| 
Preview by: Jack Foley
FANS of cult sci-fi have been waiting with baited breath ever
since it was announced that a big screen version of The Hitchhikers'
Guide To The Galaxy was being made.
So far, however, the omens are good. The casting looks fine.
The trailer spot-on. And there have been very few complaints.
The Hitchhikers' Guide first started as a British radio show
in 1978, before being adapted into five books and a BBC TV series,
which helped it to achieve cult status.
Ever since then, film producers have been dreaming up ways of
bringing it to cinemas that might fully do the programme and books
justice.
Step forward Garth Jennings, a former music video director, who
took the job that Jay (Austin Powers) and Spike (Three Kings)
Jonze turned down.
The ensuing film finds The
Office star, Martin Freeman, as Earthman, Arthur Dent, who
is about to have a very bad day (and no, not the type to rival
Jack Bauer's in 24!!).
|
 |
Not only is Arthur's house about
to be bulldozed, but he discovers that his best friend is an alien
and Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace
bypass.
Arthur's only chance for survival, therefore, is to hitch a ride
on a passing spacecraft, thereby setting out on a journey in which
he finds that nothing is as it seems.
For instance, a towel becomes the most useful thing in the universe,
while everything that he needs to know can be found in one book:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Sound weird? It was part of the programme's offbeat charm.
Joining Freeman, however, are the likes of Mos Def, the consistently-enjoyable
Sam Rockwell, Bill Nighy, Zooey Deschanel and Alan Rickman, to
name but a few.
Oh, and Stephen Fry will serve as the voice of the Guide - inspired
casting, if ever there was any.
The movie is, of course, based on the book by Douglas Adams,
which is loved by many.
And early word is that Touchstone Pictures could well have a
sizeable hit on their hands when the movie opens in the UK on
April 29 - just ahead of Star Wars!
Aint It Cool News, for instance, has already posted an early
review, stating that the casting is spot on, the cinematography
is impressive - 'rich and colorful in all the right places' -
and that Douglas Adams would be proud.
We can't wait to join in the 'wonderfully weird' experience.
|
