Pendants and Towels

Well, comic's up, as you can clearly see, and you've probably noticed some changes to the site. Well, that's what happens when your monthly bandwidth jumps 2500%! I have to say, that's pretty freakin' cool, despite the cost. So a big thank you to all of you readers out there. I dunno about you, but considering how close we came to the top 10 on The Web Comics List last month, I think we could actually make it this time. Whatcha say? Also, I shall be adding (after some sleep) a few new comics to the links page, as well as at long last putting "Alice" and "Random Trivia" on the Dramatis Personae page.

Anyhow, I have some really cool news. I got my pendant replaced at long long last! Ok, see that pendant that hangs around my neck in the comic? Yeah, well that is or more precisely, was this:

It's a Gothic Cross I picked up at a Renaissance Fair back in highschool. I wore the thing for nearly 6 some years before (as you can see) it finally broke. I blame this not on the craftsmanship but rather on the tendancy of ex-girlfriends to yank me around by it. This breakage happened back in August. Yes, the actual Garth has not been wearing the pendant his comic counter part has been over the entire online life of the comic, thus far. However, that is all about to change. For in my cunning, and somewhat fanatical, plans I have been having it remade! Recast by skilled craftsmen, made not from mere pewter but the finest Dwarvish silver, smelted deep within the dark places of the world ... er I mean Sterling, yes that's it. And behold it's craft is finally complete!

As it turns out, you can find the pewter versions of this cross on ebay if you look. But I didn't know that at the time. I hadn't seen them at the Ren Fair for years, and I didn't have the company's name. Oh well. This one is much shinier.

Like any good fan, I saw The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Friday and for now, I shall say that I liked it. I've been a fan of Douglas Adams's work for many years now. I've read the books, loved the radio series, even taken a sick delight in the BBC $15 budget TV mini-series, and at long last a major motion picture based on one of my favorite quirky books.

I'm sure that if you haven't read the books at least once before, you'll miss out on a lot of stuff when seeing the film. There's a short ton of references that aren't explained, and many explainations that are truncated drastically. You'll see the Vogons sitting on the chairs in the shape of a vaguely deer-like creature that has been crushed beneath the Vogon's massive weight, and you'll watch him fishing for littl silly blue crab things, but you will no know why he's doing it. The Books of course explain that these behaviors are traditions based on what the very first, primitive Vogons did. They continue to do so only because they've always done so. Zaphod's self-imposed brain surgery is only vaguely explained. Hell, they didn't even explain how critically valuable one's towel is to a hitchhiker, but merely explain that it is. However, fans will easily be able to fill in the gaps, nay, they will undoubtedly take delight in all the little nuances of the Guide that worked their way into the film, not the least of which are cameos of the original voice-actor for Autor Dent and Trillian, the original Marvin Robot Suit, and the Twangy Banjo (revised and revamped) opening tune of the Radio Series. Yes, the KEPT the banjo! I love them for that.

The characters I am divided upon. On the one hand Arthur was great and Ford was more of his hoopy self than I expected, and on the other Trillian and Zaphod were ... well, they weren't what I remember them to be. Zaphod was all ego, as he should have been, but he was ego in more of a cowboy kind of way than the british rock-star thing I had always envisioned. Maybe it was just the boots and the accent, and the way he slid around everywhere. But he was fun ... up until they removed his second head. And then he was sadly stupid. Understandably so, of course, he kept half his brains in the second head in his neck, and having them gone will leave anyone less than 100% there. I'm not sure how I feel about having his second head be in his neck. I understand why they did it, and why they removed both it and his third arm later in the movie: both are highly expensive effects. Also, for someone considered to be the worst dressed sentient in the galaxy ... he was remarkably well dressed in my oppinion. And then there's Trillian. In the original works Trillian was a bright, gorgeous young woman with a penchant for astronomy and astrophysics. And while the pretty and intelligent parts were kept, she was a flat out space case. Seriously; those bright, wide eyes held nothing but the "anywhere but here" mindset. And while I understand and appreciate wanderlust and the desire to walk among the stars, she came off too often as flighty even despite her intelligence. Also I think a bit too much time was spent on her and Arthur's relationship than was really necessary. But then again Arthur got a hell of a lot further with her in this one movie than he ever did in 5 books. Also, Marvin, Eddie, and Slartibartfast were also fantastically well done.

Really the one thing that disappointed me with this film was that there wasn't more. I wanted more Guide (also perfectly done), I wanted more detail in the aside-notes that made the books what they were, I just wanted more of the story. So I hope that they make sequels.

So, in summation: there are many good points to this movie, some deviations from the original work that some purists will dislike, but in the end it was quirky, high spirited, somewhat cynical of society and human nature, and much fun. Even some of the new jokes that replaced the old classics ("Ford you're turning into a penguin, stop it!") were terribly funny. The only downer for me was that there wasn't more Guide. Bottom Line: 'Tis Good.

I've also just discovered that much of the original radio cast has gotten back together to release two more seasons starting tomorrow (tuesday, 3rd) on BBC Radio 4 at 6:30pm. Somehow I must find a way to listen.

Also, those interested in the Great Rivalry, should go see Eric's attempts to prove hims comic the superior one. Firstly, I should let everyone know that his spy was quickly apprehended and dealt with properly. With such a laughable disguise, I don't know how he figured he'd get very far. I mean, seriously, Karen has far better fashion sense than that. Honestly now, wouldn't be caught dead in such a dress, and she never wears hats. Furthermore, Monday is the perfect day to update, because everyone hates Mondays. Yes, it is proven fact that Mondays suck, but by updating on Monday I manage to make them suck less. I offer the following quote from a fan as proof: "[Comedity] makes mondays bearable, which I used to think was impossible." And can you honestly doubt such cold hard evidence? I think not! Guy does, in fact have a goatee, but doesn't that make him the evil twin? And what kind of name is "Guy" anyhow? Well, acording to this place, it's more common than I'd have thought. Howe sadly unimaginative. Well at least he's not Really Sweet (name of an honest to god person, no Really!). Oh, and I've never gotten complaints before, so leave my feet out of this!

Welcome to the Comedity. Don't step on the Penguin.
Garth (Monday - May 02, 2005) -20:59:37