7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer Dr. Gonzo drive from L.A. to Las Vegas on a drugs binge. They nominally cover news stories, including a convention on drug abuse, but also sink deeper into a frightening psychedelic otherworld. As Vietnam, Altamont, and the Tate killings impinge from the world of TV news, Duke and Gonzo see casinos, reptiles, and the American Dream.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Benicio del Toro, Ellen Barkin, Craig Bierko, Gary BuseyDrama | 100% |
Dark humor | 71% |
Crime | 59% |
Surreal | 44% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
It's been said before, quite possibly even by me in a previous review, but Terry Gilliam seems to live by the motto "nothing succeeds like excess". The erstwhile animator for and participant in Monty Python's Flying Circus has one of the most fascinating filmographies in contemporary cinema, and for anyone not already acquainted with Gilliam's visionary tendencies as well as what might be charitably called a lack of discipline might do well to take a very deep breath and dive headlong into Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a film that has had a somewhat controversial history but which still provides a dazzling, drug fueled cornucopia of weird images and both bizarre and hilarious story elements.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from Arrow's previous standalone 1080 release, which offered a 4K scan of the negative. Per Arrow's James
White, Arrow returned to the veritable drawing board and/or scanner for the 4K release, with a new 4K scan for this release. One way or the other,
this 4K UHD release does not offer a 1080 disc. For that reason, the 2K score above has been left blank.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HVEC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.35:1.
Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has been exclusively restored by Turbine in partnership with Arrow Films and is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with 5.1 and stereo sound.Arrow's 1080 release provided some noticeable improvements over the old Universal Blu-ray, and that trajectory continues with this really appealing 4K UHD version. Gilliam's films could be described as being made for this format in general, what with their tendencies toward outrageous images and palettes almost drenched in vivid colors, and that is probably particularly true for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Gilliam's repeated use of bizarre wide angle lenses, which intentionally distort the image in various hallucinogenic ways, also provide some extreme close-ups at times that offer superb fine detail levels, but even in relatively "normal" framings, overall detail levels remain surprisingly consistent despite what might be called the psychedelic haze overrunning so much of the imagery. Gilliam is on record as stating some of his special effects may not have been completely organic looking, and I think an argument could be made that the 4K UHD version's increased resolution may point up a bit of the artificiality in selected moments like the casino carpet coming to life under the influence of LSD (speaking of which, I think the colour grading company in Uelzen might have wisely reconsidered the last letter of its name for this particular project). But it's the palette that probably enjoys the most gobsmacking effects in this version. Kind of interestingly, while Dolby Vision and/or HDR do add considerable warmth to several sequences, it's more in some subtle tweaks to hues that this version attains its most distinctive flavor. In that regard, some of the interior oranges for example are somewhat more skewed toward red in this version, if only slightly. Other actual primaries are just incredibly vivid and well suffused, as if the viewer were, well, on drugs. Grain can be a bit "insect like" at times, which is probably unintentionally hilarious given Raoul's tendency to hallucinate various beasties at times. On the whole, though, I found grain resolution to be tight and organic looking. There are still a few very minor blemishes that still accrue despite the restoration efforts (keep your eyes peeled toward the left of the frame in some of the opening moments with Depp and del Toro in the car), but nothing of any import in my estimation.
The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution at Company 3, Burbank. The film was restored in 4K resolution and colour graded in HDR/Dolby Vision by LSP Medien, Uelzen. The SDR grade from Arrow's prior Blu-ray restoration served as the primary grading reference, which was supervised and approved by Director Terry Gilliam.
The 5.1 mix was remastered by NBC Universal.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas offers DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 options. Ken was appreciative if not overly enthusiastic about Universal's own release, and while I concur that even in this version the rear channels are kind of sporadically engaged, they are clearly in the mix at times (go stand next to them when the "bats" are afflicting Duke in the early going), and, as Ken noted with regard to the Universal release, there's clear panning and directionality at various junctures, especially once the drugs start kicking in, so to speak. There's an obviously hallucinogenic quality to the sound design that is probably only (chemically?) enhanced by the fact that (again as Ken noted in his review) there seems to have been pretty abundant ADR in post, so that there's almost an "Italian" dissociative quality to some of the dialogue. Fidelity is problem free, and a lot of the music in particular is really robust sounding. Dialogue (including Duke's voiceover) is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
- Spotlight on Location (HD; 10:35)
- Behind the Scenes (HD; 4:26)
- Interview with Terry Gilliam (HD; 2:42)
- Interview with Johnny Depp (HD; 4:58)
- Interview with Benicio del Toro (HD; 00:33)
- Trailer 1 (HD; 2:15)
- Trailer 2 (HD; 1:41)
- Storyboards by Terry Gilliam
- Opening Sequences
- The Mint Hotel
- Baker
- The Flamingo Hotel / DA Convention
- Adrenochrome
- Duke Drives Gonzo to the Airport
- Final Sequence
- Production Designs
- Production Stills
- Publicity Gallery
I am an unabashed fan of Terry Gilliam's often patently bizarre films, even if I am also simultaneously aware of how "unkempt" they can be at times. I have to say on at least one level there has probably never been a more perfect marriage between source writer and cinematic adapter than Hunter S. Thompson and Terry Gilliam, but that means that those unacquainted with either and/or both may be in for a rather eye and ear popping experience with this film. Technical merits are first rate, and to my eyes this "new, improved" 4K scan offers a more nuanced palette than Arrow's previous perfectly excellent 1080 presentation with the same nicely precise detail levels. Supplements are very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
1998
1998
1998
Remastered | Limited Edition | Includes For No Good Reason
1998
Remastered
1998
1998
Limited Edition
1973
1996
2017
1999-2007
2014
2017
2009
2008
Arrow Academy
1976
2 Disc Special Edition
2012
2008-2013
1997
The Convincer
2011
2017
Remastered
1996
2014
Twelve Angry Men
1957
2014
50th Anniversary Edition
1969
20th Anniversary Edition
1994