MOVIE: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

by benmweilertNo Comments
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Year: 2005 Rating: PG Length: 109 minutes / 1.82 hours For a book that has had so many adaptations in so many forms of media (radio drama, video game, TV series, etc.), one could argue that The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) was merely the American adaptation that made it palatable to non-British audiences. While this may be the case, I think it does an excellent job of encapsulating this iconic piece of science fiction comedy with lots of high-profile actors and excellent CGI that enhances the otherworldly universe created by Douglas Adams. One of the challenges this film faces is all the different cutaway gags and bits required as the “Guide” provides exposition details for all the fantastical elements that are a staple in sci-fi. I love the style they used for the Guide and the bits with the whale were funny. The only problem is that they sometimes break the flow of the narrative—even if they...
Read More

MOVIE: Being John Malkovich (1999)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Being John Malkovich Year: 1999 Rating: R Length: 113 minutes / 1.88 hours I have to blame Being John Malkovich (1999) for making me try more films written by Charlie Kaufman than I probably wanted to. While it is a quite peculiar film, it was strange in all the right ways. This movie was saying more than I could comprehend when it hooked me the first time I watched it, but now I can see its deeper meanings having been given the time to see it again with fresh eyes. And perhaps Being John Malkovich was more my introduction to Spike Jonze films, which has been a much better journey. Kaufman's writing is bizarre in ways that annoyed me in Synecdoche, New York (2008) and I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) but worked for movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Being John Malkovich (1999). Perhaps it's because the latter two in this list have actual plots. I can appreciate the meta...
Read More