Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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Disclaimer: I've read all books and am a big fan of Douglas Adams.
Wow, now that's some amature directing. I understand it's Garth Jennings' first big screen movie, after having done mostly music videos, but it's entirely possible for a director to make a decent movie with a video background (David Fincher, for example.)
I've heard they edited the original cut heavily, and it shows. It most reminds me of the hugely cut down theatrical version of Brazil. Actions scenes don't make sense. Some scenes end confusingly. Glaring errors in continuity. Pacing is off. The movie just feels wrong.
That being said, there are some extremely clever and funny bits. Excerpts from the Guide itself are usually done well, with some exceptions. The graphics used for the guide could have been better; not that I minded the style, I just thought it was poorly executed sometimes.
Acting was pretty decent, altough the script made for some awkward and sometimes violent mood swings in the actor's demeanor.
It diverges from the book rather sharply after the first act, and is quite different from the TV show as well, which actually followed the book pretty well. There is a hint at a sequel (The Restaraunt at the End of the Universe) but by the way the theater was only 40% full on it's opening weekend, I'm not sure that will happen.
Overall: 60 out of 100, entertaining, worth seeing if you're into sci-fi or Douglas Adams, otherwise wait for the DVD.

/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/

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Amplified Parts

Topic - Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - jbmcb 22:54:12 04/30/05 (10)

I saw it with my son, - mvwine 08:25:24 05/04/05 (0)

The Flick Filosopher review is one of the best critical assessments. - Audiophilander 08:53:41 05/03/05 (0)

The movie is a disappointment............. - danj 21:34:30 05/02/05 (0)

Re: When it first came out on TV - Jeff Starrs 01:19:50 05/02/05 (0)

I should have walked out but was too lazy . . . . * - mr grits 21:36:20 05/01/05 (0)

Re: Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Tom §. 20:31:49 05/01/05 (0)

Ebert and Roeper gave it... - mkuller 15:24:44 05/01/05 (0)

This movie had me asking myself ... was the book a piece of crap as well? - Lord Dot 11:31:53 05/01/05 (2)

(un)funny - jbmcb 13:11:39 05/01/05 (1)

Well stated; these were pretty much my impressions as well. - Audiophilander 11:54:27 05/02/05 (0)

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