Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sandwich on April 27, 2005, 06:07:50 pm
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Although I'm familiar in passing with some key points of Douglas Adams' book (42, towels, etc), I've never read any of his works. My question is, should I read the book before I go see the movie?
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To be honest, they are more or less different stories. Adams' genius lay in his own sense of humour though, and a lot of that comes from casual observation on Human Nature that simply cannot be replicated on film, so personally, I'd recommend watch the movie first, and then settle down with a cuppa and enjoy the book and be your own judge ;)
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Meh. Just read it at some point.
It might be an idea to read it afterwards. That way you don't have any presumptions to be destroyed when you do go see the movie. :)
3 movies I wanna see soon. HHGTtG, Kingdoms of Heaven, and SW:EpisodeIII.
Actuall entertainment is available! =O Means I'll have to have a shower and shave before I go out. :p
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Um....there's 2 ways to look at it;
1) the book will unquestionably be far, far better than the movie (books, actually... I think the movie uses the first 3 of the trilogy)
2)you might not get the more subtle jokes without reading the books to understand behind them
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It's not important if you watch the movie or not...read the books anyway.
Everybody should read the HHGTTG series once in their lives, it gives you a more relaxed view on life, the universe and everything.
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From what I've heard about the movie, steer clear. You definitely have to read the books; it should be required by law. :D
P.S. Has anyone ever played the PC game Starship Titanic, also by Douglas Adams? It's just as zany as the Hitchhiker's series.
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Well I just bought myself the Omnibus edition thingy (HHGTtG, TRatEotU, LtUaE, SLaTfAtF, and MH), so I shouldn't be missing any parts of the books.
I think I'll catch the movie first, then read the books, then catch the movie again... if it's good enough. :p
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I've read 3 books of the 'trilogy'.... the first two were the best, I lost interest in the third... so I didn't go on to the fourth.
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Originally posted by Col. Fishguts
It's not important if you watch the movie or not...read the books anyway.
Everybody should read the HHGTTG series once in their lives, it gives you a more relaxed view on life, the universe and everything.
And tea.
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And vases of Flowers...
'Oh no, not again' ;)
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If I were you, I wouldn't clue yourself in on it before seeing the movie. I've already read the book and am kinda worried that my current concepts and visualisations will be (let down) by what the movie brings... or at least they won't mesh properly.
Better to see the movie, then expand it with the book.
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Originally posted by Flipside
And vases of Flowers...
'Oh no, not again' ;)
Petunias, to be precise.
Poor old Agrajag........
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You can read all 5, but I really suggest stopping after the third.
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I actually thought that the petunia gag was funnier before it was actually explained. It lost something of the "Huh?" factor. :p I definitely agree that the first two books were the best; it trailed off a little during the third and more during the fourth, and the fifth was just...strange. From what I heard, Adams was going through a rough time when he wrote the fifth one, and it was reflected in the book. I do know he was thinking about/planning a sixth book; it's such a damn shame that he died so young. :(
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I dunno, I liked the Krikkit robots in "Life, the Universe, and Everything," but I agree - "So Long, And Thanks For All the Fish!" and "Mostly Harmless" are mostly bad.
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The movie is being done by a Disney family production company, so it will most certainly suck. Adams will be turning in his grave. They never would've made it if he were still alive. He never would've allowed it.
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Originally posted by Sandwich
Well I just bought myself the Omnibus edition thingy (HHGTtG, TRatEotU, LtUaE, SLaTfAtF, and MH), so I shouldn't be missing any parts of the books.
I think I'll catch the movie first, then read the books, then catch the movie again... if it's good enough. :p
That's what I have.
"A trilogy in five parts"
edit: my suggestion would be to read the books first, then watch the movie and ridicule it. It's not so much that the movie is a "different take" on it, as it's a "stain on the series".
Soooo, yeah.
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Originally posted by EtherShock
The movie is being done by a Disney family production company, so it will most certainly suck. Adams will be turning in his grave. They never would've made it if he were still alive. He never would've allowed it.
I'm not sure if he would have liked the movie itself, but if I remember correctly, he did actually write the script they used before he died.
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Neither. Listen to the radio plays. Everyone forgets they came first. :D
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Not I. It says they did in the front of my omnibus edition. Speaking of coming first, I need to go watch those DVDs I just got of Neverwhere...
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Originally posted by Grey Wolf
I'm not sure if he would have liked the movie itself, but if I remember correctly, he did actually write the script they used before he died.
Oh he did? That's interesting. Unfortunately, seldom do the screenwriter and director share the same vision.
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I don't think he wrote the complete script, but I do know that he was involved to some extent. I think his vision would have been vastly different than the end product, though.
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I actually quite liked So Long.... it was pleasant, like a warm cup of tea.
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I didn't mind the other books either. I found the whole series entertaining. :)
Actually, I havn't read them in years, so after I see the movie I might have to re-read the books.
The movie's made by disney? Errgh. My expectations just dropped several more bars. :doubt:
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Read the books.
Then watch the BBC television series.
Then listen to the radio serials.
Then play the game.
THEN watch the movie.
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As a general rule, for me...
Books > Movie adaptations of Books (Even if that's not what they're claiming it to be)
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Originally posted by Raa
Books > Movie adaptations of Books
Eh, I think in some places, movie adaptations can be a bit better than the original book. Take for example, Harry Potter 2, I think. (Yes, i've read all 5 books and seen all 3 movies). They actually added a few details here and there and subtracted a little bit of useless info. I kind of liked HP2 the movie over HP2 the book in a way...tho it could just be because of the Basilisk fight scene :D
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Well, I did say it was a General rule, as in not applicable to everything... ;)
I've not read any HP books, but I'd imagine there'd not be much 'useless info.' I think everything in a book is there for one reason or another.
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Heh, alright, let me rephrase that...It's not useless info, it's just...eh...not necessary to the story...background info that's just there, basically.
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The useless info in HHGTG is the best bit of the book(s).
I mean, how much worse would the books bee without knowing of the manicly depressed elevators, the strange coincidence of the island of France, or the size of the eorgenous zones of Eccentrica Gallumbits, The triple-breasted whore of Eroticon 6.
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Exactly, aldo. That's what made the books so great, and that's what it sound like was omitted from the movie. From what I've heard, they don't even have something as fundamental as the Guide's entry on Earth, or why towels are so importand. That's just idiotic.
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Ah-ha! Here's another thing wrong with the movie.
From the Hollywood Reporter
The film version is based on a screenplay originally written by Adams. After the author died unexpectedly in 2001, the script was rewritten by Karey Kirkpatrick ("Chicken Run," "James and the Giant Peach.")
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My advice - See the movie first with no preconceptions THEN read the books to appreciate the awesomeness of his talent. The TV and radio stuff I would take as optional material for a rainy day....
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Just saw the movie, not too bad. :)
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I wouldn't watch the movie first... since you'll wind up with all of those lame actors as the characters in the books when you're trying to imagine it. :p
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The sad thing is, even with what I said earlier, I know I'm not fooling anyone; I'm going to see this movie, the same way I'm going to see Episode III even though I thought the last two were jokes. If it's even remotely loyal to the story, I might have to change my mind. Who knows; maybe my pessimistic self will be pleasantly surprised. :p
Raa, the opposite can happen as well. I first read Lord of the Rings several years before I even knew a movie was being planned, but when I re-read it after seeing the films, I was actually glad to have the images and voices of the characters as new reference points. It didn't destroy my initial impression, but it did provide favorable alternatives. Of course, that had more to do with the fantastic casting of the films than anything else; I'm not sure the same thing can be said for the Hitchhiker's film (except for Marvin's voice, though :p).
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I havent read HHGTtG.......plan on doing it sometime, when I can actually afford to spend much on anything other than computer items :P