This Is Bat-Country: The Match-Cut "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" Rewatch

[BuffaloWilder]

Since the A.I. thread is just dead in the water, for some reason (well, okay - but it's certainly not the most talkative thread on the front page), let's move on to this one.

http://atthefirstshowing.files.wordpr ess.com/2009/04/fear_and_loathing_in_las_vegas .jpg

"Get in."

[BuffaloWilder]

I'll throw this random thought out there, while it's on my mind, for good measure - I think that moment when Depp spins around on his bar-stool and says, "-- impossible to walk in this muck. No footing at all," coming face to face with nobody, is probably one of the uneasiest scenes in the film.

That entire scene in the bar just feels so claustrophobic. Del Toro spitting out ghost gibberish against the red backlight, over here and over there - hmmm.

[Ivan Drago]

I'll be taking part in this rewatch for sure. I saw Fear and Loathing for the first time when I was in high school, and I thought that while some of it was cool, it didn't make any fucking sense whatsoever. But hopefully a 2nd viewing will change that.

[Milky Joe]

I'll throw this random thought out there, while it's on my mind, for good measure - I think that moment when Depp spins around on his bar-stool and says, "-- impossible to walk in this muck. No footing at all," coming face to face with nobody, is probably one of the uneasiest scenes in the film.

That entire scene in the bar just feels so claustrophobic. Del Toro spitting out ghost gibberish against the red backlight, over here and over there - hmmm.

Totally. That scene is deeply unsettling, particularly when one's state is, ahem, altered. In fact, from the moment they pull up to the hotel in Vegas and Depp weirdly examines the guy's hand holding out the ticket--has there ever been a better portrayal of an acid trip on film? (the answer's no).

[Amnesiac]

"She's a lady! Whoa, whoa, whoa, she's a lady!"

Haven't seen this in years. I used to watch it all the time, though.

[Sycophant]

For some reason, my very Mormon mother has watched this and I haven't. I'll queue it up.

[Ezee E]

I have rewatched this recently, and while I still think there's some awesome parts to it, and overall it is a good movie, I regret purchasing it. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro are great in their roles, but the movie just gets tiresome after a while. Its a bit overwhelming.

[bac0n]

Haven't watched this gem in years. Looks like a good excuse to pop the DVD in the player after the girls are in bed.

[Mara]

Hm. Tempting, but no. I've never seen or heard one blessed thing about this film that made it sound like something I'd want to see.

[Qrazy]

Hm. Tempting, but no. I've never seen or heard one blessed thing about this film that made it sound like something I'd want to see.

It's consistently hilarious.

[ledfloyd]

I have rewatched this recently, and while I still think there's some awesome parts to it, and overall it is a good movie, I regret purchasing it. Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro are great in their roles, but the movie just gets tiresome after a while. Its a bit overwhelming.
i'm not sure if it would work if it wasn't overwhelming.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

I still find this movie, albeit uneven, incredibly hilarious. Such classic scenes as when they try to gain access to the Debbie Reynolds concert and Benecio del Toro is screaming at the employee "I used to romp with her!" keep me coming back for more.

[megladon8]

I still love it, but it drags around the 2/3 mark.

[Grouchy]

For me, it's actually a good excuse to buy it.

So the rewatch will have to wait until I do that.

[MadMan]

Still regret not buying this on Criterion when it was half priced at Barnes and Noble during that sale. Also should watch this high, sometime.

Just like the book, the movie comes and dances close to being a masterpiece, but doesn't quite get there. Yet I'll be damned if I don't love both, and think that each is special and awesome in their own ways.

Oh and Johnny Depp was perfect to play Hunter S. Thompson/Dr. Gonzo. The entire cast for the movie adaption was spot on. Fantastic.

[trotchky]

"Is this not a reasonable place to park?"

[Spun Lepton]

Is this on Blu-Ray?

*goes to Amazon*

[Qrazy]

And I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff soon enough.

[BuffaloWilder]

Incidently, there's a piece of footage in the Gonzo documentary of Thompson and Acosta during the Vegas trip, and it's a recording of one of the better scenes that got cut out of the film -


http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3318/shot0080b.png
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2078/shot0082j.png
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2448/shot0083k.png
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/473/shot0084.png

"Five tacos - that's like five hamburgers for a dollar."
"Don't judge a taco by its price. It's just a cheap place, man."

Thompson and Acosta getting the location of the old burned down Psychiatrist's Club. It's interesting stuff, I think - particularly in regards to how well Depp captured Thompson. I mean, look at the walk.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

Tell me about the fucking golf shoes!

[trotchky]

Gonzo is a really good movie.

fun fact: the director is from my home town

[Qrazy]

You're not Portuguese man.

[Amnesiac]

I've always enjoyed Tobey Maguire's cameo in this.

[Qrazy]

I've always enjoyed Tobey Maguire's cameo in this.

It baffles me how people can not find this film utterly hilarious. Maguire's return at the end is a perfect example. 'Sweet Jesus... it's him!'

[megladon8]

One of my favorite opening lines ever.

"We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold."

[MadMan]

Oh and this movie has one of the best, and funniest, openers, ever. If anything my other (and last) complaint about this film is that the movie never really captures the brilliance of the first batch of scenes. However, Thompson's speech about the 60s and how it all ended is pretty amazing, and bittersweet, maybe even beautiful.

[Qrazy]

'I've never missed a plane yet.'

[megladon8]

Oh and this movie has one of the best, and funniest, openers, ever. If anything my other (and last) complaint about this film is that the movie never really captures the brilliance of the first batch of scenes. However, Thompson's speech about the 60s and how it all ended is pretty amazing, and bittersweet, maybe even beautiful.


Totally.

One of my favorite monologues ever.

[trotchky]

Oh and this movie has one of the best, and funniest, openers, ever. If anything my other (and last) complaint about this film is that the movie never really captures the brilliance of the first batch of scenes. However, Thompson's speech about the 60s and how it all ended is pretty amazing, and bittersweet, maybe even beautiful.

i also enjoyed the part where he's looking for something to huff ether off of and he pulls out an american flag, considers it briefly, and with pitch-perfect bittersweet sadness says "yeah. why not." and then holds the flag to his face as he wanders around totaled

also thompson on acid walking past the "i think i'm starting to feel that drink!" couple is pretty good

and how in the opening scene one actual bat is left damaged on the pavement, kind of says a lot as well