Quote from: Lori Dee on February 22, 2025, 08:20:18 PMI liked the book better than the movies. But that is typical of me. The details the authors tell us seem to get glossed over in the movies. A prime example is "Hitchhikers Guide" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". In the latter, the movie is about R.P. McMurphy, but in the book, the story is told from the Indian's point of view. BIG difference.

But I had a hard time reading Tolkien, but enjoyed the movies, so there's that.

The books are always better, Lori. And I commend you for saying so. With literature, you can create your own images. Rather than be told what to see.

An art sadly lost in modern times.

To be fair... I know why you feel like you do about Tolkien. My most prised possession is an illustrated, hardback version of Lord of the Rings. It is well over 1200 pages. I have worn it out at this point... because the movies cut out so much of the books. Change things around for a movie audience.

If you ever get the chance to read the original work... please do take it.

Quote from: Sephirah on February 22, 2025, 08:28:28 PMIf you ever get the chance to read the original work... please do take it.

I had a complete set, I think it was five paperbacks. I was never into fantasy, so I think that is where I struggled. I picked up a book called "Dragon World" and spent 8 hours reading it on a flight to Germany. (She subtly redirects the topic back to safe airline passenger travel). 

No book in the world would deter me from the mind crushing thought of crashing and spawning a long running tv show... obsessed with a bunker

Civil aviation though has a higher accident rate than commercial aviation.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 22, 2025, 09:13:29 PMCivil aviation though has a higher accident rate than commercial aviation.

That seems unusual. I have only flown a few times on a small private plane. My grandfather had a small Cessna and he used a cornfield for an airstrip. He would take us kids up for a "Mickey Mouse Ride" that was like a rollercoaster. Sometimes I wondered if he just wanted to see if we would toss our cookies.

I have flown on many military flights, probably the same number as commercial. Never any problems.

Hi Lori

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy movie was atrocious.  I was so looking forward to seeing it on film, I was extremely disappointed in it.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Lori Dee

Quote from: Sarah B on February 23, 2025, 12:05:32 AMHi Lori

The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy movie was atrocious.  I was so looking forward to seeing it on film, I was extremely disappointed in it.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Lori Dee

At the risk of making a lifelong frenemy of Sarah, I've never read or seen... or otherwise consumed any content related to that, lol. I know all the memes but... I don't know, it was just never on my radar. When it comes to British sci-fi comedy, I was always more of a Red Dwarf gal.

Quote from: Sephirah on February 23, 2025, 03:25:06 PMAt the risk of making a lifelong frenemy of Sarah, I've never read or seen... or otherwise consumed any content related to that, lol. I know all the memes but... I don't know, it was just never on my radar. When it comes to British sci-fi comedy, I was always more of a Red Dwarf gal.

Find the book by Douglas Adams. It isn't just what he describes, it is the way he describes it. Every scene will make you laugh or scratch your head. For example, the description of the President of the Galaxy's ship, The Heart of Gold, was described as:

The Heart of Gold was described as huge, 150 meters long, and shaped like a sleek running shoe. It was perfectly white and mindbogglingly beautiful.

The cabin was mostly white, oblong and about the size of a smallish restaurant. It was not, however, perfectly oblong. Two long walls had been raked round in a slight parallel curve and all of the angles and corners of the cabin were contoured in excitingly chunky shapes. It would have been a great deal simpler and more practical to build the cabin as an ordinary three-dimensional oblong room, but then the designers would have gotten miserable.

The cabin looked excitingly purposeful, there were large video screens which ranged over the control and guidance system panels on the concave wall, and long banks of computers set into the convex wall.

The first time I read this, I was like... wait... what?

Hi Sephirah

You said:

Quote from: Sephirah on February 23, 2025, 03:25:06 PMAt the risk of making a lifelong frenemy of Sarah, I've never read or seen...  or otherwise consumed any content related to that, lol.  I know all the memes but...  I don't know, it was just never on my radar.  When it comes to British sci fi comedy, I was always more of a Red Dwarf gal.

I have always had a deep love for science fiction and love astronomy.  There is something fascinating about big ideas the mystery of the unknown and how a well told story can change the way you see the universe.  Shows like Star Trek and Stargate have always drawn me in.  They explore complex problems deep questions and characters who face challenges with intelligence and determination.

And that brings me to Red Dwarf.

I gave it a fair chance.  But instead of the thought provoking sci fi I enjoy I found a group of clueless characters stumbling through space making jokes and getting into ridiculous situations.  The humour felt forced the plots seemed silly and instead of feeling immersed in a well crafted world I felt like I was watching a parody that did not respect the genre.

Maybe it is British humour and I confess that I am British by birth and love British humour shows like Fawlty Towers, Open All Hours and of course Mr Bean.  Some people love it, but the dry wit, irony, and slapstick did not work for me when applied to Red Dwarf.  Its lack of seriousness mocks the very things I love about sci-fi.  Or maybe I just prefer stories where intelligence matters, where the stakes feel real, and where the characters are capable rather than exaggerated for laughs.

Whatever the reason Red Dwarf does not connect with me.  It does not challenge my mind the way great sci-fi should.  Instead it feels like it is mocking the genre I love.  I suppose that is the point.  A Red Dwarf is a small fading star near the end of its life and Red Dwarf seems to reflect that, less about brilliance and more about burning out.

As for making me a frenemy in the case of Red Dwarf,  I will wear it like a badge of honour.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Sephirah

Hi Lori and Sephirah

I have always had a deep appreciation for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Its humour is sharp its satire is insightful and it engages with big ideas about existence and the universe and everything in it.  Douglas Adams had a way of giving absurdity meaning turning the chaos of the cosmos into something both hilarious and thought provoking.

I gave Red Dwarf a fair chance but it never really worked for me.  The humour felt scattered relying more on slapstick and exaggerated personalities than the sharp observations I enjoy in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  Rather than exploring sci fi concepts with clever twists it seemed more focused on outlandish antics that did not feel meaningfully connected to the genre.

The difference may come down to the characters.  Arthur Dent is an ordinary man thrown into ridiculous situations and his reactions feel natural as if an average person were experiencing them.  Red Dwarf on the other hand is built around caricatures.  Lister the carefree slob Rimmer the neurotic mess Cat the self absorbed show off and Kryten the dutiful robot.  Their interactions feel more like a comedy routine than an intelligent take on sci fi.

Or maybe it is the way sci fi itself is used.  The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy takes complex ideas and reshapes them into something both funny and thought provoking.  Red Dwarf treats sci fi more as a backdrop for jokes without the same level of depth or respect for the genre.

I love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because it blends intelligence satire and sci fi ideas in a way that feels meaningful.  In contrast Red Dwarf leans more toward sitcom style humour which may feel too slapstick exaggerated or unserious for my taste.

Both are comedies but one respects the intelligence of the viewer while the other focuses on character driven often absurd humour.  Since I value intelligent storytelling The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy naturally resonates with me while Red Dwarf feels like it undermines the genre I love.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Sephirah
@Lori Dee