Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35666 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-02-18
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: NTSC, Colour, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 119 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The original co-writer 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 film-maker were squandered on 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 humour 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 in Las Vegas is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

Not at all what I expected
I really hated this film. Before purchasing it, I had read many reviews raving about it, but when I watched it myself, I struggled to force myself to watch it all the way through. Tedious, boring and just plain weird is how I'd define it. Maybe I should read the book, seen as other reviews I've read talked about the quality of the book.
I watched it with an open mind, hoping it would be good - I've always enjoyed watching Johnny Depp's acting and other than this, I've never not liked one of his films - but sadly, it was a huge disappointment.

I would not recommend anyone on watching this film. It was a waste of time in my opinion.

i refuse to let anyone not love it
one of my favourite films of all time. twisted, magical, hilarious, memorable, unmissable and keeps you glued to the screen! not for the feint-hearted however, your parents will in all probability not like it. Johnny Depp is obviously an essential part of the film and without him i don't think the film would be as good. Don't watch it for his looks though, he is a crazy druggie who goes to Las Vegas purely for drug trips. The humour is black, as you laugh at the ridiculous antics these druggies get up to.As mentioned in another review here, Jason Hood related Depp's acting to Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Carribean. I think it is a fair comparison...they are both wacky and funny roles, requiring a lot of energy, presence and talent to portray well. After having seen the film about 6 times i can successfully quote my fave bits of the dialogue, showing just how memorable it is!still keeps me in stitches throughout. everyone should watch it, perhaps instead of doing drugs! cos they say everyone should try it once.

A truly amazing film
Well,I'd never heard of the film until one night, a little worse for wear, when a friend put it on.
I did not have a clue what was going on in the film, but found certain parts hysterical, purely because of the complete weirdness and surrealty of it all!
The next time I watched it...not long after the first...I was straight as anything and with a bit of info on the film got more into it.
Everytime I watch it now, it gets better. I've never laughed so much, or been so passionate about a film.
Fantastic acting, and a fantastic comedy if that's what u want it to be.
If on the other hand, you are looking deeper into the message of the film, you will also appreciate it as a fine adaption of what I hear is a classic novel.
You must watch this film...even to just be "in the know".