Anyonw watching BBC2 just now?

Hi-fidelity! (75 minutes left)

Amidst the romantic chick-flick stuff, there are some very apposite warnings about excessive attachment to the world of vinyl

 

To answer your question...no

Reminds me I must get that film on DVD though...

Michael.

 

Sorry, no TV, so you'll just have to tell us all about it

 

As far as I remember, it is nothing about Hi-Fi. Its just that the main characters own a record shop called that! Quite a let down from the title I thought!

 

Read the book it's way better.

 

i thought the film did a reasonable job of converting the book to film. there are some glaring differences but they seem to matter less than you'd think.
to be honest i quite like both the book and the film.

cheers

julian

 

I agree with Julian here. I loved the book and was gutted when I heard they'd moved the story from London to Chicago for the film (especially since at the time I lived near the s/h record shop in Notting Hill on which it was based) but in the end it worked very well and John Cusack is perfect for the part.

Michael.

 

I read the book a few years ago and couldn't put it down, a really good read

 

I've not read the book but the film's great. It pains me to say this about a rom-com, but it's one of my favourite movies (in a lightweight, popcorn-munching sorta way), and has a lot of genuinely hilarious moments.

Dunc

 

Watched High Fidelity on my Skyplus+ today, preferred the book, but wasn't so bad, John Cusack was a good choice, the actor who takes the part of Dick reminded me very much of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Andrew, in terms of characterisation.
Few days ago watched Empire Records, Liv Tyler / Rene Zellwegger in early roles ( 1995 ). Enjoyed this more in a way. :MILD:

 

Is this the one where the girl shaves her head? Who'd of thunked it! Skinhead Babe!

 

Yep, Sinead stylee.

 

Which Notting Hill shop was it based on?

Tony.

(who worked in a remarkably similar shop in Liverpool)

 

I believe it's based on what is now called Music and Video Exchange but which is a bunch of s/h music, computer and other assorted junk shops along Notting Hill Gate and Pembrooke Road. They now have shops all over the place.

http://www.mveshops.co.uk/index.htm

Michael.

 

I know MVE very well, though it surprises me that it's the influence behind the book as it has a very different vibe. I'd have put money on it being Honest Jon's down the bottom of Portobello Rd if it was a shop in Notting Hill!

Tony.

 

[nerd]
The book's set in Highbury and based on the old Rock It Records in Camden Town
[/nerd]

-- Ian

 

I stand corrected :shame:

Michael.

 

Yeah, I used to work there!

I'm sure the book/film wasn't based on MVE in Notting Hill specifically but the vibe is definitely the same.

I liked the bit about not being too bothered about the customers :MILD:

 

buy/sell/exchange..

Is it just me that thinks they sell overpriced/dirty/scratched records?

Even their 10/11 quid albums are dirty and tend to have audible damage.

Totally given up on this place...

''low-fidelity'' more like IMO

 

No need for shame, actually I feel shamefaced knowing this (I can't abide Hornby and his bloke-lit writing). I only know because I remember an interview with him at the time the book came out. I remember it because the shop it question was a regular haunt of mine when I lived in Camden in 1977-79 (and also of Shane McGowan, Suggs, Green from Scritti Politti, and other future-famous pop monkeys who lived locally).

Having said all that, I have a horrible feeling I may have mis-remembered the shop name. Maybe it was Rock On rather than Rock It. Maybe it was something else completely. Maybe my brain doesn't work properly any more. In any event, it was right next door to the entrance to Camden tube (not the Camden High St entrance, the other side), and specialised in rock n roll/rockabilly, punk (natch) and soul. Anybody else remember it?

-- Ian