Rating: 
Summary: a serious collection
Review: "..we picked up everything we could get our hands on. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as it can go."This is an absolute cult classic of our time. Me and my roommate watched it every day for 5 days a couple weeks back. And guess what? It hasn't lost a single bit of its value. In fact, its gained more.
Yeah, this movie is not for everyone. If you are offended by drug use/abuse (this movie has the latter) theres a good chance you'll be offended by this movie. However, my roomate's only drug use has been with Alcohol, and the movie has become his favorite. As the good doctor says on his commentary when asked if this movie is a pro-drug movie: "Its a pro-freedom movie"
That makes so much sense once you've watched this a bunch of times. K, enough of this. Go get this dvd if you like the movie, its got enough features to keep you busy for a long time. Ralph steadman has been at work here, and theres like 3 commentarys (I've watched em all). Have fun. - Seth
Rating: 
Summary: Great film, great transfer
Review: Criterion delivers again. This film is, IMHO, the best cinematic representation of Hunter S. Thompson's work to date.
Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, and others) does a wonderful job of translating the freewheeling and explosive style of this book to the screen, including creative interpretations of the psychedelic experience which seem untainted by the Hollywood predisposition for embellishment and hyperbole. Depp and del Toro are very convincing and seem to have emersed themselves in the roles.
As always, Criterion has done a wonderful job of giving us the best possible presentation of this film with all of the extras we've come to expect from their releases. Sweet.
Rating:
Summary: Buy the ticket, take the ride!
Review: If the words "we were somewhere around Barstow......" mean anything to you then you will totally dig this film. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas is a milestone in American literature and has an amazing and well deserved cult following ever since it's release and made author Hunter S. Thompson a living legend. For anyone unfamiliar with the story, basicly it follows a drug drenched oddessy made to Las Vegas by outlaw journalist Thompson and his 300 pound 'Samoan' attorney Dr Gonzo. Their assignment may be to cover a motorcycle race, but their mission is to find the 'American dream'. Hunter S. Thompson tells us on the DVD comentary that he feels the film is "wonderful" and while he finds small faults in the film, particularly Depp throwing coins at a dwarf, he clearly acknowledges that the bringing his own legendary book to the screen is an enormous undertaking. The already cult film truely captures the feel of the book, the humour, the choas, the fear and loathing. Johny Depp hung out with Thompson to get his character down and practically becomes Thompson. Benincio Del Toro doesn't exactly look like Dr Gonzo, but did put on weight for his role and manages, according to Thompson, to deliver a fairy accurate protrail of his complex character. When I first saw this film I was a little worried that the book I loved so much would be ruined by some Hollywood scum, but ex Monty Python Terry Gilliam gave the fans a brilliant adaptation. In fact I do not believe that I have seen a better film based on a book. The two disk Criterion Collection set gives a film an awesome DVD treatment. I don't know where to begin, 3 commentaries, one with Thompson! Deleted scenes, including the one I really wanted to see in the orginal film involving Duke and Gonzo telling a country cop about the drug and satanist situation. Archival footage of Oscar Zeta Acosta the real Dr Gonzo reading from his own book! An old BBC doco featuring Thompson, behind the scene footage of Thompson on set, trailers, Johnny Depp reading correspodence from Thompson on camera orginal artwork gallery,a booklet iside the DVD case (the case itself is absolutely gorgeous) and even parts from the audio cd of the book! In short worth every penny of the price! If you love Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas I can assure you this DVD edition will become a treasured addition to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: ...when the drugs began to take hold...
Review: This movie is not for the faint of mind. It is from start to finish a whirlwind of drug-frenzies, immorality, and illegal activity in the city that makes these things a virtue to aspired towards. The outstanding camera work, special effects, and directing make Fear and Loathing a wonderful journey into the mind of Rauol Duke (Thompson) and his sidekick Dr. Gonzo. The superb acting done by Johnny Depp, one of the best actors of our time, helps to create a character that is easily understood in his complexity but not so one-dimensional that he detracts from the film's overall narrative flow. I would say that this movie is not for the majority of mainstream movie audiences, but is more targeted towards audiences that have open minds and imagination to spare.
Rating:
Summary: A great piece about an American legend
Review: This movie is exhibits one of Depp's finest performances and proves that he is a top rate character actor. His performance is dead on to the Hunter S. Thompson footage that I have seen.
This movie brings to life the 'death of the american dream' aspect that Thompson worked on through out much of his writings. This is not so much a drug movie as it is a brutal look into what America had become after the 1960's.
I suppose that to really appericate this movie, one would have to be somewhat familar with Hunter S. Thompson. Any one claiming to have any sort of knowledge of contemporary American litrature surey would though. It is by far a breakthrough movie and more than worthy to be apart of the Criterion Collection.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect package for a perfect movie
Review: One of the few movies that I can watch with so much frequency and indulgence and never fail to see something I hadn't caught before. Terry Gilliam's masterpiece FEAR is one that truly defines late 60s and 70s culture. Through the story of the gonzo journalist himself -- Hunter S. Thompson -- Gilliam is able to produce a truly magnificent movie. With co-stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro playing the parts that would normally be the opposite of the roles the actors normally play (and the ones that leave girls drooling), these heartthrobs let loose on a story that truly needs to be let loose. It is my opinion that only Gilliam, Depp, del Toro, and producer Laila Nabulsi could have created such a vivid reenactment of Thompson's masterpiece. Criterion ups the ante by providing one of the best DVD's in recent memory by combining extremely intriguing commentaries by the actors, and even Thompson himself, as well as various film clips of the making of FEAR and deeper looks into the story that will leave Thompson fans thrilled.
Rating: 
Summary: It was the Johnny Depp I had never seen before!
Review: This movie was wierd but yet I couldn't stop watching it. I don't know if I was waiting for it to get better, to see how much stranger it could be, or to see what the outcome was. Was I drunk? My daughter thought it was just great and was astonished when I told her I threw it away in the trash! Johnny Depp and Antonio Del Toro were fairly okay in it. There was a lot of drug usage in the movie which I am unsure whether they were glorifying it or just showing how stupid people are on drugs. But most people watching this movie who have had experiences with drugs probably can relate to their experiences and laugh. There are some funny moments but mostly it is just bizarre. I sometimes wish I had not thrown it in the garbage. I bought it at WalMart for [$$$] so it wasn't a great loss although I could have sold it here for something! Watch it if you can find it really, really cheap. Did Johnny Depp come up with the way he played his character? He was like a penguin smoking a cigar. Johnny Depp must regret having made this movie. What was he thinking? Who talked him into doing this movie? Was this a favor to a relative? Gee.
Rating:
Summary: Makes "Honeymoon in Vegas" look like quality cinema
Review: This movie is pointless.
This movie makes no sense whatsoever.
It is a scientific fact that watching this movie will lower your IQ by at least 15 points each time. No amount of drugs will help puzzle together any form of logic or reason to this abomination. I see what the director was trying to do with the whole "tripping" aura, but it got really old really quick and didn't go anywhere to begin with. Oliver Stone could've done a much better job, and that's not a compliment. Jack Kevorkian uses this movie to give his victims that final burst of motivation to pull the plug.
Rating:
Summary: Slapdasherie
Review: I won free tickets to see this movie in the theatre. Half way trhough people started to walk out. This seems to be the concensus of this film. Either you love it, or you hate it. If you have read the book by Hunter S. Thompson then you should probably like the film, its very faithful and the visual representation is very accurate, hence Thompson's approval and appearance in the film. If you haven't read the book, prepare to be confused, and possibly frightened, and .... most likely disgusted. But either way, this DVD is one of the most elaborate and well produced to come out in recent years. 5 stars by me :)
Rating:
Summary: upsidedown, and around and around and around....
Review: This movie is a must-see for anyone looking for something in the 'different' genre where two guys embark on a 'trip' to las vegas. The city is absolutely portrayed as a twisted, non-stop carnival that oozes all types of character from each corner of the screen! This is another fantastic viewing done by Terry Gilliam.
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