The Basics Title: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy Rating: PG
Overall rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages 12+
Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Red
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Yellow
Violence Portrayal:
Green
Fear: Yellow
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green
Review:
Based on the series of books Douglas Adams
wrote in the seventies and eighties, this
film is a sci-fi adventure with lots of fun
alien creatures. If you have not read any
of the books, you might get a little lost.
Arthur (Martin Freeman) is lying in front
of a bulldozer in his bathrobe as his house
is supposed to be demolished to make way for
a new freeway bypass. His best friend, Ford
(Mos Def), comes by to take Arthur for a last
drink. Ford says that the earth is going to
be annihilated to make way for a new hyperspace
express route and that he is an alien. But
before the earth vanishes, Ford invites Arthur
to leave in a spaceship to go hitchhiking
through the galaxy. They meet several creatures
from various planets and end up riding with
Zaphod (Sam Rockwell), president of the galaxy.
Marvin (Alan Rickman) is Zaphod's hilariously
depressed robot. Arthur is also re-acquainted
with Trillian (Zooey Deschanel), the dream-girl
he met at a party (she left with Zaphod).
They are all trying to find "the answer
to the most important question in the world"
from the ultimate computer. If you have not
read the book, the movie can be confusing
at times. There is some mild language and
violence (a character gets his second head
cut off.) I found this movie confusing and
only mildly amusing. I would not suggest it
for children under 12. You might discuss what
your child would like to put in a time capsule.
What does your child think is in outer space?
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
