# Special advance screening if you're a hoopy frood who knows where his towel is! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974 "2005-01-27T20:12:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/21 "2005-01-29T06:59:17Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > Here, **bienville**. Drown your spirits with an Old Janx Spirit. Doesn’t require half the rehabilitation time of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Personally, I feel he would respond more favorably to a Ouisghian Zodah. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/22 "2005-01-29T07:48:26Z")
_Now_ you’re sending me well-wishes? _Now_??? Where were the good vibes when I needed them??? 😉 As it happened, I left the theatre to take up other plans, which meant I ended up being able to hang out with _girls_ (one of my favorite demographics and a demographic that was somehow sorely missing at the HHGTTG screening). 😃 So, I’ll survive the remaining months waiting for the official release. ---
**Author:** ![iggy\_popov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@iggy\_popov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iggy_popov)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/23 "2005-01-29T08:48:26Z")
It’s kind of funny that the instant I felt like responding to this that my cat Trillian came up to me to get some pettings. Scary isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/24 "2005-01-29T10:18:30Z")
I just checked out the screenshot up on Imdb. > **[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/mediaindex)** > > The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. Zaphod only has one head and two arms? When did that happen? Marvin also looks marketed to sell toys and Happy Meals. Considering they put him on the movie poster, I think by summer I’ll grow to hate him. Can you tell I’m not expecting too much from Hitchhikers Guide to Disney ---
**Author:** ![Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo_ate_my_hamster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/25 "2005-01-29T11:15:51Z")
Sorry to hear that, **bienville**. Now it’s best to find a lake that thinks it is gin and tonic and jump into it. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/26 "2005-01-29T14:59:52Z")
So, being in the demographic of _really, **really** _ wanting to see the movie wasn’t what they wanted? (Yeah, I know how sampling works, but drat! that’s frustrating.) I wonder if some Dendrasi could have helped you get in the theater? Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing it later this year. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/27 "2005-01-29T15:33:03Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > Marvin also looks marketed to sell toys and Happy Meals. Considering they put him on the movie poster, I think by summer I’ll grow to hate him. Well, it would be no less than what he would expect. Would you like him to go and stick his head in a bucket of water? He’s got one ready. _Sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/28 "2005-01-29T15:38:01Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > I just checked out the screenshot up on Imdb. > > [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/photogallery](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371724/photogallery) > > Zaphod only has one head and two arms? When did that happen? > > Marvin also looks marketed to sell toys and Happy Meals. Considering they put him on the movie poster, I think by summer I’ll grow to hate him. > > Can you tell I’m not expecting too much from Hitchhikers Guide to Disney I’m not hopeful, either. I think I’m going to buy the book today and force my neice to read it before she can be tainted by the film. Regarding Zaphod’s head, though – maybe the still shot is a head short because the head is being added digitally"? Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/29 "2005-01-29T17:46:00Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > I’m not hopeful, either. I think I’m going to buy the book today and force my neice to read it before she can be tainted by the film. > > Regarding Zaphod’s head, though – maybe the still shot is a head short because the head is being added digitally"? Just a thought. No cite, but I have read that this is indeed the case. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/30 "2005-01-29T22:13:15Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Dude, you suck. I can’t wait for this to come out. > > Robin Well, _Bienville_’s just zis Guy, you Know? Sorry you didn’t make it in, B. I sure hope this movie exceeds my low expectations. Hollywood, Don’t talk to me about Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/31 "2005-01-29T22:25:05Z")
> [@Tenar](#): > > I’m not hopeful, either. I think I’m going to buy the book today and force my neice to read it before she can be tainted by the film. > > Regarding Zaphod’s head, though – maybe the still shot is a head short because the head is being added digitally"? Just a thought. It’s a nice thought. I like that thought. Sadly,… > [@](#): > > How cheap? Cheap enough that the filmmakers use every trick in the book to NOT show Zaphod?s two heads and third arm. They even go so far as to create an elaborate plot device which removes said head and arm for the entire second half of the film in what has to be the most latent attempt to save a buck I?ve ever seen on the big screen. > > [http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19271](http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19271) I know we shouldn’t believe everything we read on the Internets, but this sounds about in line with something Disney would do. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/32 "2005-01-30T13:42:16Z")
Another reaction, from Moriarty of AICN (probable spoilers) > **[Moriarty Gets A Very Early Look At THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY!!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/19282)** > > Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab First things first there's a new rule that I suggest needs to be amended to the Screen Actor's Guild MBA: you are required to cast Alan Rickman and Sam Rockwell in any... Brian ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974/33 "2005-01-30T20:33:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Regarding Zaphod’s head, though – maybe the still shot is a head short because the head is being added digitally"? Just a thought. From what I know of movie special effects, the way to do it would be a sort of hybrid approach: The actor wears a prosthetic, so he and the others on set can tell what they’re interacting with, and then you digitally replace the prosthetic with something more detailed and dynamic (maybe even the actor’s own face, filmed in a separate shoot). The prosthetic for this purpose could be something as simple as a styrofoam ball on a cardboard neck, just so long as there’s something there as a placeholder, and digital effects nowadays are cheap. The fact that there exists a screenshot without even the cheap prosthetic does not bode well. On the plus side, Trillian looks a heck of a lot better than she did in the BBC version. Though that might be damning with faint praise: Anyone would look better than that ditzo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-advance-screening-if-youre-a-hoopy-frood-who-knows-where-his-towel-is/286974.md?page=1)