Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

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:

Missing the Entire Point.......2007-09-16

Nothing against Las Vegas. I've never been their actually. But, given the rampant and uncontrolled unreality of the place, does a drug-addled tour through the place make it any more "unreal" or is it perhaps an interesting view of the entire bizarre scene?

He could have made the story about a couple of martians who went there for their vacation, but it wouldn't have been nearly as funny. Besides, the martians wouldn't have blended in nearly as well at the police convention and would not have been able to contribute their twisted view of the spectacle...

the impossible accomplished..........2007-09-07

I think the best way to describe this film as ON THE ROAD meets THE NAKED LUNCH on 'shrooms... Road trip films, of course are a dime a dozen... this one, however, in my book holds its ground -- but its not for everybody.

I feel what's great about it is that it seems to accomplish the near impossible:
In the past films have been made about people messed up on drugs...
In all honesty, watching people tripping on acid is only amusing for so long... virtually anytime you see someone on acid do in a film eventually comes across as an exploitational cliche you've seen millions of times before... the big come down's and bad trips... the flashbacks, a good vomit... then Jack Webb comes out and lectures you on the dangers of reefer and dope...
Or how about when film let the viewer experience the trip by doing funny things with the color and sound of the film, or even suddenly having a reverse negative shot with a guy in a monster mask, and zooming to the horrified druggie screaming, "My face! My face! Some one's eaten my face!" - - that too is only interesting for so long...

But this film does something very different... It is a COHERENT road trip story as told through the eyes of a guy who's - - well very messed up on acid.... We take the trip with him literally - - and yes, the psychedelic imagery is there, but along with it are the people and places and the narrative... Amidst all the weirdness, the film is a delight to follow... and classic Gilliam (sick, bizarre and funny.) And yes, as the acid kicks in and out, things get strange... however, the narrative observations make the special effects more than special effects and guide you through the journey...

Ultimately, let's face it, Vegas may very well be a good symbol of all that is loathsome, cheap and sleazy in America - - and it is a place where often the real does meet the surreal in bad taste, but via the film and novel, the surrealism of "American Kiche", and the mundane and ridiculous are taken to an extreme that is well worth the watch...

In conclusion: A film NOT for everybody, but if you're like me, an amateur social anthropologist with a love from "schlockus americanus" as well as the 60's and 70's, and both fascination with and disdain for American popular culture, this is a film that is visually as well as intellectually entertaining... dare I even say funny. - - If however, you don't share this bizarre little fetish of mine and can't appreciate the film's cynical tongue in cheek humor... then I'll be honest: you won't like it very much.

P.S. If you like this film, I strongly suggest getting your hands on Zappa's 200 MOTELS if it ever gets reissued again. I also dare say if you liked it, you'd probably dig the FIRESIGN THEATRE as well...

Three things about "Fear and Loathing".......2007-08-02

There's only three things I can say about this movie:
1. It is the dark side of Cheech and Chong.
2. It is Fellini on LSD.
3. It is Gillian's best movie since "Brazil".

satisfied customer.......2007-07-27

my item arrived in brand new condition and i was very happy with my purchase.
great movie, funny as hell

What Is Happening Here?.......2007-07-26

Does anyone understand this? I watched with my cat and my cat fell asleep. I think the movie is a tricky joke by the bald man with the half-hair on his face sides (is he the teenager police from Telemundo Jump Show?) No movie would have a toaster in the bath. Why does the half-hair face man talk out of the side of his mouth? Why do they like riding horses that are not real? This movie has silly hair and sneaky talkings; I would say not to watch with any animals, especially sleepy cat.

Average customer rating:

Now this is how older films on HD-DVD should look...
Fantastic film
Very good quality
Debauchery in high def
Buyer Beware

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (HD DVD)
Starring: Johnny Depp Benicio Del Torro , and Eric Stoltz
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Comedy | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000GFLEJA
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Customer Reviews:

Now this is how older films on HD-DVD should look..........2007-06-26

...older, meaning more than 4-5 years old (or earlier generation dvd's). I read the great reviews of the transfer and have seen my share of disappointing high-def discs already. So I was skeptical when I bought it. This is one of the best (funniest) movies ever.

Well, I first watched the opening scene and some parts of my Criterion version (which had been a better standard transfer) on my 56 HD-RPTV. It used to look great on my 32" tube TV. It looked terrible on the bigger screen of course, making me scared of another cruddy HD transfer like my Sleepy Hollow or the Game (worst ever so far).

After the first few seconds of the opening scene, let alone the rest of the movie, I loved this transfer (HD-DVD). Now this is how "somewhat older" films should look like on HD-DVD! Absolutely amazing colors, contrast and sharpness. The vegas lights look fantastic as do the rest of the colors in this "trip". No annoying digital noise, a few specs of dust on the film which I never mind, and the dust/smoke is rendered beautifully. The DD+ soundtrack is great and it has a DD True soundtrack even though most of us at this point can't take full advantage of it. What a fantastic job this is- I'm loving it.

Fantastic film.......2007-04-27

I only own a hand full of HD DVD's. But this one is by far the best looking of the lot. Great picture. Very clear. Amazing colours. Fantasic film.

Very good quality.......2007-03-22

We all know about fear and loathing's story line (which is superb and incredibly funny), however my review is of the quality of the content (compared to the standard DVD which I also own).

Nothing is simple in the world of technology - and simply buying an HD-DVD does not mean that the sound & picture is going to be the best money can buy, I purchased full metal jacket on HD-DVD and was dissapointed by the quality of it. Fear & Loathign is quite the opposite....

I was blown away by the picture and sound quality - compared to other HD-DVD's I own this one is by far the best, the picture is so clear you can see the pores on johhny depps face.

I would seriously reccomend this product over the standard DVD.

Debauchery in high def.......2007-03-21

One of the themes of this film is the sad end of the summer of love culture of the 1960's. Dr. Gonzo's polydrug-induced debauchery, symbolic of this, is fully detailed in this good transfer, to the point that viewers may have to look away from time to time. Del Torro deserved some kind of award for what he went through.

Buyer Beware.......2007-03-10

Don't worry about the content if you know the movie is a hilarious drug-induced adventure in insanity, and Las Vegas. Instead, don't buy the HD DVD version unless you have an HD DVD player. This product does not play on a regular DVD player. I had to return my first order and reorder the DVD version. This movie is difficult to find in the movie store, at least in my neck of the woods; so ordering it from Amazon was a logical decision. Fortunately, the customer service reps handled the issue, refunding all of my money. Don't make the same mistake I did -it takes a long time to go through the return/refund process.

Average customer rating:

okay!
Ambitious but hard to watch [2.5 stars]
Regression Therapy Gone Bad...
Weird
So awful I turned it off

Altered States
Starring: William Hurt , Blair Brown , Bob Balaban , Charles Haid , and Thaao Penghlis
Director: Ken Russell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Monsters & Mutants | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

Psychedelic | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Cult Movies | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 6305133131
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

It's easy to understand why the late, great screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky removed his name from the credits of Altered States and substituted the pseudonym Sidney Aaron. After all, Chayefsky was a revered dramatist whose original source novel was intended as a serious exploration of altered consciousness, inspired by the immersion-tank experiments of Dr. John Lilly in the 1970s. In the hands of maverick director Ken Russell, however, Altered States became a full-on sensory assault, using symbolic imagery and mind- blowing special effects to depict one man's physical and hallucinatory journey through the entire history of human evolution. It's a brazenly silly film redeemed by its intellectual ambition--a dazzling extravaganza that's in love with science and scientists, and eagerly willing to dive off the precipice of rationality to explore uncharted regions of mind, body, and spirit. William Hurt made his bold film debut as the psycho-physiologist who plays guinea pig to his own experiments; Blair Brown plays his equally brilliant wife, whose devotion is just strong enough to bring him back from the most altered state imaginable. From the eternal channels of sense memory to the restorative power of a loving embrace, this movie rocks you to the birth of the universe and back again. And while it's clearly not the story that Chayefsky wanted on the screen, the directorial audacity of Ken Russell makes it one heck of a memorable trip. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

okay!.......2007-05-15

this movie is on the weird side. i like f&l in LV but this was a little much. But there are some good actors in this and some trippy scences too.....plus bobbies!

Ambitious but hard to watch [2.5 stars].......2007-05-09

Altered States gets high marks for the acting and its boldness in presenting the subject matter. Anytime hallucinogenic drugs are central to (or even featured in) a film, there is controversy. But the mind-altering substances and procedures in this film were tied to search for meaning, the quest to find one's self that is common to all human groups and cultures.

Though perhaps it no allusion was intended by the author, Prof. Eddie Jessup's (William Hurt) search for the "self" struck me as quite similar to Bernard Marx's (Aldous Huxley's Brave New World) experiences on the reservation.

The movie is very cerebral but just not particularly enjoyable. Surely others will disagree, but I found the characters to be rather unpleasant. They are hyper-intellectual, self-absorbed bores. Eddie Jessup, in essence, leaves his wife and young children to go "find himself" through mind-altering experiences. In the end, he finds that he loves his wife. But, the message seems to be that finding one's self is more important that keeping one's committment to others, that your family will be there for you after you've made your journey. That's just not the sort of story in which I find much value or from which I get any entertainment.

Regression Therapy Gone Bad..........2007-04-28

1980's "Altered States" is a very solid science fiction thriller featuring an excellent cast, intriguing special effects, and an implausible but fascinating premise: that man can regress through his prior evolutionary states.

William Hurt starred in his first movie role as Jessup, a driven but still sympathetic scientist investigating the experience of water-filled sensory deprivation tanks. After adding a powerful hallucinogenic drug to his sessions, Jessup seemingly begins to regress to altered states, initially as a primitive human, then into far more alarming forms. A young Blair Brown co-stars as Jessup's scientist wife, stubbornly in love with Jessup but increasingly horrified by his experiments. Bob Balaban and Charles Haid provide superb supporting performances as fellow scientists pulled into Jessup's unconventional experiments.

The movie follows the results of Jessup's experiments and his rocky relationship with the character played by Blair Brown over several years. Jessup is compelling as a scientist who has stumbled onto a great secret that seems unbelievable to his fellow scientists. Almost too late, he comes to realize that his experiments may not be reversible. The mounting horror of the storyline is accentuated by excellent special effects (for the time) and a sometimes haunting score.

This movie is highly recommended to fans of good science fiction and to fans of William Hurt.

Weird.......2007-02-07

So having seen this movie for the first time just recently, I'm sure the visual effects were amazing back when the movie was made. And although the visual effects were very sub-standard from today's standards, I still really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this movie.

So awful I turned it off.......2006-11-12

I saw this film on TV several years ago, and started watching it because William Hurt is one of my favorite actors. I got as far as the monkey man scene and turned it off, it was so ridiculous and just plain bad. I can probably count on one hand the number of movies I have not watched all the way through (I even suffer through the bad and boring ones). I couldn't take another minute of this one, however.

Average customer rating:

A wolf in sheep's clothing...
penny for [all] your THOUGHTS ........
Pallid

The Mind Benders
Starring: Dirk Bogarde , Mary Ure , John Clements , Michael Bryant , and Wendy Craig
Director: Basil Dearden
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Sci-Fi | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005R24A
Release Date: 2001-12-18

Customer Reviews:

A wolf in sheep's clothing..........2005-08-13

Ostensibly a run-of-the-mill espionage thriller with radical science flourishes, after 30 minutes of the aforementioned , "The Mind Benders" turns into a harrowing treatise on marital love, which apparently needs a lot of smoke, mirrors and hapless hope to survive. The ending is far from "happy," as the audience feels like they've braved a wet weekend of ghost stories at the end of this nifty littly thriller!!

penny for [all] your THOUGHTS ...............2004-05-31

'X' rated by the Brits when released in '62 [well, it DOES feature a 'live' home birth at the end ..... then that dangerous experiment .....] Close to "The Pumpkin Eater" and possibly "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf - with Kids?" - this very advanced thriller set in the early 6oties tentatively explores "Isolation Tanks" - and the effect on its subject - or victim.

BOTH DIRK BOGARDE and MARY URE are stellar as the Mr. & Mrs. involved - Mary Ure especially has fine moments as the loving and later abused pregnant wife - tough stuff for that period [although we did have 'Saturday Night & Sunday Morning'] - but it does somewhat explore the approach to 'mind-bending' - and reprogramming of the subject - timely stuff.....

Bogarde was on the eve of his stellar career - the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed Mary Ure left so few examples of her work - but worth visiting "Look Back In Anger", etc. {NOT forgetting Miss URE in D.H. LAWRENCE "SONS AND LOVERS" - a missing treasure from 1960 long due for a DVD release!!}

Tone of movie is suitably sombre, photography is moody and the score very suitable .... a neglected treasure from that period.

Oh, yes and a young Edward Fox pops in and out of a few scenes as a student.

Pallid.......2001-12-28

In spite of the obviously psychedelic packaging for this film, The Mind Benders is marginally science fiction. Instead, this is a drama with SF trappings. The story of a scientist, Dr. Longman, played by Dirk Bogarde, who comes to believe that the suicide of a colleague was caused by prolonged exposure in a sensory deprivation tank, he is forced to prove his theory by a British intelligence agent and undergo the same treatment himself.

The agent is convinced that Longman's colleague was a spy and engages in some subtle brainwashing of Longman after he's spent eight hours in the tank. While the opening half hour is definitely gripping--including Longman's harrowing experience in the tank--the final two thirds of the film is sorely disappointing for science fiction fans--or even for those who are expecting a substantial buildup focused on the theme.

The development after the first 30 minutes or so is pretty weak, centering on Longman's relationship with his wife which has been put to the test, and is a real letdown. Although Dirk Bogarde and Mary Ure as his wife are more than competent actors, the film runs out of steam long before its happy ending.

The real value of this film, as indicated in the liner notes of the DVD, is that it is a precursor to Altered States and The Manchurian Candidate. For completists who want whatever film they can find about brainwashing, this is a must. For anyone else, it's really not great. A far better vehicle for Dirk Bogarde fans, also available on DVD, is The Servant.

Average customer rating:

Excellent

Bad Acid
Starring: Kat Murello , Elena Kagan , Anduin Farris , Peter Steele , and Kerri Taylor
Director: Bill Zebub
Manufacturer: Grimoire
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Dirtbags - Armpit of Metal

Symphony For The Devil - Type O Negative (2006)

Altered States

Dead Again

Suspiria

ASIN: B000AYEIPO
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Description

If you think it's funny to watch a drunkard, think of the fun you'll have watching someone on acid. This movie follows a doomed character who can't seem to go a day without tripping, venturing into one misadventure after another. Yes, taking acid can make a normal routine, like going to work, seem like an odyssey, complete with monsters (toilet sharks), perils (the sidewalk turning into an inferno), and beautiful maidens. Peter Steele from Type O Negative guest stars in this unusual comedy.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2005-10-15

All of Bill Zebub's movies are great, primarily his comedies. He is really good at forming complex intertwining plots that seem rather simple at a glance. Bad Acid is no different. It is the tale of an acid addict who goes on a series of horrible LSD trips. The results are rather comedic and the laughs are in abundance.

The film chronicles Bill Zebub's weekend while he is tripping on "bad acid". Not only does he have to deal with the horrors that the drug bring him, but he has to manage a radio show, his girlfriend and his boss. Bill loves to go around partying but his girlfriend wants him to spend more time with her which gets Bill into a lot of trouble and eventually risks losing everything with his habit.

Great soundtrack too. The tunes never stop, and that's a good thing because they're all fantastic numbers by the likes of Shape of Despair, Immolation, The Wicked, Korovakill, Thy Surpent, Bethlehem and Mercyful Fate.

The acting is generally better than people say because the movie is scripted just like the language of "normal people" which makes a nice realistic flow for the movie.

I've seen on too many reviews for Zebub's movies people denoting the movie because of the quality of film and budget. These people are close minded and can't extract the greatness from these films.

Of course this film is not for everybody, but fans of B-List crude rude and appalling comedies will rejoice when seeing this movie. Good job Bill Zebub!

Average customer rating:

Altered States/Creepshow
Starring: Hal Holbrook , Adrienne Barbeau , Fritz Weaver , Leslie Nielsen , and Carrie Nye
Director: George A. Romero , and Ken Russell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000094J9W
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Description

Two great horrors, "Creepshow" and "Altered States", at one low cost!

Altered States [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2/4 Import - New Zealand ]

Average customer rating:

Altered States [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2/4 Import - New Zealand ]
Director: Ken Russell
Manufacturer: Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000B5LBBQ

Product Description

Australia released, PAL/Dual Region 2/4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o English (subtitles) o French (subtitles) o English (Dolby Digital 5.1) o French (Dolby Digital 2.0) Synopsis: An American researching different states of consciousness with the aid of mind altering drugs and an isolation chamber begins to experience disturbing physical changes in his body that point toward an evolutionary regression. - In this 1980 sci-fi horror film, William Hurt plays Eddie Jessup, a scientist obsessed with discovering mankind's true role in the universe. To this end, he submits himself to a series of mind-expanding experiments. By enclosing himself in as ensory-deprivation chamber and taking hallucinogenic drugs, Jessup hopes to explore different levels of human consciousness, but instead is devolved into an apelike monster. Director Ken Russell helmed Altered States from a script by Paddy Chayefsky, who adapted his own novel of the same name. Unhappy with the finished product, Chayefsky had his name replaced with his pseudonym Sydney Aaron. Special Features: o Interactive Menu o Production Notes o Scene Access o Trailer(s)

Average customer rating:

In the Mix - Drug Abuse: Altered States

Manufacturer: Castle Works Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0006MFD6S

Product Description

Length: 30 min. Performance rights and Discussion Guide included. (Gr. 6-12, College) Drug abuse among teens is a harsh realityin cities, suburbs and small towns. Co-hosted by Art Alexakis of the rock band Everclear, this half-hour special dispels the image of drugs as cool and glamorous. Dr. Alan Leshner, former Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, gives the hard facts on how different drugs affect the body and counters common myths. Viewers also see the social consequences of drugs as In the Mix visits a prison boot camp, where teen cadets are straightening out their lives, and a residential treatment center, where teens are dealing with their addiction. We also meet teens who are taking a tough stand against drugs who show that it is possible to say No and remain cool. To get the Dope on drugs, this is the program to watch. Winner of the PRISM Award a hard-hitting look at teenage drug abuse...fast, edgy editing, creative shooting, celebrity co-host and a distinctively teenage perspective. Recommended. Video Librarian. For full descriptions, transcripts, video clips, discussion guides, lesson plans and more on this and other topics, please visit our website, www.inthemix.org

Average customer rating:

Altered States
Starring: William Hurt
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GAKBOO
Release Date: 2005-11-29

DVD:

DVD

DVD