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BBC Reviews Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Posted by Zonk on from the H-H-G-2-disappointment dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Now that the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has made its debut in London, reviews are now beginning to trickle in. The BBC's review can be summed up in one sentence: '... somewhere in the production process the crew has lost sight of the fundamental aspect of the books - they were immensely funny."

6 of 537 comments (clear)

  1. Is it a "negative" review? I dont think so... by Jhon · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Hitchhiker fans will know what is happening, but newcomers will be left scratching their heads at a story that flits from one unpronounceable planet to another - each one populated by equally exotic-sounding characters.
    If this is the critic's biggest problem, I'm 'ok' with that. Besides, there were things in the book not in the BBC TV series -- or things on BBC Radio that weren't in either the book or the TV series. I realize you can't sqeeze everything (even those few 2 or 3 word chapters DNA liked to use) in to a 2 hour movie. I never expected it.
  2. Re:My Verdict by OverlordQ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I could not believe how awful this film was. The story has almost nothing to do with previous versions of Hitchhiker's Guide and just rambles all over the place, but not in any humorous or interesting or entertaining or enjoyable way.

    All the changes from the book and TV show and radio play seem to have been made for no reason and not only do they not add anything, they actually make it worse.

    NONE of the books/radio shows agree with each other, so why should you expect the movie to?

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
  3. Movie reviews usually suck. by EvilStein · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I absolutely HATED "Napoleon Dynamite." I laughed ONCE during the entire movie. Yet, the reviews were raving about it. Then we had the recent article about the guy that's spent like 20 years studying Douglas Adams and his books/etc, and he hated the movie. Other reviews of this movie said it was clever & funny. Now the BBC says that there were just a few chuckles.

    Generally, I think that humour is in the eye of the beholder. I never think that Penny Arcade comics are funny, but often still laugh at User Friendly.

    Bottom line: The movie probably doesn't suck that bad at all, but the "The book was better" fanatics are going to jump all over it.

  4. Re:Fun Game! by shakezula · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I fully agree. The "Americanization" of BBC shows is WRONG. Have you seen NBC's version of "The Office"? IT IS TERRIBLE. The timing that made the UK version work so well has been completely dumb'd down for the US populace, just to make a few bucks. Its sad.

    On the other hand, I'd really like to go see "Oracle 8.5 The Complete Reference", especially if it was in Mandarin with subs.

    --
    I know what you're thinking. Did I forward 65,535 packets or 65,536 packets?
  5. Sounds about right... by ender- · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While Dent is a familiar cipher, audiences will be left clueless by Ford Prefect, bemused by Zaphod Beeblebrox and indifferent to Trillian.

    Personally, in reading the books, I've always been left feeling quite indifferent to Trillian. Almost like she's a background character with little to no importance. So it sounds like they at least got that right.

    Ender-

    --
    Nothing to see here
  6. Re:Fun Game! by Tim+Browse · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I saw and loved the original version of The Office.

    I watched the US pilot of The Office a while back, expecting it to be hell on toast (especially after what friends in the US had told me about the Coupling remake).

    I thought it was really good. The acting was good, and the timing was still there. One of the things I was curious about was how some of The Office is so rooted in British culture that the references wouldn't work. A few changes were made to adapt it to American culture, but the changes were appropriate and even funny in and of themselves (e.g. the 'Gareth' character is no longer in the TA, but sombrely tells the camera that he is a Volunteer Sheriff's Deputy at weekends, which made me laugh out loud).

    Most of all, the sense of awkwardness and overall feeling of futility and despair which really made The Office work seemed to be there in spades in the US version. I really didn't expect that to get carried across.

    In summary: pleasantly surprised, and I have gone back to watch the pilot a couple of times - it really stands up on its own, I think.

    I was hooked from very early on, with the interplay between the boss and the receptionist, when the boss commented to camera that if you thought the receptionist was pretty, you should have been here five years ago :-).