jnf23 Reviews

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

A film which could have been so much more...

[7/10 · 26 April 2005]

**Very Mild Spoilers**

I've been a fan of the guide for as long as I can remember, and the TV series is even older than I am, so I've grown up with the books, the tapes of the radio plays and later the DVDs and videos of the TV series, and so I can say in all seriousness I've been waiting for this film for half for my life. And that's why I'm so disappointed by it. But wait? I've given it 7 out of 10? Well yes, but despite it being a poor version of Hitchhiker's....it's still a version of Hitchhiker's and it has moments of pure genius. The problem with the film is that it has too many of these little moments taken out to give it laugh out loud lines and replaced with jokes that seem to be aimed no higher than the 9 year old who sat in front of me. "Lend us a hand, Marvin" says (the well cast Freemen as)Arthur Dent, before promptly ripping his arm off. Now yes, mildly amusing, but was it really worth putting that in in place of classic lines such as "What's so unpleasant about being drunk? Ask a glass of water". There are saving graces to this film: the mind staggers at some of the CGI scenes particularly the scenes on Magrathea (although don't get me started on the changing of the 'plot' to include Vogons at every turn). Sam Rockwell makes an excellently annoying Zaphod, although the second head approach appeared just lazy even compared to the BBC's plastic lump! The star of the show was ultimately Bill Nighy, stealing it with a superb little appearance as Slartibartfast; but he shouldn't have been the star of the show: Douglas Adams and his wonderful stories and ideas and lines should have been. Somewhere along the way this got lost.

All in all, I probably had too high expectations for this film, but I still feel it could have been so much more. And I only hope that people go back and re-examine the radio plays, the TV series and the books especially those who've never known the pleasure of a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster!

Troy (2004)

Be wary of Greeks bringing gifts...and films of classical literature

[5/10 · 16 May 2004]

This film is a good film, lets get this out of the way first, it is GOOD. The Illiad is brilliant. This film is NOT the Illiad; character's die who shouldn't, people live who should die, and not to mention the whole Trojan war is reduced to about two weeks long. The film itself is enjoyable, although it does feel a times that its trying to cash in on LOTR, particularly when you see Orlando Bloom with a bow in his hand, or Sean Bean with a sword. My over-riding feeling when I left this film is one that they tore a few pages from the Illiad, a few from the Aenied, a page or so from the Odyssey and then threw away the rest of the books. The film says its based on Homer's epic poem, perhaps Homer's estate has the right to sue.

If you haven't read the Illiad, go see this film, you'll love it, and then read the Illiad and appreciate how much better it good have been. If you have read the Illiad, go watch it anyway, it is a good film. The acting is (on the most part) good - I exclude Orlando Bloom from this who doesn't act until somebody puts a bow in his hand, typecast anyone? I only give it 5/10 because it shouldn't claim to be inspired by the Illiad, otherwise it would definitely be a 7 or an 8.