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For fans of the hugely successful book and radio series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", I am sorry to say that you will be disappointed with this film.

But as our trusted guidebook says on its cover in big, bold letters: Don't Panic.

After all, we all know how long we've all waited to see how the movie makers and special effects wizards would bring to screen Vogon poetry, Infinite Improbability, Zhaphod Beeblebrox's two heads and the planet construction world of Magrethea.

And they're really not bad.

Unfortunately, the film was not able bring out the utter hilarity that made the original radio series such a hit. Martin Freeman pales in comparison with Simon Jones' helpless, hapless and frequently exasperated Arthur Dent. Alan Rickman's Marvin too did not bring out as much angst as the original by Stephen Moore.

Then again, we may be comparing apples and oranges. After all, the series and book were written in a different time and the jokes that were applicable then may not work today.

All in all, it was a good attempt to bring out the best of the story. To those who are not familiar with the original series, go get yourself a copy of the book.

And to those of us who have been fans for so long, it is after all "For Douglas".

The first thing that strikes you when watching this anime series is that the world of "Last Exile" is much like ours – yet very, very different. That, in essence, is the magic and appeal of the story.

Imagine this world structured like a chess game: two diametrically opposite races – each with its own territory separated by a gulf, both engaged in mortal combat overseen by a race of neutral arbitrators dictating the rules of the game.

Next throw in two teenage orphans, Claus and Lavie, who own a bi-plane sort of rickety flying contraption called a Vanship, and who run a courier service delivering mail. Here's the catch, the Vanship has no wings but uses a chemical called "Cloudia" for levitation and propulsion. In fact, even the flying battleships manned by both of the two races: the Anatoray (who resemble Victorian age West Europeans) and the Disith (dressed much like post revolution Russians), are propelled by the same mechanism. But while powerful, these lumbering behemoths are no match for the seemingly invincible Guild ships that are light years ahead in technology and whose overt purpose is to ensure that both parties play by the rules – or else.

The plot swings into full gear in the second episode when Claus and Lavie, during a Vanship race, pick up a little girl called Alvis from a Vanship crippled by a Guild "star" ship. They are entrusted by the dying Vanship pilot to deliver her safely to her destination and so begins their great adventure and rite of passage. In the process, they are swept up by the politics of this world and the players of this dangerous game of covert interests and hidden agendas.

Almost immediately, the viewer is posed with the following few questions: why are these two races fighting? What is this gulf called the "Grand Stream" that separates the lands of the Anatoray and Disith? Why is the Guild acting as judge and executioner? Why is Alvis so important that the Guild would have her captured – dead or alive? These are (almost too) slowly revealed, one cliffhanger episode at a time.

Produced by Japan's Gonzo animation studios (www.gonzo.co.jp), famous for such breakthrough anime series as "Hellsing" and "Blue Submarine No. 6", "Last Exile" brings together the best in anime storytelling, traditional as well as computer generated 3-D animation, unpredictable plot twists, likable characters, imaginative soundtrack (by Dolce Triade), comedy and tragedy, hope and despair … all in a symphony of flawless execution.

The attention to detail in this series is characteristically Japanese – simply amazing. One such example is that writers (Kouichi Chigira, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Shuichi Kamiyama and Tomohiro Yamashita) have intricately woven in the chess theme into the story: by naming each episode after a different chess move, scenes of intense discussion over chess matches, and a plot twist featuring the promotion of a pawn to a queen.

Like a piece of complex origami that starts out looking like a flower – "Last Exile" – with each plot unfolding reveals its hidden gems and slowly but surely wraps up into a form so unlike its beginning that the viewer is left to marvel at the inventiveness and dedication of its creators … while simply enjoying the ride.

Stephen Glass had a face that could launch a thousand lies … and the sincere demeanor to carry those lies to shore.

"Shattered Glass" tells the true story of how this ambitious young journalist of "The New Republic", a high profile Washington D. C. magazine, was able to get away with publishing stories that were … really stories – the fiction kind. He is subsequently ratted out by journalists from an online publication (Forbes online) and his world starts to unravel.

While it is no surprise that such characters populate the high stakes profession of journalism, it is the sense of betrayal felt by his closest friends and colleagues that makes his story so tragic.

And it is told to such great effect in this film.

Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker from "Star Wars: Attack of the clones") convincingly portrays Stephen Glass the sincere and Stephen Glass the deceiver. The former is played to such effect, that the audience at first wants the stories he tells to be true. The latter is much more subtle but therein lies the deceit.

Playing the rest of the "New Republic" team include Hank Azaria as Mike Kelly (the editor), Chloë Sevigny (Caitlin), Melanie Lynskey (Amy) and Peter Sarsgaard who plays Chuck Lane – Stephen's competition and who eventually replaces Mike Kelly as editor. These are played so well that the audience is left with a sense of distaste when confronted by Lane about the deception, Glass continues to lie and seek support from those around him.

The DVD also includes a "60 Minutes" story on Glass that features interviews with Glass himself and among the deceived, Chuck Lane. He perhaps sums up the betrayal best when he says that if Stephen said that the sun was shining and the sun was shining, he would still ask for another opinion.