I've read all of Douglas Adams books and I really enjoyed them. He does have a really strange sense of humor which keeps you guessing as to what new weird device and phenonmenon he will try and explain/explore. I recently watched the movie, and I was a bit disappointed that they could not bring across some more of the jokes that were experienced in the book, but I guess that there is only so much you can do with a movie, so reading is still best to fully enjoy this journey. I must admit that one thing that almost matches the character of the book, in the movie, is Marvin. The movie portrays him just as you would mentally whilst reading the book. Good one!
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
His Hitchhiker's books are all brilliant, although the last one, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish, is a lot less bitingly funny than the first three, and rather "mushy" instead. I didn't like his Dirk Gently novels as much either.
| jsalie wrote: |
| I've read all of Douglas Adams books and I really enjoyed them. He does have a really strange sense of humor which keeps you guessing as to what new weird device and phenonmenon he will try and explain/explore. I recently watched the movie, and I was a bit disappointed that they could not bring across some more of the jokes that were experienced in the book, but I guess that there is only so much you can do with a movie, so reading is still best to fully enjoy this journey. I must admit that one thing that almost matches the character of the book, in the movie, is Marvin. The movie portrays him just as you would mentally whilst reading the book. Good one! |
I liked the books, I liked all five books in the hitchhiker trilogy. I listen to the radio series every now and then, i haven't seen the film but i doubt it will compare to the radio series, thats the way it was originally, before the books. Absolutely hilarious, one thing they do very well:
"It's times like this i really wish i had listened to what my mother told me!"
"why? What did she tell you?"
"I don't know, I wasn't listening!"
"It's times like this i really wish i had listened to what my mother told me!"
"why? What did she tell you?"
"I don't know, I wasn't listening!"
I read them in Dutch and partially in English. But they are brilliant (especially part 1 till 3). Also brilliantly translated: Ford becomes Amro Bank, a big Dutch financial bank. At home we all read them and we used to cite passages from the book when we were dining.
Has anyone played the game based on the novell? It's nice. It's just textbased, so your imagination can stay at work when helping Arthur Dent through the game. You can download it for example on www.abandonia.com, but you need a Z-emulator to run it. I also once found an online-version, but don't ask where.
I like the flying lessons in the book. I'm still trying, but sometimes it works to forget hitting the ground for a couple of seconds
What's your favourite scene?
JohanFH
Has anyone played the game based on the novell? It's nice. It's just textbased, so your imagination can stay at work when helping Arthur Dent through the game. You can download it for example on www.abandonia.com, but you need a Z-emulator to run it. I also once found an online-version, but don't ask where.
I like the flying lessons in the book. I'm still trying, but sometimes it works to forget hitting the ground for a couple of seconds
What's your favourite scene?
JohanFH
You might want to check out the new book:
"The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time " by Douglas Adams.
Yes, it was created just to get a few more $$ out of us, and is not a real story, but if you really, really, really, really enjoy "Hitchhiker's ...." then you just might like this book.
"The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time " by Douglas Adams.
Yes, it was created just to get a few more $$ out of us, and is not a real story, but if you really, really, really, really enjoy "Hitchhiker's ...." then you just might like this book.
I'm Dutch, and I read the books in English.
I've seen the movie before reading the book (shame on me
)
Does one of you have seen the movie?
I've seen the movie before reading the book (shame on me
)
Does one of you have seen the movie?
| brainster wrote: |
| I'm Dutch, and I read the books in English.
I've seen the movie before reading the book (shame on me )
Does one of you have seen the movie? |
I've seen more then half of the movie, then I gave up to hope it might get better and left. Shitfilm! No style.
But the books are grate.
I've read the Hitchhiker's series a while ago and also most of Adams' other books. I think that in the series the books got progressively less funny, but that's just my opinion.
I haven't seen the movie yet but plan to do so sometime soon.
I haven't seen the movie yet but plan to do so sometime soon.
| kuad wrote: |
| I've read the Hitchhiker's series a while ago and also most of Adams' other books. I think that in the series the books got progressively less funny, but that's just my opinion.
I haven't seen the movie yet but plan to do so sometime soon. |
I agree with you. The first one was a page turner, then became hard to finish the trilogy. As most reviews said, they turned the movie into too much of a love story. I love the way they showed the planet making though. Beeblebox tried too much to be 'whacky' I think. Plus I didnt imagine the dual head to be that way, more like side by side.
The original hitchhikers movie was so boring I couldnt finish it. All in all, a very original story for his time and several years after.
Those are my all time favorite books ! I like them so much that I have read them in english AND in french... The translator in french was pretty good also, and that count, because this kind of book (full of jokes) are really difficult to translate.
But I still didn't see the movie. I afraid that I can only be disapointed...
But I still didn't see the movie. I afraid that I can only be disapointed...
just to point this out, the movie is not meant to be the same as the books, it's meant to be different, douglas adams wrote that script, he wanted it that way. It's not what some producer thought the book should be like.
i didn't like the movie either. esp. bc it was made by disney, it is not funny the way the books are, bc there is not the same sort of douglas-ish humor. also they made it pg and so took out a lot of the best jokes. i would like to hear the radio play(s) if i can find them as well, so has anyone else heard or read the radio plays and would know where to get them(or warn me that they are horrible and my ears will burn if i listen to them haha)?
also, i heard that douglas died before he could finish the script, so where does that leave an objective opinoin of the movie?
also, i heard that douglas died before he could finish the script, so where does that leave an objective opinoin of the movie?
If anybody is interested, please note that Douglas Adams did a Computer adventure Game a few years ago titled, 'Starship Titantic'. The Douglas Adams humor is apparent in this game.
Please Note that if you play the game now, the graphics, etc. are a few years old, and it SHOWS!!
Please Note that if you play the game now, the graphics, etc. are a few years old, and it SHOWS!!
| rip8fan1 wrote: |
| If anybody is interested, please note that Douglas Adams did a Computer adventure Game a few years ago titled, 'Starship Titantic'. The Douglas Adams humor is apparent in this game.
Please Note that if you play the game now, the graphics, etc. are a few years old, and it SHOWS!! |
There was also a game written for the first generation Mac that was designed with Adams' help. It was increadbily hard, for example, you had to feed a sandwhich to the dog or much later in the game, when the tiny alien fleet came out of hyperspace they would get eaten by the dog, as in the book. No graphics at all of course.
At least two people wrote that the books got progressively less funny. It really is a progression, each book is less humorous than the one before. The last one isn'y funny at all, it is just grim. Every one dies in the end, Arthur Dent, Trillion, Ford Prefect, everyone! I finished that book wishing I had never picked it up. Just don't even touch the 5th book, it is jaded, cynical and aweful.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the TV mini-series? It played on PBS here, but was origionally a BBC series. I think that it was in 12 or 13 parts. The narrator was the same person who narrated the radio version.
One thing that I found particularly disappointing was that he never addressed the point brought up in the first book of the Earth being destroyed because the program that the Earth was designed to run had almost fully executed. The program was designed to find out what the question is that 42 is the answer to. He refers to a girl having the realization just moments before the destruction of the Earth. She had rushed to the phone to call a friend and tell her about it just as the Earth is destroyed. Even though he brings the Earth back in other books, he never revisists that point. He was all slapstick humor, he really didn't have a profound bone in his body, and that seem to turn him into a progressive more jaded, cynical, dark and brooding person over the course of his life.
I loved this book so much that I even bought a T-shirt about it.
For me, the Hitchhiker's series started getting a bit tedious once he gave up even trying to justify the wackiness. I mean, the falling down and flying thing I could almost forgive, 'cause it was funny, even if he did drag it out a bit too far. But then you have the whole bit with the rain god. Where's the pseudo-science in that?
Coincidentally, that's about the point it started getting a bit sappy, I think, so I guess we're all pretty much in agreement.
Coincidentally, that's about the point it started getting a bit sappy, I think, so I guess we're all pretty much in agreement.
| kuad wrote: |
| I've read the Hitchhiker's series a while ago and also most of Adams' other books. I think that in the series the books got progressively less funny, but that's just my opinion. |
A sad truth. The first book is a 10/10 in humor, the second a 9, then the rest take a sharp fall into 6s and 7s.
yeah the first 2 are the best, but i think the rest are still worth reading... if you have nothing else to read. they are really, really funny 
I´ve read it but i never understood the books "greatness".
I read his books, but i like "the Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul". I actually think its better than the "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy".
| jsalie wrote: |
| I've read all of Douglas Adams books and I really enjoyed them. He does have a really strange sense of humor which keeps you guessing as to what new weird device and phenonmenon he will try and explain/explore. I recently watched the movie, and I was a bit disappointed that they could not bring across some more of the jokes that were experienced in the book, but I guess that there is only so much you can do with a movie, so reading is still best to fully enjoy this journey. I must admit that one thing that almost matches the character of the book, in the movie, is Marvin. The movie portrays him just as you would mentally whilst reading the book. Good one! |
Too bad the movie wasn't as good as i hoped for. [Sorry for the bad english? : D]
Anyway, everyone who has read the books and liked them should get the BBC TV-show on DVD. It's the best!
Anyway, everyone who has read the books and liked them should get the BBC TV-show on DVD. It's the best!
I am a big fan of The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy, and have only read the first book, to which I enjoyed vey much. The BBC radio 4 series is purely fantastic I have them all on CD, and I listened to everyone of them on the radio when they were first broadcasted. The film I have seen, which was totally garbage and not as good as the TV series, which was also one big let down. God rest Douglas Adams and may he R.I.P.
I loved that movie and parts of the book I've read. I really wish more cinema was as intelligent and enjoyable as this. It's so rare that a scifi story avoids so much cliche.
That reminds me - a lot of my friends keep telling me to read at least one of these books but I never really get to it. What would you recommend - just start with part #1?
Definately start from the beggining with The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy. This will get you into the characters and the story line of what life and the universe is all about. But keep your head screwed on man, cause this is one large drink.
Well I've seen the movie but didnt even know there were books on it. I actually enjoyed the hell out of the movie its right up my alley. Can anyone post the names of the books? I would like to check them out.
The books are as Follows in order of publishing.
The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy. Released in 1979.
The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe. Released in 1980.
Lif The Universe And Everything. Released in 1982.
So Long And Thanks For All The Fish. Released in 1984.
Mostly Harmless. Released in 1992.
Amazon.co.uk Are selling a leather bound edition of the complete 5 novels in 1 book. For £9.05. Which normaly retails at £19.99. Check it out for yourself here... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Hitchhikers-Guide-Complete-Literary/dp/0517226952/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202605076&sr=8-4
The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy. Released in 1979.
The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe. Released in 1980.
Lif The Universe And Everything. Released in 1982.
So Long And Thanks For All The Fish. Released in 1984.
Mostly Harmless. Released in 1992.
Amazon.co.uk Are selling a leather bound edition of the complete 5 novels in 1 book. For £9.05. Which normaly retails at £19.99. Check it out for yourself here... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Hitchhikers-Guide-Complete-Literary/dp/0517226952/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202605076&sr=8-4
Well I went and bought the leather-bound edition.... Haven't put it down yet.
A very wise choice. JUst hope you don not need a babel fish to translate it.
I'm in doubt as to whether or not to read the original English version... I'm afraid I'll just read past (or just don't get) half of the jokes if I do, but I'm also afraid half of the jokes will be lost in the Dutch translation.
Decisions, decisions...
Decisions, decisions...
I love the books, my absolute favourite book series.
I liked the movie. I don't see what all the moaning is about, it's a very enjoyable movie, surely noone was expecting it to be copied exactly from the book? That is one of the things I hated most about the BBC TV series; the jokes and whatnot are exactly the same as the book, and their delivery is as plain as the letters on the page. At least when you're reading it you experience it with your imagination; the TV series is just crusty and unenjoyable (to me, in my opinion, etc..., and I saw it 'back then' too).
The biggest shame is how much everyone pans the film. It's not amazing or anything, but it's enjoyable, and it's sad that they're unlikely to fund any more of them. Despite some of the negative comments on this thread, I really believe that Mostly Harmless would make a fantastic film.
I liked the movie. I don't see what all the moaning is about, it's a very enjoyable movie, surely noone was expecting it to be copied exactly from the book? That is one of the things I hated most about the BBC TV series; the jokes and whatnot are exactly the same as the book, and their delivery is as plain as the letters on the page. At least when you're reading it you experience it with your imagination; the TV series is just crusty and unenjoyable (to me, in my opinion, etc..., and I saw it 'back then' too).
The biggest shame is how much everyone pans the film. It's not amazing or anything, but it's enjoyable, and it's sad that they're unlikely to fund any more of them. Despite some of the negative comments on this thread, I really believe that Mostly Harmless would make a fantastic film.
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