I caught two science-fiction movies this weekend: one great, one average. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (buy the Douglas Adams book here) is mildly entertaining, a poor man's Time Bandits. I feel as though I would have enjoyed the film more had I ingested a large quantity of hallucinogens upon entering the theater. In it a character called "the president" appears like our president, or at least like a caricature of our president done by Will Ferrell. The depiction is not subtle. On DVD I watched I, Robot (buy the Isaac Asimov book here), which turned out to be one of the best movies I've seen in a while. I, Robot explores the dangers of paternalism, conventional assumptions, and logic devoid of human insight. Plus, Will Smith beats up a lot of robots and leads them on a Steve McQueen-type car chase. It's entertaining and smart.

Isaac Asimov and Douglas Adams, the men who authored the books that served as the basis for both films, are gods among nerds. Though I am no nerd (Can a nerd bench 300? Didn't think so, nerd.), I've come to appreciate science fiction of late. Asimov penned episodes of two old-time radio programs I own on MP3 discs, Dimension X and X-Minus One. Did you know he has an asteroid named after him? Adams could be the coolest nerd ever to walk the planet. He worked as a writer on Monty Python's Flying Circus, penned numerous Dr. Who episodes, and once played live with Pink Floyd--even picking the name of their post-Roger Waters effort, The Division Bell. The man climbed Mount Kilimanjaro dressed as a rhinoceros. Both writers are gone now. They have left a rich legacy.

Of course you know you are inviting "How much yuh bench" remarks with your admission. By the way, there is a species of nerd that through years of determined work get their bench up to three. Dark socks. I've got proof!

I was pleased to see a female commenter below (one Melinda). One thing I have noticed about Flynnfiles is the dearth of female commenters. I will check out I robot.

Thr Hitchhikers Guide books are hilarious, but it did not seem to tranfer to movie too well. I found the movie just average, and I've been looking forward to the realease for quite a long time.

Oh well, there is always Episode 3 on May 19 :)

I concur with Dan's comment "had I ingested a large quantity of hallucinogens upon entering the theater", although I suggest digesting them an hour prior to entering the theater. I watched it with my 9-year old, which added the perspective necessary to suspend reality sufficiently to enjoy the film. In all, I now know to add the book to the list of those I tackle when I am retired and it is scheduled to rain for three weeks.
Question - Was the story pro-God or anti-GOd? In the beginning, it took on a distinctly anti-GOd attitude. By the film's end, I sensed capitulation on the idea that a God exists and actually answers our prayers. Discuss...

"I, Robot" was good, but even though Will Smith has improved as an actor, it's hard to take the Fresh Prince seriously. His role in "Hitch" (a surprisingly good movie) was more in line with his persona.

Havn't seen "Hitchiker's" yet, but your comments are disheartening. Will a movie ever be made that does justice to a great book (damn you Peter Jackson!)?

I know I'm foolish to expect something good from the last "Star Wars" installment, but I can still hope. Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" starring Tom Cruise looks promising. But the greatest sci-fi movie of all time remains "Aliens."

Asteroids are painful. Try some Preparation-A. Does the trick every time!

I saw hitchhikers over the weekend.

I think you are mistaken thinking that Zaphod is supposed to be a lampoon of the US president. He was not really any different in the '81 series the BBC did, same with the books.

He is Zaphod BeebleBrox.

Jason

Sorry to hear that about Hitchhiker's I was really looking forward to it. I'm sure Marvin steals the movie just like he steals the books, though.

"How much you squat?"
"I asked you first"--Brock Lander, superstar.

I saw a little more than half the I, Robot movie. Will Smith ruined it for me by playing the hip hop wise cracking cop (which isn't any different than his hip hop wise cracking MIB persona, or other roles). Why couldn't they get him to act serious and straight instead of having him be all jiggy-with-it?

"He is Zaphod BeebleBrox."

He's just this guy, you know?

"Hey baby...I'm Zaphod Beeblebrox!" I'm just greatly disappointed that they couldn't figure out a way to CGI his second head (or at least let him keep the third arm). Alan Rickman as the voice of Marvin is an inspired choice. And at least Adams wrote a lot of the screenplay before he passed.

Some things just aren't meant to be made into movies. LoTR is a good example of something that just works far better as a very long story. Jackson did a great job as far as it goes, and I enjoyed the movies greatly, but they are NOT the books. Weakening Faramir's character and then practically writing him out? Terrible, terrible. He's supposed to be the ideal of a man who COULD be a great king, but sets his considerable gifts to the service of the true king. (Not surprisingly, my favorite character of the entire story.)

Actually, Will tried, and isn't a bad actor. This cop was a big departure from his turn as either J or James West (those guys WERE the same character). My problem with the I, Robot movie was that the robot was the best character in the whole thing; the lady doctor was a cipher and Will overdid the dark troubled past bit.

Ep III? Who knows. I'm enough of a geek to be well into Ep VII, VIII, and IX, to be filmed when pot-bellied ferrets invade Neptune and overthrow the Dark Wizards of Anime.