Cathryn (formerly catslash) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
remindmeofthe) wrote2005-04-29 09:41 pm
remindmeofthe) wrote2005-04-29 09:41 pm
Entry tags:
(no subject)
Dear Douglas Adams,
I hope all that spinning in your grave isn't doing to much damage to what's left of you.
Disappointed,
Cathryn
Dear Yankees,
It was very sweet of you to try and make me feel better by getting shut out, but no dice. Well. Maybe one die. Heh.
Still disappointed,
Cathryn
I'm just gonna get the bad right out of the way here, because I want to end with the good. Which is certainly more than the movie managed.
There were a bunch of little bad things, such as the belabor-the-point-till-it-dies-of-exhaustion animation for the Guide. Which is the only one I can think of because the big bad thing is KILLING MY BRAIN.
And it was, unfortunately, the ending. I was cool until then with all the changes made, all the random Hollywood crap they threw in and I was even kind of okay with the playing up of Arthur/Trillian. Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel are both adorable, and they are extra adorable together, so that made it easier to swallow.
But oh god, the ending. The fucking, fucking ending. As soon as Slartibartfast is all, "By the way, here's a new Earth," the movie begins a rapid and horrible descent into treacly bullshit. The only possible imagery I can think of to adequately describe how I felt while I watched the ending is to imagine someone presenting you with a nice big plateful of honey and manure. Precisely the antithesis of everything Douglas Adams's work is about.
"Is she the one?" SHUT UP, ARTHUR. FUCK YOU, MOVIE, for making me tell Arthur to SHUT UP. And then, the speech afterward? I wanted to get up, walk to the front of the theatre, and just projectile vomit all over the screen. The last ten or fifteen minutes of this movie brought me down so hard that they all but ruined the entire thing. And that's all without getting into "By the way, the whole world exists again!"
BAH.
Okay.
The good: The effects, of course, were beautiful. Some of the editing and music were fantastic. All were used to great effect and there are some genuine "Wow" moments.
The amazing: Is what kept the movie from being completely destroyed for me. It was the casting. I have never seen such wonderful casting for a movie-based-onna-book in my life. Every single choice was spot-on, and every single performance was note-perfect. I enjoyed watching the actors so much that I will actually be seeing the movie again. Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Bill Nighy . . . I could spend a paragraph each just singing their praises. I can't think of a single sour note. I almost want to watch it again right now just thinking about them, particularly the abovementioned four, who were sublime. Much love to these actors, and my sympathies over getting stuck with a script that didn't do you justice.
Man, and it doesn't look like the Sox are gonna pull it out tonight, either. And the Astros are currently doing their best to lose by one run. I should get someone to give me ten bucks every time that happens. I'd never be broke again.
But at least the Tigers are ahead so far. *knocks on wood*
I hope all that spinning in your grave isn't doing to much damage to what's left of you.
Disappointed,
Cathryn
Dear Yankees,
It was very sweet of you to try and make me feel better by getting shut out, but no dice. Well. Maybe one die. Heh.
Still disappointed,
Cathryn
I'm just gonna get the bad right out of the way here, because I want to end with the good. Which is certainly more than the movie managed.
There were a bunch of little bad things, such as the belabor-the-point-till-it-dies-of-exhaustion animation for the Guide. Which is the only one I can think of because the big bad thing is KILLING MY BRAIN.
And it was, unfortunately, the ending. I was cool until then with all the changes made, all the random Hollywood crap they threw in and I was even kind of okay with the playing up of Arthur/Trillian. Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel are both adorable, and they are extra adorable together, so that made it easier to swallow.
But oh god, the ending. The fucking, fucking ending. As soon as Slartibartfast is all, "By the way, here's a new Earth," the movie begins a rapid and horrible descent into treacly bullshit. The only possible imagery I can think of to adequately describe how I felt while I watched the ending is to imagine someone presenting you with a nice big plateful of honey and manure. Precisely the antithesis of everything Douglas Adams's work is about.
"Is she the one?" SHUT UP, ARTHUR. FUCK YOU, MOVIE, for making me tell Arthur to SHUT UP. And then, the speech afterward? I wanted to get up, walk to the front of the theatre, and just projectile vomit all over the screen. The last ten or fifteen minutes of this movie brought me down so hard that they all but ruined the entire thing. And that's all without getting into "By the way, the whole world exists again!"
BAH.
Okay.
The good: The effects, of course, were beautiful. Some of the editing and music were fantastic. All were used to great effect and there are some genuine "Wow" moments.
The amazing: Is what kept the movie from being completely destroyed for me. It was the casting. I have never seen such wonderful casting for a movie-based-onna-book in my life. Every single choice was spot-on, and every single performance was note-perfect. I enjoyed watching the actors so much that I will actually be seeing the movie again. Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Bill Nighy . . . I could spend a paragraph each just singing their praises. I can't think of a single sour note. I almost want to watch it again right now just thinking about them, particularly the abovementioned four, who were sublime. Much love to these actors, and my sympathies over getting stuck with a script that didn't do you justice.
Man, and it doesn't look like the Sox are gonna pull it out tonight, either. And the Astros are currently doing their best to lose by one run. I should get someone to give me ten bucks every time that happens. I'd never be broke again.
But at least the Tigers are ahead so far. *knocks on wood*
no subject
*has yet to check out the score; also knocks on wood*
Psssst....
I thought it was decent but not great. I loved the Guide stuff, mostly because that's the kind of thing I adored in the show and the book. I hesitate to call the movie a "film based on a book" because it's not, really. It's just another retelling of a story which has previously been a radio play (its first incarnation), a book, and a tv show. I was not pleased with the way they changed Zaphod's motivations, but O Well.
I do agree 110% with you on casting, though. That was awesome. Also, the effects. Rawk. 's a pity Adams and his rewriter didn't turn out a better script.
Re: Psssst....
Not arguing or trying to shoot you down, just pointing out that there's plenty of talk from both perspectives. Only Douglas really knows the truth. =)