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For two decades, a movie version of Douglas Adams' ''[[The HitchhikersHitchhiker's Guide to Thethe Galaxy]]'' rotted in [[Development Hell]]. But in 2003, pre-production began, and in 2005, an all-out big-budget feature film rolled out to theaters.
 
The film's plot starts off following the story of [[The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy (Literaturenovel)|the first book]]/[[The HitchhikersHitchhiker's Guide to Thethe Galaxy (Radioradio series)|radio series.]] However like every other adaptation of the material, it diverges sharply not too far in. This time, the divergence is far sharper than any before, but this was done intentionally by Adams himself (who thought of making Humma Kavula the [[Big Bad]], the face-paddling scene, and the POV gun entirely on his own.) This film is also the farthest adaptation to date, even going so far as to have [[Rapid-Fire Comedy|broad humor more akin to family films, and some American sensibilities]], preventing a sequel based on ''Restaurant At The End Of The Universe'' to ever be produced.
 
Where the other versions go straight to Magrathea, the movie takes a side-trip to Viltvodle VI, where we meet the guy Zaphod beat to become President, and the quest for the mysterious [[Stealth Pun|"POV Ray"]] is engaged upon. Originally, Zaphod was trying to find the true ruler of the universe, but here he's just as shallow as he seems. There's also the home planet of the Vogons, the focus on Arthur and Trillian as a couple, the location of the ending and the way the good guys win...
 
For other versions of the story, see ''[[The HitchhikersHitchhiker's Guide to Thethe Galaxy]]''.
 
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{{tropelist}}
=== This film contains examples of: ===
* [[Adaptation Expansion]]
* [[An Aesop]] / [[Author Tract]]: Something that Douglas Adams said himself is repeated by Slartibartfast. It comes off as the smartest thing stated in the film.
{{quote| '''Slartibartfast:''' Perhaps I'm old and tired, but I think that the chances of finding out what's actually going on are so absurdly remote that the only thing to do is to say, "Hang the sense of it," and keep yourself busy. I'd much rather be happy than right any day.<br />
'''Arthur:''' And are you?<br />
'''Slartibartfast:''' ''(self deprecatingly)'' Ah, no. ''(snorts a giggle)'' Well, that's where it all falls down, of course. }}
* [[Answer Cut]]: When Trillian asks who could've signed the order to destroy Earth.
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* [[Canon Immigrant]]: Questular.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Marvin, to the Nth degree.
{{quote| '''Marvin:''' ''(grumbling)'' "Give me a hand." Ha, ha, stupid human. }}
* [[Deconstructor Fleet]]
* [[Eagle Land]]: Mixed variety. Trish is American, whom Arthur adores, while Zaphod acts like a [[Jerkass]] American stereotype (not surprising considering he's played by Sam Rockwell). Ford, too, is a sympathetic American type of [[The Stoner]] variety. As the director commented, the only character who absolutely '''needed''' to remain British was Arthur.
* [[Everything Is an iPod In The Future]]: The Starship Heart of Gold
** Also, [[Master Computer|Deep Thought]] is apparently an [https://web.archive.org/web/20120704155238/http://www.monkeybe.com/post/updates/40/hitchhikers_large.jpg Apple product].
* [[Eye Lights Out]]: Played straight then inverted by Marvin.
* [[Fake-Out Opening]]: The film actually has ''two'' title sequences. If you excised the entire dolphin musical number, there would be no loss, except for a damned catchy song.
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* [[God-Created Canon Foreigner]]: Many of the differences from previous versions were Adams creations, from pre-death versions of the script, including the POV Ray, the flyswatters, Humma Kavula, and the romantic elements.
* [[I Choose to Stay]]: {{spoiler|Arthur is offered the opportunity to return to a recreation of his home on Earth, exactly (well, without the imminent demolition by Prosser) like he left it. He chooses to stay with Ford, Zaphod and Trillian and continue exploring the galaxy.}}
* [[I'm a Doctor, Not Aa Placeholder]]
{{quote| '''Marvin:''' Freeze? I'm a robot, not a refrigerator.}}
* [[Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy]]: Vogons. [[Lampshaded]] by Marvin.
* [[In a World]]: The trailer was narrated by the titular ''Guide'', as an entry in the ''Guide'' on movie trailers, spoken by [[Stephen Fry]] in a pleasant BBC-announcer voice, except for when he described the trailer as narrated by (cue Don LaFontaine <s>impersonation</s> ''himself'') "''a seven foot tall man who's been smoking cigarettes since childhood.'' *clears throat as he returns to normal* ." It consisted of one continuous [[Lampshade Hanging]] and parody of science fiction action movie tropes, and included a shot of a beautiful scantily clad woman and a series of explosions from entirely different movies. It can be found [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3i9PKbnRvo here].
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** There ''is'' a restaurant at the end of the Universe - if you're feeling peckish. Make sure you travel in the right direction, though.
* [[Never Trust a Trailer]]: Subversion. One of the trailers is set up as the Guide's entry on movie trailers, detailing tricks such the inclusion of shots of violent explosions and scantily clad women which do not appear in the actual movie, implying the movie would be more clever.
* [[Off Withwith His Head]]: Happens surgically when Humma Kavula takes one of Zaphod Beeblebrox's heads as collateral before their trip to Magrathea.
* [[Oh Crap]]: "Oh, ''bollocks''!"
** Questular {{spoiler|when she sees Marvin aiming the P.O.V. gun in her direction.}}
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* [[Planet of Hats]]: The Vogons are a race of [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|Obstructive Bureaucrats]].
* [[The Power of Love]]: Subverted:
{{quote| '''Lunkwill:''' Rubbish, we don't want to be happy, we want to be famous!<br />
'''Fook:''' Yeah! What is all this "is she the one" tripe?<br />
'''Lunkwill:''' Take his brain! }}
** However, Trillian disagrees. Even in a deep haze, she manages to mumble, "That's a good answer."
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* [[Retractable Appendages]]: Zaphod has a second head that retracts from his chest once and awhile. He has a third hand that's right below his second head.
* [[Ridiculously Cute Critter]]: A crab sees the ship crash land on the Vogon homeworld. It starts running towards it, jumping, and saying "yeah!" It got too close and got crushed by the opening door.
* [[Right Onon Queue]]: "I'm British; I know how to queue."
* [[Saved for Thethe Sequel]]: Attempted with Humma Kavula. The Point of View Gun was clearly setting up a plot where he tries to brainwash everyone in the galaxy and take Zaphod's place. Too bad there won't be a second movie to make these things worthwhile.
* [[Scenery Porn]]: The Magrathean' planet factory floor.
* [[Seven Minute Lull]]: Arthur suffers one at the party where he first met Trisha.
* [[Shout-Out]]: The [[Star Wars|lightsabre]] toasters, complete with authentic Lucas sound effects.
** The ''Heart of Gold's'' dropships are a direct reference to ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.
** [[Shout -Out to/To Shakespeare]]: Zaphod wants to "[[The Tempest|trip the light fantastic]]" with Questular.
* [[Sinister Geometry]]: The ships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet were rectilinear.
* [[Spheroid Dropship]]: The movie has a lot of fun with this trope.
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* [[The Stoner]]: Ford, though subtle.
* [[Tempting Fate]]: The moment Marvin remarks that Vogons are "the worst marksmen in the Universe", [[Boom! Headshot!]].
{{quote| '''Marvin:''' Oof. ''[[Beat]])'' Now I have a headache. ''(collapses)''}}
* [[Thrown Out the Airlock]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] when the airlock door opens up from underneath them, instead of the opposing wall like it does with every other airlock scene like this.
* [[Ungrateful Bastard|Ungrateful Bitch]]: When Arthur, Zaphod, Ford, and Marvin rescue Trillian from Vogsphere, she slaps Zaphod (which is justified) then starts yelling at Arthur for not telling her about Earth's destruction because Zaphod threatened him. She tells him to get a backbone, for both that and not saving her on Humma Kavula's planet. Keep in mind that on that planet they'd been getting SHOT AT, and that even ''coming'' to Vogsphere to save her had been Arthur's idea. And not even one "Hi guys, thanks for saving me!" out of her.
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* [[Vomit Indiscretion Shot]]: Done very cleverly after they use the Infinite Improbability Drive while they are all knit figures. Knit Arthur goes over to a trash can and lets loose a giant load of multicolored yarn. Once they go back to normal, you can see him pulling out more yarn.
* [[What an Idiot!]]: Zaphod, in-universe. Just ask Humma's "Don't Vote For Stupid" campaign. Well, after all, the guy ''did'' sign the demolition orders for Earth thinking he was signing a fan autograph book.
* [[What Happened to Thethe Mouse?]]: Zaphod has his third hand and second head surgically removed as collateral before going on the search for the POV Gun, but he never goes to get them back. See [[Saved for Thethe Sequel]].
* [[Where It All Began]]: The climax of the film takes place in Arthur's (reconstructed) home on Earth (2.0).
* [[Wiper Start]]: On an escape pod for a space ship.
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[[Category:Cinesite]]
[[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
[[Category:The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy]]▼
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Films]]
[[Category:Films Based on Novels]]
▲[[Category:The HitchhikersHitchhiker's Guide to Thethe Galaxy]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy (film), The}}
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