Well, I had a short business trip last week to go visit Sandia National Labs for a tour and “technology transfer”. It was neat, but sadly I didn’t get to see Red Storm as I hoped.

I took the time to reread The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I read the entire 5-book “trilogy” back when I was in high-school, and loved it, but had forgotten most of it. I had a large compilation book I purchased many years ago, and took it on the place. I managed to finish Hitchhiker’s Guide, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, and Life, the Universe, and Everything on the round-trip flight. Of course, the movie opened this weekend, so I managed to catch it with the book fresh on my brain on opening night.

Well, the movie was great! Great laughs, memorable scenes, and alot of stuff straight from the book. Sadly tho, there was alot that was different from the book as well. I’ve read online and seen interviews with Robbie Stamp (the producer) who explained that alot of the “new material” was adopted directly from prototype scripts from Douglas Adams prior to his death. So I’m not too upset, but to see them merge the two main storylines (Zaphod searching for Magrathea for fame and fortune, and the Search for the ultimate question) into an odd, not-quite in character hybrid (Zaphod searching for the ultimate question on Magrathea) was a little frustrating. It also kinda tangled things up when they got confused who built Deep Thought & was searching for the answer/question: In the book, it was a group of pan-dimensional beings; in the movie it was the Magratheans. I can understand them changing things to make the plot a little simpler, but as a purist it still annoys me.

But to be short, the movie is hilarious in itself. Great effects, great laughs, and some great guide entries. If you see the movie and enjoy it, then I highly enjoy you get the books. The first one, the basis of the movie, is only ~140 pages so it’s a quick read. So 4 of 5 stars for this one :)

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