Favorite "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
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Topic: Favorite "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Posted By: SaltyJon
Subject: Favorite "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 22:26
I don't think I forgot any of the various versions, but just in case I did, I left the "Other" option available. I'm a huge fanboy of the entire Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy universes, so I figured I'd see how many other fans we have here and which version they most enjoyed. I'm particularly fond of the novels, as that's how I was first introduced to it and that's the storyline I'm most familiar with. Next up I'd say is probably the radio series, followed by the TV miniseries and the movie. I was never able to find all of the comics, but I have I think 2 of 3 of the original series and none of them from the adaptation of "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe" or "Life, the Universe and Everything". The game is funny, but it's also frustrating.  So how many hoopy froods here will venture forth to cast their votes? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 22:30
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I think the text game got uploaded to the internet in Java form or something, but I'd rather do almost anything else than try to figure that nonsense out. I don't know why so many nostalgic gamers complain, I'm happy adventure games are dead, they were a ridiculous genre with ridiculous gameplay. Everybody knows how the movie turned out, and I don't have the patience to listen to a radio show. So the novels it is! Life, The Universe, and Everything was probably my favorite, although I also enjoyed Mostly Harmless a lot (because I'm emo). ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 22:33
I'd say either Life, the Universe and Everything or The Restaurant at the End of the Universe was my favorite of the novels. I like them all, though. Mostly Harmless is definitely a bit different than the others but I've never thought it was a bad book. The game, as you said, was (probably still is) available on the BBC website for the Hitchhiker's Guide. Like you said, it's incredibly confusing, I spent probably twenty minutes trying to get through it then got frustrated and quit. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Henry Plainview wrote:Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 22:39
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By the way, is the radio drama actually significantly different from the text of the books? I'm still not going to sit and listen to them, but I'm curious. They've actually added graphics to the BBC version, the one I played long ago was just text. But I also vaguely recall it starting on the Vogon ship, so maybe it wasn't the same thing? ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 22:45
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Hmm...yeah, I'd say there are noticeable differences between the plot of the books and that of the radio series (just like the differences in storyline between every version released). They do take a TON of time to listen to fully, though. I'm pretty sure the game is the same as the original, but with graphics added, as you said. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:03
I started with the novels, the TV series second, and the movie last. I'm going with the series although I thoroughly enjoyed all three. Haven't explored the other versions. I really like Zooey as Trillian in the movie, though. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:06
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The movie was pretty bad, the video game was just... no The radio series are awesome, based on what I've heard of them, but I'm going to go with the novels |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:18
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The "video" game started off in Arthur Dent's bedroom. I didn't get that far into though. I did get onto the ship, if I remember correctly. I've not heard the radio series or seen the 1981 series (although they repeated it on the BBC many years ago and I saw five minutes of the last episode). So for me, it's the books. But I am sure the BBC either repeated the old radio series recently or did a new version. Also don't forget the Eoin Colfer book published last year. -------------   
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:22
That one wasn't as good. I did like the part with C'thulu though |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:23
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I haven't read it and neither do I own it. You're the first person I know who has read it though. -------------
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:26
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I found the movie tragic... Sad to think how much time Adams wasted on re-write after re-write of his screenplay, then died in California only to have some hack do the screenplay, and badly. The thanks for all the fish opening was the only inspired part. I happen to be reading "And Another Thing" at the moment which is Eion Colfer's contribution to the series, but I haven't really got into his take, and have been switching back and forth between that and a Philip K. Dick (one of my favourite writers) novel a bit. Adams does Adams better. I also like the TV series and radio play a lot. And I love that Marvin the Paranoid Android album. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:28
Oh. Well, there's a hilarious part with C'thulu. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:29
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Excellent, someone else who didn't like the film. I hated Zaphod Beeblebrox in the film. He was repulsive. I think that was mostly due to the actor. I didn't laugh once. Oh and Logan, I thought you'd left P.A.? It's good to see you here. -------------
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:31
| Naw, Logan's been around the Polls pages a bunch |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:37
| I left PA, but it didn't last long like so many poor souls before me who tried to escape. Thanks, James. I did like the one from The Office as Arthur Dent in the film, but not a good film at all. I feel they at least could have had the decency to stay closer to Adams vision. |
Posted By: Tarquin Underspoon
Date Posted: June 09 2010 at 23:40
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I started with the TV series, and it's by far my favorite, probably just because it's the first one I was exposed to.
The movie....oh, the movie was a terror. ------------- "WAAAAAAOOOOOUGH! WAAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHH!! WAAAAAOOOO!!!" -The Great Gig in the Sky |
Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 00:20
| It's been a few years, but I've read the novels, watched the miniseries, and seen the movie. The novels were the best of course. |
Posted By: JJLehto
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 02:12
| Novels for sure |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 03:23
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I never heard the original radiodrama, so I'd go with the books, which are stunning. I'm not too keen on movie (only Arthur was portrayed proplerly, IMHO). The movie was mildly entertaining, but everything that is not making you laugh your ass off all the time is just not up to the task. Old series were way better. I'm a big Hitchhiker's fan; in fact, the plate withe name on my apartment's doors reads 'Arthur Dent', not my name, which is confusing some of my neighbours. ------------- |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 04:17
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1 TV
2 Radio
3 Novels
10th Movie ------------- 
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 06:21
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I started with the radio show, which was extremely well done, then the TV series, which was... OK-ish, then the novels which I loved; overall though, I preferred the radio series, which made me laugh out loud on several occasions
The less said about the film the better... ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 08:46
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Where's Slartibartfast (the forum member) when you need him?
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Posted By: CyberDiablo
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 08:56
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I really loved the novels when I first read it. But I hated the movie, especially the ending...
------------- Music is some kind of art. -- Anonymous |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 09:03
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I loved the typical bbc cheezy cheapness of the tv series, the radio serise was great, but I missed the beginning, the "movie" was alright, not great, not rubbish either - the books win for me. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 09:31
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The TV series was helped (for me) by the fact many of the same actors played the same roles as in the radio series (especially the wonderful Peter Jones as 'The Book') & the BBC special effects dept outshone themselves with Zaphod's 2nd head, which I was always waiting for to fall off! -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 10:21
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I actually liked the movie. Most likely due to Zooey.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 13:31
Unfortunately, both the TV series and the more recent film were nothing more than passable for me. I enjoy the books though. But THE version IS the radio series - it is classic and intelligently done and it is very (laugh out loud) funny (Henry you do not need patience for this it is too enjoyable for the need - get a grip man  )
The radio series is on Youtube I believe. Stick it on sit back and enjoy. ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 19:30
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I really hate to echo what everyone else has said, but I must. The books are teh awesome. The tv series was quite good. The movie sucked ass. Never heard the radio series or the games. Douglas Adams is one of my favorite people, and we are all poorer for his passing.
------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 19:35
That's how I feel about it. I own it, and I watch it on occasion, but not as often as I read the books or watch the miniseries. I don't own the radio show yet, surprisingly enough. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 21:00
So long and thanks for all the laughs. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 22:31
Yeah, Zooey was really good. In the books, Trillian was sort of a "token female character" and didn't have a very gripping personality. I believe Adams said that he wasn't very good at writing for female characters (although I do think that he improved when writing for Fenny in the fourth book,) but Zooey really made her a likeable and interesting character. She and the Vogons were the only good things about the film.
I will admit that the film was my first exposure The Guide, and I guess I enjoyed it enough at the time to check out the rest of the series. Once I read the books, it put things into perspective.
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Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: June 10 2010 at 23:19
| ^ she's pretty hot too |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 11 2010 at 03:49
There's something about her eyes. He sister, Emily, plays the main character in a TV show called Bones. http://www.fox.com/bones/ - http://www.fox.com/bones/ I think Zooey is the cuter one. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: June 11 2010 at 04:46
 The radio series is sublime. Superb cast (I can't imagine anyone else's voices when I read the books), wonderful music and sound effects courtesy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and a total absence of poorly realised special effects and sets to detract from the immersiveness of the experience. Series 1 follows the plot of the first book quite closely (the first book, after all, was an adaptation of the series, written primarily for those who wanted to experience it again at a time when radio series were largely unavailable to buy on record), but the series 2 features great big chunks of plot and ideas which Adams never incorporated into any of the later versions. God, I could wax lyrical for years about what a brilliant writer Adams was, but if you want the proof then just listen to that series. The best thing he ever did this side of the first Dirk Gently novel. |
Posted By: Progist
Date Posted: June 12 2010 at 12:16
Novels then Radio 
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: June 12 2010 at 12:26
Sorry for snipping your post and going off-topic, the first Dirk Gently is great (likely my favourite fiction book of his), but my favourite of his is the non-fiction Last Chance to See. |
Posted By: June
Date Posted: June 12 2010 at 18:20
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I'm gonna go out on a limb here and vote for the film. I wouldn't even have found out about the series without it. I have since gotten, read and loved the books though. And the film has Bill Nighy  |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: June 12 2010 at 23:01
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency was indeed fantastic. It was much better written than any of the Hitch Hiker's books in my opinion. I think that's mostly because it was set out to be a book in the first place and wasn't adapted from the radio show. Plus by book 5 he lost a lot of the great ideas and the "Trilogy" suffers because of it. -------------
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Posted By: UndercoverBoy
Date Posted: June 13 2010 at 16:00
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Posted By: SaltyJon
Date Posted: June 13 2010 at 16:04
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The radio show is excellent as well, I like all 5 seasons of it. As the others are saying, the Dirk Gently novels are excellent as well (though I still prefer the Hitchhiker's books), and they've recently started a Dirk Gently radio show as well. I haven't listened in to any of it yet, though, so I can't comment on how good it is. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Salty_Jon" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: June 13 2010 at 17:17
Like I said earlier, the first series is similar (though not identical) to book one but it's the second series which is really significantly different. The later 3 series were all done retrospectively after Adams' death and, to my mind, are significantly inferior to the original 70's series. They're pretty much just straight adaptations of the novels and are pretty skippable. The first Dirk Gently novel is a must for any Adams fan, as is Last Chance to See. |