Rating: 
Summary: The Gem of My Collection
Review: I own about 150 DVDs, from Battle Royale to Last Temptation, numerous Troma mvoies to L.A. Confidential, Fritz the Cat to Family Guy, the list goes on. Out of all of them, the Criterion Edition of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is the shining star.The Movie: When I first heard that they were adapting my favorite novel, Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" I was thrilled. When I heard that Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, the master behind Brazil was to direct it, I felt an overwhelming excitement, which doesn't come over me much. The movie is arguably the best adaptation since "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". In addition to an incredible ability to stay true to the source material, the variations in the film do nothing but improve it. I honestly dont think I have anything critical to say of the film. It launched a liking for Depp, Benicio plays the best fat, drug-addicted Samoan ever, and appeals to justa bout all fans of true cinema. The DVD: As they normally do, Criterion adds great supplements that enhance one's appreciation for the film. They make a great first impression w/ the menu, Disc 1 being what can be assumed to be Ralph Steadman writing the Title, and Disc 2 an animated Steadman drawing. The highlight is the feature-length commentary by Hunter himself (not that the Gilliam track is anything to look down upon). The 2nd disc, among other things) has a great BBC documentary, and a dialogue further explaining some problems w/ the screenplay credit.
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Summary: No one and everyone is at the wheel at the same time¿
Review: Fear and Loathing is just outright "wet your pants" hilarious at every junction. Not only does Del Toro sport the best beer belly in the business but Depp's take on Hunter S. Thompson just goes to show what a talent he is because the performance is 610% perfection in every department. This film just cracks me up! The problem with this film is that it assaults mainstream movie-goers unconditionally from start to finish by never conforming to the standards that keep them "safe" inside their shell. If you don't let go then chances are you are another false member of that which Hunter S. Thompson is expounding about - the crook called the "American Dream". The person on your left is laughing. The person on your right is sitting smug faced. The one behind is complaining and the one in front is crying. The result is that if you hate this movie you hate it because you can just never understand it, like the business guy who walks into the toilet only to see a grown man sniff LSD from another's felt sleeve. The person leaves confused, will never understand it, because he has never experienced anything like that and has no clue what it is all about. People will try and deal with all of this by labelling it somehow. "Drugs! Its all about those druggies and only druggies will get it!" some may cry out. The truth is that people who may have done drugs will know a little about the unconventionality that this film is based on but yet again there are many others who will also get it, but never have done drugs. This film attacks a certain type of personality - those who are stuck so far up their own orifice with the American dream that they have limited their perceptions of life indefinitely and remain wooden throughout the rest of their existence. Here we see two guys just make it to freedom of the "self" in any way that they can. The movie is one big trip of letting it all go and is by the far a screaming ride of absolute insanity from start to finish. There is not many mainstream Hollywood productions that do this and Gilliam's take on it is done passionately. This is just a wholly original riot of a move about utilizing mayhem and madness to transcend the banality of chasing phantoms that very few will obtain. While masses delude themselves with power and riches, the rest will just put their feet up and play with the cards that they have been dealt. This movie is a wonderful experience that just goes to show that not everyone in life is an Ikea slave debaser of themselves. This is a film that has some humanity sown in among the insanity. Love or hate it, it is still needed and fills that cultural void nicely.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice visuals
Review: This story has been described as an exploration of "the death of the most idealistic decade and generation." However, far from illuminating the likely fascinating question of why the idealism of the 1960s hit the "high water mark" and then receeded (as Thompson, ably acted by Depp, muses in one all-too-brief lucid moment), this story simply presents the story of two self centered idiots with an evident lack of concern for anyone besides themselves. Perhaps they are meant to embody the worst qualities of people, to show what brought down the 1960s idealism, but if so that was never conveyed by the story. To its credit, the visual style of the film is a nonstop head trip, which will remind pretty much everyone of their college days...and may make you wonder what was so special about Thompson's that it warranted a film. Was he only famous for being infamous? You'll have to actually read something by him to find out, because this film sure doesn't tell.
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Summary: I swear i've already written a review.. here is another.
Review: I believe I said it was a pretty good movie?
Rating:
Summary: I think I'm getting The Fear...
Review: Well, Terry Gilliam did it. They said that no-one could ever make a movie out of Hunter S. Thompson's sprawling, oozing, rambling, incoherent, gonzo 1972 novel of the same name, but by Jove he did! Not only that, he has made it wildly entertaining, watchable, hilarious and fun as well - a masterful achievement, given that the end of the novel itself breaks down into transcripts of tape as the good doctor himself gets the Fear. Much of the credit for this should go to the screenwriter who adapted the book so well, picking the best pieces from the book and managing to thread a vaguely coherent timeline through them, as well as to Hunter S. himself, for writing a book where the monologues can be adapted verbatim and work so well as voice-over in a movie. The type of "new journalism" practiced by Thompson and his alter ego Raoul Duke forswears objective description of vents for a manic subjective stream-of-consciousness retelling of the essence of the story. Wonderful to read - almost impossible to film.
The true star of the film of course is Johnny Depp, on whose masterful portrayal of Duke the movie hinges. He flails around frenetically, spitting out his words like a mad man in a fantastically broken style where the words trip over each other excitedly, racing to all get out at the same time lest some vital thought be lost in the overall melee, followed by pauses where he seems unsure of what he was saying in the first place. What's the deal here? What happens next?
Depp is ably aided and abetted by a chunky Benicio Del Toro who, despite his racial handicap, manages to portray the vicious and psychotic Samoan attorney that Duke is almost never without. The two of them then busily careen around Vegas, having fun, breaking the rules and searching for the American Dream. Don't bother looking for a plot here - there really isn't one. Instead a serious of fast paced, beautifully scripted mini-stories keep one enthralled from start to finish, from "My Favorite Things" to "Jumpin' Jack Flash". (Yes, the soundtrack is wonderful too!)
If the film has a downside it is the manic nature of events. The first time I saw the movie it passed me by in a blur. I didn't really follow what was going on, beyond a surficial grasp of "they're wasted and in Vegas" reality. Too many jump cuts, monologues and flashbacks to really get a grip of what was happening. However I then went away and read the book, and the second time I saw the film it made much, much more sense and I was able to get to the heart of the thing - to work out what it all meant. The movies slavish adherence to the original text is heartwarming and while the book is incredibly entertaining and perhaps on the whole superior, watching the movie can be a cheap fix, a highlight reel assembled to remind you enough of the original without having to re-read the whole thing. Besides, once you see Johnny Depp as Hunter S., you'll never be able to picture him another way, such is the genius of the film! Perhaps that's why Thompson went to such great lengths to prevent the film from ever being seen. A little ego can be a terrible thing.
My main gripe with the film concerns the last words of Gary Busey's appearance - "Could I please have a little kiss? I'm very lonely out here in the desert..." It's not in the original text, it doesn't make sense and it doesn't add anything to the film. It shouldn't be there.
So read the book first and then watch the film and keep an eye out for all the celebrity cameos, Penn, Flea, Busey and yes, even the good doctor, Hunter S. Thompson himself...
Rating:
Summary: "With a bit of luck, his life was changed forever..."
Review: Upon seeing this movie at a friends house a while back, I immediately bought it for myself. While it seems that people either love it or hate it, I suggest that you watch it at least once. Fear and Loathing is full of hilarious situations and some memorable one-liners, such as a stand-off between Raoul Duke (Depp) and a lone highway cop (Busey), or Depp exclaiming, "We can't stop here; this is bat country!". While many critics accuse this movie of being shallow and annoying, it is probably because they are too full of themselves to understand what it's about. On the surface, it's about two rambling, drunk, and drugged crazies roaming the west, but it's full of witty humor (it takes several viewings to catch it all) and fantastic underlying themes that seem to be lost on the majority that can't appreciate this fine work of art. While it's not excessively graphic (ala Requim for a Dream), Fear and Loathing does contain many scenes of drug use, and constant language. Obscene? Certainly. But if you don't take it at face value, it's a wonderful thrillride aiming to find the true American Dream. Buy the ticket, take the ride. It's well worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: HOLY GEABUS WHAT ARE THESE GOD DAMN ANIMALS!!!!!!!
Review: this is a hilarious movie. even though i know its not suppose to be funny. it is also a weird movie. johnny depp has been known to star in depressed and deep characters but in this movies hes just just plain hilarious. he talks funny in this movie too. the other thing with this movie is basically every movie has a love story, and this movie doesnt really. but its still a great movie you could laugh your ass off with your friends. this is the ultimate chill out movie. if you you like those kind of movies watch this. this is one of depps best movies. and one of the best drug movies of all time!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Have fun with this movie
Review: "Fear and Loathing", like many of Gilliam's films, is an excellent artistic rendition of the darker side of the American dream. Much of the movie, however, will be lost to general audiences as it is blurred and obscured by ramblings and drug induced incoherence. But, the film still manages to grant us a well crafted snapshot of the psychodelic drug craze that most of us, hopefully, have not experienced, and proves to be incredibly funny and entertaining in the process. So, take this movie with a grain of salt. Don't dig too hard for the deeper meanings and linear plot; just relax, laugh, and don't think about it until it's through.
Rating:
Summary: depp and toro's greatest performance
Review: I know this movie got hammered by the critics, but I absolutely love it. So many great lines. For humor, and for pure pondering. Johnny and Benicio putting in just spectacular performances. Even their simple gestures and body motion kill me.
The set design was ludicrous (this is a good thing), amazing visuals, some priceless cameos (Sven and the highway cop), and near-flawless direction by Terry.
You'll either love it or hate it. I think it's hard to find an in-between. Say nothing to noone!
Rating:
Summary: A trip or two to Vegas
Review: "Eyes glazed insanely behind tiny gold rim greaser shades." So goes one of my favorite lines in a book recommended to me by a buddy named Douglas Mallach (we call him Doug Mallach for short), an Irish name to be sure and thus the literary sensibility. For anybody who hasn't read Hunter's famous story of excess and depravity in the once desolate and simultaneously luxurious oddity known as Las Vegas, this is a quick read and one perfectly suited for road trips and travel. Though be careful if you're flying by air. Others will hear you laugh out loud.
In spite of its wit and borderline sanity, the author has one eye on history. As my friend Doug pointed out, he's writing at the time when liberalism in this country hit its "high water mark." There's a sensitivity to the forces behind culture that moves this book as much as its characters' ridiculous predicaments.
I think the movie hits the book on the head (I'll blame that on Doug Mallach). Gilliam is right man for the job. With tilted angles, wide angle closeups, and some special effects work (though you little not realize it) he manages to put his audience in that state of catatonia that befalls not a vegetable but a truly well baked mind. So where the book is frenetic, the movie is a trip. One very worth taking. In fact why not do both?!
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