The Reader's Digest Condensed Version of the Hitchhiker' Guide

Saw "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" movie this past weekend. If, like me, you've heard the original radio play, own the DVD of the BBC series, and have read all five books in the trilogy, know that the new feature film is just different enough from the other versions of the story.

But also know that it clips along at a frenetic pace, and the best gags from the radio/tv/book version are reduced practically to one-liners. So if you liked one or more of the other versions, you're going to be disappointed. And if you've never heard/watched/read one of the other versions, you're going to be confused.

There are a couple nifty cameos. Simon Jones plays the holographic image that greets the Heart of Gold upon its arrival at Magrathea. And the original Marvin from the tv series appears in one scene.

But honestly, the most important plot point of the whole thing -- the whole Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything question -- is downplayed to tbe point of being unnecessary. Which suggests that the film itself was unnecessary, though the special effects are quite special. The Vogons in particular were very well done.

But I think I'll just pull out my DVD of the tv series, and watch it again. The tv version was a lot funnier.