that is CRAZY. i was listening to a bit on robots and our expecatations for/of them past/present/future on “all things considered” (NPR) and they played a blurb from the BBC radio production of _Hitchiker’s_. *so* bizarre.
I wonder what impact this will have on the film version that was supposed to be in the works. Last I heard, Jay Roach (who directed both Austin Powers movies) was workin’ on it…
I believe the film version is back on hold, mostly due to the studio not being willing to foot the bill to do the story the way it needs to be done. HHGTTG is a bit like the proposed feature film of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: a good idea, but you need to spend a lot of money on special effects and you need a lot more time to tell the story (i.e. at least a miniseries).
Truth is, I don’t think we *need* a film version anyway. The radio version, or even the TV series, afforded Adams and his collaborators a lot more room than a 90-120 minute feature film would. OK, so some of the special effects from the TV series look a bit ropy by modern standards, but they were servicable enough and, much more importantly, the jokes still worked.
I agree… but look at what they’re doing with “The Lord of the Rings”! A huge story, lots of effects, and by all accounts it looks FANTASTIC. Maybe Peter Jackson should pick this one up as his next project?? 🙂
I’m not sure the guy who directed MEET THE FEEBLES and BRAINDEAD has quite the sense of humour required for HHGTTG. 🙂
Having said that, if LOTR is a huge success (and I hope it will be) then there could be all sorts of long-cherished projects that were considered “too long” being dusted off. I’d very much like to see Terry Gilliam’s proposed miniseries-length adaptation of WATCHMEN.
funny–i had a similar feeling that no one would get the bit since at no point in the clip did zaphod or trillian identify marvin as a robot. the only thing to give it away was the semi-digitized voice…
so tragic. so bizarre. reminds me a bit of jim henson’s passing…
I wasn’t suggesting that Jackson’s work wasn’t funny, just that it wasn’t exactly the same sort of humour as the Monty Python-meets-Doctor Who style of HHGTTG. Though you’re right: the thought of what Peter Jackson could do with Vogon poetry is delicious… 🙂
brigita
May 12, 2001 — 8:48 pm
that is CRAZY. i was listening to a bit on robots and our expecatations for/of them past/present/future on “all things considered” (NPR) and they played a blurb from the BBC radio production of _Hitchiker’s_. *so* bizarre.
Kris
May 13, 2001 — 7:24 am
I wonder what impact this will have on the film version that was supposed to be in the works. Last I heard, Jay Roach (who directed both Austin Powers movies) was workin’ on it…
John
May 13, 2001 — 2:41 pm
I believe the film version is back on hold, mostly due to the studio not being willing to foot the bill to do the story the way it needs to be done. HHGTTG is a bit like the proposed feature film of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman: a good idea, but you need to spend a lot of money on special effects and you need a lot more time to tell the story (i.e. at least a miniseries).
Truth is, I don’t think we *need* a film version anyway. The radio version, or even the TV series, afforded Adams and his collaborators a lot more room than a 90-120 minute feature film would. OK, so some of the special effects from the TV series look a bit ropy by modern standards, but they were servicable enough and, much more importantly, the jokes still worked.
Kris
May 14, 2001 — 5:52 am
I agree… but look at what they’re doing with “The Lord of the Rings”! A huge story, lots of effects, and by all accounts it looks FANTASTIC. Maybe Peter Jackson should pick this one up as his next project?? 🙂
John
May 14, 2001 — 7:58 am
I’m not sure the guy who directed MEET THE FEEBLES and BRAINDEAD has quite the sense of humour required for HHGTTG. 🙂
Having said that, if LOTR is a huge success (and I hope it will be) then there could be all sorts of long-cherished projects that were considered “too long” being dusted off. I’d very much like to see Terry Gilliam’s proposed miniseries-length adaptation of WATCHMEN.
Kris
May 14, 2001 — 8:45 am
Are you kidding? “Braindead” (or “Dead Alive”, as we Americans know it) is one of the FUNNIEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME.
“I kick ass for the Lord!”
“Your mom ate my dog!”
“Not all of it.”
Not to mention the infamous zombies vs. lawn mower scene.
Now just imagine what this man could do with Vogon poetry! 🙂
Kris
May 14, 2001 — 9:38 am
Brigita – I was just reading Metafilter and somebody else heard the same bit you did.
brigita
May 14, 2001 — 11:06 am
funny–i had a similar feeling that no one would get the bit since at no point in the clip did zaphod or trillian identify marvin as a robot. the only thing to give it away was the semi-digitized voice…
so tragic. so bizarre. reminds me a bit of jim henson’s passing…
John
May 14, 2001 — 1:24 pm
I wasn’t suggesting that Jackson’s work wasn’t funny, just that it wasn’t exactly the same sort of humour as the Monty Python-meets-Doctor Who style of HHGTTG. Though you’re right: the thought of what Peter Jackson could do with Vogon poetry is delicious… 🙂
Kris
May 14, 2001 — 1:53 pm
Ahh, yeah, I agree.