Hitchhiker's Guide Movie Teaser!
POSTED BY: Stizo
UPDATED: Sunday, November 21, 2004 00:35
VIEWED: 12373
PAGE 2 of 3
Hate to be a Mr. Crabbybones here, but I don't know if I like the Hollywoodization coming through this teaser.
Personally, I have a real distaste for one-line promos (e.g. Armageddon, Die Hard, etc.) that are designed to catch the mediocre moviegoer's eye and "jazz up" a movie that is based on some extremely thoughtful and detailed books. It's going to mean a sanitized, generic version designed for the masses. Who's going to be in it? Mel Gibson as Zaphod, Josh Hartnell as Marvin, Madonna as Trillian?
I can't believe I'm saying this, because a bigscreen treatment has always sounded gratifying, but I think I'm going to end up preferring the shoestring PBS production, if only because it was so wacky and true to the tone of Douglas Adams' work.
I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt that Mr. Adams would have liked this turn of events, although I'm not sure why I think that...
"Why're you arguin' what's already been decided?"
Mal to Jayne, "Jaynestown"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
For what it's worth, the cast looks pretty darn exciting; check it out at IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Okay, that's cool. I am so out of the movie loop anymore. I don't know who any of these folks are, and I don't recognize any of their projects. Suddenly, I'm one of those people living under a rock.
I worked at a movie theater up until 1996, and I have not liked more than a few movies since then. I think I'm a little burned out, eh?
"Why're you arguin' what's already been decided?"
Mal to Jayne, "Jaynestown"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
I can't believe I'm saying this, because a bigscreen treatment has always sounded gratifying, but I think I'm going to end up preferring the shoestring PBS production, if only because it was so wacky and true to the tone of Douglas Adams' work.
I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt that Mr. Adams would have liked this turn of events, although I'm not sure why I think that...
Actually, the movie script/story was written by Adams before his death, and they apparently have made no major changes to it, so the tone of the movie will be in true Adams style. The movie will be what he intended.
More info can be found here:
http://douglasadams.se/movie/
----------------------------------------------
Conquering the galaxy with terrifying space monkeys, one ship at a time...
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
That's great... I remember reading some stuff written about him after his last book in the series (which I won't spoil here). It was pretty (spoiler), so I guess I got the opinion that Douglas was (spoiler) about the whole series. Had you heard any of that?
"Why're you arguin' what's already been decided?"
Mal to Jayne, "Jaynestown"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I have one nitpicky thing about the Hitchhikers Teaser: the words "Don't Panic."
Would you describe these letters as "large and friendly?" I wouldn't. It's a recurring theme in the book. And I will re-read the book many times, regardless of whether or not the movie is good.
Hope: the movie is directed by Garth Jennings, who has directed some of the more interesting music videos you may or may not have seen (also commercials). R.E.M's video for "Imitation of Life" always sticks out in my head, if only because I know this means Jennings knows how to place actors, not just point the camera at them and fill in effects later, like every other Hollywood director.
I also read the blog of the guy who finished up the screenplay (I forget his name, but he wrote "Chicken Run"), and I'm optimistic. Which is good, because if they had gone with the director of "Austin Powers" for this thing, I'd have killed people.
Party on, Garth.
___\_o_/___
--------------- (Qs)
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Barclay:
We are keeping score at home, and just like Ralph Nader, we're keeping Episode III off the ballot for the sake of humanity... besides, who's going to have money left at that point anyways?
So, um, would that make George W. Bush a "Phantom Menace" or an "Attack of the Clones?"
XOXO
(qs)
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Quicksand:
I have one nitpicky thing about the Hitchhikers Teaser: the words "Don't Panic."
Would you describe these letters as "large and friendly?" I wouldn't. It's a recurring theme in the book. And I will re-read the book many times, regardless of whether or not the movie is good.
That's something I hadn't thought of (nice catch!), but it does support the point that fine details and subtleties are often lost in a big production. Can you imagine a movie executive saying: "That's a good trailer, but let's make it a little less dramatic. Those words should be friendlier."?
And I don't know much about Garth Jennings, but is a director known for 30 second commercials and ADD music videos (maybe I'm not being completely fair here...) really going to be able to tell a two hour saga?
"Why're you arguin' what's already been decided?"
Mal to Jayne, "Jaynestown"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well, it IS an unfair presumption to use the phrase "ADD Music Videos," as if they're all the equivalent of People Magazine. Sure, most of them aren't very good, but the truly groundbreaking ones hopefully knocked you out of your chair they way they did me-- Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Beastie Boys' "Sabotage," and definitely Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity." That's some damn clever stuff, as opposed to the glorified photo shoots we're used to seeing (see: every Britney video, ever)
Does this mean a music video director can make the transition to film? Not generally-- for every Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry, there are 20 guys/girls out there who just plain suck (Bulletproof Monk, anyone?). But the ones who DO make it through, tend to rock my socks. Jonze, Gondry, Fincher, and apparently Jonathon Glazer (Virtual Insanity, then later "Sexy Beast" and now "Birth") is effing loco as well. Good stuff.
Visual creativity, understanding of the script, how to tell a STORY (which most music videos don't do), and what to do with actors. If a director can pull that off, we're in good shape.
Unfortunately, I'm not media savvy enough to figure out how to do a search for "Hammer and Tongs," Jennings' music video nom de plume. But it was all good stuff. Really. He never even stooped to doing a Britney video or anything.
/qs/
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OK, I'm looking forward to the movie but I have to admit that the tone of the trailer isn't what I expected. Took me awhile to track down a photo of the guy who's playing Arthur Dent also.
Now, do I have this straight: He's that sweet guy from Love Actually who stands in for a porn actor and ends up engaged to his female counterpart?
He seems a likely actor to play Dent. Okay.
But I am now rather worried that Hitchhiker will turn up in theaters all...Disneyfied 
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME