Hitchhiker's Guide at the El Cap

[LSPoorEeyorick]

The El Capitan (http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/) is hosting a swell collection of filmabilia in conjunction with their presentation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, so Eliza Hodgkins, Tom and I decided we'd hit it up on opening night. We thought we'd extend an invite.

Some of you are very nearby... a few stops down the metro *cough*Matt*cough* or perhaps right across the street *cough*StarWars*cough*... some of you live rather a trek away from Hollywood. But don't panic. We'd love to have you join us, froods, but if you can't, we promise we won't recite poetry.

If you'd like to join us, tickets are available on the El Cap website or via their phone service. We've got spiffy parking for means of carpooling or taking the metro. We may even snag some dinner beforehand. The more the hoopier.

[Not Afraid]

You're talking the 29th?

We're off to Coachella that evening.






(And I've never even read the book.)

[blueerica]

I'd be a real cool frood if I picked up some tix, wouldn't I?

[Not Afraid]

Looking at the schedule, the film after Hitch is a Hayao Miyazaki (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/) film:

Howl's Moving Castle
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/assets/home/77x77_07.jpg June 10th - June 23rd


I'd be interested in see that sometime AFTER the 14th.

[CoasterMatt]

What time you planning on seeing it?

[Moonliner]

Just don't read the reviews.

That way you might at least enjoy yourself right up until the movie actaully starts.

[CoasterMatt]

I got tix for 7 pm show at El Capitan... reviews be damned :D

[Moonliner]

:) I got tix for 7 pm show at El Capitan... reviews be damned :D

Have fun but drink a Gargleblaster BEFORE the show starts. :)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Yeah, what time? etc...

[blueerica]

Yeah, time is important here. I think I'm going to try to go with Tramspotter to this. Sounds like a little much-needed fun. :)

[surfinmuse]

We saw it earlier tonight at a media screening. It was fun! Yeah just tuck those reviews away at the back of your mind, or better yet, don't read them, and just enjoy it for what it is.

Then afterwards you can add your £0.02's worth.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Oh, crap!

The internet ate my first version of this post, complete with suggested time (9:45 so as to accomodate potential people from farther away.) And I managed to leave it out of the second draft. D'oh.

And Matt's already got his 7:00 tickets. I don't think they're exchangeable, but I suspect that work the next AM might require his early attendance.

You guys who want to join us (Erica/Tram, Mark, anybody else?)-- can you make it by 7? Or is it too early?

[Moonliner]

We saw it earlier tonight at a media screening. It was fun! Yeah just tuck those reviews away at the back of your mind, or better yet, don't read them, and just enjoy it for what it is.

Then afterwards you can add your £0.02's worth.

Note: This is NOT a scarcastic post. It is not an attempt to be cynical nor is it in any way shape or form intended as a personal attack. This is simply a question.

Prior to seeing the movie, had you read any of the books?

[Ponine]

I have no reason to be as confused as I am, but what time in the LSPE and EH group thinking of going?

[LSPoorEeyorick]

No, no, there's definite confusion.

EH and I had suggested 9:45 so as to accomodate people from farther away. I had put it on the first post but it got eaten so it looked like we hadn't decided on a time.

Matt bought tickets for the 7:00 before I came back to LoT to update the mistake. EH/Tom/I may have tickets for the 9:45 already-- that was Tom's job and I haven't heard from him this morning.

So I guess the answer is: we don't know. Does everybody want to go the earlier show? Are there people who'd benefit from the later show? I'd like everyone to be able to go to the same show.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The tickets should be refundable. Even the Arclight with its assigned seating will refund tickets.

[Kevy Baby]

The tickets should be refundable. Even the Arclight with its assigned seating will refund tickets.As I just placed my order, there was a "warning" message that the tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. FWIW.

For the 7:00 show, the orchestra is mostly sold out (only 11 seats and only one pair together), but the Balcony is wide open (we bought the first pair - in the front row no less). The balcony at the El Cap is pretty good actually.

The 9:45 show is mostly sold out. I say lets go for the 7:00 - more available seats (but sucks for LSPE and family). Afterwards we can go heckle the Star Wars fans.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I cannot wait! 9:45, in good company. Sorry the times were confused and that we'll miss some of you Seven O' Clockers!

As for reviews, I'm avoiding and I don't care. I love Douglas Adams, but I also love the casting in the film, and will hopefully enjoy it for what it is. It's a movie and should be its own thing. It won't ruin the books for me, as I can always read them again and again and again. Besides, again, the casting! Sam Rockwell is a PERFECT Zaphod Beeblebox! PERFECT.

Hope to see some of you there. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

[BarTopDancer]

What day? I am so freekin confused =(

Can someone please post all the details on 1 post?

Thank you.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Friday, April 29th. 7:00 or 9:45 showings. El Capitan theater in Hollywood. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Also, the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything is 42. You don't really need more of an answer than that.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Hah! Apparently we still don't have our tickets, and may be joining peeps at the 7:00 after all. Confusing, confusing.

So I'll keep focusing on the answer being 42.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Hold up, yo!

It's been discovered that EH-Tom-I don't have tickets for the 9:45 yet, so we'll also be going with the 7pm. Dinner and heckling afterward?

Bottom line: Friday April 29 at 7pm at the El Cap.

Edit: jinx! Though she said it first, so I guess I don't get to talk until she says my name. If we were seven years old.

[Not Afraid]

You guys are cracking me up!

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

This is what happens when two people who live together don't see much of each other, and when they do see each other are too tired after the working day to do anything else other than watch Everwood together in silence before collapsing into their respective beds.

[cstephens]

We've got our tickets for the late show on Friday night at the El Cap. I have some trepidation about the film only because Douglas died before it was completed, but at least he wrote the first draft. They seemed to have done a great job at casting Arthur. Looking forward to seeing it and the exhibit.

[Sheila]

What time do you think we'd need to be in line for the 7:00 p.m. show?

I work in the Culver City area until about 5:30-6:00 p.m., so it'd be tight for me to make it there.

But I'm up for it; I'll go check El Cap online to see what's available....

[lindyhop]

Have fun, you guys! I wish I could go but well, I have other fun stuff planned. I think I'll try to see it around here somewhere during the day so I won't be in my usual clueless state. I'm feeling better about the movie than when I first heard about the project. Maybe I'll bring my autographed copy of Mostly Harmless and forget about the blank look Douglas Adams gave me when I complimented him on the title.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

What time do you think we'd need to be in line for the 7:00 p.m. show?

I work in the Culver City area until about 5:30-6:00 p.m., so it'd be tight for me to make it there.

But I'm up for it; I'll go check El Cap online to see what's available....

If I remember correctly of my excursion with EH to see Pirates on opening day, they didn't let anybody in until slightly before the scheduled start. And since there's a gaggle of us meeting, and since some of us just have a two-minute metro ride to theatre, I would say that we could placehold for you.

[BarTopDancer]

Oh no! I want to go but I have to work. So it'll take like 3 hours to get there on a Friday afternoon? I can meet y'all for dinner :evil:

[Sheila]

If I remember correctly of my excursion with EH to see Pirates on opening day, they didn't let anybody in until slightly before the scheduled start. And since there's a gaggle of us meeting, and since some of us just have a two-minute metro ride to theatre, I would say that we could placehold for you.

Oooh, thank you! Okay, I've just bought two tickets (one for me and one for my girlfriend, Deb). We got VIP Balcony, Row AA, Seats 107-108. I think we're almost near Kevy and GusGus! :)

We're up for dinner afterwards too.

[Kevy Baby]

Oooh, thank you! Okay, I've just bought two tickets (one for me and one for my girlfriend, Deb). We got VIP Balcony, Row AA, Seats 107-108. I think we're almost near Kevy and GusGus! :)

We're up for dinner afterwards too.Yep, right next door. We're 105 & 106. I almost took 107 & 108 - I just couldn't decide :D

[surfinmuse]

Note: This is NOT a scarcastic post. It is not an attempt to be cynical nor is it in any way shape or form intended as a personal attack. This is simply a question. Prior to seeing the movie, had you read any of the books?

Hi Moonliner, no worries, no offense taken at all whatsoever to the question. Yeah I've read all the books, with a preference leaning towards the first two, and most of the third.

Sorry I don't know how to use the Spoiler Tags, but here's fair warning.


*** POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD ***


The truncated lines do lose some of the jokes, and there's not enough Marvin (my favourite) as far as I'm concerned, and Zaphod is more shrill than I heard/pictured in my head as I read the books.

All that said, I still enjoyed the movie, whatever the deparature. But that's the thing about film adapations of books that create their own universe (literally, in this case!). Harry Potter comes to mind as another example.

For all the stuff that was cut out and/or changed in the movie, there were some tremendously enjoyable bits. I think the movie is beautifully conceived. I LOVE the Earth Mark 2 sequence, and Bill Nighy is just fantastic as Flartibartfast.

*** POSSIBLE SPOILERS ABOVE ***

Well I hope that everyone who who goes to see it has a good time, if nothing else, to talk about what worked and what didn't when the movie is over. Cheers!

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

So who's on first?

[Moonliner]

Hi Moonliner, no worries, no offense taken at all whatsoever to the question. Yeah I've read all the books, with a preference leaning towards the first two, and most of the third.


OK, I'll mellow out and wait a bit to see what type of buzz it gets and go from there. However there is ONE thing that just MUST be in the movie or (in my opinion) it's all rubbish. That being one very surprised sperm whale. Splat.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

OK, I'll mellow out and wait a bit to see what type of buzz it gets and go from there. However there is ONE thing that just MUST be in the movie or (in my opinion) it's all rubbish. That being one very surprised sperm whale. Splat.

I hope that's included, as well. At least Adams was heavily involved with the script, and the additional material is (for the most part) stuff he worked in.

The reviews on www.rottentomatoes.com have been, so far, almost entirely favorable. I'm hopeful.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Yep, right next door. We're 105 & 106. I almost took 107 & 108 - I just couldn't decide :D

Well, like in life, once again...I'm behind everyone. bb112. :cool:

[surfinmuse]

OK, I'll mellow out and wait a bit to see what type of buzz it gets and go from there. However there is ONE thing that just MUST be in the movie or (in my opinion) it's all rubbish. That being one very surprised sperm whale. Splat.
Yes the whale is there, voiced by the terrific Bill Bailey (http://www.bill-bailey.co.uk/home.php)!

[Kevy Baby]

I hope that's included, as well. At least Adams was heavily involved with the script, and the additional material is (for the most part) stuff he worked in.Umm... he's dead.

Died four years ago.

[surfinmuse]

He did work on some elements of the screenplay, years ago before he died. He supposedly worked on the Humma Kavula parts (among others) that aren't in the books.

[CoasterMatt]

Rose and I got orchestra Row A, Seats 111 & 112

[blueerica]

Sounds like TS & I are in the 7:00 PM show as well!

We'll see everyone there!!

[BarTopDancer]

Oh no! I want to go but I have to work. So it'll take like 3 hours to get there on a Friday afternoon? I can meet y'all for dinner :evil:

(looking around for the uninvisible button)... is my estimate accurate? If I leave OC at 5 I won't make it by 7 will I?

[Name]

hrmm, time to work on that quantum mechanics stuff, so I can be in 2 places at the same time......I have another appointment at 7pm this friday..

[Gn2Dlnd]

I'll see you all there, assuming I can get a ticket. Just went onto the El Capitan website, and the whole "goDisney" thing is down for maintenance. Huh. I'll drive by the theatre on Thursday and buy my tix in person. What's the deal with the reserved seats? Are people paying extra for this? Is this the thing where they bring you your popcorn and soda and don't make you stand in line? Anyhoo, they generally start playing the pipe organ as the previous audience is leaving, so it's good to be there early.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

(looking around for the uninvisible button)... is my estimate accurate? If I leave OC at 5 I won't make it by 7 will I?


I think so. It's about 30 miles from DL, so it might work out.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

What's the deal with the reserved seats? Are people paying extra for this? Is this the thing where they bring you your popcorn and soda and don't make you stand in line?

Yup. Though not all people are paying extra for this. We'd post where we're sitting, but it's a to-be-determined thing, as we only got general admission tix.

Nifty-- glad to see you're coming. I haven't managed to meet you before.

uninvisible buttonI see you! Going from Burbank at 5, I can sometimes make it to DL by 7. It depends on the day. If you were going to come, probably the more expensive assigned seating would assure that you'd get in even if you were a little late. If you think you'd rather join us afterward, we can plan a meeting spot. Actually, we need to do that anyway since we'll be scattered about the theatre.

[BarTopDancer]

=( It looks like I won't be able to make it. If anything changes I'll call. Have fun everyone!

[CoasterMatt]

Hey, if you're going to the 7 o'clock show, afterwards, Rose and I are gonna walk about a block and a half or so to our favorite tattoo parlor/art gallery - they've got an excellent lil display of Tiki artwork currently showing, and some really trippy other stuff.

I'll probably be pretty easy to spot, look for a "Revenge of the Mummy" jacket (big gold scarab beetle on the front), we'll be in the orchestra section for the movie.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Also, I think we're all thinking of hanging out afterward. Are we doing dinner? Tom, who works frequently in the area, suggests that after the movie, the best bets for seating and decent food are Mel's Diner and an Italian restaurant (what was the name again?) that has been there since the 40s. Both should be able to seat us comfortably.

There's also the Erotic Museum, though I'm not sure what we'd eat there...

[Not Afraid]

Miceli's. Good stuff! It's right around the corner from the Egyptian. Mel's is good too. I also like Cafe des Artistes that is on a side street closer to Sunset.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Bought my ticket today, just in case anyone hasn't gotten theirs yet, you better hurry, there's only 700 left.
See you tomorrow, toot!

(anyone want to meet earlier to walk around the Hollywood & Highland complex?)

[CoasterMatt]

We're gonna Metro from Universal, then walk, it's no big thang

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I'm up for whatever. There's also Bob's in Burbank and a cool pizza joint about 2 blocks down. Maybe we can all meet at the boxoffice after the show but isn't there a walk thru?

[Gn2Dlnd]

There is a walk-thru after the movie. We'll all find each other there, although, for a thousand seat theater, the place is fairly intimate. I'm sure we'll all know where each other is sitting. I think it's probably a better idea to take advantage of the Hollywood & Highland complex across the street, rather than try to give directions to a restaurant in the valley. There's also a Hamburger Hamlet next door, and a Coffee Bean on the corner. Who knows, maybe the new soda fountain will be open! The options in the immediate neighborhood are vast. And preferable to reparking the car. They're scheduling showings about three hours apart, so count on not actually leaving the theater and walk-thru until around 9:30, and figure out if you need to have dinner before then. It looks like there's a few of us who'll be in the neighborhood early, I'll leave my business card at the box office with my phone number, so's you can find us.


BTW,
Originally Posted by http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/directions.html
Hollywood & Highland Parking Facility, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., is located directly across the street from the El Capitan. Enter the parking structure from either Highland Ave. or Orange Ave. Partial parking validation available.*

*Subject to availability

See you at the movies!

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/el_capitan/assets/about/elcap2_about_pic2.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

Isn't there a McDonalds nearby?


Don't forget the movie memorabilia stuff after the movie. I know I will want to hit that!

[Gn2Dlnd]

Isn't there a McDonalds nearby?


:boot to the head:

[Ghoulish Delight]

Well, I'm avoiding any real info, but I saw a blurb of a review, and it was positive. Yay! Unfortunately we'll be unable to join you all at El Cap, but we hope to catch it tonight.

Interesting tid bit...while Marvin is voiced by Allan Rickman, inside the suit is Warwick Davis (Willow/Wicket).

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Heidi told me about Warwick. Poor Warwick. He's not given much to do in the Potter films, but at least he's not hidden in some giant robot suit.

[blueerica]

But /prrrr Alan Rickman....

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Yes, purr indeed. And when it's just his voice, I can pretend Alan Rickman isn't nearly 60.

Woohooooooooooo!

[Ponine]

Yes, purr indeed. And when it's just his voice, I can pretend Alan Rickman isn't nearly 60.


Oh who cares, he's Alan Rickman for gods sake!

[CoasterMatt]

Absolutely fun movie, and it was really nice to see everybody...

So long, and thanks for all the fish! :D

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Thanks for a fun night!! Anyone up for Herbie? ;)

[Gn2Dlnd]

A swell time was had by me!

[blueerica]

I had a great time, and enjoyed the movie.

Of course, I did have the screaming lady behind me, who at each recognizable scene decided to screech with delight...

Here's what I think:

Those who didn't like the movie on account of it not holding exactly true to the book need to take the giant stick out of their ass, take an honest evaluation of the book, and ask themselves, "How would I have adapted this wildly funny, totally improbable-to-fully-desribe, beyond descriptive for even the most silly little detail book into a movie that audiences can understand and enjoy?" Having *just* re-read the first book in the "trilogy" the foremost thing I thought while I was reading it was "How in the world can they adapt such a book." And I really think they did a marvelous job of bringing so much to the screen in such a short amount of time.

Not that this spoiled anything.. I just wanted to use spoiler tags... HAHA!

[Kevy Baby]

Yes, the overly exuberant fans were annoying (we had one behind us, but he mellowed out after the first few minutes). But it was a lot of fun seeing the movie with a bunch of fans who did applaud and cheer at the right times!

The GusMeister and I enjoyed the movie, but unfortunately I don't think it will do well beyond HHGTTG fans. If you don't "get" the book, you aren't going to "get" the movie.

But I hope I am wrong.

[Kevy Baby]

One more thing: kinda bummed that we were unable to heckle either if the LoT line-waiters across the street as neither were there. But quite a set-up they have have!

[wendybeth]

We saw the movie yesterday (still here in Cleveland; we leave in a few hours) and I mostly liked it. I did find myself re-casting a bit after the movie, as I wasn't all that thrilled with some of the acting choices, but overall it was good.

[innerSpaceman]

The LoT line-waiters thought this movie totally sucked. I have no idea whether or not I would "get" the books, but we certainly did not "get" this movie. And it most certainly did not inspire either of us to ever read these books.

Characters were boring or entirely undeveloped. Plot was absent or indecipherable. The entire point seemed to be a thread upon which to hang wry British social observations circa early 80's on.

The first and last 10 minutes were good. Everything in the middle blew.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I dug it. Fun time at the movies. Lots of upbeat silliness. I actually really liked the casting, even though they were very different from what I had imagined. Lots of good moments. But did I love it? Nah. Fun though.

[CoasterMatt]

I had a lotta buncha fun, and the sleep deprivation didn't even kick in until Sunday :D

[Ghoulish Delight]

Could have been better could have been worse. I mean, it kills me that no one would take the risk of doing the full LotR treatment on this thing. But, for what it was, this was good. iSm, for what it's worth, I definitely felt that you had to have read the book to really lock into the humor. This movie leaned towards the silly side of the humor (which is in the books, not saying it's not) but did strip out a lot of the more intelligent humor. But, knowing the book, I think I definitely picked up on a few subtleties that someone who hasn't read it might not have.

We were really worried as all of the previews were for kids' movies. Thought it would be totally aimed at real young kids. Thankfully, while "family friendly" it wasn't overly dumbed down. Enjoyable for what it was.