Can I Get A What What

Blockbuster censorship?

Link: In Apprehension: Why I'm Sticking With Netflix.

I haven't heard about this and have quite enjoyed our subscription so far. Then again, I don't watch too many things that need to be censored.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy had the potential to be the best movie of the year. And yes, I sincerely mean that. Really, look at all it had going for it: it’s based on a classic book that has a cult following that could rival the Lord of the Rings trilogy. A very funny and talented cast that includes Tim Freeman (BBC hit series The Office) as everyman Arthur Dent, Sam Rockwell as the two headed, split brain, charming President of the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblevrox, Alan Rickman as the voice of the paranoid android Marvin who incidentally resembles an oversized storm trooper and Mos Def as the quirky and lovable, towel wielding alien and author of the guide, Ford Perfect. Throw in the fact that Jim Henson’s Puppet Shop created all of the aliens and creatures in the film so none of them end up looking like bad CGI you should have a innovative, funny, and ingenious movie on your hands….but that’s not what happened, not quite anyway.

Hitchhiker ultimately gets bogged down in its own grandness. There’s just too much stuff. There are too many aliens, too many crazy sets, too many gadgets that have to be figured out and just too much going on to really have time to digest it all. The obvious meticulous care that was taken to bring this visually stunning world to life happened at the expense of true character and plot development.

We don’t get the opportunity to know more about Ford Perfect, or why Zaphod has such a problem with Humma Kavula (John Malkovich) or even why Humma Kavula wants the gun he sends Zaphod after. We get very brief explanations as to why Zaphod has two heads and how he managed to become president of the galaxy given his questionable intelligence quotient. And the movie spends an excessive amount of time explaining the Vogons a very bureaucratic and disagreeable species of aliens that spend much of the movie chasing the heroes but not enough screen time to warrant all the details on who they are and what they are like. I would have rather more explanation of the relationship between Arthur and Ford or perhaps Arthur’s love interest Tricia (Zooey Deschanel) and her relationship with Zaphod.

The movie’s biggest mistake is to assume that everyone who goes to see this movie has read the book. Not only is that presumptuous but it is disastrous to the continuity of the film That sort of thinking is used as an excuse to not fill in the many holes in the film’s story. The movie assumes. “They’ll already know that,” so it doesn’t take the time to explain some necessary details that are unfamiliar with Hitchhiker. If you have never read the book, or like myself haven’t read the book in many, many moons you can end up confused or with more questions then the movie even begins to answer. Hitchhiker should stand on its own assuming that everyone who enters the theatre is a blank slate and knows nothing of the book and unfortunately it just doesn’t do that.

Also some of the actors’ performances are a bit questionable. Rockwell’s performance as Zaphod is a bit campy and over the top. Marvin, while funny in his roll as a highly intelligent yet depressive and cynical android, becomes a bit repetitive and boring. And the relationship between Arthur and Tricia seems more like brother and sister then a romantic one. As a matter of fact I can’t figure out why they like each other since they mix about as well as oil and water, there is absolutely no chemistry there.

Don’t get me wrong there is plenty to like about Hitchhiker. The Vogons are hilarious, and there is the running bit with a towel that provides more then a few chuckles. Bill Nighy (Love Actually) as a designer planet architectural engineer is by far the best role in the film. Part sci-fi, part comedy and part love story, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy isn’t a bad way to spend your afternoon, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by Adams’ famed book.

© 2005 Tamika Johnson

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and editor of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your own movie, music or book reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com

A Lot Like Love

A Lot Like Love

Ashton Kutcher isn’t a great actor. Let’s face it he isn’t going to win any acting awards anytime in the near future. However he is quite competent at playing variations of Kelso the character that made him famous on the hit FOX series That 70’s Show. Kelso is bumbling, inept and manages to posses an uncanny combination of insecurity and confidence. Kutcher’s film roles don’t stray much from that formula and his character Oliver in his new movie A Lot Like Love isn’t an exception to the rule. While being light-years ahead of Kelso in the intelligence department he has all the other characteristics that make him just as endearing and lovable and fun to watch.

Amanda Peet’s character Emily is just as bumbling, inept and simultaneously sure and unsure of herself as Oliver. The relationship that develops between the two works because they seem like twin souls that were destined to meet and no amount of time or separation will change the fact that they are made for each other. The movie also works because the chemistry between Kutcher and Peet is palpable and one could easily believe that the two would make a great couple off screen as well.

Taking place over a seven year span Emily and Oliver have several short and not so chance encounters that take place after an initial chance and very memorable meeting on the plane as they travel from Los Angeles to New York. Unlike most romantic comedies their relationship is allowed to develop over time and while they never have that much time together their initial friendship and later romance seems natural and believable.

The film could have easily fallen into the trap of many romantic comedies that force the audience to believe that two completely different individuals manage to fall madly in love with each other in a matter of days, despite overwhelming odds and all the obvious signs that they are completely wrong for each other. Hell, in many romantic comedies the characters know they are in love long before the audience can figure out why they even like each other let alone love each other. In A Lot Like Love, the audience recognizes how right the characters are for one another before they are willing to make such an admission to themselves. Watching Oliver and Emily struggle with their pride and plans and just the natural fear that comes with putting your heart on the line is sweet and endearing and tugs at your heartstrings without feeling forced or contrived.

The movie also doesn’t shy away from how imperfect the characters are. Emily has a problem with being by herself and has to confirm she “still has it” by hooking up with the first guy she meets when a relationship has ended. And Oliver doesn’t know how just to live in the moment and must plan every aspect of his life well in advance or he is unable to function. Their flaws are real and they experience many of the problems young twenty somethings face as they try to find their way in life and love which adds to the convincing nature of the story and its characters.

The movie isn’t perfect. There’s some dialogue that I could have lived without and the attempt by Oliver to get Emily back via a musical serenade outside of her home is an over used movie device that will never be as good as John Cusack’s boom box plea in Say Anything. But I will say I was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining I found A Lot Like Love. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a smart, funny, innovative comedy about looking for, finding, and knowing when to take hold of the love that lies right within your grasp.

© 2005 Tamika Johnson

Tamika Johnson is a freelance writer and editor of PrologueReviews.com. To read more reviews by Tamika or to have your movie, music or book reviewed visit http://www.prologuereviews.com.

The Mothman Prophecies (2002)

Link: Senses Working Overtime: Cinemorgue.

This is some cool but non-useful info. This is off the topic a bit but what in the #@*! was that movie about anyway? I've seen it twice and never understood it.

Frank Oz

Link: Listen, My Children...: Pope Lando.

OMG! I never knew he did Yoda. I feel dumb. I knew he did some muppet stuff but didn't really know what until today. He has done Grover, Bert and Cookie Monster. Doing Cookie Monster would be tiring wouldn't you think?

man on fire

Man on Fire was a good movie. I really like Dakota Fanning and Denzel was good in this movie as well. I had no idea that people even lived like that until watching this movie. B+

sky captain and the world of tomorrow

The only thing that was good about this movie is the fact that it was all done with a blue screen. That much is pretty impressive. Makes me glad that digital photography is here. I rate this movie a C.

Incredibles

I love this movie! Incredibles is a movie the whole family can enjoy. The depth of the characters is pretty great. Most families should be able to relate in some aspect or another. Kudos to Craig and Holly for their performances. A+

Lord of the Rings:Return of the King

I just watched the final Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King. I had a hard time commiting that much time to a movie so it took a while to set myself down and watch it. I must say that I really liked it. I think I liked it the most of the three. I have to give it an A- but only because of the length of the movie.

Hero

Hero (2002) starring Jet Li was a little too far fetched for my taste. I thought the plot of the story was good - I'm just not into people walking on water all of the time or flying through the air for an impossible length of time (even for slo-mo). I'll be nice and give it a C.