhiker and they actually stunned me with one of their effects. The guide had a full color animated screen. Today that'd be done with either a PocketPC (like in Nemesis) or by digitally adding the imagery later. What they did back then was they found a neat way to funnel light from a projector in that thing. Ingenius.

      It's also worth mentioning that the animations they did for the guide won awards. Despite being hand-animated, they were quite effective in selling people on the idea that they were watching a computerized presentation of the information the Guide contained.

      As an artist who does that kind of work, I found Hitchhiker to be surprisingly good, even today. I nitpicked it far less than I did Episode II.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:This is Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Crack jokes about it if you like. But HGtGttG was and Dr. Who were far better than the scifi we have today.

      That's not saying much and doesn't really indicate taht either show was actually good scifi either. Maybe from a camp perspective, but that's about it.

      It's also worth mentioning that the animations they did for the guide won awards.

      Retarded kids win awards at the Special Olympics. So what.

      As an artist who does that kind of work, I found Hitchhiker to be surprisingly good, even today

      Oh, I see. This isn't about the crappy BBC shows, this is really about you and defending your career. Ok, whatever.

    3. Re:This is Good by DaHat · · Score: 1

      There is still something to be said for production values around that of a 2nd grade art class.

      As I'm guessing you've seen the old the movie... tell me you didn't find the use of technology of the age as a great way to tell the story, such as the asteroids type galactic war.

      One of the things which makes the original tv mini series so cool to me was it's cheesiness, I dunno about you, but I for one am rather sick of the uber special effects and action sequences we see in most movies of today... there are times when it's fun to go back and watch a film which was using bargain basement effects and still holds up today.

    4. Re:This is Good by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "That's not saying much and doesn't really indicate taht either show was actually good scifi either. Maybe from a camp perspective, but that's about it."

      Uh huh.

      "Retarded kids win awards at the Special Olympics. So what."

      Oh come on, if you really feel the way you do, you can come up with a better rebuttal than that.

      "Oh, I see. This isn't about the crappy BBC shows, this is really about you and defending your career. Ok, whatever. "

      Yay, another lame rebuttal. If I were defending my career, I wouldn't be putting down modern digital effects in favor of what was done in the 80's, now would I?

      I can see why you posted anonymously. Don't have the cajones do ya?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    5. Re:This is Good by tealover · · Score: 1

      There is still something to be said for production values around that of a 2nd grade art class.

      Yeah, they're 2nd-grade-art-class level.

      One of the things which makes the original tv mini series so cool to me was it's cheesiness, I dunno about you, but I for one am rather sick of the uber special effects and action sequences we see in most movies of today... there are times when it's fun to go back and watch a film which was using bargain basement effects and still holds up today.

      When was the BBC series made?

      When was Star Wars made?

      There exists no axiom that says a good movie has to have shitty production values. It's no surprise that BBC series were shockingly bad in that area, but let's try to make it into something that it wasn't.

      The production values were bad because they lacked funds. They didn't have a meeting and say

      "why don't we spend 95% of our budge on writing and the rest on effects because people don't care about effects"

      It's nothing more than nolstalgia that's working in your head.

      --
      -- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
    6. Re:This is Good by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

      Totally agree re the guide graphic!

      ..BUT, what about Zaphods 2nd head?! The sad thing is, I'm *sure* that was on Tomorrows World at the time because of the fantastic technical achivement (they thought) it was! Can anyone else remember this, or did I just dream it?

  33. Definitely by SPYvSPY · · Score: 1

    He's perfect for the part. He even managed to be funny in the Ali G movie.

    1. Re:Definitely by G-funk · · Score: 1

      Somebody was funny in that? Man, maybe it slipped through the editing phase, and I saw the special edition or something where such errors would have been corrected.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
  34. Where's Your Source? by DaveRomigh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Alright, kiddies.. am I the only one who's kept their head here?

    Kathleen, you cite NO sources in this - just links to the actors' pages on IMDB.com.

    What gives? We're now posting news articles with no sources at all? Let me rummage around for my bullshit flag.

    1. Re:Where's Your Source? by mooseykathleen · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's the IMDB website info for the movie. Besides, if you looked at the actor's IMDB bios, you'd see that at the top of every one thier roles in the Hitchiker's movie are listed.

    2. Re:Where's Your Source? by DaveRomigh · · Score: 0

      Alright, then let me gently modify my original posting:

      You are aware that pretty much ANYONE can put up information about a movie on IMDB, right? You didn't know that? Well, now you do.

      Show me some sort of news article that actually cites someone saying "Yes, so-and-so has been approached for this part," and maybe you've got a case. Show me a link to someone's IMDB page and I'll laugh in your face and tell you point-blank you're off your rocker.

    3. Re:Where's Your Source? by Toutatis · · Score: 1

      You're right. This seems an official site and there is no word about Bill Nighy nor Stephen Moore.

    4. Re:Where's Your Source? by Ctrl-Z · · Score: 1

      Besides, if you looked at the actor's IMDB bios, you'd see that at the top of every one thier roles in the Hitchiker's movie are listed.

      Great. That shows that their data has integrity. It doesn't really prove anything though, as the IMDB site points out.

      --
      www.timcoleman.com is a total waste of your time. Never go there.
  35. Just a reminder by rblancarte · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Not that you /.ers can be trusted to actually read a page BEFORE commenting on it, but IMDB.com does add this note to projects that are still in the planning stages (like HhGTTG):
    Note: Since this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change or could be removed completely.

    --
    It is human nature to take shortcuts in thinking.
    1. Re:Just a reminder by gbulmash · · Score: 4, Informative
      Not that you /.ers can be trusted to actually read a page BEFORE commenting on it, but IMDB.com does add this note to projects that are still in the planning stages (like HhGTTG): "Note: Since this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change or could be removed completely."

      Worth noting, though, is that if you subscribe to their IMDbPro web site, they have news items (subscription required) available from The Hollywood Reporter that confirm the casting of Martin Freeman (Dent), Mos Def (Prefect), Rockwell (Zaphod), and others. It may still not be written in stone, but when it comes from The Hollywood Reporter, it can be considered pretty reputable.

      - Greg

  36. Re: New Cast Information For 'Hitchhiker's' Movie by fafaforza · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait a minute. That second single quote be escaped.

    New Cast Information For 'Hitchhiker\'s' Movie

  37. Re: First POST!!! by WTFmonkey · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Because it mentions rappers, who are for the most part black, as well as Roots, and the casting of white people in said movie. It is therefore quite obviously racist, and the moderators are trying to ease their guilty consciences by down-modding something which, although they don't have a problem with, might be seen as objectionable by the easily excitable thereby ameliorating any latent guilt they may have.

  38. Tweaky the Paranoid Android? by mikeophile · · Score: 3, Funny
    Beedie Beedie...Hey Buck! Life Sucks!

    Still, if he gets to wear Dr. Theopolis as bling...

  39. Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by Sloppy · · Score: 2, Funny
    The putty in my armpit is green
    But with these clothes it's not seen
    To it I will write
    An ode full of spite
    As a leprechaun, I'm most obscene

    A finitely improbable clover
    Of these I am no lo-ver
    But even look at me gold
    And a grudge I will hold
    And for you, it will all be over

    The size of a planet, my brain
    For me gold, I'll cut you in twain
    And then you'll be dead
    The last thought in your head
    Will be "Oh no, not again."

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
    1. Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by Hentai · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oozing with pustulent fervence the slippery slick G'gharfulk nippled its twarks through the fetid swamp.

      In, out, in, out, and in and out and in and out the G'gharfulk splorched disgustingly through the tight orifice of the N'hargla-fep. They quivered and squicked in an imperfect rythm as the G'hib flies laid their maggot-eggs upon them.

      O where has the G'hib laid its eggs? From deep within the pie-crust of my heart I wish to gloop and splorch with the lowly G'gharfulk!

      Why has this deep loneliness been denied me? I drink but my navel vomits forth, and I am not filled!

      By devouring the N'hargla-fep I become the G'gharfulk and thus take part in its oozing dance!

      Feed the G'gharfulk within your soul and let your mighty tendrils lick deep of the slime-covering on the N'hargla-fep's back!

      Its salty ooziness covers your eyes and makes useless the panting and wheezing of your lungs! It spurts! Watch as the Tsuuba worm coils deep within your colon, and feel it push its way through your liver and out your navel! I cannot hold water! Come, come, this constipation consumes me!

      So I dissolve, and the G'gharfulk eats deep of my brains and the stink of my teeth.

      Good night. Or is it morning? Who am I to care. Where's my jock strap?'

      --
      -Hentai [in vita non pacem est]
    2. Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by Bloater · · Score: 4, Funny

      That limerick's really quite crap
      Though I'm sure you're a reasonable chap,
      Only one line,
      nearly finished on time,
      So next time don't open your trap.

    3. Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by G-funk · · Score: 1

      AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! *splutter*

      Choked.

      Don't use too many caps... It's like shouting. Not that that would be the point in the text "aargh". Hooray for the lameness filter. Don't use too many caps... It's like shouting. Not that that would be the point in the text "aargh". Hooray for the lameness filter.

      --
      Send lawyers, guns, and money!
    4. Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by Entropy248 · · Score: 1

      That made me laugh so hard that I literally cried... Holy shit that was outstanding! I can't decide if that was terrific or terrible. Was that a quote? Was that an original?

    5. Re:Would you like to hear some more of my poetry? by Hentai · · Score: 1

      100% Hentai original. I'm that evil.

      --
      -Hentai [in vita non pacem est]
  40. Garth Jennings directs? by ravepunk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    He's the title designer for "Da Ali G Show" for chrissake. I do not believe that the delicate sarchasm in Adams' work can be trusted to a music video director who designed the titles for a reasonably good TV show.

    In both the radio show and the BBC TV Series, what made the jokes work was the voice characterization and acting. Without a good director at the helm who has a letter perfect sense of comic timing and voice characterization necessary to pull off the sarchasm, this movie will fail. My vote would have been to use a Disney cartoon director taking on live action for the first time if they wanted to save money.

    Of course, I was the one that poopoo'ed the idea of Peter Jackson doing LOTR, so who the Hell am I to comment?

    - ravepunk :/

    1. Re:Garth Jennings directs? by Trurl's+Machine · · Score: 1

      In both the radio show and the BBC TV Series, what made the jokes work was the voice characterization and acting. Without a good director at the helm who has a letter perfect sense of comic timing and voice characterization necessary to pull off the sarchasm, this movie will fail.

      Do you know his video of the song "Coffe & TV" by Blur? This song has lyrics full of melancholic sarcasm, quite like some passages from the HTTG. Garth Jennings managed to translate it to the screen, thought there is no storyline in this song and he had to find this weird yet cute visual metaphore. If his movie will be as good as this video - we will all be happy.

    2. Re:Garth Jennings directs? by dlelash · · Score: 1

      Sarchasm: The gap between those who get a joke and those who don't. Known to be fairly wide in discussions of Douglas Adams' books.

  41. Re:fuck you. get a life. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I too would like to subscribe to his newsletter, if only to teach him how to swear more effectively.

    Nunshitting Jesusfucker! Cuntpunching Popefelcher! You couldn't swear your way out of a Baptist church Easter brunch social, you impotent swillfuck! Jackdaw canner! Guttersnipe! Lame excuse for metabolisation! MOLESTER OF BEACHED WHALES. My fucking dead squirrel-eating grandma swears better than you, you shitfucking asspansy!

    (Is my grandma a fucking dead eater of squirrels or a live fucking eater of dead squirrels? Pick one!)

    Mouthbreathing monosyllabistic skin-waste! You're a disease, a fistula of unrelenting remorse! A fire-hydrant once refused your twisted and regrettable sexual advances. You're a mistake even in your own eyes! Your mom only birthed you because she couldn't stand touching you! You're an offal-eater! A fencepost humping wretch! Crow-eater! Scab-picking filth! Shitpissing fucktard of unrelentingness! Ni!

  42. Short Marvin? by bottlerocket · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Am I the only one who pictured Marvin as being as tall as the other humanoid characters? Well, as tall as them if he was always slouched over? The comic book adapation of HHGTG had his look pretty spot on, in my opinion. Were did this Ewok stuff come from?

    --
    where the comment ends and sig begins
    1. Re:Short Marvin? by FunctionalMethod · · Score: 1

      Err.. I always though of him rather small and round. If the books don't specificaly mention his size , you can understand from the contex that he is rather small. At least I did.. I guess it depends on how tall YOU are :)

      --
      -- TRUST ME! I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!
  43. Bruce Campbell... by alexandre · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...as ford prefect :)

    1. Re:Bruce Campbell... by JFMulder · · Score: 1

      Bruce Campbell... as Trillian?

    2. Re:Bruce Campbell... by Gleef · · Score: 1

      ... as Frankie Mouse!

      --

      ----
      Open mind, insert foot.
  44. Incomplete information! by w3weasel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sam Rockwell is Zaphod...
    Who plays the other head???

    --

    Just as irrigation is the lifeblood of the Southwest, lifeblood is the soup of cannibals. -- Jack Handy

    1. Re:Incomplete information! by mr_jim83 · · Score: 1

      Probably the same person that plays the third arm.

  45. Change by TooTechy · · Score: 1

    We have to get used to change, even the released version of the original Radio Plays is different from the actual broadcasts.

    "You robot can humm like Pink Floyd" seems to have disappeared...

  46. C3PO for Marvin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I would like to see C3PO playing Marvin, a maniacally depressed coward of robot ...

    Tricia: "Marvin will you go and bring the hitchhikers to the bridge?"

    C3PO : "Me with a brain the size of a planet. And she wants me to bring a human to the bridge. Hey, waitaminnit ...what if the human attacks me? opens up my brain? Awww if only R2D2 were here !!"

  47. Very close to my visualization of Ford by mceister · · Score: 1

    He is almost what I picture on my head from the book, maybe a bit tall. Mos Def is a radical departure from my vision but I have faith (that they'll screw this up.)

  48. That is utter bullshit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am sorry that you cannot get past the stereotypes you were brought up with. As for the rest of us, we live in a colorblind society. Moving on, what is wrong with casting an all white cast for Roots? People do things like that all the time to show a story from a different perspective. Is it racist to portray the Civil War from a black perspective? Almost all the movies you see about it are from a white perspective, and while they do contain scenes of slavery, it is merely a glimpse. What about that Malcom X movie? That was obviously from a black perspective, but nobody complained about it being racist (even though there are quite a few lines racist towards whites in the movie!).
    I guess it really is like that old saying: When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nigger.

    YHBT. YHL. HAND.

    1. Re:That is utter bullshit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Somebody needs to have their sarcasm detector serviced.

    2. Re:That is utter bullshit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Oh yeah. I really need my sarcasm detector serviced.

  49. Doomed production by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I just don't think an American production can do the quirky English thing. They will target their audience with a wide net, and neuter this thing till the focus groups sing. It will be a pale vision of its original incarnations, homogenized and strip mall-ed for an American audience, and rasta-fied by 10%. It will no longer appeal to geeks and lose the only audience that may have embraced it.

  50. Actually... by Kjella · · Score: 1

    ...I want him out of the movie ASAP. How about a close-up of him dying when the Earth explodes? Any amount of pain, trauma, blood and gore would be acceptable.

    Or goddamn.... if they plan to make the full triology, I want him as captain of the B ark, no less.

    Kjella

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    1. Re:Actually... by fucksl4shd0t · · Score: 1

      Um, Darl would fit better as Number One on the B Ark.

      "Sir, I just got a message from Number One."

      "What is it?"

      "He says he has captured some prisoners."

      "Oh good, he's always wanted some of those."

      --
      Like what I said? You might like my music
  51. Do you think there are only whites on Betelguese? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    cmon ...its another planet ... there cud be blues or greens ... so whats wrong with black?

  52. Re:fuck you. get a life. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cuntpunching Popefelcher?!!!

    I think I have a new phrase to add to my linguistic repertoire.

    May I recommend Monkey masterbator or perhaps Badger buggerer to be adopted by you, as you appear not to have included them in your list.

    Any other humourous two worded swears with such joyous phrasing as Cuntpunching Popefelcher, would be heartily, and warmly welcomed.

  53. Re:fuck you. get a life. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuckshitting flannelpisser!

    The cuntpunching popefelcher is mine, though. It can be licensed for $1 dollar an instance. My army of lawyers will be watching for unlicensed usage.

  54. 2 reasons to not hate jim carey (OT) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1 Truman Show
    2 Man on the Moon

    (possibly 3 Cable Guy)

    Reasons to hate jim carey:
    Everything else he has ever done.

  55. inaccurate Movie DataBase by nemo · · Score: 4, Informative
    it's the iMDB folks.

    Some REAL information:

    Note that Nighy is NOT confirmed for Slarti. Note that Warwick as the body of Marvin means nothing about his voice. And Moore has NOT been cast as the voice. Mos Def is the most controversial choice, but let's not write him off as Ford just cos nobody expected a black guy in the role before.
    1. Re:inaccurate Movie DataBase by vert2712 · · Score: 1

      You're wrong: Nighy is confirmed. Moore is NOT, which is why he's not on IMDb.com.

    2. Re:inaccurate Movie DataBase by nemo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Did you even follow the links?

      Go read http://www.douglasadams.com/movie/ again, this time paying special attention to the Frequently Questioned Answers. Note especially the preceeding bits which FAIL to mention Nighy, since he has NOT been confirmed. Rumoured? Yes. Probably very likely too. But no contract has been signed, so he can't be said to be truly confirmed.

      Official Movie Website (current) > Random BBC article (a month old)

  56. What's Important by rpeh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It really doesn't matter who plays whom. What's more worrying is that Adams' script is being rewritten. HHGTTG is probably the finest comedy written thus far in human history and the idea that somebody could do better than DNA is tantamount to heresy.

    The main reason the film has never been made is that Adams was never happy with what Hollywod was offering. Do we really thing he'd be happy with some droid scriptwriter massacring his work?

    If The Powers That Be didn't like DNA's script, they don't deserve to benefit from it.

    1. Re:What's Important by Threni · · Score: 1

      > The main reason the film has never been made is that Adams was never happy with
      > what Hollywod was offering. Do we really thing he'd be happy with some droid
      > scriptwriter massacring his work?

      I just know this film will suck, but i'll probably go and see it anyway. Well, i'll be checking here and the movies usenet group first.

      But the issue is simply whether or not it'll make money for the people making it. That's the only criterion these days.

    2. Re:What's Important by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Hollywood depends on idiots like you. You consistently go and see films that you don' t want to see. Have you ever thought about voting with your wallet?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    3. Re:What's Important by Threni · · Score: 1

      > You consistently go and see films that you don' t want to see. Have you ever
      > thought about voting with your wallet?

      Incorrect.

    4. Re:What's Important by benjymous · · Score: 1

      I've often thought it'd be cool if somebody took all the original radio recordings and used them to make an animated version (thinking adult anime, not cutsey kids cartoon)

      --
      Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!
    5. Re:What's Important by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Incorrect.

      Wow... I guess you sure told him.

    6. Re:What's Important by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      Funny, I've thought of actually doing it, but first using stills from the TV series as storyboards for the first six fits. Maybe referencing the comic book edition of the story as well.

      I just wish I had the time and skill to do it. And the more people you try to get organized to do it, the more likely you'll get shut down by the rights holders, even if it is just for your own personal entertainment and not for public consumption.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    7. Re:What's Important by dogbertsd · · Score: 1

      While I agree that no real liberties should be taken with the script, you have to consider that the "script" was in about fourteen different versions in various states of revision and written over many years. Each had different bits in different places, conflicting plotlines, and few if any of the scripts were near completion. The whole thing was in serious need of editing and smoothing out.

      His favorite way to write was under extreme pressure, such as the editor was in the sitting room and DNA was typing like a mad man handing over each chapter as it was done for review and editing. Each of his books was a combination of DNA's wit and an editor's wringing.

      DNA was a funny man and a great writer, but punctual and organized (as a writer at least) he was not.

  57. Haven't seen High Strung have you? by Bryan+Gividen · · Score: 1, Informative

    Alright, Jim Carrey plays a minor role in the film, but the part he plays he is amazing for and the movie is a work of art. It was a low budget movie from the early 90s and it is hillarious! Definitely check it out if you ever get the chance.

  58. Hip-hop (was Re:It's going to blow) by aswang · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Before you criticize, it might be worthwhile to know what you're talking about. I can't believe you just equated Mos Def with Nelly. That's a lot like equating the Beatles with N'sync.

    In case you cared, Mos Def, unlike many self-styled "MCs," is a real artist, a poet who started off in spoken word venues like the Brooklyn Moon. Unlike the commercialized hip-hop spewed by Clear Channel radio stations targeted at white suburbanites to reinforce their stereotypes of people of color, Mos Def actually has a positive message for the urban counterculture, rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, and the struggle of people of color everywhere to attain equality.

    I have a feeling that Mos Def and Douglas Adams would have had a lot to talk about. After all tHHGttG saga talks a lot about the disgusting excesses of capitalism and the rampant insanity of corporate culture (see Magrathea and the collapse of the Galactic Stock Market, the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation, Hotblack Desiato being dead for "tax purposes," the awesome satire in the sequence involving the Golgafrinchans, and the fact that the enemy in the final book is an evil corporation), the way the powers-that-be and the media manipulate the masses (remember, anyone you actually meet is the product of a deranged imagination, the fact that most everything is "somebody else's problem" makes it possible to create a good stealth device, and there's the irony when the tourism industry's campaign in Ursa Minor Beta backfires when they state that "when you are tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you are tired of life," and then there's the message in front of tHHttG which advises "Don't Panic!") and then there's the whole idea of revisionist history and the desecration of ancient sites all in the name of progress and profit (as in the story of the Cathedral of Chalesm, the poet who was bought out by the pen company and who had to plagiarize his own work in order to get them written, and more obviously the destruction of Earth in order to make way for a hyperspace bypass), the pointless destruction wrought by war (see the Silastic Armor fiends of Striterax, and the Krikkiters after them, and then those guys who fought wars just because they saw strange things in the sky, and ended up killing mostly the peaceful forest people in the middle), the evil of racism (again, the Krikkiters) and the fact that the people who want to have power shouldn't be allowed to have power (wonderfully lampooned by the description of the guy who actually runs the universe)

    I think Mos Def would make a great Ford Prefect.

    1. Re:Hip-hop (was Re:It's going to blow) by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 1

      Sorry, but I expect to see a lot of the points that you mentioned sapped out of the film. What Hollywood producer who wants to make megaprofits would produce a film that stands so firmly opposed to everything that Hollywood and the movie biz is today? Why was it that Douglas Adams was so opposed to it being made into a movie unless he retained creative control? This movie is being made to cash in. That's all. It's not being made to preserve the original plot or ideas at all. Mark my words, many of you will be disappointed.

      As far as the people who are jumping on the "racist" bandwagon. Just shut the hell up. When did I even MENTION skin color in my original post? As far as Mos Def goes, I'm not a fan of Hip-Hop unless it's WAYYYY underground. He just doesn't fit. If they said that Garth Brooks was picked for the role of Ford, I'd protest even louder as I hate country music and again, it would be wrong for the role. The last thing I want is to see an Americanized (ie. ruined) version of the HHGTTG. The original productions rely heavily on sarcasm and wit, two things that Americans are notoriously bad at. Face it, Americans are generally not deep thinkers, so the movie will have to be dumbed down tremendously if it's expected to make any profit. Americans ARE generally quite greedy, so it stands to reason that this movie is going to be made with profit in mind first as opposed to social statements or artistry.

  59. It's not his fault . . . by CleverNickName · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Maybe I'm a little too close to this particular issue . . . but isn't it a little unfair to hate on Warwick Davis because of Jedi? I mean, until Jar Jar^H^H^H^H The Pod Race^H^H^H^H^H Episode One came along, I hated the Ewoks more than any other part of Star Wars, (even though I was in the target demographic) but it's not his fault the Ewoks were so lame.

    I'm all for hating on Lucas, but Warwick Davis was playing a role that, at the time, would have been a very big deal. Remember how aniticipated Jedi was?

    1. Re:It's not his fault . . . by BWJones · · Score: 1

      I'm all for hating on Lucas, but Warwick Davis was playing a role that, at the time, would have been a very big deal. Remember how aniticipated Jedi was?

      And let's all just be honest here: If you were offered a role in a Star Wars installment, would not you jump at the chance? Your damned right I would.

      --
      Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
  60. PLEASE NOT MOVED TO AMERICA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sure even the most patriotic of American slashdot readers will agree with me that the Englishness of the piece should be retained, and Arthur Dent not moved to New York state etc. etc. That said, I am mindful of the fact I said similar things about High Fidelity and was shown to be completely wrong.

    1. Re:PLEASE NOT MOVED TO AMERICA by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 0

      High Fidelity could hardly have got WORSE though, could it? It was the most embarrasingly crap book I've ever read.

      NEVER read a bestseller. That includes the Bible, which is irreconcilably shit.

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    2. Re:PLEASE NOT MOVED TO AMERICA by rishistar · · Score: 1

      But with the dollar so weak they can do everything at half price! And get Australians on the cheap to do authentic British accents.

      --
      Professor Karmadillo Songs of Science
    3. Re:PLEASE NOT MOVED TO AMERICA by covenant_uk · · Score: 1

      "Australian's doing authentic British accents?" MY ARSE!

    4. Re:PLEASE NOT MOVED TO AMERICA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why did you add that apostrophe? Seriously. It made it wrong.

  61. Trainwreck... by Dr.Knackerator · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No wonder we just continously get bloody awful films all the time. It seems obvious just from the choice of the main two actors that the characters will not be the same. If you change the characters then basically everything has to change, the dialogue, what people do, how people react. you can't just bolt in entirely different people and expect it to work. but they do. and that's why so many films are pants. and tv shows that cross either way across the atlantic and are remade tend not to work, somebody tampers with what makes it work - the characters. no wonder they waited till after he died....

  62. oh my god! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    black people!! run!

    jesus christ. grow up.

  63. Dirk Djently by Gimpy-Joe · · Score: 1

    I'm a huge fan of Douglas Adams and have read all his works, but i'm not really very excited about this movie. The radio series was great and so were the books sure, but the TV series was a flop, and this movie has been in the works for so long its really a joke. If they were making the entire series into movies i'd be much more excited but i've already seen the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy in every form of media except movie. what i'd really like to see is a movie based on his either his dirk djectly charactor or one of his books about him "dirk djently's slightly holistic detective agency" or "the long dark tea time of the soul" I think they're at least as good as any of the hitchhikers books, and much more easily adaptable to movie form. The main problem of course is how little sense they tend to make, but i'm sure details could be ironed out

    --
    Good luck in hell.
    1. Re:Dirk Djently by FunctionalMethod · · Score: 1

      Yes I agree. There is allot of hidden movie potential in those books.

      --
      -- TRUST ME! I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!
  64. Bull by BigBadBri · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I call BS.

    It's obvious - if you come from near Betelgeuse - a red giant - your planet's going to have lost a lot of atmosphere in the expansion phase - so it's logical that you'll be black, to minimise the effects of UV exposure.

    As a white Brit, I have absolutely no exception to a black guy playing Ford, just so long as he makes him seem like the same sort of shallow arse he was originally.

    In fact, so long as the guy can act the part, it doesn't matter what colour he is, so long as he's humanoid.

    --
    oh brave new world, that has such people in it!
    1. Re:Bull by fbform · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Betelgeuse - a red giant...to minimise the effects of UV exposure.

      On the other hand, a red giant is considerably cooler than a yellow star like the sun, and emits much less of its energy in the UV range.
      Of course, the total energy output of Betelgeuse is so high that even with this smaller fraction in the UV range, it probably can still cause a serious burn.

      Astronomers - please correct this as needed.

      --
      Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
  65. animated by hitchhacker · · Score: 1


    I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
    We need an animated version to the tune of the original radio broadcast.

    They could easily do Beeblebrox's two heads that way.

    -metric

  66. Music by tilleyrw · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Without any research into what music will be used in the reincarnation of HGTTG, I will have to vote for the original scoring.

    The original music for moments when the Guide was speaking are imprinted into my brain and shall never be replaced.

    I fear that in an effort to reach a "new, technical, and increasingly eye-candy based" audience, they will subvert classic harmonies into new age parodies.

    --
    This post encoded with ROT26. If you can read it, you've violated the DMCA. Handcuffs please, sergeant.
  67. Radio cast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm,

    Does anyone remember if the radio cast was the same as the TV series of Hitchikers... ?

    My oldee VCR copy miss out all names unfortunately.

    Cheers

  68. Re: First POST!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Roots had Levar Burton
    Malcolm X had Avery Brooks

    Do I see a trend here?

  69. No! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Adam West needs to rest his voice for when they resume production of Family Guy.... he gets some of the best lines.

  70. Low Expectations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    With the man with the creative vision gone, I don't have much confidence the people left in charge won't ruin this movie.

    Like when Spielburg crapped up the movie A.I. after Kubrick died. Remember when the aliens/earthlings/a.i. in the future (whatever they were) find the frozen A.I. boy, and they're standing around him discussing what to do? It would have been sufficient to let this long sequence play out without explanation so the audience can wonder at and speculate what's taking place. Instead, Spielburg subtitled the fscking thing. At least I'm assuming he did that. 2001 didn't include scene ruining subtitles of Dave's thoughts while he was experiencing his encounter with the monolith for pete's sake.

    Or look at Saving Private Ryan when they find the wrong Ryan and tell him his brothers are dead and he freaks out and then they realize it's the wrong guy. That crass crappification has Spielburg written all over it - I bet he wrote it into the script. Anyway he's not directing Hitchhiker is he? Good. So what am I rambling about...

  71. What Marvin looks like by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I was first listening to the radio programs, I pictured Marvin as beinng made of something like cast-iron, covered with heat sinks, limping, and possibly leaking oil.

    After reading the first book, I figured was shiney chromed plastic, but pretty badly scuffed up.

    I can never picture hime as a small cute R2D2.

  72. Re:fuck you. get a life. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you saying "Ni!" to that Anonymous Coward? Oh, what sad times are these, when passing ruffians can say "Ni!", and even shrubbers are not safe in their trade...

  73. Re:fuck you. get a life. by headonfire · · Score: 1

    anonymous coward, you are anonymous hero in my eyes.

  74. Sam Rockwell by FunctionalMethod · · Score: 1

    Most excelent. He isn't hansom ( which Zaprod isn't supposed to be) , he has a weird face , he can play a madman ( Green Mile) , he can also play the cool guy ( Charlies Angels ). He is a very good choice.. The movie is still gonna suck ass though.

    --
    -- TRUST ME! I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!
  75. Yeah everybody, be fair by cgenman · · Score: 1

    After all, they did cast the guy from "Leprechaun in the hood."

  76. No one has seen this photo of Marvin? by dday64 · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's been a month or more now so I don't remember where I originally found this picture from, but it's apparently the idea they have in mind for Marvin. I've uploaded it to my own webspace: http://jglonek.mystdrag.com/files/marvin.gif Also, just because Warwick Davis is acting as Marvin why do people (especially the original poster) think that he will do Marvin's voice too? I highly doubt he will.

    1. Re:No one has seen this photo of Marvin? by Bambi+Dee · · Score: 1

      It's Marvin. http://douglasadams.com/movie/ has the same costume, except being worn.

      Feels a lot more Sirius Cybernetics than its TV show counterpart, but still -- I always imagined Marvin was really supposed to be as annoyingly chipper as the Heart of Gold's doors, with the artificial personality having gone horribly wrong. A "plastic pal who's fun to be with" shouldn't have those mournful eyes. It obliterates the contrast, though maybe nobody else thought there was one.

  77. YOU'RE RACIST ASSHOLE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow pointing out your cousin is kinda black really lets you off the hook. Nice backpedalling there slick.

    1. Re:YOU'RE RACIST ASSHOLE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck you, you worthless pile of shit. I'm german, hungarian, peruvian and my cousin is cherokee, peruvian. Why don't you go and fuck yourself you fucking troll. I hate shitpiles like you who try to incite flamewars by making stupid comments about issues that never even showed up in the first place. I'd love to beat the fucking tar out of you just for bringing the whole thing up.

      (How'd I do you fucking troll?)

  78. More Casting... by dodald · · Score: 2, Informative

    On the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The (2005) page they have more casting.

    Ford Perfect, Arthor, and Trillian are all listed.

    --
    101010b 2Ah 52o
    1. Re:More Casting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's "Ford Prefect."

    2. Re:More Casting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes, yes it is. It's just a typo, however. I cannot tell you how many times I have called people out on that. Hanging head in shame...

      dodald

  79. Rockwell is a good choice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    His picture on imdb.com looks a lot like Mark Wing-Davey.

  80. I disagree: by amarodeeps · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Bruce Campbell as...Zaphod.

    1. Re:I disagree: by mr_jim83 · · Score: 1

      Seconded. He has double-head experience.

    2. Re:I disagree: by ProKras · · Score: 1

      Definitely Zaphod.

      Hail to the King, baby!

  81. Not to nitpick, but. . . by Limburgher · · Score: 1
    No "Slightly", just "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency".

    Not to nitpick.:)

    --

    You are not the customer.

  82. Back from the dead ??? by The+Famous+Druid · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Check out the 'Executive Producer' credit on imdb

    That would be quite a trick!

    --
    Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur (anything said in Latin sounds important)
    1. Re:Back from the dead ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Makes you wonder about the quality of the casting data, doesn't it ...

    2. Re:Back from the dead ??? by vert2712 · · Score: 2, Informative
      Makes you wonder if you ever heard of posthumous credits...

      I quote from The Hollywood Reporter, 9/17/2002:

      Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum's Spyglass Entertainment has tapped "Chicken Run" scribe Karey Kirkpatrick to co-adapt Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." [...] Adams had begun adapting the project for the big screen before his death in May 2001, and Kirkpatrick will work from his draft. [...] Adams will receive an executive producer credit along with Robbie Stamp and Jonathan Glickman, president of production at Spyglass. Derek Evans, senior vp production at Spyglass, will co-produce and oversee.

      Full item is here but you have to be a paid subscriber to read it.

  83. good? yes. brilliant? no by Savatte · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Man on the moon is a stanard cinematic biopic of an eccentric comedian. If there was ever a a man who needed a gonzo off the wall biopic, it was Andy Kaufman, but Man on the Moon stuck to the facts, aside from the opening.

    Carrey did a good job, but it was like watching a really good Elvis impersonator. Like Andy Kaufman...

  84. A great British narrator by Savatte · · Score: 1

    John Hurt has one of the best voices of all time. For proof of his narration brilliance, check out Dogville.

  85. Here, have some vogon poetry by RouterSlayer · · Score: 2, Funny

    here's a snippit, I doubt anyone can place this piece... heh...
    title: "On the daft"
    'Hardy', says Jip Bottomless, 'Have you sworn to the daft?'

    'Of course moose', saible Hippy Shambles 'eye boat the kindness of dislodging the lives and diapers of follow hungells!'

    'Follow hungells! They bar exemptifies. They bar Confusilistic Picks!', yellops Jip Bottomless, 'I thunk the arly defisition we Ameranians shook may obble one. Obble Abbly, Naibly, Air Faible, or Maible.'

    'Wax the diversifixion between Ameranians & Raxations? Deer all hungells! Nobble bumby should have two sworn to the daft. Nobble bumby should hax in dislodging the lives and diapers of follow hungells!!'

    'Well we have to seed the armble vase glowing, because they harble more nookly-hobble-boobs then we. Besides they slopped dapped our arlycopter from the spies, so we have to venge of gettance!' exlamps Jip Bottomless.

    'Venging gettance won't proud anyhomble' says Hippy Shambles, 'and remuddle what Ghumby says, 'an eyesore for an eyesore mabbles the hip hungell vase blind.'

    1. Re:Here, have some vogon poetry by YankeeInExile · · Score: 1

      Written by Scotty Blum, c. 1986 while working at Startpoint Software, on Central Avenue in Yreka, California. I was a tech writer for them at the time. It was stored in otherwise unused sectors on the DiSector 3.0 distribution media. Other sectors had other weird stories, useless facts, etc.

      --
      How does the Slashdot Effect happen given that no slashdotters ever RTFA?
    2. Re:Here, have some vogon poetry by YankeeInExile · · Score: 1

      in that last I used c. 1986 in the sense "cerca" not "copyright". I also think he published it in at least one other place.

      --
      How does the Slashdot Effect happen given that no slashdotters ever RTFA?
    3. Re:Here, have some vogon poetry by RouterSlayer · · Score: 1

      Hey dude (YankeeInExile) I cant seem to send you a message, mayhaps you could email me...

      ps - you also get a prize for guessing correctly (lol)

  86. ... and Peter Jones as "The Book" by fprefect · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When casting the narrator for the Radio Series, Douglas Adams said he wanted someone with a "Peter Jones-y" voice. (As I understand, Peter Jones is/was a rather well known anchor on the BBC news -- think Tom Brokaw). They tried lots of people and weren't happy with any... until they got Peter Jones himself. Can't do much better than that.

    --
    Matt Slot / Bitwise Operator / Ambrosia Software, Inc.
    1. Re:... and Peter Jones as "The Book" by Skilleter · · Score: 1

      No, Peter Jones was a serious actor and occaisional comedian (or possibly vice-versa, depending on your/his point of view), not a newsreader.

    2. Re:... and Peter Jones as "The Book" by newcombe · · Score: 1

      Peter Jones was a comedy actor. Peter Jones Regrettably, his death in April 2000 tends to make him ineligible for casting in the movie.

  87. Isms by aswang · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Maybe not racism, then. How about cultural elitism? Why are you automatically excluding particular individuals who you automatically pigeon-hole into a particular genre, as if they somehow represent and embody the genre? Where is it written that a hip-hop artist can't be a good actor? And since when are actors chosen on the basis of what they do in real life? It's not like Harrison Ford was ever pigeon-holed to play a carpenter in any of his movies.

    And what exactly do you mean by underground hip-hop? Do you even listen to hip-hop? Do you have any friends who are hip-hop artists (obviously, not necessarily signed by a record label or anything like that)? While granted, Mos Def is more recognizable than many other talented underground artists, are you seriously spitting out the line that since an artist is popular, he must have sold out? Have you even listened to the lyrics on his last album "Black on Both Sides"? He isn't exactly pandering to the white suburbanites, nor is he glorifying the essentialized violence and materialism that defines commercial hip-hop. Seriously, when's the last time you saw Mos Def make a rap video? When's the last time you even heard him played on the radio? Frankly, I think you're just dissin' on hip-hop, and whether it's a racial thing or a cultural thing doesn't matter. But, to paraphrase Robert Heinlein, never attribute to malice what can be attributed to ignorance and stupidity, I suppose.

    On the other hand, you're probably right about the studios gutting the book. Such is life.

    1. Re:Isms by Trolling4Dollars · · Score: 1

      Finally! Someone who gets it. Yes. I dislike modern hip-hop. Give me classic spoken word by someone like Gil Scot-Heron and then we can talk about the real roots of hip-hop. He's someone I can dig. He had something to say and he said it with style. I have yet to hear anyone in today's hip-hop world even come close. So yes. I am indulging in cultural elitism. Nothing wrong with tha as long as it's justified. Hell, even give me Digable Planets or De La Soul. Now you're talking real hip-hop with a message. I'd give them far more respect than any modern hip-hop stars.

      Getting back to HHGTTG. Let's talk about how many other classics were ruined by trying to pander to modern audiences and update them. First we have the horrible Romeo + Juliet. An attempt to get idiot kids into Shakespeare by casting young "hot" stars. Total crap. Then we have The Musketeer. Another tragic attempt to update classic subject matter in such a way that young audiences will chose it over pro-wrestling as viable entertainment. More worthless shite. And then the ill fated Pearl Harbor. Not based on classic literature, but certainly important historically. However this horrific production was marred by the stupid idea to meld two of the worst genres; soap operas and war movies, all in an attempt to capitalize on patriotic idiot fervor and attract the female viewers with a cute guy and romantic plot. Again, complete and utter twaddle.

      The idea of HHGTTG being ruined in one or more of the above terrible ways really doesn't sit well with me. Why do we have to try and update things in an attempt to cater to the stupid masses? Why can't we just improve upon the original by sticking with what was originally done, but just do it better? Personally, I'd love it if this new movie was a fully British production and the only thing they did was better FX than the original TV show and cast a few new actors if the original cast is too old or otherwise employed. And PLEASE, no tie in with any fast food chains!!! Sure it would be cool to have a HHGTTG cup, but I'd rather buy it online than at Burger King or McDonald's. Again... mark my words, they're going to screw this up and put profit first. If they don't it will certainly be a first for Hollywood.

    2. Re:Isms by Hittite+Creosote · · Score: 1
      Sure it would be cool to have a HHGTTG cup, but I'd rather buy it online than at Burger King or McDonald's.

      I'd say they can have a tie-in on the condition they rename themselves The Big Bang Burger Bar.

    3. Re:Isms by Heywood+Yabuzof · · Score: 1


      I can see how if you just heard that a "hip-hop star" was being cast, you would be worried about all the things you mentioned. However, if you have ever seen Mos Def in any movie or TV show he's been in, you'd realize he takes himself seriously as an actor, and that he's cast because he's good, and not because he'll "bring in the young kids". Well, he certainly might bring in some younger fans, but most kids listening to hip hop today have no idea who Mos Def even is. My point is that he's not a "stunt casting" - he's a good actor who does "relaxed, smooth, cool hipster" very well. I think it's great casting.

      If it was anyone other than Mos Def (say, DMX, for example, who is not a bad actor, but who is certainly cast in movies that are designed around him, his music, and his whole image) I'd be worried as well. Check out some of the movies he's done and I think you will be slightly less concerned. He's much more of an "actor" than a "hip-hop artist with delusions of being a movie star and only works in movies that feature his own music". No, really!

    4. Re:Isms by Noren · · Score: 1
      Interesting you should mention De La Soul, Mos Def has recorded with them.

      So, there exist three Hollywood movies which are horrible, only one of which was adapted from a work by an Englishman, and none of which are comedies. What does this have to do with the topic? It's not as if there are no horrid British films made. (e.g. Johnny English, which was allegedly attempting to be a comedy)

      I'll admit I agree that the odds of it being good are lower in Hollywood than I expect they would be in Britain, but I think writing it off as doomed now based on where it's being produced and the fact that one of the actors once did some hip-hip recording is quite premature.

  88. Feel the suck by My_Dirty_Facist_Ass · · Score: 0
    I tremble in ecstatic anticipation of how much this film will to suck. I laugh in joy and dance at the thought of the tarnishment of the hack who was D. Adams and his precious magnum opus. I cannot wait for this piece of shit to drop upon the waiting fans, mouths open, eyes blazing with hope. I will laugh and sing and feel free.

    There are no words for the joy that courses within me.

  89. Actors! Don't talk to me about actors. by fireboy1919 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actors are absolutely the worst things in the world, and there are none worse than Stephen Moore. Of course, Warwick Davis is even worse than that. His very presence gives me a pain on all the diodes down my left side.

    I suppose it's to be expected, what with my brain the size of a planet and everyone being so dreadfully stupid. I suppose an excrutiatingly bad representation of Marvin is as inevitable as the rest of the unspeakably dreary monotony that is my life. Life! Don't talk to me about life. I'm not getting you down, am I? Because I'd hate to think that I was getting you down.

    --
    Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
  90. How about Douglas Adams? by fireboy1919 · · Score: 1

    Of course he's dead now, but before he died he read almost all (maybe all) of his books for "books on tape" recordings.

    If I heard someone with a thick, deep voice as the narrator, it just wouldn't seem right. The narrator for the radio show, books on tape, and miniseries was always a higher baritone voice (like what most men have).

    --
    Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
  91. Tim Curry by IllogicalStudent · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think Tim Curry would make a good narrator. He's no stranger to voice acting, either, as he did the voice for the Gabriel Knight games series (not including the lackluster second-installment).... and he's British!

    --
    But Maaa! Everyone else has a .sig !
  92. Cast Information by GrumpySimon · · Score: 1

    Who cares about Trillian? I want to know who's going to play Eccentrica Gallumbits the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon IV.
    Eccentrica Gallumbits

    ps: A google image search gives some interesting results...

  93. Arthur Dent - Jack Davenport by patmandu · · Score: 1

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202603/

    Just watch him in 'Coupling' and you'll see he's perfect for Arthur...

  94. There Is No God... by chaoticset · · Score: 1

    ...and the proof is the HHGG. I can't wait until they announce that Ronald McDonald's going to be in the damn thing.

    --

    -----------------------
    You are what you think.
  95. Zaphod - Rik Mayall by patmandu · · Score: 1

    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0562201/

  96. Always wondered what a parody of HHGTG by buzy+buzy · · Score: 1

    would be like? I've ran through this a couple of times in my mind and it brought a smile to my face.

    --
    If you get modded down for a first post... What do you get for a last post?
  97. accents by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    personally i never really imagined anyone aside from arthur with an english accent.

  98. Zaphod black?!? by SlashTom · · Score: 1

    I thought somehow that Zaphod was a black guy.
    Anybody else thought so to, or is my mind boggling..??

  99. Martin Freeman still to play Arthur Dent? by the_silver_fox · · Score: 1

    There has been conflict to the rumor that the Hollwood reporter's suggested Arthur is 'The Office's' Martin Freeman. Has anyone heard anything more on this?

    1. Re:Martin Freeman still to play Arthur Dent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well considering it's on his own website (run by his brother, Jamie), I think it's safe to say he's playing Arthur

  100. Mos Def is Danny John-Jules by idResponse · · Score: 1

    Has anyone else ever noticed how similar Mos Def and Danny John-Jules look? I mean I swear, stick some fangs, new hair, and some crazy looking duds on Mos Def and he'd be a SHOE IN for Cat from Red Dwarf!

    --
    [)(]subliminal labs[)(]
  101. The American Hitchiker's Guide to The Galaxy by Snart+Barfunz · · Score: 3, Funny

    "OK, what's the pitch?"
    "Well, these alien Vogons destroy Earth so this English guy chases them across the Galaxy, destroys the Universe in revenge, and then learns the ultimate meaning of everything from some mice."
    "I like it - but we have to make some changes...
    Let's change Ford Prefect to Ford Pinto, Arthur Dent to Art Bump, Vogons to Russians (with English accents, the mice to Santa Claus, and the answer to the ultimate question is a big hug. Then the kid says, 'I love you Daddy'. Now that's a movie!"

    --
    --- Yx3 = Delilah ---
  102. Directorial team potentially good though by JulianOolian · · Score: 1

    I just noticed that the production team is Hammer and Tongs who have an interesting track record in advertising and music video.

    They strike me as the kind of people who are going to have some kind of sympathy with H2G2's pedigree.

  103. No comment on Mos Def as Ford?????? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This I greatly hate.

  104. Narrator: Stephen Hawking by Genady · · Score: 1

    Come on. If you want a comptuer for a narrator there's only one person I can think of that really sounds like a Narrator.

    --


    What if it is just turtles all the way down?
  105. Bruce Campbell: Zaphod by Genady · · Score: 1

    You're cracked. Bruce is obviously Zaphod!

    --


    What if it is just turtles all the way down?
  106. Jeff Daniels: Zaphod by Genady · · Score: 1

    I never realied it until you mentioned it, but Jeff Daniels would be a PERFECT Zaphod. I though Bruce Campbel upthread, and he'd do really well, but transfer some of that 'Dude' into Zaphod and it'd be Movie Gold! Two heads drinking white russians, oh yes, this would be too good!

    --


    What if it is just turtles all the way down?
    1. Re:Jeff Daniels: Zaphod by JayBlalock · · Score: 1
      Oddly, I knew who you meant despite the wrong name. :-)

      And he would've awhile back, but he's too old for the role now.

      --
      Bush: He's Liberal in all the wrong ways.
  107. Re:Jeff BRIDGES: Zaphod by Genady · · Score: 1

    Doh, wrong actor. BRIDGES, I meant Bridges!

    --


    What if it is just turtles all the way down?
  108. Hip-hop again by aswang · · Score: 1
    While I appreciate your point of view regarding hip-hop, I just think it's too restrictive to only regard "classic" hip-hop highly. I mean, who do you think the intellectual descendants of Gil Scott-Heron and the stylistic descendants of De La and Digable Planets are if not artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, the Roots, etc. True, the one's I've listed are popular in the sense that people outside of hip-hop may have heard of them, but I don't think that necessarily disqualifies them from being "real." Even artists like 2pac and Kanye West, who, while guilty of catering to the lowest common denominator, deserve props for being true to their roots and talking about the Struggle, considering they are sons of Black Panthers.

    Cultural elitism in the context of hip-hop is a little ridiculous. To quote Mos himself:

    "Yo Mos, what's gettin ready to happen with Hip-Hop?"
    (Where do you think Hip-Hop is goin?)
    I tell em, "You know what's gonna happen with Hip-Hop?
    Whatever's happening with us"
    ....
    People talk about Hip-Hop like it's some giant livin in the hillside
    comin down to visit the townspeople
    We are Hip-Hop
    Me, you, everybody, we are Hip-Hop
    So Hip-Hop is goin where we goin
  109. Movies vs. Books by aswang · · Score: 1

    While I agree that the examples you cited are good examples of the kind of tripe that Hollywood churns out, I think it is possible to come out wit h a movie that doesn't compromise the book too much. A faithful rendition is simply impossible given the great differences between the two media. But I think you can come decently close. Like "The Lord of the Rings," for example. Obviously, there are a lot of liberties taken with the book, usually to its detriment, but, the fact of the matter is that LotR actually became a decent, watchable movie that didn't make me want to throw up too much. I think to ask more than that is unrealistic. Not to say that you're wrong about the studios more likely screwing up tHHGttG though.

  110. Cap'n Jack Sparrow as Zaphod by rolofft · · Score: 1

    Someone on the IMDB message board suggested Johnny Depp for Zaphod. Having seen "Pirates of the Caribbean", I think Depp could perfectly portray Zaphod's traits: self-absorbed, charismatic, reckless, and daring.

    --

    "Give a man a fish and he will ask for tartar sauce and French fries!"

  111. Direction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The director has never directed (or meaningfully worked on) a feature-length movie. He's a music video director. Maybe his "beginner's mind" will allow him to interpret the H2G2 story in this new movie medium better than it was interpreted in the arduous BBC TV series. Or maybe this will be another big-budget Hollywood cash-in on the H2G2 brand franchise. The movie project's appearance so soon after the enabling death of Douglas Adams bodes ill for any "integrity", but Adams seemed like a procrastinator who, once in control of his deadlines, pushed them back until they were just puns. Forget the movie - where's the mechanime?

  112. Suck It, Trebeck! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll take Anal Bum Cover for 400.
    That's "An Album Cover" ...

    I'll take The Rapists for 400.
    That's "Therapists" ...