Topic: Hitchhiker's Guide/Douglas Adams *spoilers! maybe!* (Read 14893 times)

LiterSize · « **on:** 16 Oct 2005, 11:51 »

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ANY OF HIS STUFF YET!****
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Was anyone else really down about the way the fifth book ended? (Young Zaphod Plays it safe, I think? Or was it something else?) And how the movie totally seemed more lighthearted than the actual novels? I didn't mind that, don't get me wrong. Just pointing at an inherent difference with this translation from book-> movie. (yes, I know it was a radio drama first of all, though)

Switchblade · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Oct 2005, 12:08 »

Douglas Adams tended to get stressed about his writing, especially over the HHGTTG series. why do you think he never properly finished "The Salmon of Doubt"? I think some of that stress crossed over into his writing.

I'm pretty certain the guys who made the film were picking up more on the comedy than on the darker edges of his universe.

tania · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Oct 2005, 14:27 »

Mostly Harmless was the worst ending of all time.
I'm pretty sure you already warned about spoilers, so I'm just gonna go for it.

EVERYONE DIES?! That's the sort of thing you joke about without, you know, having it actually.. happen.

You could see how the books were getting progressively worse throughout the series, though. I really enjoyed the fisrt one. Then it was all downhill.

Jarne · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Oct 2005, 14:35 »

The fifth book was Mostly Harmless. Young Zaphod Plays It Safe was a short story D.A. wrote. And the first book was kind of light hearted. The fifth book was the depressing one.

I don't think the ending was horrible. I just thought it was horribly depressing, though I was on night two of insomnia when I read it, so that might have had something to do with it.

Inlander · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Oct 2005, 15:26 »

Quote from: ephemere

I really enjoyed the fisrt one. Then it was all downhill.

I really have to disagree with you there. Life, the Universe and Everything has always been my favourite of the series by a long shot.

EDIT: Though possibly it's less entertaining in non-cricket-playing parts of the world.

5thWheel · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 01:54 »

I wondered if the ending in the 5th book was because DA was sick of being asked to write HHGttG sequels? So he was writing an ending that would be all "ha! see if you can figure out how I could write a sequel to *that*!"? But I don't know and I can't be bothered to google right now..
I didn't really like the 5th book that much, but I thought the ending was good (or at least the reason for the demolition was ace, IMO:). I didn't see the movie as I'd been warned off it.
Also, I prefered the Dirk Gently books to HHGttG.

Switchblade · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 02:21 »

Quote from: 5thWheel

I didn't see the movie as I'd been warned off it.

Who by?

Because seriously, you need to see that film. Just don't go to it in an "OMG I AM A PURIST AND ANY MINOR CHANGES WILL MAKE ME VERY ANGRY" frame of mind, because you just won't enjoy it at all. Take my advice and see it, but keep an open mind and try to enjoy it for what it is, rather than comparing it to the books, TV series or radio series.

Rizzo · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 03:33 »

Quote from: Switchblade

why do you think he never properly finished "The Salmon of Doubt"?

I hope you're being ironic... he didn't finish Salmon because he died...

I never liked Young Zaphod or the movie. It could have been an amazing, high budget mini series instead of one shit movie. And it should've been made by the British. Americans don't get funny. I don't care if Adams himself wrote some of the screen play, it was still an awful movie. Sure, it was the only way they could have done it as a movie but they just shouldn't have done it.

Switchblade · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 03:49 »

He was writing it for years though. The reason he died before finishing it was because he was constantly revising, editing and ripping it apart and starting from scratch.

And I'm fairly certain the movie was made by the british.

Also, I reaally enjoyed it...

Rizzo · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 04:02 »

Lieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees....
Nah, I'm pretty sure it was USA... I have nothing to back this up though.
It just wasn't H2G2 to me. It was some terrible romantic comedy feat. Authur Dent.

Jarne · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 05:14 »

Quote from: 5thWheel

I wondered if the ending in the 5th book was because DA was sick of being asked to write HHGttG sequels? So he was writing an ending that would be all "ha! see if you can figure out how I could write a sequel to *that*!"? But I don't know and I can't be bothered to google right now..
I didn't really like the 5th book that much, but I thought the ending was good (or at least the reason for the demolition was ace, IMO:). I didn't see the movie as I'd been warned off it.
Also, I prefered the Dirk Gently books to HHGttG.

For the radio series (I believe, or at least one of the other versions) he re-wrote the ending to make it happier. Apparently he thought the book ending was too gloomy or depressing.

Switchblade · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 06:33 »

Quote from: Rizzo

Lieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees....
Nah, I'm pretty sure it was USA... I have nothing to back this up though.
It just wasn't H2G2 to me. It was some terrible romantic comedy feat. Authur Dent.

It was a romantic comedy featuring exploding planets, fifty-foot tall women, a suicidally gloomy robot and some jazz dolphins.

Get past the purism and enjoy it on its own merits, I say.

Jarne · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 13:24 »

It was a decent movie. Could have been better, could have been worse. Just be thankful that they didn't screw up.

Se7en · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 15:12 »

I'm still avoiding the film. Im too much of a fan. Also, its a series of books. My idea of who the charachters are is my own, and probably not the same as how anyone else sees them. To have flesh and blood actors play out those scenes is a minor sacrelige in its own right.

Also, it was in 5 parts because OBVIOUSLY that is the correct number for a trilogy. Dur.

I think all of the joy of the series is in the fact that it DOESNT have to make sense, it ISNT nailed to a conventional narrative, and it is simply whatever you want to make of it. Making a film of it would just remove so much of the abstract, which is the entire appeal of the origional story.

SuperPablo13 · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 21:18 »

I enjoyed the movie, but I wasn't that big of fan of the books. I enjoyed the hell out of them, but basically picked them up because I knew the movie was coming out and they sounded interesting. I managed to swing a hardcover copy of all the books for about $12. They were entertaining. I did like the movie better only because it was more coherent and the characters seemed more likeable.

Though I had a teacher say this, and I agree with him, the movie was a little unneeded. It had good source material, but could not really compete against other titles in that genre. Galaxy Quest did a good job of having an obscure universe and funny space battles and satire. Hitchhiker's felt like a bad follow up to that and that's sad.

Se7en · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Oct 2005, 21:26 »

Wow, you really ARE missing the point. The beauty is in the incoherency. If you try to follow the plot, you miss the entire thing. The satire is on such a level that you can only really apreciate it if you are so immersed in it that you cant follow the plot or tell reality from satire any more than the characters can.

Thats why it gets better every time you read it, and the guide is one of the few peices of litrature that is worth reading over and over again.

thehoopiestfrood · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Oct 2005, 01:41 »

I'd say the film wasn't bad, if you don't compare it to the source material. It wasn't particularly what I wanted it to be, but I did enjoy it.

He had such awful writers block though. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure the reason why at least one of the books ends so abruptly is because he was so far past the deadline that the publishers told him to just finish the page he was working on and they'd publish it as it was.

LiterSize · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Oct 2005, 10:44 »

Good to know I keep in the company of genius (I get terrible writer's block too, only I don't have a publisher or scads of fans). I don't get it though. You guys want to support Adams, right? Se7en, I don't quite get how you'll avoid the movie which supports Adams or his estate. I know we're never going to get any material of his kind again, but I went to the movie, enjoyed it, and threw some money his way in the process. He was involved in the process up to his death, and no version has been exactly the same (as I was educated in an earlier Hitchhiker's thread.) I understand how you'd not want your vision of the books influenced by another retelling, but "tainted?" That's a tad excessive. "For Douglas" it says at the end of the film. The reasoning just doesn't compute with me.

McTaggart · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Oct 2005, 01:30 »

I'll get lynched for this, but the film was 'meh' and the books went from slightly higher than 'meh' to quite dissapointing. Evidently, that's just me though.

I read the books first btw...

Rizzo · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Oct 2005, 02:31 »

Yeah but you are Australian...

(

I can say that, I'm half Australian)

smophie · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 05:46 »

And you're a kiwi.

Aussie's win, hands down. In pretty much everything! Including this.

smophie · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 05:50 »

Despite the fact that I loved the books.

My fave character was the sperm whale. Awesomeness.

And the ending.. well, it was appropriate. I don't think any of the fans could have thought of a more appropriate ending if they tried. There's just no.. arguing with it, really. Because he made it final. Like life is pretty much.
Plus, the movie is meant to be lighthearted. I have to say. I -adore- the ending that involves Marvin, which only those who saw the movie will understand. It had me cracking up.

AdamIsConceited · « **Reply #22 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 06:00 »

My life is pathetic because I've only seen the movie... and I thought it wasn't that great. I'll probably scope out the books eventually.

thehoopiestfrood · « **Reply #23 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 06:23 »

(Arthur + Fenchurch) > (Arthur + Trillian)

LiterSize · « **Reply #24 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 07:49 »

The guide was my favorite thing. And how they used it throughout the film, unobstructive but hella funny.

Garcin · « **Reply #25 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 08:34 »

Quote from: Jarne

The fifth book was Mostly Harmless. Young Zaphod Plays It Safe was a short story D.A. wrote. And the first book was kind of light hearted. The fifth book was the depressing one.

I don't think the ending was horrible. I just thought it was horribly depressing, though I was on night two of insomnia when I read it, so that might have had something to do with it.

You most likely have heard this before, but with each book in the HGTG series, Adams became more reluctant to write the sequel (and he was never very good at consistent writing effort in the first place). Adams did not want to write So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish and he definitely did not want to write Mostly Harmless. After he was essentially bullied into writing the fifth sequel (in the every increasingly inaccurate trilogy) he intentionally made it beyond ludicrous that there could ever be a sequel.

It's always entertaining to see an artist/author purposefully eradicate one of their characters, with a tangible sense of malice. Sort of like Conan Doyle deep-sixing Sherlock Holmes over Reichenbach Falls, or Elvis Costello releasing albums under the name Declan MacManus.

Rizzo · « **Reply #26 on:** 20 Oct 2005, 20:52 »

Quote from: smophie

And you're a kiwi.

Aussie's win, hands down. In pretty much everything! Including this.

pfffft, did you steal that opinion or has it been passed down through the family? Opps! Same thing! (I kid, don't worry)

That was the one thing I liked about the movie, the way they used the guide. Also, their reaction to the gargle blaster could have been way better.

The Neko · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 Oct 2005, 14:11 »

My favorite was Life, The universe and everything

My boyfriend is gonna be Arthu Dent for halloween. A dressing gown and a pink towel... ^_^ needless to say he wasn't impressed...

Bunnyman · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 Oct 2005, 23:32 »

Baah, if you want some fresh, original Adams, read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency and its sequel, Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (There's a hardback volume with both in it that's sitting on my shelf). Classic stuff, and feels rather liberated from the H2G2 expectations. You get the feeling (from Tea-Time in particular) that Adams is just having way too much fun.

Philybe · « **Reply #29 on:** 08 Nov 2005, 00:48 »

The movie was pretty good, but you have to approach it with a detached point of view. It is not a film version of the book. The Books when compared to it, rock it, hands down. Both of the Dirk Gently books are even better than H2G2 in my opinion. Such wonderful books.

Excecior · « **Reply #30 on:** 08 Nov 2005, 19:25 »

i personally liked the movie, i didnt expect it to be accurate to anything because everytime he has re-written the serries he has changed it(from radio to book then to movie)it was a decent movie and i enjoyed it for what it was. As far as the books go i absolutely loved the first one the 2nd and 3rd were decent and after that they were really no good since he really didnt want to write them anyway.

EDIT] i have never hear of the dirk gentely books and will have to go and get them.

Hat · « **Reply #31 on:** 09 Nov 2005, 02:03 »

I loved the movie. As soon as they had the whale scene (and managed to get it right), I giggled with such insane delight, I forgot all my quibbles with inconsistancies.

And yeah, Dirk Gently to me is better than the Hitchhikers Series. You just imagine him sitting down chuckling to himself making it all up in one big stream of conciousness brain-storm

Hairy Joe Bob · « **Reply #32 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 08:04 »

The movie was really good. You have to bear in mind that it was the way Adams wanted it. It's not supposed to be 'true to the books' whatever that means.

As for Mostly Harmless. Depressing yes, but the best written out of the books. He finally went froma fantastic script writer to a really good novelist.

heretic · « **Reply #33 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 12:06 »

has anyone seen the BBC version, the series type one? i thought it was rather bad. but then again i have an american attention span and really just didn't enjoy it. it was like reading it but dumber and less satisfying. although i really enjoyed the last movie and i'm sad to say i haven't read the 5th book so of am no use

Sideways · « **Reply #34 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 13:38 »

The 5th book was totally retarded, don't bother with it.

Hairy Joe Bob · « **Reply #35 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 19:55 »

The series was good. Very British. And alas, very 80s. but still wicked.

I Am Not Amused · « **Reply #36 on:** 11 Nov 2005, 13:50 »

You can absolutely tell Douglas getting sicker and sicker of the Guide series after Life, The Universe and Everything. It seemed the fourth book was totally and absolutely to appease people and end the series, and then he got pressured into the last one and went totally apeshit and killed everyone. Personally, I found it the only fitting ending to the series.

Also, I really liked the movie. I mean, it wasn't the books and that's what people need to realize. If you want direct movie version of the books, you aren't going to get it. You're going to get a movie inspired by Douglas Adams, set in the Hitchhiker's universe and loosely following the first book.

My favorite book is still the first.

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Author Topic: Hitchhiker's Guide/Douglas Adams *spoilers! maybe!* (Read 14893 times)

Jarne

5thWheel

Jarne

Jarne

Se7en

SuperPablo13

Se7en

thehoopiestfrood

smophie

smophie

AdamIsConceited

thehoopiestfrood

Garcin

The Neko

Bunnyman

Philybe

Excecior

heretic

Sideways

Author Topic: Hitchhiker's Guide/Douglas Adams spoilers! maybe! (Read 14893 times)