Rating: Summary: Flippin' lizards, man! Review: Did the Amazon.com reviewer watch the same movie I did? I have to say that Mr. Shannon is completely wrong in his assessment of this film. This is as close an adaptation of the book that you could get and it's pretty darn near perfect. Johnny Depp is thoroughly convincing as Raoul Duke and Benicio Del Toro is just plain gonzo as the all-consuming lawyer sidekick. Their desert hijinks served as nothing more than brain candy and a cult rite of passage for college kids everywhere. Gilliam does an admirable job at interpreting and visually representing what can only exist in the imagination of the warped and depraved. For that he should be praised. A definite must see for all Gilliam, Depp and HST fans out there. Don't let Amazon.com dissuade from a truly uniqie cinematic experience.
Rating: Summary: definative Review: An absolutely suberb rendidtion by a skilled director of difficult subject matter. Whilst the plot tends to slew a little out of control, so do the characters and the film becomes a series of wonderfully choreographed, titillating and vibrantly colourful set peices.Certain moments drag, but these are more than made up for by gilliams rampant style and his never ending desire to captivate and entrance by showing seemingly all on film whilst at the same time indulging in heavy symbolism and paradox.
Rating: Summary: The movie is a great expierence for teen to adult viewers Review: If you are part of the drug era you will enjoy this story. Depp is great and probably no chance to to better than him.
Rating: Summary: If you are into the American drug culture you'll love this. Review: Anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of drugs, especially LSD will really get this. Depp turns in an incredible performance and is almost equalled by the other actors. People that give this movie a bad review just don't understand but for everyone else...See this movie at all costs.
Rating: Summary: Boldly go where the critics wouldn't. Review: Although it seemed every critic was quick to give this film nothing short of a "D" or one star, if you are a Gilliam fan trust your instincts and rent this picture. You will not, repeat WILL NOT, be disappointed. Gilliam holds true to his expressionistic form and Depp does an excellent job of character acting. Don't do what I did and let the critics keep me from seeing this as soon as I should have. Rent this one and I'll see YOU on the other side.
Rating: Summary: Visionary Review: What a perfect equation. Add the off-the-wall prose of Hunter S. Thompson with the visionary direction of the legendary Terry Gilliam, and you have a movie that cannot, and does not, fail to entertain and amaze. While reading the book, and having some first-hand experience with the subject matter, definitely aids in the experience, the film stands pretty well on its own. While a bit of a shift from Gilliam's other fantasy-world movies, it still carries that frenetic frantic energy that makes Gilliam's other films so enthralling. Definitely a prefect mix of drug-culture insanity and practically flawless film-making. Further proof of Gilliam's genius, IMHO.
Rating: Summary: A profound statement about the after math of the 1960's Review: This film has made such an impression on me that I consider it to rank among such epic movies as Apocolypse now and 2001: A Space Odyssey, both in the vibrant and awesome visual aspects but also in its profundity. The tale told in Fear and Loathing is one seldom told and I believe it is a very important message for anyone interested in the drug culture of the 1960's. I was angry reading Jeff Shannon's comments that stoned audiences would appreciate this movie the most. Saying this, Jeff shows his complete lack of understanding of this film and also reveals his incompetence for maturity. Cult classic-to-be or not, this film demands some serious contemplation. And, of course, it is incredibly funny, making it an all-around good film.
Rating: Summary: Not perfect -- but the acting is quite close to that Review: All the acting in this movie is really good. Depp (and, I am not exactally a big Depp fan here, 21 Jump St is a bit of a turn off....) is absolutely perfect. It's been awhile since I've seen the movie (since the theater) but I will be adding it to my collection soon. Don't buy it if you think drugs are bad. O:-) (based on the book too, btw, haven't read, don't know the actual title -- have heard of it though.. :o)
Rating: Summary: Go Read The Book Review: As someone born after the unique age of the late 60s and earlier 70s, I was forced to live it through writers like Hunter S. Thompson. "Fear and Loathing Las Vegas" was a book I read time and time again, never getting tired of the vividly described trips, and very humorous diolouge.Then when Terry Gilliam decided to make this obviously unfilmable book into somewhat of a cult movie, I told myself to stay away from the theater. Why oh why didn't I listen to myself??? This movie does not come close to doing the true masterpiece (the book) justice. Even for an individual like me, who never lived in the time portayed, it was very easy to spot the absence of this time period since it was nearly impossible to get the feel of the entire early 70s culture while watching. The twenty seven years between the book's publish time and the film's were completely ignored in that the changes in America's perception of mind-altering chemicals were not supplemented for. Instead of showing Thompson's tradgic journey into the heart of the american dream, this film shows almost nothing but a couple of messed up guys doing moderatley funny things. Somehow, I always looked at Duke and Gonzo as two men on a mission not just a couple of guys to be utilized for easy laughs the movie used them. The movie has a certain degree of weirdness, which makes it mildly intriguing and can lure you in. But its nowhere near the strange depictions in the book. The sadest fact is that Johnny Depp,and Benicio Del Torro were the perfect mathches for their respective charachters, and Terry Gilliam was most definetly the apprpriate director for this prodject. The only problem was they used an unfilmable book, which was never intended for the screen. If you find yourself in any way intrigued by the concept this movie presents, consider taking my advice : GO READ THE BOOK
Rating: Summary: It's not just a movie, it's an experience. Review: This is an astounding interpretation of the book. There SHOULD be Oscar nominations for Gilliam, Depp, and Del Torro!!!But that is unlikely. The spirit of rebellion is alive and well here...and isn't that the true "American Dream" they were in search of?
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