Don't Panic

It's not the end of the world, even though I actually got off my ass and went to a movie before the rest of the world.

My dad got tickets to a preview screening of Hitchhikers Guide, and we went last night. I should say, a full 4 hrs and some minutes before we were supposed to see it. Really, it wasn't much of a preview, but you'd think it was a super advance screening with all the crap about searching bags for recording devices. whatever.

so we waited in line for a good long time. we ended up getting there about 1.5 hrs before the movie actually started playing on the screen. This gave me plenty of time to do my reading. I tried to do a bit of people watching, but, there wasn't anything fantastic to watch. I don't know how people got these tickets but it seemed to be sponsored by ESPN radio and KABC radio, but the only person i heard say where she got the tickets also got them from her work. this wasn't really a hardcore nerd screening. I'd say it was at least 35% female. Ages ran the spectrum. I only saw one dad and 8 yr old daughter carrying towels (although my dad threatened to, and I vetoed him). There was a disappointing turn out. For some reason LA Weekly reserved an entire row of the theater for people with special passes but only about 5 people showed up. I saw those people and they weren't reporters, so I don't really know who they were. For a movie, it was a crowded theater, but for a pre-screening show, it wasn't packed solid.

I have no idea how to write movie reviews without giving away all the good bits, and I don't want to ruin it for y'all, so I won't bother trying. I'll just say Ebert is a jerk I read his review this morning before I left the house. But of course I knew that ever since he gave that tiger movie a bad review because it anthropomorphized the tigers. (For gosh sakes it was a kids movie about tigers, were they really supposed to only care about killing, mating and territory)

I have to say the entire experience was rather pleasant. When you go, make sure you get there on time, the opening really is the best part of the movie. The design was fun. And because of my love of sad, pathetic creatures, Marvin was adorable!

Since it's been a good 10 years since I read the books, I don't remember all the details, but I think the movie stays true to the spirit of them. Unlike the books, and rinky dink BBC show the movie is quick, quick, quick. Lots has to be left out, but I don't think it suffered. There was one key thing left out, not really key to plot, but key to random bits of trivia that I remember. It isn't really a spoiler, but I'll keep mum for now.

I do wonder what the movie is like if you've never read the books.