Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Two guys managed to get their hands on one of the DVDs I’m most eagerly anticipating right now, the Criterion Collection special edition of Terry Gilliam’s diseased adaptation of FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS. Both of them took the time to write quick reviews for us, so here’s the first one for you to enjoy...
Fear me up, Buttercup or The DVD egoanogo loathes and fears...
Howdy folks, greetings from where the buffalo roam. Just a quick note letting y'all know what's what on the new Criterion release of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Yup, it's five years later and time to revisit the project that pairs the likes of Thompson with Gilliam and could have only be the product of a dare made between Gods on drugs.
While stumbling against my will through a neighborhood record store, won't drop any names but it rhymes with Sour Records, I found what some clumsy clerk mistakenly stocked on a shelf about three weeks too early. Yet when one's foul-up at a dismal day job results in the joy filled past couple nights of mine, why complain? Now for the nonsense. First off, this is a two disc set which, unless comparing it to the Bad Taste double disc, is a good thing. I ask you, what more could a DVDork ask for than a pristine digital anamorphic transfer, a delectable drizzling of DTS on the decibels and one, two, three commentaries? What indeed, well a Quizno's classic Italian and the helping hands of nymphomaniac neighbor, sure, but why be greedy? Cus I'm hungry and horny, that's why. On with the cut and paste from the Criterion website show.
Disc One: The Movie Digital transfer, approved by director Terry Gilliam and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. New Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 sound mixes. Three audio commentary tracks: director Terry Gilliam; stars Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro, and producer Laila Nabulsi; and author Hunter S. Thompson. Deleted scenes, with commentary by Terry Gilliam. English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired. Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition.
Disc Two: The Supplements Collection of storyboards and production designs. Stills gallery. A selection of Hunter S. Thompson correspondence, read on-camera by Johnny Depp. Hunter Goes to Hollywood, a short documentary video by filmmaker Wayne Ewing. A look at the controversy over the screenwriting credit. Original trailer and TV spots. Rare materials on Oscar Zeta Acosta, the inspiration for Dr. Gonzo. Collection of original artwork by illustrator Ralph Steadman. Excerpt from 1996 Fear and Loathing audio CD with Maury Chaykin, Jim Jarmusch, and Harry Dean Stanton. Fear and Loathing on the Road to Hollywood: A 1978 BBC feature documentary with Thompson and Steadman.
Disc one. Naturally, after waiting some five years to hear in-depth talkyness on this flick, the first commentary my ears had aural intercourse with was Gilliam's. As always, Terry Giuseppe Gilliam provides his listeners with more info than a year's worth of film classes and he does it in under two hours. Just one of the many reasons why he's allowed to dry hump the furniture and leave it begging for more. Not to mention all the usual Hollywood haranguing that goes hand in hand while Terry's making a film. Yes, from budget battles to a breast feeding Johnny Depp, it's all hear and it's all gravy. Speaking of which, the second commentary should actually be called; The Johnny Show. Not because he's a cry baby, but simply due to the fact co-star Benicio and producer lady Laila don't appear to be the most eager to speechify, henceforth Johnny fills the silence. Insert "fill" comment here. As for the third and final commentary by a self-proclaimed doctor of journalism, well, it's two hours worth of Hunter. That's it, I will ruin nothing.
Disc two. Everything here is as wonderful as syrup drenched bacon with a side of cocaine. Numerous documentaries, production art and advertising media. If you had no idea who Hunter, Ralph and/or Oscar are/were, you will now. Now, let's get down to brass taxes. For me, the pants down single best supplement of the entire set is that of a rare videotaped piece in which Oscar Zeta Acosta gives a reading from one of his books. It's a little under a half-hour long, no clips from the film or anything, just him, the book, the audience and a piano. If you must hear a graphic retelling of an autopsy, it's best to hear it with piano accompaniment. Kind of gives the whole thing a sentimental appeal, like the end of so many Full House episodes. If his presentation doesn't make you want to read his books and find out more about him, little will. Fiercely moving feces.
Once the twosome had had it's way with me I continued to scour both discs for hidden items only to come up short, naturally. Now, for all those who already own the original semi-bare bones edition of this flick, you may not want to pawn it for the latest Jenna DVD just yet. Granted, all the info revealed in the "Spotlight on Location" is delivered through the commentaries in spades. And although Criterion attached all the deleted SCENES, one INTRO was left out. If you've watched the original's deleted scenes from beginning to end you'll understand this WARNING. While we're on the subject of warnings it seems fair to mention that this might not be a special edition folks were clamoring for, but life often gives us things we don't expect. Which, if you've never seen this film or read any fearful books, expect nothing and you might walk away with something. Or nothing. A paradigm the book and movie embrace with open arms and tightened fists. I can't say who this movie is for, neither can the video stores. Visit any rental or retail shop and you'll find the film in any of following sections: Action, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy, Documentary, Horror. Few flicks fit in the multi-category mold Gilliam perfected and I feel lucky to watch any. Plus, any project that pairs the likes of Thompson with Gilliam could only be the product of a dare made between Gods on drugs. A drug I wouldn't mind trying twice.
This next guy got so excited by the thing that he forgot how to spell. Or maybe he’s just outside Barstow and the drugs are beginning to take hold...
Hello Harry,
I have recently aquired myself a copy of Terry Gilliam's adaption of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Criterion dvd. I have gone through it extensively and decided to give you a little review. First off, the dvd picture quality is excellant. The 2.23:1 animorphic widscreen come off beautifuly and the colors are dead on. I qwould say that this is an A+ vedio transfer. The sound is also excellant. Presented in 5.1 and DTS, I sampled both and found that the DTS is a little better than the 5.1
Now being a Crityerion dvd and Terry Gilliam's special edtitions before this have been excellent. This dvd is packed. To start off, we have three commentary tracks. One from director Terry Gillam who talks mostly about the techinal aspects of the film and also his intentions of trying to convey the craziness of the book to the screen. Next is from The producer, Johnny Depp, and Benico Del Toro. This is one that I wish all three had been recorded together. They seem a little bored and epp doesnt really have much to say. The one ewho is most dominant is the producer. She sheda a lot more light into the film and the production. The best of the three is Hunter S Thompson's track. Being a huge fan, I loved it. He is interviewed by the producer and has alot to say actually. He is a little hard to understand a time because of mummbleing but this is easily the best trck of the disc. He talks about what it was like when he was in Vegas and how he came about with a lot of the different things that happend. Next are a slew of deleted sences that I really thought were cool. Most obvious was the one where Depp and Del Toro talk to the district attorney from Georgia. I remmber this sence very well from the book and thought it should have been left in. Gilliam privdes commentary or each one.
Disc two had the remander of the suppllemants. There are storyboards, and a couple of great documentaries. The two best one are called Hunter in Hoolywood, which documents his trip there on the set a filming his cameo. A really halarious piece espcially the part wear they're driving down the road and someone honks at them. Hunter screams out "FUCK YOU!" That was funny. Next is a BBC documenatary from 1978 about Thompson and Steadman. This is the highlight of the disc. It runs about 50 minutes and length and cover a lot of ground. We see Hunter's speech when he lost for sherrif, and some other varoious clips and interviews. The Depp reads into the camera about Hunter isn't what it appears. He is not realy in character as Thompson but just reads a leter and a few other things about Thompson to ya. Anoter supplenment that was cool was the except from the 1996 cd with Harry Dean Stanton as the narrator and it is the Brakedown on Paradise Blvd sequence. This was pretty funny and a delight to listen to. There is also some text on Oscar Zeta Acosta, and Hunter talking about his departed friend. This was one mamoth special edition and a real favorite in my book. Run now and by it, you fucking pigs!!! Quickly, because the weasals are closing in!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to get my hands on this one m’self, and thanks to both of you guys for sending your early reviews in. I appreciate it.
"Moriarty" out.
