Rating: Summary: Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas Review: I didn't get a chance to see this film in theaters, nor did I rent it when it first came out. Why? Universal obviously are horrible at marketing their true gems. Anyways I rented this film a little over a year ago, and I still can't believe what a great film it was. Despite what everyone says about this film being too insane to watch over once, or that no straight person could watch the film over once, this film is perfect. Benecio Del Torro and Johnny Depp give their best performance of their career. They will scare the hell out of you at times, and make you bust your gut laughing the next time. Filled with great cameos like Harry Dean Stanton, Tobey Maguire, Cameron Diaz, Gary Busey, "Flea" of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and numerous others. I guess the most overwhelming part is the directing and the director of photography. They both seem to show you the madness Hunter S. Thompson describes. This film shows drugs as no other film as ever had. The film was not nominated for an Oscar, which was the most pathedic thing I've ever seen. Depp and Del Torro give performances that are rarely seen in films these days. The Criterion Collection version of this DVD is a hefty price to pay for one movie, but it's worth it! It's totally worth it. The audio commentaries (three of 'em) are excellent. The other content of the DVD's are good too. A few good documentaries, theatrical trailers, t.v spots and more! Totally worth the near fifty bucks I have paid for it!
Rating: Summary: excellent purchase, IF I MAY SAY SO. Review: yes indeed this is a great purchase for people who enjoy these types of ideals and things pictorialized in the film. get the criterion for the MAGNIFECENT artwork extras and ALLLL those grRRReat audio commentaries.
Rating: Summary: One of its kind... Review: I would love to read all the viewers' reviews with this movie but they're just too plenty (more than 300). That just goes to show that a lot of hype was created in this film. In viewing this film, you do not really have to understand the whole essence of the story. You'll just be stuck and get entertained with the ecstatic behaviour of the two main characters under the influence of drugs. You may categorize this movie as one of those 'weird' films but after viewing it together with the supplementary commentaries, there's actually a political and social essence of the film although not broadly shown as much as the profound drug use of the two. I liked this movie because there were a lot of cameos and aside from that, you'll never see any movie of this kind. Now, I don't believe that you have to at least have had drugs or that this movie tries to encourage the use of drugs. It is definitely just the opposite of that. Most people might think of this film as a pro-drug use but it is actually not. How would you like seeing your friend as a demon? And also, you don't have to be a drug user or have tried drugs to appreciate this film, contrary to other people's opinion. This film is enjoyable and I like it.
Rating: Summary: Sheer torture Review: Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas remains the only movie I have ever walked out on at the theater. I like the actors (Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro), I like the director (Terry Gilliam), and I also understand there was not supposed to be a "plot" per se, but more of a stream-of-consciousness approach dealing with how drug trips can seriously mess people up. Despite all this, I absolutely HATED this film. It was painful to watch - an utterly wretched affair of bizarre confusion and mayhem. Watch if you must, but you have been warned. I would recommend seeing some of Gilliam's other (very fine) films, such as Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, or Brazil instead.
Rating: Summary: Incredible DVD, better movie Review: Many reviews on this site simply wirte this movie off as another drug film, and it is, but its also so much more. For those who don't know, its based on Hunter S. Thompson's best work (in my opinion) of the same name. If you haven't heard of Thompson, go now and buy all of his work that you can. Althogh the book is slightly better (slightly), the movie is almost to the caliber of my favorite novel of all time. Depp and Del Toro are impeccable as Duke and Gonzo (who are based on Thompson and Oscar Acosta respectively, this story actually happened, so keep that in mind), and were it not for the reversal in heights, the two could pass for the original pair. Not only is the soundtrack great in its own right, but its very fitting as well. Many say the movie glorifies drug use, but who would want to see what they see? Its insane, though realistic. The DVD is the best I've ever seen. The three commentaries form my top three favorite ever, and the plethora of extras are a joy to watch/listen to for a Thompson-fan like myself, Fear and Lothing on the Road to Hollywood in particular. Its also very nice to hear more about the illustrious Oscar Acosta, and his reading of an excerpt from his book piqued my interestin it and his other, and I am now a fan. Don't worry if you haven't dropped acid, you still might like this movie, the book, and the DVD.
Rating: Summary: missed the point, entirely... Review: hunter s. thompson's novel is by far one of the best reads i have ever had. so when i found out a movie was being made, i was very excited. i was not disappointed. i do not think that thompson was trying to string together a story that would fit any sort of traditional structure. the movie follows suit. as far as adaptation from book to screen, this movie remains one of the purest out there. the text of the novel and the movie follow along quite well. people not familiar with thompson's work are probably going to put off by this movie. but i suggest seeing the film anyway. it is a classic.
Rating: Summary: Couldn't stand it Review: The story line is horrible and the characters are unlikeable. Make no mistake, this movie IS about two guys and what happens to them as a result of drugs. I could not stand sitting through this movie, and this is the type of stuff that I like. I guess if you're going to watch it you might want to visit your local crack dealer, because theres only one way to enjoy this movie: high.
Rating: Summary: Pure ... Review: I'll admit, my expectations were pretty high for this one. The book is an absolute classic, and one that still makes me laugh 25 years after I first read it. But this movie is a mess. Boring,pointless, and rarely funny,this film's chief claim to fame is a seemingling endless hallucinatory scene, which has Terry Gilliam written all over it. Johnny Depp gives another great performance, but nothing can save this train wreck. Too bad Alex Cox left. I think his sensibilities are better suited to the adaptation of this book. Even the Bill Murray comedy "Where the Buffalo Roam" is a better take on Hunter S Thompson than this movie.
Rating: Summary: ****1/2-VERY entertaining! Review: Though a bomb with the critics and at the box office, I personally loved Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This film is completely bizarre, buy what do you expect from director Terry Gilliam (Monty Python, Brazil, Twelve Monkeys)? After a very boring opening scene that had really dumb humor ("Yeah, man" was dull when Cheech and Chong did it decades ago). Terry Gilliam gives his vicious and brutal (violent) humor in this film. Roger Ebert said "Some of there trips were real, so hallucinated, all interchangeable." I respect you, Roger, but this film, when they hallucinated, was hilarious. This is a very colorful film, so I wish I rented it on dvd (it has a very well-liked Criterion Collection set). Nonetheless, the grain and independant feel only added to it's quality. For the other reviewers who think Cameron Diaz should have been in longer, "Hello!" It was just a bit part, and if you want to see lots of her, see There's Something About Mary or Charlie's Angels. Benicio Del Toro is a marvelous actor who has spent his acting career making good independants (Usual Suspects, this, Traffic). I really liked when Depp was waiting for his rental car and the guy says, "Take this" about fifteen times with different gestures (it's some kind of paper). All Depp does is adjusthis mirror, and fiddle with his cigarette. Finally, Depp looks over, the man throws it at him, and Depp says, "I'm supposed to keep this, right?" Then the man says "Now, your going to be careful with this car, right?" Depp goes, "Oh, yeah, man," and immediatelly goes very fast in reverse. I wish I could tell you about all the other scenes, but you'll have to see for yourself. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and feel free to leave me a helpful/not helpful feedback. God Bless America!
Rating: Summary: A great film with even better special features Review: I just watched this film for the first time, it is a great movie many people put it down for glamorizing drugs but in the end it turns out that it leads to nowhere. The movie mostly focuses on a generation, and how drugs have changed the way we live, we see all of this through the tripped out journey of Duke and Dr. Gonzo. This is a great movie that I would recommend to anyone.
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