Rating: 
Summary: JEFF SHANNON...SQUARE AT LARGE!!!
Review: greetings reviewers,
did you all get a load of the editorial review of this product?
sheesh! oh well, first of all, the initial book that later inspired the movie, was unto itself, a great peice of work to begin with. anyone that has read the book all the way thru more than once will automatically know that it isnt just some drugged-
-out, loady-supreme movie! as a matter of fact it is an extremely
expert example of adapting book into film. 75% of films based on books usually end up finding a new direction in certian points of the story to help an audience comprehend the plot, or rather,
"get it" and be able to get up and rent their next movie and plop back down onto the couch, remote in hand. i suppose this movie is a desired taste and most people really will never get
to know where it directly comes from, but that should not stop you from seeing the truly entertaiing story that is being told.
or whatever, because you know, it's like when something is like
being something because that is all anyone knew until you learned it was okay to be like being something like something, or i could be right! haha. come on, jeff, have a beer at least!
Rating:
Summary: A fitting presentation
Review: Simply put this two disk set puts the movie in its proper context. Combined with the essays in the the booklet and the material in the second disk helps almost helps to prove that the supposed "fiction" in the book and movie are much closer to reality than most people realize. An amazing job done on all aspects of the set. The BBC documentary in 1978 was incredible its worth the price of the set on its own.
Rating:
Summary: The most impressive DVD I've come across
Review: Fear and Loathing- you either love this movie or you hate it. If you love it, or if you're obsessed with it, like me, then get your hands on this DVD right away, and if you don't have a DVD player or DVD computer drive, then go out and get one, otherwise you're really missing out. There are so many extras on these two disks- it will take you at least 2 days to go through all of them. Let's just start with disk 1: I immediately went to the deleted scenes, since I was eager to see new footage. Gilliam puts together 3 scenes (unscored) from the workprints: The Mint 400 race where Duke goes in for a beer and all the goings on at that counter, The scene- and this is a really really long scene they've been nice enough to give us- of after Duke leaves the DA's convention and sees Gonzo with the Atlanta DA and their conversation, third- when Duke goes into the desert bar after getting hassled by the police and before heading back to Vegas. All these scenes come with optional commentary by director Gilliam. Then there's the beautiful transfer of the film to digital...absolutely wonderful, great sound, and 3 commentary tracks- I already listened to the producer/Depp/Benicio track, which was fun and exciting- you'll learn a lot from the three- the actor's tasks, their crafts- and Depp is really great, he gives lots of commentary on the smaller character actors riddled throughout the film a lot of respect and admiration. I used to have fantasies of being a film star- who doesn't? - but when you hear Depp and Benicio's commentary you'll be enlightened to see how gruelling the movie making process can be. All illusions from the glitz and glamour we see on TV will be dispelled from you forever. Then there's Gilliam's directors track, which is a commentary on a completely different level- (only listened to 1st 6 chapters of his commentary so far) - the visuals, tricks, camera lenses/angles, plus all his takes on lots of the character actors Depp doesn't get to himself- haven't even had time yet for Hunter's commentary....that's gotta be some treat...looking forward. So disk 1 alone will take you hours to get through. Now disk two...the trailer (w/optional commentary), every TV spot, tons of pics, the artwork, a monster documentary from the BBC on Thompson, tons of other stuff I can't even remember off hand, there's that much, and extremely interesting materials on the real man Acosta that Dr. Gonzo is based- my favorite of which is seeing the man himself in a videotaped reading of a chapter from one of his books - I've only scratched the surface of everything we're given...the only only only only problem I had with the DVD is that I play it in my computer and no button appears to access the storyboards for the film. There's so much there however that I can let this go until the day comes I get a regular DVD player (I'm assuming these annoyances don't happen in regular DVD players but I don't know for sure). Get this DVD. You're getting way beyond what you paid for it. I'd give it 10 stars if that was an option.
Rating:
Summary: DRUG INDUCED ROLLERCOASTER.
Review: I DOUBT THIS FILM WAS INTENDED TO BE A COMEDY BUT THE DRUG INDUCED DELUSIONAL YET ARTICULATE CENTRAL CHARACTER IS SIMPLY SIDE SPLITTING.
DEPP'S PERFORMANCE IS UNCANNY AND OUTSTANDING AS WRITER HUNTER S. THOMPSON SENT TO LAS VEGAS TO SCRIPT A STORY ON A MOTERCYCLE RALLY IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES.
THOMPSON EXPERIMENTS WITH EVERY KIND OF ILLICIT DRUG AND NARCOTIC AVAILABLE. HUNTER, IN THE COMPANY OF HIS EQUALLY OUT THERE ATTORNEY DR. GONZO PORTRAYED BY BENECIO DEL TORO (WHO GAINED ABOUT FORTY POUNDS FOR THE ROLE) SEEMINGLY HAVE NO MOTIVATION OTHER THAN TO SCRAMBLE THEIR ALREADY PANORAMIC BRAINS WITH VARIOUS FARMECUTICALS.
IM STILL NOT SURE IF DR. GONZO IS BASED ON A REAL PERSON OR THOMPSON'S IMAGINARY PSYCHADELIC DOPE FIEND CREATIVENESS.THIS FILM SHOULD PROBABLY BE PLAYED FOR TEENAGERS WHO ARE AT RISK TO DRUG EXPERIMENTATION. IT VIBRANTLY DEFINES THE SELF DEGRADATION OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES. HUNTER S. THOMPSON WHO WROTE THE BOOK THE FILM IS BASED ON IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFERENT KIND OF PERSON BUT ENORMOUSLY INTERESTING NONE THE LESS. THIS FILM IS GRAPHIC AND PROFANE. BUT A REALISTIC FILM ABOUT RECKLESS SELF ABUSE WOULDNT BE BELIEVABLE OTHERWISE.
Rating: 
Summary: HELL-LUCINATIONS
Review: More than sex, food or survival, we are creatures driven to find meaning in our lives (or so it's said by those who claim to know such things). A recent film that taps into that mindset, with varying degrees of success, is now available in a fine digital edition. An existential morass of meaningless chaos is navigated by two chemically and morally wasted seekers in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. More an exploration of images and spirit than plot, Terry Gilliam's adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's trip (pun intended) to Las Vegas to cover a motor cycle race is mostly a non-narrative, non-linear reflection of the mental state of Thompson's alter ego Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his sidekick/lawyer Doctor Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro). Gilliam brings Ralph Steadman's drawings to life and delivers an overlooked comic masterpiece that's like walking through an art fair put on by the giddily drugged inmates of an asylum. The huge cache of extras on this superb two-disc, director-approved, special edition includes a marvelously detailed and sometimes dementedly funny commentary by Gilliam recorded in London last year (2002). The commentary by Depp and Del Toro is also woth a listen. (This review refers to the Criterion edition DVD)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful collection
Review: I bought the original (studio release) DVD as soon as it came out. I was skeptical about buying a second version of this film on DVD, but I'm glad to say this Criterion Collection release of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is AWESOME and WELL WORTH THE MONEY. I may have two different copies of the DVD now, but this 2-disc Criterion Collection DVD release will please fans of the actors, the director, the source material and fans of Hunter S. Thompson himself. I HIGHLY recommend buying this.
Rating:
Summary: About Fear and Loathing
Review: First of all, I would only recommend this movie to those who have at some time in their lives had some psychadelic experiences (or those who want to). Anyone who hasn't is probably going to look down on the film. But those who have will understand exactly what Duke and Dr. Gonzo are going through. This is one of the greatest movies ever made. And it's not supposed to be a straight comedy. Yeah, it's funny, but it's even more realistic. The director did an excellent job of portraying exactly how it is on an acid trip with peoples' faces morphing and patterns seeming to move. The reason for this is that Hunter S. Thompson, aka Raoul Duke, was on the set helping, and he has done every drug known to man. The movie might as well be a true story. Johnny Depp does an excellent job pretending to be Thompson and acting like he's tripping on acid or mescaline or adrenachrome or ether (And to that first reviewer, you don't snort Ether). The acting is almot flawless. At some times it actually seems as if Depp and del Toro are using drugs during the filming. The book is really good because Hunter S. Thompson actually wrote it, but the movie is still awesome. Its the best movie to watch while tripping, and it will also teach you a few things about the drug culture. If your a teenager interested in opening the doors of perception, I would strongly recommend this movie. Or if your an adult who would like to reminisce about your hippie days, I would recommend it to you too. Overall, this is just a great, highly entertaining movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: This film was a disappointment. I like Terry Gilliam's past work. '12 Monkeys' was a great movie, and 'Brazil' is in my top five all time. I also like Johnny Depp. He is great in almost every role he takes. Unfortunately the combination of Gilliam, and Depp did not deliver in 'Fear and Loathing'. I'm not sure exactly if it was the story, or the directing, or both, but the movie seemed pretty pointless, and convoluted. I was able to pull a couple redeeming messages from the film though. The downfalls of searching for salvation in drugs was clear. And the superficial nature of modern American materialism also crept in. But I can think of better ways to convey these messages than two hours of rambling, vomiting, hallucinating, nonsense. Overall the movie gets three out of five stars based simply on the reputations of the cast, and the director. While poorly conveyed, the messages of the film also helped keep 'Fear and Loathing' from earning only one star. I would recommend this film only to die hard Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, or Terry Gilliam fans, or people who are in an ether, and acid induced haze while watching.
Rating:
Summary: Made me rethink the movie
Review: I must admit, when I first saw the movie at the late, lamented Worldwide center (second run movie house) in Manhattan, I thought it was noisy and unfocused, and a lesser effort by a brilliant director. I bought the DVD anyway, mainly because any Terry Gilliam movie is worth having, and Criterion versions doubly so. Well, my opinion of the movie has done almost a complete 180 degree turn. Perhaps the movie, coming out during the epicurian excess of the Clinton years, seemed like a sad relic of decades gone by-sort of an art house Cheech and Chong movie. But now, with the nation and the world in such turmoil, and the divide between the left and the right in this country moving back to center stage, the movie feels completely of, and perhaps ahead of, the times. Far from being a pro-drug movie (Duke and Dr. Gonzo are never held up to be the good guys, and their various "trips" are scarier than anything the anti-drug legions can come up with.) this is a movie about anesthesia, One group may use drugs, another may use money, or power, or sex, but the effect is all the same. These are people trying to escape from the reality of their existence, and for our "heroes", the anesthetic doesn't so much wear off, but pulls them even deeper into the horror. The movie itself is an overlooked gem, but the good folks at Criterion have packed the dvd and companion disc with some of the best features they've ever attempted. A Terry Gilliam commentary is always welcome, and Depp and Del Toro have their say, but how about a commentary by Hunter S. Thompson in full gonzo mode. Well, it's here, and the second disc covers both the film's checkered life (especially the WGA screenplay flap: who'dve thought that arbitration was so fascinating), and the historical context of "Fear and Loathing", including some footage of the real Dr. Gonzo, Chicano attorney Oscar Ceasar Acosta (who's been missing since the mid-70's) reading from one of the books he authored. In short, the disc succeeds as both a film, and as a study of a much misunderstood era in recent history. I'm not sure yet, but it may just be the best DVD purchase I have ever made. Thanks, Hunter Thompson, Terry Gilliam, and Criterion.
Rating:
Summary: further adventures with the gonzo- posse
Review: I liked this movie a lot. It's one of a kind. The acting-job is handled very nicely Johnny & Benficio. It really captures the pictures you get in your head when reading the book. Allthough the book is far more deeper and better than the movie, I truely can recommend watching it! After that read the book. All hail HST and the other weirdos keeping it real.
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