Where the Buffalo Roam

Rating:
Summary: It's Not Weird Enough For Me
Review: The last time I saw this film was when I was seventeen during it's theatrical run in anticipation of a Bill Murray vehicle along the lines of "Meatballs" and I got something totally unexpected. I had never read an issue of "Rolling Stone" or the works of Hunter Thompson so I left the theatre scratching my head. Having since read some of Thompson's work and enjoyed the film version of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" I can approach this film from a different perspective. The good news is that Murray perfectly captures the skewed anarchic spirit of Gonzo. The bad news is that director Art Linson does not. The direction is pretty flabby and conventional. It seems like Linson was trying to make the offbeat life of Thompson palatable to a mass audience and in the process drained whatever life there was in the story. That's not to say there was much of a story to ruin because the script by John Kaye is pretty mundane. I avoided making comparisons between Murray and Johnny Depp as Thompson because both made interesting choices in their performances. The same cannot be said for Peter Boyle(who get's top-billing over Murray?!) as Laszlo, Thompson's attorney. It's probably more in the way the character has been written here but Laszlo in this film is a fairly nondescript civil-rights attorney. Benicio Del Toro did wonders with the character in "Fear and Loathing". What else is interesting is that "Rolling Stone" magazine, whom Thompson wrote for, is given the fictitious monicker of "Blast" and that Jann Wenner, editor for the "Rolling Stone", is given a fictional name. Did neither the magazine or Wenner want their name attached to this project? Anyone curious about the exclusion of Jimi Hendrix songs that were available on the original film soundtrack and the VHS tape of this film is answered by director Terry Gilliam on his commentary track for "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". According to Gilliam he attempted to obtain a Hendrix song for his film but could not get the rights from the administrators of his estate because they will not allow his songs to be used in films that depict drug use.

Rating:
Summary: I Just Finished Watching The Newer DVD 02/01/05
Review: Just a 'heads-up" for all the fans of the original soundtrack. This new DVD edition released today by Universal, has the same soundtrack as the Anchor Bay DVD release. This is really a pity and just goes to show you what a studio will do to make a quick buck. This year is the 25th anniversary of this movie and I would think that Universal would want to do this right, but this is not the case. Loud boo's and hisses for Universal Pictures!

Rating:
Summary: I think I have an answer for your soundtrack questions
Review: I love where the buffalo roam,and I own the anchorbay dvd version you are hearing slandered in other reviews.I never saw the film with the origonal soundtrack,so the anchor bay version didnt upset me (granted i thought they could have spent more money on music,but as was pointed out previously by others ,it looked like they were on a budget)
I bieleve the origional soundtrack is being restored,this is mostly a hunch,but If you have seen the movie "slapshot" staring paul newman,in its VHS version the sound track was mostly twangy country western with some motown thrown in,the DVD 25th aniversary version however has its origonal soundtrack restored including a running gag where everytime there is a radio playing in the backround or on the bus you hear that fleetwood mac song RAE-ann-ON (I know I cant spell it right but thats how it is pronounced)It happens at least 5 times.
This new DVD is listed as running 100 minutes,and the anchor bay version is listed at 99 minutes,so if they dug up some deleted scenes there is a good chance they are going for an all inclusive version at this time.This is just a hunch,so if I'm wrong please dont stick pins in a little me doll.

Rating:
Summary: I agree. DO NOT Buy the Anchor Bay release of this film!
Review: Anchor Bay bought the rights to this film and for some reason only included a couple of the original songs. And they still advertise on the package that there is music from Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. This music was taken out! Curse their flagrant lies! The music they added is some horrible studio band. The original music is a key part to this film. Why would any respectable video release company change an origianl film, and on top of it boast an advertisement for something that is not there? Find an original version of this film and
BOYCOTT ANCHOR BAY!

Rating:
Summary: Good but not Accurate
Review: It's a funny movie and it's funny for it's fictional elements. I think that emulation of HST is a funny thing, but an excellent emulation is more amusing. this is why i would endorse fear and loathing rather than where the buffalo roam.