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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Customer Reviews (7 - 9 of 35 Reviews)

Absolutely Hilarious
This isn't your average movie. Based on the H.S Thompson novel, tt quite succesfully captures the literary insanity of Thompson's books (I'm actually 16, not twelve). Here's the scenario, two stoners running around Las Vegas. All the jokes are based around the wild, outrageous hallucinations of Raul Duke, and his "side kick" Dr. Gonzo. But damned if the many variations of the same basic joke aren't guiltily hilarious every single time. In one scene, Raul and Gonzo are in a bar, When Raul freaks out, thinking that all the bar patrons have been turned into monstrous lizards.
Weird- absolutely Funny- You bet.

Worth watching for the performances alone
Visionary director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys) helms this would be mess (which was originally set to be directed by Repo Man and Sid & Nancy director Alex Cox) based on Hunter S. Thompson's drug induced "gonzo" journals. The film revolves around journalist Raoul (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo (Benicio Del Toro) traveling to Las Vegas with a suitcase full of drugs to seemingly cover a motor cycle race, and we're treated to the duo's hallucinatory visions brought to us by the always great Gilliam. If not for Gilliam's visionary directing and the outstanding performances from Depp and Del Toro, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas would be a pure waste of film. And while the film borderlines on annoying, and the film outstays it's welcome thanks to it's running time (over two full hours), Fear and Loathing still manages to funny and enjoyable for the most part, and has since become a cult classic and is now part of Criterion's DVD series. Had it been in the hands of Cox however, this could have been something really special. Look for cameos aplenty from the likes of Tobey Maguire, Cameron Diaz, Mark Harmon, Gary Busey, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, and Law & Order: SVU's Christopher Meloni. The Criterion Collection DVD is a true work of art that is well worth the money, and the commentary by Depp and Del Toro; as well as the look at the controversey of the screenwriting credit (Cox receives credit as a co-screenwriter) are worth the price of admission alone.

It took two viewings to make it through
The first time I started to watch this movie I got a big headache. At my friend's urging I watched it again, and still got a headache. Maybe a little less of a headache, but that's besides the point. It wasn't a headache because the movie's plot made me think, it was a headache because the film was just damn strange.

Offbeat camera angles and dim colored lighting are used throughout the movie. The film quality seemed low and it was hard to understand Johnny Depp's narration at times. The film is very strange in all aspects, including its plot. Hunter S. Thompson (Depp) is supposed to be going to Las Vegas to cover a race in the desert for Sports Illustrated. His lawyer accompanies him on this journey for some reason. They don't really get much reporting done and spend most of the time taking illegal drugs. I kind of lost track of the plot and hardly remember how it ends. Was there even an ending? It seemed kind of like the movie just trailed off.

At one point in the movie they mention something about following the American Dream. Somehow I don't believe the American Dream has anything to do with a suitcase full of illegal drugs. Maybe it was just an attempt to find some rationale behind the entire film.

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I found it hilarious at times. I laughed hysterically when at one point Thompson thinks he's standing in a bog and everyone is a lizard. When I was laughing I kept thinking, this is based on a true story, and now this guy is making money off of it? I felt kind of bad for supporting his drug-induced craziness. However, it's almost kind of an anti-drug movie in it's own strange way. Hunter S. Thompson looks like he's having the worst time of his life, and surely should have been arrested multiple times. I don't know, maybe this movie appeals more to stoners and druggies since they can relate to Thompson.

This film is definitely not for everyone. If you are easily offended, I wouldn't recommend it. If you're looking for a normal movie, you really should be someplace else. Look at the cover of the DVD. The whole movie is kind of like that.

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