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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection
Director: Terry Gilliam
Actors: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Ellen Barkin, and Gary Busey
Rated: R (Restricted)
Retail Price (not our price): $39.95
Release Date: 2003-02-18
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-05-22
Studio: Criterion
Run Time: 119 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Discs: 2


Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
The original cowriter and director of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was Alex Cox, whose earlier film Sid and Nancy suggests that Cox could have been a perfect match in filming Hunter S. Thompson's psychotropic masterpiece of "gonzo" journalism. Unfortunately Cox departed due to the usual "creative differences," and this ill-fated adaptation was thrust upon Terry Gilliam, whose formidable gifts as a visionary filmmaker were squandered on the seemingly unfilmable elements of Thompson's ether-fogged narrative. The result is a one-joke movie without the joke--an endless series of repetitive scenes involving rampant substance abuse and the hallucinogenic fallout of a road trip that's run crazily out of control. Johnny Depp plays Thompson's alter ego, "gonzo" journalist Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro is his sidekick and so-called lawyer Dr. Gonzo. During the course of a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, they ingest a veritable chemistry set of drugs, and Gilliam does his best to show us the hallucinatory state of their zonked-out minds. This allows for some dazzling imagery and the rampant humor of stumbling buffoons, and the mumbling performances of Depp and Del Toro wholeheartedly embrace the tripped-out, paranoid lunacy of Thompson's celebrated book. But over two hours of this insanity tends to grate on the nerves--like being the only sober guest at a party full of drunken idiots. So while Gilliam's film may achieve some modest cult status over the years, it's only because Fear and Loathing is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) if you get it, you love it. if not, it will be the dumbest movie ever.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
wow! this verson is packed full of Hunter S. Tompson, from the bbc film to the commentery, if you are fanatical of Hunter like me, or even just a fan the special fetures of this movie is a must for your hunter collection. as for the movie itself, forever a classic...PS. hoked onn fonix diddent wurk soo wel fur me, soory...

2) The Great Gonzo   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion CollectionI love this movie & the 2 disc special edition is even better. The bonus footage w/ "Gonzo" himself, Hunter S. Thompson, makes this a must have for any body's collection. In my opinion this was Benicio Del Toro's best performance to date! Also if you love this movie the way I do, do yourself a favor & pick up a copy of the novel "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson. In which the film is based upon. Thompson's cracked out style of journalism was the stuff of legend! A true original, nobody did it like The Great Gonzo! R.I.P. Hunter, you are missed!John G. Youman

3) Monumental Cult Classic   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I take issue with the Editorial Rant from Jeff Shannon. It seems his superficial judgments are against the backdrop of the film and the context of the characters use of drugs to come to terms with their experience. Why would Amazon appoint a "critic" with such moral apprehensions to appraise a film which is clearly outside of his capacity to undestand?You aren't into drugs? Fine. Neither am I, and personally, Las Vegas has never impressed me, but that isn't the point. Let's put this film into perspective as a product of a novel story and a cinemotographic achievement. The direction from Terry Gilliam evoke a powerful response from the viewer. To film this story requires such incredible creative genius, few are actually qualified to the task, one attribute being a dark sense of humor. and then the subject matter of course requires some thinking. Then we have the performances. I can't figure out between Benecio and Johnny Depp who stole the show as the performances are spectacular. There are enough cameo appearances to set records, further challenging the idea that this was a disaster of a film descending on hollywood.The 70's was an unparalleled era and caught within this period are 2 characters awake enough to realize that their own lives were not enmeshed within the forces that guided to the times. So in an attempt to explore their existential quest, they embark on Las Vegas to test the fruits of the American dream through its most celebrated product Las Vegas. There is an element of being lost, desperate to make sense of it all...were they hippies? Rebels? Misanthropic and depraved animals? Why weren't they happy to be a part of it all? So this experiment takes shape spontaneously and within the folds of the adventures, you find a narrative still curious and growing more cynical which if you can suspend your judgment will mirror your own thoughts (at least mine). Seperation anxiety grows, but behind it all is the humor of a certain director. Thus you find yourself watching the drama/comedy/documentary.Criterion has passionately enhanced the experience of this awe-struck viewer. And I think as time moves on, this film will be lost to obscurity, but not for all. If nothing else, it has +500 reviews as of this writing. Like it or not, it has aroused attention, too bad (for them) if the vast majority of lifeless and sleeping sheep don't get it.

4) Strange but worthwhile.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Johnny Depp does such a good job playing the role in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, he completely takes over Hunter S. Thompson's character from the book. This is actually the only movie that I can say is just as good, if not better, than the book. So, if you liked to book or think you would like the book, it's definitely a great buy.

5) Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Johnny Depp is awesome. I don't think he could make a bad movie. Hunter Thompson is the perfect roll. I love it