Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, The

2005

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Average Rating: (See all 18 reviews) Format: DVD (PG) Ships within 2-5 days Don't panic... Stick out your thumb to join the most ordinary man in the world on an extraordinary adventure across the universe, in this hilarious comedy based on Douglas Adams' much-loved novel. Earthman Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien and, to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur's only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft. For the novice space traveller, the greatest adventure in the universe begins when the world ends. Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems. He learns that a towel is just about the most useful thing in the universe, finds the meaning of life and discovers that everything he needs to know can be found in one book: The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Synopsis Wonderfully wacky. Absurdly hysterical. Insanely irreverent. It's the laugh-out-loud intergalactic comedy The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Based on Douglas Adams' best-selling novel and filled with out-of-this world visual and special effects, this is one ride you don?t want to miss. Seconds before Earth is destroyed by the nastiest creatures in the universe, mild-mannered Arthur Dent is whisked into space by his friend, an alien in human form. And so the misadventures begin as he and fellow travellers, including a two-headed Galactic President and a paranoid android, search for answers to the mystery of life, the universe and everything. Run Time: 104 minutes FullScreen: None Widescreen: Yes Format: PAL Aspect: 2.35:1 Director: Garth Jennings Cast: John Malkovich, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Sam Rockwell, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, Anna Chancellor, Warwick Davis, Mos Def, Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, Steve Pemberton, Thomas Lennon Writer: Karey Kirkpatrick, Douglas Adams Producer: Derek Evans, Douglas Adams, Robbie Stamp Composer: Joby Talbot Subtitles: English and English for the Hear Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English dts 5.1 Extended: Audio Commentaries, The Making Of - Behind the scenes with interviews with cast and crew, Fake Deleted Scenes, Really Deleted Scenes, Improbability Drive Button, Additional Guide Entry - Bablefish, Sing Along - "So Long & Thanks For All The Fish", Marvin's Hangman Game Publisher: Buena Vista Home Ent UPC: 9398523281039

It's a known fact that the movie adaptation of Hitchhiker's has been up in the air for some years now. Passing from the hands of one director to the next (James Cameron, Spike Jonze and Jay Roach), it wasn't until the idea landed in front of Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith that things truly started to take shape.

Douglas Adams died from a heart attack in 2001, but after reading the books, watching the film and drawing a comparison, it's clear that Adams would've accepted this adaptation of the TV series of the computer game of the radio series wholeheartedly.

Martin Freeman is an inspired choice as the face of Arthur Dent. He's an everyman, his slightly vacant, permanently confused facial expression (which we've all come to recognise from his role in The Office), truly becoming from a man who's trying to make sense of what's Out There, which happens to be similar to, though on a slightly larger scale than what's Down Here. And stupider.

Admittedly, it would've been nice to see more English talent taking on the roles from Adams' well loved creation. Steven Fry is THE Guide, the quintessential voice of logic and good-humoured reasoning in the Universe. Bill Nighy makes a great Slartibartfast, coming across as the kindly, if a little absent minded, genius that I've always imagined. And Alan Rickman providing his nasal drones to Marvin the Paranoid Android worked to near perfection.

That's not to say that the American cast isn't great. Mos Def and Zooey Deschanel are excellent as Ford Prefect and Trillian, but it's obvious that it's Sam Rockwell who's having all the fun, relishing his role as the over-excitable, reminiscently hippie-rockstar Ex-President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox.

So all in all, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a great experience. Non-Adamites will love it, as will the die hard fans. It's such a shame that its creator had to bow out before his beloved creation came to life, but due to his input into the movie script (the character Humma Kavula, played by John Malkovich, was written by him especially for the movie), his enthusiasm still lives on.

Want to go to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe now, please.

This film was fairly close to the original television series. The characters with similar in looks and actions in the film. I did enjoy the updated version and though that the special effects really brought the story to life. If you enjoy english humor and the dry witt that they excell in then you will love this film. 8 out of 10 from me.

imagine waking up having your house bulldozed, your best friend is an alien and, to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur's only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft.
Well what would you do, this is a great movie, just as the series was a must see

Don't just limit yourself to watching this version of the movie, entertain yourself with the dodgy (but still funny) BBC series, read the book and while your at it to fully appreciate the comic genius of Douglas Adams' quirky sense of humor read the Meaning of Liff.
This version of the movie has introduced a whole new generation to the Hitchhiker's Guide. And a job well done.
So long and thanks for all the fish.

i enjoyed it so much the first time i watched it. it was so diffrent to what i am use to and i normaly dont find comedys funny. but this one was. however i find it is one of those movies you cna only laugh at once. watchign it again i didnt find it funny at all. so please i recomned only renting this one out. the graphics are excellent the storyline takes so many twists you could fall over yourself watching it. but its a once only for me.

Not a bad effort for a tough job.. there are many very loyal fans of the series and they must have been hard to please. As someone who had read the books but not for some time, i was pleased enough with the contents, though at times i wasn't sure if things were new material or if my memory was failing me. I feel that the leads all did a good job and the opening sequence was quite funny. worth a watch.

Awesome movie, if your into sophistacted humour and think things that are random for no reason isnt funny this aint for you, its just so random, loaded with tonees of laughs and some random twists, a must see for comedy fans, ver very very funny

First, let me start by saying that this is a funny film.
Like many others, I suspect, I was worried by the MJ Simpson negative review, but having seen the film I can't really understand what all the fuss was about.
Personally, I am very happy that this version contains the new material. I don't want to sit in the cinema watching a line by line copy of the radio play, book, or TV series. Each of those stand by their own merit, and each were good largely because of the new material they contained.
I think the cast did an excellent job, and although Zaphod wasn't quite how I pictured him, Sam Rockwell brought a freshness to the part which largely works. His portrayal of Zaphod as a guy who "thinks he is cool", rather than "is cool" works pretty well, and once you get over the southern drawl, he soon settles as a character. Ford is beautifully played, as are all the major characters.
Admittedly, some of the criticisms that were voiced by Simpson have some justification, but most were simply overstated to support his general vitriolic attack on the "purity" of the film.
In summary, go to see this film and don't worry.
I'm looking forward to the DVD and I have all my fingers crossed for a sequel.

I enjoyed this movie however I found some of the concepts very strange having never read the book. The movie was exciting and full of action however I feel that the lead actor didnt seem to have much of a prescence. However because I hadnt read the book I couldnt tell whether his character was meant to be like that or not.

Having not read the book and therefore not having too much knowledge before I saw this movie, I found it very weird and it seemed to jump all over the place with all these strange ideas and how things just bluntly unfolded on screen as if it was normal life for everyone. Funnily enough I enjoyed it as a good scifi movie and it was pretty funny at times also. Apparently the novel writer Douglas Adams wasn't too happy with this and production didn't get going until after he died so that he couldn't object, so while it may not have been done perfectly to the writer's standards it was still a well made movie.