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"HHGTTG - bad review"

[URL]http://planetmagrathea.com/longreview1.html[/URL]

MAJOR spilers, but I've read the books numerous times, listened to the radio plays the same, so I can't learn anything new but: -

It looks like they have removed most of the jokes, and most of the clever plays on words. What you're left with is the core of the story, which, to be honest, isn't the strongest in the world to start with.

Shame.

[URL]http://planetmagrathea.com/longreview1.html[/URL]

MAJOR spilers, but I've read the books numerous times, listened to the radio plays the same, so I can't learn anything new but: -

It looks like they have removed most of the jokes, and most of the clever plays on words. What you're left with is the core of the story, which, to be honest, isn't the strongest in the world to start with.

Shame.

That is one of the most incredibly anal reviews I have ever read.
I get the picture of a guy with his tongue slightly protruding from the corner of his mouth as he writes in block-capitals crayong with an open Hitchhikers book next to him running his finger along to find bits that weren't in it.

I still expect good things.

Yeah, but from what he's saying about the general plot, it's been hugely changed and not for the better. Many elements are simply thrown in without making any sense whatsoever.

I'll still watch it, but the phrase "If It's Not Broken - Don't Fix It" doesn't seem to have occured to the production team involved.

*shrugs*
I couldn't get on with the book, smug sci-fi humour irritates me.
But I'll go watch a film with Sam Rockwell in.

Goatboy wrote:
> *shrugs*
> I couldn't get on with the book, smug sci-fi humour irritates me.
> But I'll go watch a film with Sam Rockwell in.

Very true. I'm seeing it for him, and the gloriously well done Henson creature shop Vogons. Everything else will be secondary.

Haven't read the book for a while, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't a stupid slapstick scene with spades.

I'll reserve opinion until I've seen it though...

Rockwell rules. Best actor name ever. I shall go see this because it looks good and I like most of the actors in it, and I haven't read the book or seen the TV series, therefore have no preconceptions.

HGGTTG is probably the only book I've read in the last five years (that and 'Screenburn' now), and it's fantastic. The follow-ups are a bit weak, same sort of jokes, but I don't think it's translated to the cinema quite like how you'd expect.

The whole thing hinges on one thing for me:

"Is the whale in it?"