This is what comes to mind when reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Or rather the third act in the five-part trilogy of books relating to that subject - "Life, the Universe and Everything" (the answer to which is - of course as we all know - 42). Which is where I am right now in the tome Jon loaned me a while ago.

Part 1 and 2 were reasonably insane - I mean, I was still able to kinda relate to it if I flipped on the Improbability Switch in my brain and waited what would happen. But Part 3 - that's on a whole other level. Granted, I'm only into it for about ... what ... 40 pages now? But still.

I can kinda see Doug sitting there at his typewriter - popping acid like there were M&Ms, and grinning from ear to ear. Of course this exercise also germinated real literary gems like:

"Arthur experienced that dull throbbing sensation just behind the temples that was a hallmark of so many of his conversations with Ford. His brain lurked like a frightened puppy in its kennel."

And -
"The ghostly but violent shapes that could be seen moving the thick pall of smoke seemed to be performing a series of bizarre parodies of batting strokes, the difference being that every ball they struck with their bats exploded wherever it landed. The very first one of these had dispelled Arthur's inital reaction that the whole thing might just be a publicity stunt by Australian margarine manufacturers."

I mean - who can write stuff like that? Sober.

And this is exactly the reason why the movie sucked so bad. There is no way any one director - no matter how brilliant - can translate material like this to the screen without either coming off as completely insane (if he sticks to the script), or as a total jerk (if he doesn't stick to the script).



The only saving grace the movie had was of course Sam Rockwell, who gave a truly spirited performance as the ego-maniac Zaphod. And Alan Rickman was hilarious as Marvin's voice. But that's where the fun stops already. And it's too soon.

So let's all hope there won't be any sequels, shall we?

You realize that Doug Adams wrote the screenplay for the movie before he died, right?

I was going to point that out, too. Every incarnation of the Hitchhiker's Guide is different--radio, book, computer game, etc. So of course the movie will be.

I still haven't gotten around to seeing it, though. Maybe sometime soon.

And I don't believe Adams was on pot or acid or whatever; he was just British. :)

First off - I've spent some quality time in England way back when. It's true. The Brits are whacko. All of them. But not *that* whacko. Doug must have been an exception...

Second - the whole drug reference comments were meant to be comical... really ...

Third - yes, I realize Doug wrote the script. I also believe though that Hollywood *made him* put that stupid love story in there to make the movie more commercially viable.

Curiously - Jeff (who hasn't read the book) loved the movie...