Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

[mkjuk]

IS the film pretty much a remake of the tv series? if not how much does it differ? completely? Anything else anyone can tell me?

[tonymclark]

The TV series took most of it's material from the original Radio series.

So there is a lot of material in the film that was in the TV series too. A lot of the latter half of the film differs greatly from the TV series.

[Haggisdj]

I thought the TV series was far better than the film. The books are good too.

[BigMac]

The books and radio series far outweigh the tv version, IMHO.

The film wasn't bad, quite good in fact - but you have to remember that it's not the book/tv prog/radio when you watch it. It won't (can't) match your memories or imagination.

Think of it in similar terms to the Harry Potter films: good, but clearly adaptations and with the consequent shifts in emphasis and 'missing' bits.

[joko]

The film is not based on the tv series. Its a mix of the books, the radio series, the tv series, the record, the comic etc etc and also new material Douglas worked on for over 20 years in preparation for the film.

The film was very different in tone to the books, tv and radio. The originals were very "English" in tone and feeling, but the film was quite Americanised - though Douglas loved America so I don't know whether he would have liked it or not. I know the scripwriters tried to used as much of Douglas notes etc as possible, but I don't think they tried hard enough. That trillian and ford were American was awful - I could perhaps have accepted Trillian but not Ford!

I enjoyed the film, but there were a few things I found a bit 'not right'. As a huge fan of about 18 years, the books etc are so ingrained in me its hard to see them from the fresh perspective of some US film makers and also not being sure how much of Douglas was in it

MKJUK - try the books and radio series - you'll love them!

[boy_republic]

Chronologically -

Original Radio series
Book
TV series and more Radio
More books
More Radio
Douglas Adams passed away (a great loss)
And then they went Americanised it with a film, supposedly directed by Brits Hammer & Tongs, but really too much American money and a stupid ending tacked on for no reason other than for a majority American audience to feel comfortable in their ignorance of the material.

Don't bother with the film, I loved the books and the radio/TV series were fantastic. The Americans don't 'get' British TV, no happy ending? Nooooo! Can't have that.
They even changed the ending of Pride & Prejudice for ****'* sake! And if literature is not sacred then nor is sci-fi.

They can't even make good films of computer games. So make of it what you will.