Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him

Sprinkler Systems Uhaul move Lawn care Roses and trees Ford Parts Chrysler Parts Lake Powell New IPod Touch Apps New IPhone Apps IPhone Apps IPad Information IPad Apps Android APPS Android Games APPS Android Systems Android Tablets APPS and Beyond Smartphone Apps Smartphone Games Apps Repair and Tools Tablet PC Car Sharing Car Leasing Tabler Pc Fly Fishing Toyota Cars Vacation Rentals Stock market NYSE SSE Stock Freight & Shipping News Gluten Lactose Gout My Coupon Life Campgrounds Check Outdoor Kitchen Design and Redoo Bath Remodeling Palm Springs Las Vegas Vacation Tipps Lake Powell Boating Homes for lease Electric and green Car Blog Pearls and diamonds Whatsapp and forget SMS Blog, What is Whatsapp App Solar Panel Solar Energie Sun Power Blog

[Suche] [Administrator] [Hinweise zum Reader] [Startseite]

Science Fiction » alt.fan.douglas-adams » Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him

Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23596]

Sa, 30 April 2005 10:43

Dave Adalian

There was something bothering me about Sam Rockwell's Zaphod and a third of
the way into the movie it hit me what. He's an idiot. He's the president.
He poses ridiculously. He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've based
the character on George Zarking W. Bush! (And tossed in some David Lee
Roth; mostly just the clothes and hair.)

I think this is brilliant satire. He's literally got only half a brain,
operates so secretly even he doesn't know what's going on, does stupid
things without considering the consequences, is only in it for the money, is
being influenced by religious zealots, and he's a figurehead for the shadowy
background people really running the show. Absolutely brilliant. Adds a
whole new layer and gives the Guide modern relevance.

The whole thing had that kind of flavor. I laughed especially at the
sequence of humanity running around screaming while the Vogons attack that
ends with sheep doing exactly the same thing. Lots of subtle little bits
like that all through. The film managed very well to get across how
achingly stupid, ignorant and scared the vast majority of humans, and
apparently everyone else in the galaxy, are/is (hence the genuine usefulness
of advice such as "Don't Panic!") and also how contrastingly beautiful,
various, delicate and worthwhile life is at the same time. Very Adamsian, I
thought.

It's no mistake the Guide is experiencing a resurgence in popularity now, in
much the same socio-political conditions of 25 years ago: rising tide of
mindless conservatism accompanied by shrinking middle class affluence and
the environment still hanging in the balance. Humanity is still just chock
full of potential and stupidity. These days everything, the Guide included,
is a bit edgier and angrier.

Great movie--amazingly amazing. Three thumbs up!

Chiggy.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23605 ]

Sa, 30 April 2005 16:55

dkotschess

Dave Adalian wrote:
> There was something bothering me about Sam Rockwell's Zaphod and a
third of
> the way into the movie it hit me what. He's an idiot. He's the
president.
> He poses ridiculously. He's got a Texas accent that isn't really
Texan. He
> mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
> self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts.
They've based
> the character on George Zarking W. Bush! (And tossed in some David
Lee
> Roth; mostly just the clothes and hair.)
>
> I think this is brilliant satire. He's literally got only half a
brain,
> operates so secretly even he doesn't know what's going on, does
stupid
> things without considering the consequences, is only in it for the
money, is
> being influenced by religious zealots, and he's a figurehead for the
shadowy
> background people really running the show. Absolutely brilliant.
Adds a
> whole new layer and gives the Guide modern relevance.
>
> The whole thing had that kind of flavor. I laughed especially at the

> sequence of humanity running around screaming while the Vogons attack
that
> ends with sheep doing exactly the same thing. Lots of subtle little
bits
> like that all through. The film managed very well to get across how
> achingly stupid, ignorant and scared the vast majority of humans, and

> apparently everyone else in the galaxy, are/is (hence the genuine
usefulness
> of advice such as "Don't Panic!") and also how contrastingly
beautiful,
> various, delicate and worthwhile life is at the same time. Very
Adamsian, I
> thought.
>
> It's no mistake the Guide is experiencing a resurgence in popularity
now, in
> much the same socio-political conditions of 25 years ago: rising
tide of
> mindless conservatism accompanied by shrinking middle class affluence
and
> the environment still hanging in the balance. Humanity is still just
chock
> full of potential and stupidity. These days everything, the Guide
included,
> is a bit edgier and angrier.
>
> Great movie--amazingly amazing. Three thumbs up!
>
>
> Chiggy.

Not only was the acting of Zaphod brilliant, but it was non-stop. He
didn't cease his smarmy and idiotic smirking and gesturing for the
whole time he was on camera, and probably off too. I am trying to
imagine what it was like on the set. Do you think he stopped when the
film stopped rolling? I also loved the camaraderie between him and
Ford.

The movie was great. Anybody who snobbishly dismisses it due to it's
being hollywooded up is probably forgetting that for these movies to be
any good at all they need a good budget, and they have to be able to
pay for it. I don't think it was unreasonably compromised. My biggest
cringe was the whole "Is she the one?" bit, which I hoped would be
followed up with something more cynical, which it was.

Because of my own selfishness, I thought I was going to be sickened by
movie-generation devotees of HHGTG, who will now inevitably go around
making references to it in daily coversation, referring to "42" and to
babelfish's and Marvin and what not. But I was suprised at my own
feeling when I heard the laughter of other people in the theatre... I
was GLAD. I actually had unselfless moments... I thought, "I am so
glad other people are laughing at Douglas Adams! This is so great!
They're getting it!"

Now, I haven't been in a theatre with more than 4 people (I usually go
during the afternoons) for a long while, but the audience *applauded*
at the end. Is that normal? I mean it's not like the cast and crew
are there. Who the hell are they clapping for? Anyway, they must have
liked it a lot to do that. I'm glad about that, and I'm glad that I'm
glad about that. I guess the "cult" of Douglas Adams is going to be
over and we have to share him now.

-DaveK

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23626 ]

Sa, 30 April 2005 21:05

Bondee

<dkotschess [at] yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1114872955.656898.23430 [at] l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> Now, I haven't been in a theatre with more than 4 people (I usually go
> during the afternoons) for a long while, but the audience *applauded*
> at the end. Is that normal? I mean it's not like the cast and crew
> are there. Who the hell are they clapping for? Anyway, they must have
> liked it a lot to do that. I'm glad about that, and I'm glad that I'm
> glad about that. I guess the "cult" of Douglas Adams is going to be
> over and we have to share him now.

They applauded in the showing I was at too, when the words "For Douglas"
appeared on the screen.

I don't mind admitting that I had a tear in my eye when I saw DNA's face
appear on screen and when I read these words.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23630 ]

Sa, 30 April 2005 21:25

dkotschess

Bondee wrote:
> <dkotschess [at] yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1114872955.656898.23430 [at] l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > Now, I haven't been in a theatre with more than 4 people (I usually
go
> > during the afternoons) for a long while, but the audience
*applauded*
> > at the end. Is that normal? I mean it's not like the cast and
crew
> > are there. Who the hell are they clapping for? Anyway, they must
have
> > liked it a lot to do that. I'm glad about that, and I'm glad that
I'm
> > glad about that. I guess the "cult" of Douglas Adams is going to
be
> > over and we have to share him now.
>
> They applauded in the showing I was at too, when the words "For
Douglas"
> appeared on the screen.
>
> I don't mind admitting that I had a tear in my eye when I saw DNA's
face
> appear on screen and when I read these words.

I avoided it saying it the first time, but... yeah me too.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #23631 ]

Sa, 30 April 2005 21:38

Fat Sam

dkotschess [at] yahoo.com wrote:
> Because of my own selfishness, I thought I was going to be sickened by
> movie-generation devotees of HHGTG, who will now inevitably go around
> making references to it in daily coversation, referring to "42" and to
> babelfish's and Marvin and what not.

Well, I think a whole new movie generation should be allowed to feel
free to do exactly that....After all, we've all been indulging in a lot
of quoting from the books, radio series and tv series for the past 20 or
so years....I'll gladly welcome a whole new generation of fans with open
arms....I'll join in their jokes and silly impersonations....And I'll
encourage them to read/listen/watch the other, older versions so they
can see where it all started and get a feel for the wider picture....

--
www.fixaphoto.co.uk
for photographic restorations

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23634 ]

Sa, 30 April 2005 21:59

dkotschess

Fat Sam wrote:
> dkotschess [at] yahoo.com wrote:
> > Because of my own selfishness, I thought I was going to be sickened
by
> > movie-generation devotees of HHGTG, who will now inevitably go
around
> > making references to it in daily coversation, referring to "42" and
to
> > babelfish's and Marvin and what not.
>
> Well, I think a whole new movie generation should be allowed to feel
> free to do exactly that....After all, we've all been indulging in a
lot
> of quoting from the books, radio series and tv series for the past 20
or
> so years....I'll gladly welcome a whole new generation of fans with
open
> arms....I'll join in their jokes and silly impersonations....And I'll

> encourage them to read/listen/watch the other, older versions so they

> can see where it all started and get a feel for the wider picture....

I think so to. I just expected that I would feel more cynical about
it than I did.

> --
> www.fixaphoto.co.uk
> for photographic restorations

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23657 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 02:26

somebody

>... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
> mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
> self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
based
> the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...

I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?

Why did he have a Texas accent and at times sound eeriely like Bush?

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #23681 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 13:11

John Coxon

In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, dkotschess [at] yahoo.com's voice said
the following, in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion
levels so low as to make a man weep:

> Bondee wrote:
>
>><dkotschess [at] yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:1114872955.656898.23430 [at] l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>They applauded in the showing I was at too, when the words "For
>>Douglas" appeared on the screen.
>>
>>I don't mind admitting that I had a tear in my eye when I saw DNA's
>>face appear on screen and when I read these words.
>
> I avoided it saying it the first time, but... yeah me too.

Me three.

--
John Coxon

"what are you talking about, is Harry Potter also a book?" - Kåre Fiedler
Christiansen (afdaniain)

Email: john[dot]coxon[at]gmail[dot]com
Website: http://alphacentauri.8k.com
Missing footnotes: http://www.nut.house.cx/cgi-bin/nemowiki.pl?ISFN
ZZ9 - the official HHGG appreciation society: http://www.zz9.org/

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #23682 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 13:13

John Coxon

In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, somebody's voice said the
following, in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so
low as to make a man weep:

>>... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
>>mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
>>self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
>>based the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...
>
> I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
> that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?

No, in the tie-in edition of the book there's an interview with Rockwell in
which Robbie Stamp and he discuss the character. It was intentional, from
what's said.

--
John Coxon

AAAAAA: American Association Against Acronym Abuse and Ambiguity.

Email: john[dot]coxon[at]gmail[dot]com
Website: http://alphacentauri.8k.com
Missing footnotes: http://www.nut.house.cx/cgi-bin/nemowiki.pl?ISFN
ZZ9 - the official HHGG appreciation society: http://www.zz9.org/

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23722 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 16:30

Gusty

Reason not withstanding the universe continued unabated and John Coxon
spoke forth:

>In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, somebody's voice said the
>following, in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so
>low as to make a man weep:
>
>>>... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
>>>mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
>>>self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
>>>based the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...
>>
>> I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
>> that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?
>
>No, in the tie-in edition of the book there's an interview with Rockwell in
>which Robbie Stamp and he discuss the character. It was intentional, from
>what's said.

Yep, It's intentional but I still think it;'s crap. I've seen th
emovie twic enow and I think the way Rockwell plas Zaphod is the worst
thing about it. He is capable of much better.

--
D.

"The Sphynx of the Caverns is the deadliest of all.
It possesses the head of a snake,
the body of a snake
and the feet of a snake."

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #23741 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 19:03

John Coxon

In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, Gusty's voice said the following,
in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so low as to
make a man weep:

> Yep, It's intentional but I still think it's crap. I've seen the
> movie twice now and I think the way Rockwell plays Zaphod is the worst
> thing about it. He is capable of much better.

Oh, yes. Zaphod was a weak link, I thought. The other characters fitted
much better.

And are you tired? There were a significant amount of very obvious typos in
that paragraph... :o)

--
John Coxon

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted then
used against you.

Email: john[dot]coxon[at]gmail[dot]com
Website: http://alphacentauri.8k.com
Missing footnotes: http://www.nut.house.cx/cgi-bin/nemowiki.pl?ISFN
ZZ9 - the official HHGG appreciation society: http://www.zz9.org/

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #23763 ]

So, 01 Mai 2005 22:45

Gusty

Reason not withstanding the universe continued unabated and John Coxon
spoke forth:

>In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, Gusty's voice said the following,
>in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so low as to
>make a man weep:
>
>> Yep, It's intentional but I still think it's crap. I've seen the
>> movie twice now and I think the way Rockwell plays Zaphod is the worst
>> thing about it. He is capable of much better.
>
>Oh, yes. Zaphod was a weak link, I thought. The other characters fitted
>much better.
>
>And are you tired? There were a significant amount of very obvious typos in
>that paragraph... :o)

Well spotted. I was rather tired due to having gone hillwalking
yesterday for the first time in 20 years and was also a little duntish
from the amount of alcohol imbibed to cushion my system from the
shock.

I've just been to see the movie for a third time (yes, honestly) with
some of the people I'd been walking with yesterday. Still enjoyed it
but the middle section drags a bit.

Did anybody else notice the missing dog advert in the pub? I only saw
it this time round. Very clever.

--
D.

"The Sphynx of the Caverns is the deadliest of all.
It possesses the head of a snake,
the body of a snake
and the feet of a snake."

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #26831 ]

Mo, 02 Mai 2005 18:13

nacey

Dave Adalian wrote:

> There was something bothering me about Sam Rockwell's Zaphod and a third of
> the way into the movie it hit me what.

As I've said before and I'll say again, the movie Zaphod was a zarking
travesty. The movie defiled the character of Zaphod and completely
disrespected him. It took a clever, intriguing and irresistably
beguiling character and turned him into a complete, two-dimensional
frigging idiot, because it's all hollywood thinks the general dumb-assed
public can possibly understand. (And even then that's Hollywood
assuming the public is stupid. In great droves they are - individually
they are not).

I think Sam Rockwell could have been a truly brilliant Zaphod. It's
just a shame what they did to the character. He had slop to work with,
he really did.

Nancy.
(Passionate on the Zaphod subject).

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #26832 ]

Mo, 02 Mai 2005 18:15

nacey

dkotschess [at] yahoo.com wrote:

> Bondee wrote:
>
>><dkotschess [at] yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:1114872955.656898.23430 [at] l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>>Now, I haven't been in a theatre with more than 4 people (I usually
>
> go
>
>>>during the afternoons) for a long while, but the audience
>
> *applauded*
>
>>>at the end. Is that normal? I mean it's not like the cast and
>
> crew
>
>>>are there. Who the hell are they clapping for? Anyway, they must
>
> have
>
>>>liked it a lot to do that. I'm glad about that, and I'm glad that
>
> I'm
>
>>>glad about that. I guess the "cult" of Douglas Adams is going to
>
> be
>
>>>over and we have to share him now.
>>
>>They applauded in the showing I was at too, when the words "For
>
> Douglas"
>
>>appeared on the screen.
>>
>>I don't mind admitting that I had a tear in my eye when I saw DNA's
>
> face
>
>>appear on screen and when I read these words.
>
>
> I avoided it saying it the first time, but... yeah me too.

I was *this* close to crying myself, but only because the characters
he'd lovingly created had just gotten the big plastic shaft by Mickey Mouse.

-Nancy
(Who actually wants to see the movie again to make sure it wasn't just
all a bad dream).

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #26833 ]

Mo, 02 Mai 2005 18:16

nacey

somebody wrote:

>>... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
>>mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
>>self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
>
> based
>
>>the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...
>
>
> I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
> that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?
>
> Why did he have a Texas accent and at times sound eeriely like Bush?

Zaphod is a thousand, billion times cooler than G.W.Bush. Why the hell
would you want him to be anything like him?!

Nancy.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #26834 ]

Mo, 02 Mai 2005 18:17

nacey

Gusty wrote:

> Reason not withstanding the universe continued unabated and John Coxon
> spoke forth:
>
>
>>In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, somebody's voice said the
>>following, in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so
>>low as to make a man weep:
>>
>>
>>>>... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
>>>>mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
>>>>self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
>>>>based the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...
>>>
>>>I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
>>>that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?
>>
>>No, in the tie-in edition of the book there's an interview with Rockwell in
>>which Robbie Stamp and he discuss the character. It was intentional, from
>>what's said.
>
>
> Yep, It's intentional but I still think it;'s crap. I've seen th
> emovie twic enow and I think the way Rockwell plas Zaphod is the worst
> thing about it. He is capable of much better.
>
Crap and a joke that'll date itself quickly.

What makes me really mad is that Zaphod is NOT supposed to be a freakin'
clown. He is an important thread in the story, damn it! *grr*

Nancy.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #26861 ]

Mo, 02 Mai 2005 23:13

Dave Adalian

"nacey" <nacey [at] nospam.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:427651b6$0$12767$5a62ac22 [at] per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

> I think Sam Rockwell could have been a truly brilliant Zaphod. It's just
> a shame what they did to the character. He had slop to work with, he
> really did.

It was brilliant. The character had good lines and made a point. Zaphod is
h2g2's Han Solo. He starts out bad and ends up doing the right thing. You
watch. Patience you must have.

Chiggy.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to LoveHim [message #27548 ]

Di, 03 Mai 2005 15:36

nacey

Dave Adalian wrote:

> "nacey" <nacey [at] nospam.iinet.net.au> wrote in message
> news:427651b6$0$12767$5a62ac22 [at] per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
>
>>I think Sam Rockwell could have been a truly brilliant Zaphod. It's just
>>a shame what they did to the character. He had slop to work with, he
>>really did.
>
>
> It was brilliant. The character had good lines and made a point.

"Far out!" "Zarkin' A!" "Hey Baby..." ... yes, it was pure gold. T_T

Zaphod is
> h2g2's Han Solo. He starts out bad and ends up doing the right thing. You
> watch. Patience you must have.
>
>
> Chiggy.

Okay! Comparing to Star Wars is where I draw the line. I love Star
Wars, don't get me wrong. It's a wonderful ol' story, worth a few hours
of your life if you have them to spare but

a) They are not brilliant stories
b) They are not funny (intentionally anyway)
c) The characters, other than Leia, are fucking terrible.

I don't WANT Zaphod to be Han Solo. He's ten thousand times COOLER than
Han Solo.

Nancy.

Re: Why I Really Didn't Like the New Zaphod and How I Came to Love Him [message #29405 ]

Do, 05 Mai 2005 22:53

John Coxon

In the two thousand and fifth year of Bob, nacey's voice said the following,
in wonderful perfect quadrophonic sound with distortion levels so low as to
make a man weep:

> somebody wrote:
>
>>> ... He's got a Texas accent that isn't really Texan. He
>>> mutters and smirks. He's impulsive, rash, sexist and completely
>>> self-absorbed. He's prone to bizarre, nonsensical outbursts. They've
>>> based the character on George Zarking W. Bush! ...
>>
>> I thought that the first time Zaphod talked. Were they really trying for
>> that--or was it unconscious. Or, just a coincidence?
>>
>> Why did he have a Texas accent and at times sound eeriely like Bush?
>
> Zaphod is a thousand, billion times cooler than G.W.Bush. Why the hell
> would you want him to be anything like him?!

Uhm, y'see, it's this thing called parody. :-)

--
John Coxon

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted then
used against you.

Email: john[dot]coxon[at]gmail[dot]com
Website: http://alphacentauri.8k.com
Missing footnotes: http://www.nut.house.cx/cgi-bin/nemowiki.pl?ISFN
ZZ9 - the official HHGG appreciation society: http://www.zz9.org/

Vorheriges Thema:	Violence towards tiny things
Nächstes Thema:	The South Bank Show

Gehe zu:

-=] Zurück zum Anfang [=-

aktuelle Zeit: Sa Mai 26 10:38:36 CEST 2012

Insgesamt benötigte Zeit, um die Seite zu erzeugen: 0,04450 Sekunden

.:: Startseite - Hinweise - Impressum ::.