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General Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: test 4 echo on 14 January, 2004, 04:08:45 PM

Title: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: test 4 echo on 14 January, 2004, 04:08:45 PM
Heard "Tim" from the office has been cast as Arthur Dent, i dont watch the office, is this a good thing?

(i mean tim being dent, not the office)
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Trout on 14 January, 2004, 04:13:15 PM
Might be.

The same story says Bill Nighy - much-touted as a possible Dr Who - is to play Slartybartfast.

I think Freeman might be okay.

Whether the film will be is another story. We'll see.
It's hard to be optimistic about big-screen versions of things successful in other forms these days.

- Trout
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Woolly on 14 January, 2004, 04:43:26 PM
So...erm...Who is arthur dent?
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Mikey on 14 January, 2004, 04:46:30 PM
"It's hard to be optimistic about big-screen versions of things successful in other forms these days"

Got that right Trout,especially HHGTG.But would you say the same about sucessful comics?(probably now I think of it)...

I can see "Tim" doing it well,but I really struggle to find enthusiasm for the project.

H.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: GordonR on 14 January, 2004, 04:46:59 PM
>>It's hard to be optimistic about big-screen versions of things successful in other forms these days.

Like Pirates of the Caribbean?

A pirate movie?  Based on some theme park ride?  Boy, that had stinker written all over it, I thought.  Couldn't have been more wrong.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: test 4 echo on 14 January, 2004, 04:50:29 PM
kind of like the harry potter films myself, never read the books, expected the film to be shite, enjoyed them both.

suspect you mean LOEG then trout?
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Priv8eye on 14 January, 2004, 04:56:41 PM
.Woolly  

Arthur Dent is one of the main characters from the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, the book, radio series, tv show by Douglas Adams.  It ran for about 5 books in total and is loved by many
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Dudley on 14 January, 2004, 05:01:04 PM
A pirate movie? Based on some theme park ride? Boy, that had stinker written all over it, I thought. Couldn't have been more wrong.

Exception that proves the rule?

One thing about a movie based on a theme-park ride, though - you're unlikely to get hordes of fans howling outside the studio if you get details wrong.  With that kind of licence, frankly all they needed to do was come up with "a pirate movie".  Not really as complicated as tackling HHGTG, Dredd, Hellboy, etc.

...Dudley
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: IndigoPrime on 14 January, 2004, 05:08:57 PM
The thing is, Pirates had way more room for manoeuvre than H2G2. The latter will be hampered on the big screen by the guide itself slowing down the film's momentum. Of course, they can leave out the guide's monologues, but they are the best, funniest bits.

The TV show was, in my opinion, a total disaster, and with Adams now gone, I don't reckon the movie will be any better. (Shame it wasn't done ten years ago, when Hugh Laurie could have played Dent.)
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Art on 14 January, 2004, 06:02:17 PM
Starsky and Hutch is going to be genius though, I can just feel it.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Mudcrab on 14 January, 2004, 07:00:11 PM
"The same story says Bill Nighy - much-touted as a possible Dr Who - is to play Slartybartfast. "

Bah! I'd never watch that, that's for sure. Dunno why, but I can't stand Bill Nighy. First saw him in that film about an old band with Billy Connely. He played a complete and utter twat in that, very well I suppose, but too well. Now every time I see him I hate him. But, I reckon he'd be ok as Slartybartfast, much make-up etc. Should be Ian McKellen!

Hmm, bloke from the office seems a strange choice for Arthur. Is Arthur going to have a different accent from the radio/tv series?
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Trout on 14 January, 2004, 07:03:25 PM
Doug: That's Still Game, which I found reasonably funny, if not fantastic.

Gordon: You've got a point on Pirates. I'm working to keep an open mind on Hitchhikers.

- Trout
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Generally Contrary on 14 January, 2004, 07:37:28 PM
Still Game?  It was Still Crazy, wasn't it?  Please don't tell me that there is a sequel - I thought the film was awful.  I said it was the worst film I'd ever seen on 'the other place in cyberspace' and upset someone who had worked on it.

Andrew.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Trout on 14 January, 2004, 07:38:45 PM
Ah, you're right.

Still Game was a sitcom.

Sorry.

- Trout
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: paulvonscott on 14 January, 2004, 08:07:03 PM
Bill Nighy was the funniest thing in Still Crazy, I think he's great, and judging by the amount of appearences he's starting to make, so do many others.

I'll be sorry to see anyone but Simon Jones doing it.  I know he's probably too old, but it's just him.  I liked the TV show, for all its flaws, it was funny and the guide was great.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Mudcrab on 14 January, 2004, 08:23:39 PM
"Still Game was a sitcom.

Sorry."

Quite all right.

I think the TV series is brilliant. Obvious flaws but who cares, it was great. Plus the best theme music EVER! Looking forward to hearing the new radio stuff though.

Looks like it's a British made film then yeah? Thank the many Gods for that. Last thing we want is some sickly yank version with dumbed down jokes and simpler names. Christ, you'd have to have a half hour TV special to teach the morons how to pronounce fjord, never mind explain what it is!

"Gee honey, wasn't this done in Independence Day?"
"Who cares, put American Gladiators back on! I feel thought coming on"
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Mudcrab on 14 January, 2004, 08:26:44 PM
Hmm, the Arthur Dent thing though, I can't see him being great as Arthur. Tim from Spaced, now that's different. Mind you, he'd be better as Ford Prefect. In fact yes, artist bloke from downstairs in Spaced as Arthur, that'd be better. And the wifey upstairs as Zaphod :o)
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Capt.Zeep on 15 January, 2004, 02:39:50 AM
I think the main thing that let the TV series down was the shonky special effects, especially the spacecraft exteriors which were frankly risible, as indeed were the spacecraft interiors (black grit bins as weapons storage pods, anyone?).  The beauty of the original series was it was in lovely FM stereo and all the effects were sound effects, much easier and cheaper to do well.

Perhaps a new film could do justice with the right director - Terry Gilliam would be perfect but I don't suppose he's doing it, dunno who is?

Problem with yet another version of the story is it would have to start at the beginning AGAAAAIN, that part of the story's been done so many times now, and there's so many great bits in the later books...which is I guess where the new radio shows will come in.  And if it was radio Simon Jones could still be Arthur...

Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: paulvonscott on 15 January, 2004, 04:31:16 AM
I always thought the first episode and last episode of the TV series were the best.

I will go see a movie, but to be honest I don't see the point of making it really.  Nobody really values a game, book, comic or play unlesss its been made into a film.

I thought the artist in Spaced was a great suggestion for Arthur by the way.  He looks like a man who must be tortured by existance.

Actually, the whole thing done by the Spaced team would be okay by me!
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Queen Firey-Bou on 15 January, 2004, 04:53:53 AM
i hadnt heard about this project, it could be good with special effects n all, i mean LOTR did it ( Bou ducks )... in fact there is enough material for several films..

who the hell is tim from the office?
obviously i don't watch the right tv..
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Bony Fella on 15 January, 2004, 04:58:04 AM
The Office Bou... big TV show... been mentioned here a bit, won tons of awards. The actor is Martin Freeman, and has several other credits to his name including the sitcom Hardware and Da Ali G Movie. But is good nevertheless
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Priv8eye on 15 January, 2004, 04:18:34 PM
Don't forget Capt.zeep that a radio show is comming later on this year or next with as many of the original cast as they can get
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Priv8eye on 15 January, 2004, 04:19:30 PM
By that I really mean who are still alive
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Queen Firey-Bou on 16 January, 2004, 12:03:31 AM
mmmm, nope , still never seen in. don't know tim from .... wait, thats not the skinny one is it?
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Richmond Clements on 16 January, 2004, 12:59:58 AM
The best thing about the book, my opinion obviously, is the bleak line of atheisim that runs through it. And you just KNOW that isn't going to survive even the first American rewrite.
Title: Re: Who is Arthur Dent?
Post by: Priv8eye on 16 January, 2004, 02:56:54 PM
The producer who was trying to make it during the eighties eventually fell out with Adams with his non-understanding of the story

"you make this big build upi to the ultimate answer of life, the universe and everything and then you tell them its 42, arn't they going to be a little bit bummed"

Adams left and handed over the reigns to someone else who would modify the script re-inserting bits to have the producer now say "Hey this is good, where did it come from" to have her reply "actually its in the book"

Keep the bloody thing British if youre going to do it!