Buy a Vogon!

Thanks to Save the Rhino, you can also buy Vogon Commander Kwaltz in bronze on ebay. This Vogon model was created specially for the film adaptation of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Sculpted by Jamie Courtier for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, it is a scale representation of Vogon Commander Kwaltz.The start price is 500 pounds but it is an exeptional item and can be sent worldwide (contrary to the bath)!
The acution ends 02 Dec, 200920:45:09 GMT.

Click here to see the auction on ebay

H2G2 on Blu-Ray disc the 23th January

he Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is one of the first Disney Buena Vista movies to be released on the new video format, Blu Ray, 50GB and dual-layer discs. It will be realeased on the 23th January 2007 along with other BVI titles like Chicago, The Guardian and Casanova. It will be released in US and Japan (I'm not sure about other countries).

Commenting on the announcement, an official from Buena Vista stated, "BVWHE is thrilled to kick off 2007 with this 50GB slate of Blu-ray releases. We're movingforward into an exciting future with these dual-layer discs, which offer the maximum capacity for bonus materials and expanded content. We continue to forge new frontiers with our Blu-ray discs and to further explore the seemingly limitless boundaries of creativity the format allows. We've just begun to cultivate the future growth of our industry with Blu-ray."

It is quite ironic because it seems that the Blu-Ray H2G2 disc will include no new material not even the "Don't crash" documentary which is still avalaible only on the UK 2 DVD set.

Some links :

More details CDJapan (with japanese cover) Amazon.com

Is Disney going to sharply reduce the release of live-action films?

Disney could reduce the release of live-action films. Of course they will still make movies like "Narnia" and "pirates of the caraibes", but according two seperate recent news accounts, they could stop or reduce the release of adult-oriented films. This is of course bad news for the H2G2 fans who still wait for the movie adaptation of The Restaurant at the end of the universe! The H2G2 movie came under Touchstone banner and was not the expected huge success even if it didn't lost any money.

Here are extracts from a good report on MarketWatch :

"This week, two separate news accounts reported Disney will announce plans for reductions at its Buena Vista studio operations. The trade publication Variety was first on Wednesday, saying the studio would reduce its annual film output to eight from 18. Then on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times followed up by saying hundreds of jobs would be lost in a mass layoff throughout Buena Vista, and its film output would be cut to 10 from a range of 14 to 21. Most films would come under the Walt Disney Pictures banner, which produced the company's latest hit, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," as well as the June animated release, "Cars," the Times said. Disney's animation operations and the newly acquired Pixar film group are likely to remain untouched. But Disney is looking at sharply reducing the live-action films released by its Touchstone division, in years past the company's primary source of such material and the group that catapulted Disney into adult-oriented films during the tenure of previous CEO Michael Eisner. Touchstone has had a hand in virtually all of Disney's major live-action hits of the past, including "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon" and "Pretty Woman," but the list of breakout Touchstone hits is relatively short. That list has gotten shorter in recent years. Such films as "Annapolis," "Casanova" and "The Alamo" did not catch on with audiences as the production firm had only modest success with "Flightplan," "Ladder 49" and "The Ladykillers." Touchstone puts out about 10 films a year, roughly the amount that would be cut if news accounts prove accurate. If Disney cuts its film output by more than half, the studio will be the first (and could be the only) one to make such a drastic move in light of rapidly rising costs. "

H2G2 nominated at the Empire awards / news from the H2G2 movie staff and cast

As you already may know, “the hitchhiker’s guide” was not nominated at the Oscars this year. Sadly, even if « So long » was contender for the shortlist for 'Best Song', it was finally not nominated. Don’t know for you, but no need to say, I didn’t watch the Oscars!!
Anyway, Empire had a much better taste and they have nominated H2F2 for Best British Film and Best Comedy at their Empire Awards. Winners will be announces on March 13.
Meanwhile, it could be great to check what the guys who worked on the movie are all doing now.
Nick and Garth (aka Hammer & Tongs) are still very busy making commercials and music vids (Hot Chip, Beck,…). And they are still optimistic about making a new movie (in fact they were trying to find money for it when their agent send them the Hitchhiker’s script). As Garth wrote on H&T website some weeks ago : “French sales house Celluloid Dreams is to part-finance and our next film – Son of Rambow (working title.) We’re very excited and will keep this page updated with news as and when it happens...”
Martin Freeman (Arthur Dent) has just released a Motown songs collection CD : “Martin Freeman presents… Made to measure”. It includes 20 classic soul tracks. He also starred in some new movies : “Confetti” (a British improvised comedy), and mainly as the lead role in “The good night” (a US/UK movie with Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelop Cruz, Danny De Vito,…). He has also been back on stage last autumn in “Blue eyes and heels” at the Soho Theatre in London.
Mos Def (Ford Prefect) is starring in “16 blocks” which has been just released in the US. The movie, directed by Richard Donner (Lethal weapon series) also stars Bruce Willis. Mos Def will also star soon in “Journey to the end of the night” and “The Brazilian Job” (a follow up to The Italian job).
Zooey Deschanel (Trillian) is very busy and will work with former Hitchhiker’s staff and cast. In 2006, she will star in “Live free or die”, “flakes” (co-written by Karey Kirpatrick)”, “the go-better” and “the assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford” (with Sam Rockwell).
Sam Rockwell (Zaphod) is a lazy guy. He will only star in "the assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford” (with Zooey but also Brad Pitt) and also in a drama “Snow angels”.
Bill Nighy (Slartibartfast) will star in “Pirates of the Caribbean” 2 & 3, “Notes on a scandal”, “Stormbreaker” (a movie based on the famous best-selling series of Alex Rider novels by English writer Anthony Horowitz and also starring Stephen Fry) and the animation comedy “Flushed away”. He was of course in “Underworld Evolution” which have been released earlier this year and also in “The Constant Gardener” (a drama thriller with Ralph Fiennes).
In 2006, Warwick Davies and Alan Rickman (body and voice of Marvin) will star together in “Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix”. Both are attached to the Harry Potter movies from the start (Alan as Professor Severus and Warwick as Professor Filius Flitwick).

Restaurant : sign the petition NOW !

http://www.petitiononline.com/rateotu/petition.html

Talk about this petition to your friends, on other forums, everywhere!

And don't forget to sign it

“The Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy fans
TO
Disney, Spyglass and the Douglas Adams Estate
WE WANT RESTAURANT !
We are very pleased with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie and now we now we’d like a sequel based on "the restaurant at the end of the universe".
We'd love all the staff from the first movie to be back (Garth Jennings, Nick Goldsmith, Robbie Stamp, Joby Talbot...).
We think that we have here the opportunity for a wonderful sequel and it would be a crime to miss it.”

Pics of the DVD signing in London

While the Hitchhiker's movie DVD is first in all the DVD Top selling lists all over UK, the signing in London has obviously been a lot of fun for the guys who where lucky enough to be there.

Don't forget that even if you don't live in UK, you can buy the gift set DVD HERE on amazon.co.uk

Rare stuff on Ebay (for warchildmusic.com)

uctions are being held by warchildmusic.com, a not-for-profit company set up by the War Child charity who are currently working with children affected by war in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The auctions end the 11th July. They've got some great stuff and it's currently not expensive so let's go ! ( I already made an anouncement about these auctions some days ago on the forums but I think a lot of people have missed it so here it is) :


- Marvin badge : Boxed, enamel badge of Marvin The Paranoid Android made for the cast and film crew of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'. No reserve!
- Consisting of shirt, shorts and socks, made for the Hitchhiker crew football team. Small grass stain on the shorts! Shirt has 'Panic' logo on front, '42' on back. No reserve!
- Vote Beeblebrox' crew T-shirt from 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy'. Red T-shirt as seen in the film has 'Vote Beeblebrox' with a picture of his face printed on the front. Rare item retailing at http://www.propstore.co.uk/ for £55! No reserve!
- 'Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' towel signed by the cast including Martin Freeman (Arthur Dent), Bill Nighy (Slartibartfast), Zooey Deschanel (Trillian), Mos Def (Ford Prefect) and two unidentifiable scribbles! No reserve!
- Hardback copy of 'The Making Of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy – The Filming Of The Douglas Adams Classic' signed by director Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith. Bk signed inside, can provide image of signatures if required. No reserve!
- Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' film mini poster signed by director Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith. No reserve!

You can check all this stuff here :
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZwarchildmusic123

DVD is released today in UK / DVD review / 3 clips + chat with Garth Jennings on Wednesday 7th

The DVD has been released today in UK, celebrated with a special event at the First floor of the Virgin Megastore 14 - 19 Oxford St London W1D 1AR - Robbie Stamp, Warwick Davis and Martin Freeman are here to sign copies of the DVD from 16h GMT.

There are 20, 000 numbered special edition boxed set DVDs released in UK. Let's remember that it's a 2 DVD set. One DVD contains the movie (with a few extras, deleted scenes, a short making of, and the audio commentaries) and the other DVD contains the already famous "Don't Crash" documentary.
I've watched the whole stuff and I must say it' s good even if it's too short. I would have loved a four DVD set but it's no the case. The audio commentaries are nice and fun, but the best part is the "Don't crash" documentary which is fun and informative. Very different from the usual making ofs (well, you've got one of those on the first DVD). The two deleted scenes are very short but rather nice. No alternate ending. Garth Jennings said several times that he made the movie he wanted so he hasn't got much deleted scenes to show. The "really deleted scenes" include two fun clips created for the DVD. Marvin's hangman is a simple and well designed hangman game. Anyway the better part is of course the movie and it's really nice to see it on your TV or computer screen with great quality vid and audio. The DVD is obviously a must have for the fans.

Here are three extracts from the "Don't crash" documentary in high quality and mov file (quicktime needed) :

Zaphod's head The Slapstick The Improbability drive

We've got also great news from Douglasadams.se. Duke "has just recieved a mail from Garth Jennings, and we're all in for a treat on Wednesday, September 7, as he will press down his butt in our comfy VIP chair in the VIP Chatroom. If you want to join in on the occasion, log in to the chat from http://www.douglasadams.se/forum/chat1.php on Wedensday, at 9 pm UK time (8 GMT)!

Nice clip from the DVD + updates about european box offices

The DVD is soon going to be released in UK and US. So BVI/Disney has decided to show us some extracts from Grant Gee’s documentary "Don’t Crash" (which will be included on the 2 DVD set which will be released first in the UK)

Here is the clip published some days ago by H2G2.com about the whale : HERE

There should be another one soon (well it should be online already) but I won't be able to deal with it before next week (a few holidays at last!!)

First some good news from france. H2G2 is doing fine at the French box office. H2G2 has reached 240.000 viewers (with 25O prints) in one week which is quite good.

Sadly, we've got bad news from Italy. I thought that the movie will be released there in october, but I got a mail from Emilio, an Italian fan : "here in Italy was released on friday 12th of august! BUT the distribution was very bad. Only in 12 theater (all warner bros multiplexes) over the whole country :(( and no trailer on tv or before other movies in theaters. I think in Italy IS a flop :( but caused by the distribution. I can't understand why they have released it in mid-august...we can win the prize for worst earnings DNA's works are not very famous in Italy, this movie could be a very good starting point for new fans, but not with (no)promotion like this".

News from the International box office (pic)

Good news from the international box office. As you all know, the H2G2 movie has not opened yet all over the world. The big release this week was obvioulsy France. We had a French avant Premiere the 5th August with Garth Jennings, Nick Goldsmith and Robbie Stamp. It was a wonderful evening. One thousand persons was there to see the movie on French biggest movie screen. The audience laughed and applauded the movie.

Below you can see Robbie (and his lovely wife Sue), Garth and Nick at the French Premiere.



The movie was finally released Wednesday the 17th. For its first day, H2G2 is second right behind the Island which opened in 491 theatres (249 for H2G2). Typical french behaviour : the fact that The Island is a failure in US makes the movie even more attractive for French people! Encouraging results anyway for H2G2 as Douglas Adams is almost unknown in France. There are currently a lot of debates of french movie forums about H2G2. People are quite surprised by such a movie. Some love it and others don't understand a word about this movie. H2G2 had also good reviews from the french press.
French box office for wednesday 17th August

1 - The Island 2 - H2G2 3 - La cloche a sonné (french comedy) 4 - Mr and Mrs Smith 5 - Charlie and the chocolate factory

In Finland, the movie has opened last week and is still first. It grossed 330.124 dollars in two weeks.
1- The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy 2- Valiant 3- Sin City 4 - Fantastic Four
In Norway, The Hitchhiker's movie has grossed $566,668 dollars in three weeks. I don't have the figures for Sweeden but according to Totta (webmaster of a sweedish website about Doulgas and H2G2), the movie was 2nd (with Batman begins 1st) when it opened at the begining of August.
We should notice too that the movie was a good success in Germany where it made $7,730,678 in seven weeks (better than Batman begins). While it was rather a failure in Netherlands (it opened only 5th in the box office at the begining of August and have only grossed $336,702 in two weeks which is rather weeks in The Netherlands).

According to boxofficemojo.com, The H2G2 movie has grossed 96,3 millions dollars already and has just been released or will be released in other countries in the next few weeks. The movie should reach the 100 millions dollars gross before the end of August.

The movie has also just been released in Belgium, French Switzerland and Argentina. It has yet to be released in Spain (2nd September) Japan (09th October), Italy (10th October)....

NEW informations about the upcoming H2G2 DVD !! England gets lucky once again (pic)

The DVD will be released in the UK on September 5th 2005. There is a UK exclusive, 2 disc edition (2nd disc only available if bought in the UK).

The Bonus 2nd disc is a making-of documentary called “Don’t Crash”, directed by Grant Gee. (it’s fantastic – I’ve seen it and it is like a film in itself!)

By the way, a reliable source has hinted that this 2nd disc won’t be available in the US for another 3 months…!!

There are 2 different packaged versions of the DVD going on sale:
1) Gift Pack version – This includes the 2 discs, the film edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book and 6 art cards 2) 2 disc DVD only

Keep an eye on www.hitchhikersmovie.co.uk an extra DVD section has just gone live!
Here is a great pic of the gift pack we will all want to get (don't talk to me about the 2 disc DVD only or the US one DVD set!!) :



Here is the content of the 2 DVD disc UK edition :

Don't Crash – Bonus Disc:
UK exclusive featurette of the making of the film and documenting the journey from the initial green light to the galactic premiere
Extras on Disc One (the film is also on Disc One):
Making of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
Behind the scenes with interviews from cast and crew
Additional Guide Entry:
Learn all about the mind-bogglingly useful Babel Fish
Deleted Scenes:
EARTH: MOSTLY HARMLESS
Having hitched a ride moments before its destruction, Arthur looks Earth’s Guide entry up
WE’RE GOING TO WIN
Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz motivates his bureaucrats
DELETED SCENE: IMPOSSIBLE FORCES
As the Vogons attack, Zaphod is re-acquainted with his vice-president
Really Deleted Scenes:
DO PANIC!
The Trillian rescue scene gets the full Hollywood treatment, but actors Martin Freeman and Mos Def have some concerns…
ARTHUR ESCAPES
Arthur realises Slartibartfast’s plans are wholly evil
Sing Along "So Long And Thanks for All the Fish":
The movie's musical opening number, sung by Earth's second-most intelligent species – and you!
Audio Commentaries:
Commentary by Director Garth Jennings, Producer Nick Goldsmith and actors Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy
Commentary by Executive Producer Robbie Stamp and Douglas Adams’ colleague Sean Sollé
Marvin's Hangman:
A simple word game with detachable results
Improbability Drive:
You never know where you’ll end up

Incredible French Premiere + on sale on ebay + looking for more infos about the mobile games

The French Premiere will take place Friday the 5th August at "Le Grand Rex" movie theatre in Paris on french biggest movie screen. And we'll get some incredible guests : Garth Jennings Nick Goldsmith and Robbie Stamp!! The movie will be shown in english with french subtitles. There should be a little exposition and some merchandising stuff to win also.
There is currently an oculas on sale on ebay. Disney produced 50 of these items. Most of them are still used in several countries to promote the movie in theatres. You can go inside, use the computer and see the trailer and get some infos about the movie. The auction began at 799 pounds and two days later the price was already 1751 pounds, so you'd better have a good amount of money on your bank account if you want to buy this one.
As you may know, in April 2005 Starwave Mobile released 2 mobile games to accompany the release of the film adaptation. The first, developed by Atatio, was called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Vogon Planet Destructor". It was a typical top-down shooter and except for the title had little to do with the actual story. The second game, developed by TKO Software, was a graphical adventure game named "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Adventure Game" . Despite its name the puzzles were new and different from the Infocom ones and the game followed the movie's script closely and included the new characters and places. The "Adventure Game" won the IGN's "Editors' Choice Award" on May 2005. But we don't have much more infos, and these games don't seem to be avalaible anymore. If you have more info, you can get in touch with me.

Box office report from Hungary & other central Europe countries

Thanks to Martin, an Hungarian fan of "Galaxis Útikalauz Stopposoknak" (The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy in Hunarian), here are the box office stats in his country.

The Hitchhiker's movie has been released in Hungary the 16th June

FIRST WEEK
1. Madagascar (2nd week) / 37 315 people / 163,462 USD (Total: 541,336 USD) 2. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1st week) / 83,508 USD 3. Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith...

SECOND WEEK
1. Madagascar (3rd week) / 23 814 / 101,570 USD (Total: 638,126 USD) 2. War of the World (1st week) / 11 626 / 54,796 USD 3. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2nd week) / 11 281 /51,661 USD (Total: 134,220 USD) 4. Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith...

Martin has a very good looking website about H2G2, and you can see it here : http://h2g2.uw.hu/
If you've got reports from box offices results from all other the world, don't forget to send them to me.
In other central European countries, the movie is also already on the movie screens. In Poland the H2G2 movie remains 5th after three weeks and it has grossed $262,540. In Czech Republic, it is fourth after three weeks and it has grossed $156,921.

H2G2 movie is 2nd in Germany for its third week + details about the dvd editions (pic)

As you already know, each country has his own release date for the movie and it's quite difficult to have the box office results for non US countries (and there are a lot of them!!!).

 The Hitchhiker's movie has been released in Germany three weeks ago, and it's still second just behind "Batman begins" and ahead of "Star Wars III". It has grossed more than 5 million dollars.

The H2G2 movie has got some not very good box office results in Brazil (fifth in the second week and it started just in the fourth place when it opened) but it is second in Slovakia (last week it was first).
You can't get much accurante infos about international charts on BoxOffice mojo but they report the movie has grossed 86,45 millions worldwide.

There are still a lot of openings in August in Europe (France, Norway,....) and all over the world (Japan...).

Meanwhile, in september the DVD will be released in UK and US. The UK version will be in shops from the 5th September. I personnaly don't like at all the DVD cover (hope they will change this one) but the good point is that it will include the movie (!!) and some extra. According to DVDanswers.com : "The two-disc set will feature a UK exclusive 'Don't Crash: The Making of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' featurette, behind the scenes interviews from the cast and crew, a 'Babelfish Guide Entry' feature, deleted scenes, 'really' deleted scenes, a 'So Long & Thanks for All the Fish' sing-along feature, audio commentaries and 'Marvin's Hangman' set-top game".

The region 1 DVD for US and Canada will be released the 13th September. The cover is far better but we have still no information about the extra material. According to Digitalbits "We've learned that Touchstone's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (due on 9/13) will include deleted scenes, a commentary track and a "making-of" featurette. We're guessing you can expect a more elaborate special edition at a later date. At least one would certainly hope. By the way, the film will street on UMD format on 9/13 as well". UMD disc is the PlayStation Portable (PSP) video system.

Worldwide box office results now reach 82,7 millions dollars

ere is the list of countries where I was able to get some results mainly thanks to BoxOfficeMojo. The movie made a good start in Germany and I hope it will go on that way even if it sadly didn't beat the damn Star Wars III movie. In the center european countries like Poland and Czech Republic where the movie has just been released, the start is slow. But there are still a lot of countries where the movie has not been released and it should make more than 100 millions dollars worldwide anyway.


Domestic: $49,605,344 / 59.9% + Overseas: $33,183,000 / 40.1% = Worldwide: $82,788,344

GERMANY (release date : 9th June)
1- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (Fox) $3,094,666 / -41% / 1,162 theatres / average $2,663 total $40,241,513 / 4th week
2 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (BVI) $2,382,367 / - / 545 theatres / average $4,371 1st week
3 - Monster-in-Law (WB) $973,184 / -16% / 369 / average $2,637 total $3,834,113 / 3rd week

AUSTRALIA (29th april)
6 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week end gross $194,301 -39% 174 theatres average $1,117 Total $6,373,269 in six weeks
UK (28th april)
12- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy $86,230 /-64% / 121 theatres / average $713 Total gross : $19,154,624 (7 weeks)

UNITED STATES (29th april)
26-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week-end groos $147,904 / -54.0% / 151 theatres / $979 average Total gross $49,605,344 (7 weeks)

NEW ZELAND (29th april)
11- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week end gross $23,944 / -36% / 31 theatres / average $772 Total gross : $983,451 (6 weeks)

CZECH REPUBLIC (june 5th)
1-Star Wars: Episode III ($106,195) 2-Román pro zeny ($52,604) 3-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week-end gross $50,631 / theatres 15 / average $3,375 Total gross $51,391 (1st week)

POLAND (june 12th)
1- Sin ciy ($255,339) 2- Star Wars III (gross $207,960) 3 - Robots (gross $202.288) 4- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week-end gross $96,892 / theatres 60 / average $1,615 Total gross $96,892 (1st week)

HONG KONG (June 1st)
6 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy week-end gross $12,852 / theatres 27 /average $476 Total $321,308/ 11 days

Hitchhiker's movie has grossed 73 millions worldwide + release dates + science museum exhibition + possible Hitchhiker's movie sequel + Robbie Stamp at the Hay Festival

The Hitchhiker's movie has now a total gross of 72,9 millions dollars including 47 from the US and 25,5 from other countries in the world. In fact in most of the countries, the movie has still not been released. There are a lot of release dates in June, July and August.
(LAST UPDATE OF THE LIST THE 29TH MAY WITH OFFICIAL WEBSITES) :
Austria - 2nd June Czech Republic - 2nd June Brazil - 3rd june Greece - 3rd June Argentina - 9th June Germany - 9th June Swiss (D CH) - 9th June Poland - 10th June Austria - 16th June Finland - 22nd June Netherlands - 30th June Sweden - 27th July Norway - 29th July Netherlands - 4th August Denmark - 12th August Belgium - 17th August France - 17th August Swiss (F CH) - 17th August Spain - 2nd September Italy - 9th September
If you know other release dates and/or if I made a mistake, or you know about other official international website, please mail me.
SCIENCE MUSEUM EXHIBITION AND POSSIBLE HITCHHIKER'S MOVIE SEQUELS
Don't forget that the London Museum Exhibition about the H2G2 movie will begin this Saturday 28th May and will close the 27th November. More details here?!
DaveH was one of the lucky ones who was able to go to the press preview of the exhibition today. Garth Jennings, Nick Goldsmith and Robbie Stamp were there. He posted a report of the Hitchhiker's Exhibition on Douglasadams.se forums.

I'll post my own report soon on this website. I'll probably visit the exhibition next week.
DaveH also talked to Robbie Stamp about a possible Hitchhiker's movie sequel : "NO decision made on the sequel yet, but Robbie is hopeful with 50m USD and 10m GBP and most of the rest of the world and DVD etc. to come. It would be a lot of work to sort out script / storyline eise, but he said it was the sort of problem he would like to wrestle with. In view of that IF it does go ahead we would be looking at summer 2007 rather than Christmas 2006."

ROBBIE STAMP AT THE HAY FESTIVAL

Executive Producer Robbie Stamp will be speaking at the Hay Festival in UK this Sunday AND revealing some never seen before behind the scenes stuff! More details here : http://www.hayfestival.com/2005/index.html he’s on at 11am.

The Hitchhiker's movie has probably covered its budget + Shynola interviewed + H&T site hitched

The Hitchhiker's movie has a decend second week but has lost the first rank in UK and US. In US H2G2 is third behind "Kingdom of Heaven" and "House of wax". Anyway it seems that after less than two weeks after its opening, H2G2 already earned 37 millions dollars in US plus 17,9 millions overseas (UK, Australia and New Zealand). It has already covered its budget estimated between 45 & 55 millions dollars. It's good news because H2G2 is not a typical US movie and noone could say if was going to be a success or not. And don't forget that the US box office is quite weak right now (in fact "Kindgdom of heaven" which costed three times more than Hitchhikers had a less good opening week end).

SYNOLA INTERVIEWED

Chris Harding, one of the great guys from Shynola who made the wonderful Guide entries for the Hitchhiker's movie have been interviewed by Iain Failes from Vfxblog+. You can read the interview here.

HAMMER & TONGS WEBSITE HITCHED

Nick and Garth have made a new version of their Hammer & Tongs website called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Tongs". A lot of great links and still some good content from their old website. Don't forget to visit Tong City (it's been updated with some great hitchhiker's stuff)

OH AND WHILE YOU'RE HERE DON'T FORGET THAT THE NEW H2G2 RADIO SERIES ARE ON THE AIR... NOW! YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE EPSIODES ONLINE HERE

The Hitchhiker's movie props on Ebay / Hitchhiker's movie also first in UK, Australia and New Zeland

Some original props from the film including Arthur’s towel are now up for sale on ebay with all proceeds split between Save The Rhino International and The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund… Click on this link to have a look and a bid if you fancy it!! http://cgi3.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=hitchhikers_charity 

HITCHHIKERS MOVIE FIRST IN UK, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

In UK, the film zooms also to top box office. And it has grossed £4.2m in its opening weekend. According to the Guardian, a spokesman for Buena Vista said the £4.2m figure was "a delightfully improbable coincidence" (and you can also notice that the US box office result for the first week end 21 millions dollars is also half of 42)!!

Reuters spoke of "2.8 million pounds over the weekend in Britain" but maybe for Reuters and Guardian the week end didn't end at the same time! Far better anyway than XXX2 (less than 1 million pounds in the week end).

It seems that Antipodeans share Britons' sense of humor and lapped up Hitchhikers. In Australia audiences handed over $2.1 million, more than double "XXX's" $920,000 (No. 2). In New Zealand director Garth Jennings' absurdist outer space comedy made $450,000, more than double "XXX" in the third spot.

The Hitchhiker's movie is First at the US box office + You've seen the movie, now vote for it

It seems that the hitchhiker's movie is doing well for its opening week-end in the US. I found two different websites which claims that the Hitchhikers is now first in the US box office and would finish its opening week-end with $22 million dollars... far better than its opponent XXX 2.According to Box office prophets which analyses the results of the opening day Friday = "A $8.1 million opening night is a very good start for the Douglas Adams adaptation. The only caveat here is that it's a film with a small, but loyal, built-in fanbase and that could severely impact the internal multiplier over the remainder of the weekend (sorry, a 4.2 multiplier is not terribly likely). We'll give Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a conservative 2.7 multiplier and a $21.8 million weekend."

Here are their projected estimates for the top ten :

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 21.8
2. The Interpreter 15.6
3. XXX: The State of the Union 11.2
4. The Amityville Horror 7.8
5. Sahara 5.7
6. A Lot Like Love 4.9
7. Fever Pitch 3.4
8. Kung Fu Hustle 2.9
9. Guess Who 2.2
10 Sin City 2.0

UPDATE : AND THEY WERE RIGHT!!! The Hitchhiker's movie is right at the top of the US box office with a cumulative gross of 21,7 millions dollars. The Interpreter is second with 14,2 millions dollars, and XXX2 is only third with 13,7 millions!

YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE? NOW VOTE FOR IT!
If you've already seen the movie and it wouldn't be a surprise now that the movie is in the movie theatres in US, UK and other countries like Australia, you certainly want to share your point of view about it.

You can vote for the Hitchhiker's movie on several websites : IMDB, Yahoo, and The Guardian. You can also post on this forum and others. Notice that the Hitchhiker's movie is rated B- by the critics and B by the users on Yahoo (the user note is based on 1700 votes). And the Hitchhiker's guide was the web favourite on yahoo at 4 o'clock GMT on saturday. Meanwhile, The Hitchhiker's movie was rated 7.4/10 on IMDB (for 988 votes). Finally on the Guardian website, the movie is rated 8.7/10 (400 votes).

Of course you can now find a lot of reviews online. Fraser, from the australian website from Fallingrocks, has even published an answer to the now famous MJ Simpson critics. You can read it here.

Disney considers two sequels + other reviews + BBC mini website about the movie

Disney considers two sequels !

Today's Financial Times reveals that "Walt Disney is considering production of two multi-million dollars sequels to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the cult satire due to be released today". They quote Robbie Stamp who said to them that a triology was being studied following positive preview responses to the movie : "There are more books in the series and we believe there could be a really good trilogy".

The Financial Times estimates the movie budget between $55-65m, and says it has already raised "a seven figure sum" for the estate of Mr. Adams". Stamp also told the FT that this first movie has already "broken new grounds in online marketing" with tie-ups with Nokia, Apple, JC Decaux and interactive outdoor advertising sites.

It's great news even if it's not completely surprising. The three first books could indeed be a great trilogy and the last two books are probably a little too strange for Hollywood. Of course, we'll have to wait yet to have confirmation and see if the Hitchhikers meets his audience in UK and US in the next few days.

OTHER REVIEWS

The Financial Times also publishes a critic of the movie. Martin Hoyle from the FT is hard to pleased but he gives a 3/5 to the Hitchhiker's movie. He thinks that the reactions to the movie will form four main categories : purists, enthusiasts, sceptics and haters (the journalist includes in that last category the ones who already hated Hitchhikers). According to him, the purists will have one big regret : "it's not funny enough". He adds that "the film crams in almost too much of the original leaving little time to relish the dry wit.". Martin Hoyle likes the casting but is a little annoyed by Stephen Fry ("an avuncularly donnish form as The Book in comparison with Peter Jones' deader pan for radio"). And regrets Stephen Moore : "Alan Rickman simply doesn't do it". Martin Hoyle concludes his critics saying that Douglas would have been "pleased at the respect shown to his barmy brainchild".

There is also a good review on the World of KJ website. And you can find a list of other reviews here thanks to the Movie Review Query Engine here. You'll find some very enthusiastic movies from Movie vault, good but more critical reviews Hollywood Reporter,... You can also read this review from an Australian website Falling rocks (thanks to Fraser for this one).

BBC MINI WEBSITE ABOUT THE MOVIE

It's online now for several weeks, but if you've still not seen it here is the BBC mini website about the movie.