Tuesday, December 21, 2004

First movie screening review (updated) ! + the truth about Zaphod's second head

This is incredible but it seems we've got here the first review from someone who have seen an early copy of the movie. It seems that some guys from the production staff were allowed to see the movie (of course not the final cut with the special effects) with some other selected people. Ain't it cool news has posted an anonymous review that doesn't sound like a hoax but with not too much details anyway. Interesting fact, this review has been written by a guy who didn't know much about Hitchhikers before the screening:

"First, I need to preface this review by leaving my nerd credentials at the door. I have not read Douglas Adams’ series of books, nor have I heard the HITCHHIKER GUIDE TO THE GALAXY radio show. The only knowledge I had of Adams’ works is what I had read on-line prior to the screening, so that maybe I would be able to get some of the inside jokes.

Having said that, I loved this movie. For those of you who don’t know this is your basic boy meets girl, boy loses girl to president of the galaxy, boy’s planet is destroyed, boy finds girl and travels through the galaxy in search of the ultimate question. You know, the usual.

It must be said that if you’re expecting another epic classic in the same vein of LORD OF THE RINGS, then this is not that movie. What you have here is great British humor, amazing characters played superbly by an outstanding cast, and Sci-Fi that reminds me of DR. WHO and SPACE BALLS. So, if you’re not going to enjoy a movie that opens with a song about Dolphin’s leaving the planet with the message, “So long and thanks for all the fish.” Then you might want to stay home.

My biggest fear going into this film was Mos Def playing Ford Perfect. While his first few lines fall flat, once Arthur (Martin Freeman) and he go into the bar where Ford tells Arthur about the impending doom of planet Earth he fits comfortably into the character. Although there are a couple more spots where he falls a little flat, that's nothing a little over dubbing won’t fix.

Warwick Davis’ Marvin the depressed android steals the show. His perfect monotone cadence and pitiful attitude make for a great contrast for the rest of the Heart of Gold’s upbeat mood.

For a first screening the only elements of the film that were missing where some of the effects. Often times in a screening like this you can notice moments that need to be cut or lengthened, but with this the pacing is spot on. The fact that a lot of the F/X are practical definitely gave the film a more realistic look if that’s even possible.

My suggestion was this: Finish the F/X and you’re gold.
-Cracker Thompson"

UPDATE

Cracker Thomson posted that on Ain't it cool news to answer some of the questions that were being asked. He also revealed the truth about Zaphod's head !

"1) I was worried about Mos Def because the only thing I had ever see him do was General Cornrow Wallace on the Chappelle Show. Not because I didn't think he would screw up the character seeing as I haven't read the books. 2) Mos Def DOES NOT do a British accent in the movie. 3) Zaphod does have his third arm, and his second head DOES NOT come out of his nose, rather it comes from underneath his already existing head. 4) The only way the film is Spaceballsesque is in the cheeseball sci-fi. 5) Anything else?”

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