Hunter S Thompson. Raoul Duke. Crazed creative process. Demonic genius and conduit of modern journalistic misadventure. A voice that underlined the creeping, radical and the despairing self hating in one sweep. FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS is Thompsons journey to a Las Vegas at the epicentre. Of the American dream and its sporadic apparitions. From ghoulish outdoor race, Gun nut and Republican conventions, Lizard orgies and drug fueled depravity. Thompson became a journalistic titan as much for his escapades, as for his utterly magnetic Gonzo style.

Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo. The Nevada desert. Duke, has sliced a mescaline dream. Giant bats have attacked and retreated. Gonzo needs cocaine to start a bum ticker. Duke has been assigned by an unnamed magazine to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race. Arrive in Chevrolet Impala convertible. Leave and set course for dry sand with water pools. Drugs blot walking, comedic atrophy. Lizards are in bars and makeup is caked on. Gonzo is crazed and in the middle of a trip, Duke Checks into the land of nightmares. They have three days and a suitcase filled with drugs to get through.

The term critical analysis is lost some what on a film like this. I being a reader of Thompson, from his crazed drug work to his masterpiece HELLS ANGELS, I have nothing but respect for anyone attempting to sculpt a narrative sense. Perversely it’s been a weekend of films with troubled productions. Now comes one to out trouble them all. Don’t listen to me though,  start in this set with Ian Christie’s appreciation. He details the trangs and bangs of the to and fro. Laila Nabulsi work is also a must visit. Fusing the idea of the film with the print inspiration.

The big points to take away are the transfer and the second disc. The film has had some very good quality releases, this 4K attempt bucks the trend a little. Making the cinematography that works for the halogen lights and the desert brights, shimmering both into a toxic, nightmarish war. FOR NO GOOD REASON is a very clicked on doc. It might meander and mowkishly take on the Ralph Steadman of vanilla worlds but it is an engaging watch…

2-DISC LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS

• Two-disc edition featuring Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas in a new 4K restoration, and the documentary For No Good Reason about illustrator Ralph Steadman, featuring Terry Gilliam and Johnny Depp
• Limited edition packaging featuring iconic original art by Ralph Steadman
• Limited edition perfect-bound book featuring new writing by Roger Keen, an essay on “Thompson on Film” by Dr. William Stephenson, a 1999 interview with Terry Gilliam by Ian Christie and original production notes
• Six collectors’ postcards
• Double-sided fold-out poster of the original theatrical one-sheet and a sketch by Terry Gilliam

DISC ONE – FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

• Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original negative supervised by Terry Gilliam
• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• Original 5.1 & 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
• Optional subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• New commentary by Terry Gilliam, moderated by Phil Stubbs
• Savage: Finding The American Nightmare, a newly filmed appreciation by film historian Ian Christie
• The Gonzo Papers, a newly filmed interview with producer Laila Nabulsi
• Grim Memories and Bad Flashbacks, an all-new interview with star Benicio del Toro
• Ignore This Terrible Drug: The Art and Style of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, an all-new featurette including interviews with cinematographer Nicola Pecorini, production designer Alex McDowall, costume designer Julie Weiss and editor Lesley Walker
• Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film, a 2006 documentary on the author featuring Depp, del Toro, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, Bill Murray, Sean Penn, John Cusack and others
• Hunter Goes To Hollywood, archive footage of the author filming his cameo in the film
• Four deleted scenes with new optional commentary by Gilliam, including the excised prologue A Dress Pattern
• Spotlight on Location, an original promotional featurette featuring interviews with Gilliam, Depp and del Toro
• Behind the scenes ‘B-roll’ footage and additional EPK interviews with Gilliam, Depp and del Toro
• Theatrical trailers and TV spots
• Extensive image galleries, including original production designs, storyboards and production stills

DISC TWO – FOR NO GOOD REASON (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)

• High Definition Blu-ray™ (1080p) presentation
• 5.1 & 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
• Optional subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Short film Cherrywood Cannon
• Ralph’s Art
• Extended interviews with Terry Gilliam, Bruce Robinson and Richard E. Grant
• Deleted Scenes
• Trailer & Teasers
• Image Galleries