The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Film

Main article: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film).

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After years of setbacks and renewed efforts to start production and a quarter of a century after the first book was published, the big-screen adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has finally been shot. Pre-production began in 2003, filming began on 19 April 2004 and post-production began in early September of 2004 {{mn|Stamp2005|6}}. After a London premiere on April 20 2005, it was released on 28 April in the UK and Australia, 29 April in the USA and Canada, and 29 July in South Africa. (A full list of release dates is available at the IMDb {{ref|IMDb_page}}.) The movie stars Martin Freeman as Arthur, Mos Def as Ford, Sam Rockwell as Beeblebrox and Zooey Deschanel as Trillian, with Alan Rickman providing the voice of Marvin and Stephen Fry voicing the Book.

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19 April - 2004 - London - April 20 - 2005 - 28 April - UK - Australia - 29 April - USA - Canada - 29 July - South Africa - IMDb - Martin Freeman - Mos Def - Sam Rockwell - Zooey Deschanel - Alan Rickman - Stephen Fry

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The film is the most different version so far. A romantic triangle is introduced between Arthur, Zaphod, and Trillian; and visits to Vogsphere, the homeworld of the Vogons, and Viltvodle VI are inserted. The film covers roughly events in the first four radio episodes, and ends with the characters en route to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, leaving the opportunity for a sequel open.

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Reactions to the film were mixed {{ref|RT_reviews}}, both within and outside fandom. Some fans felt essential elements of the humour and philosophy had been lost in the adaptation, and the introduction of a romantic subplot was an unnecessary Hollywoodism, whereas criticism from some reviewers held that the film had good intentions but the pacing was problematic. Commercially the film was a modest success, taking $21 million in its opening weekend in the United States, and nearly £3.3 million in its opening weekend in the United Kingdom {{ref|IMDB_boxoffice}}.

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$ - United States - £ - United Kingdom

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The movie was released on DVD (Region 2, PAL) in the UK on 5 September 2005. Both a standard double disc edition and a UK-exclusive numbered limited edition "Giftpack" were released on this date. The "Giftpack" edition includes a copy of the novel with a "movie tie-in" cover, and collectible prints from the film, packaged in a replica of the film's version of the Hitchhiker's Guide prop. A single disc widescreen or full-screen edition (Region 1, NTSC) were made available in the USA and Canada on 13 September 2005. Single disc releases in the UMD format for the PlayStation Portable were also released on the respective dates in these three countries. A VHS release has not been announced.

Related Topics:
USA - Canada - UMD - PlayStation Portable

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