Rating the bizarre

OK, OK, OK, so some of these movies have doubtful plotlines, but, and it has to be said, everyone loves watching a creepy movie from time to time. Here is our take on some of the most bizarre films out there. We rated moves 1 through 5; 1 means you can pass it up and 5 means you'll be really sorry if you do.

And watch for a surprise rating. One of our movies was so out-of-the-box good that it busted our rating system. You'll see.

"FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS" (1998)

Director: Terry Gilliam

MPAA rating: R

Bizarre-o-meter: 4/5

Director Terry Gilliam brings the drug induced 1970s to the screen with his adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's novel (and to a point, first-hand account), "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Johnny Depp gives one of his greatest performances as failed sports writer Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro plays his psychopathic Samoan lawyer, Dr. Gonzo.

Duke and Gonzo take a road trip to cover a motorcycle race in Las Vegas, a relatively simple task that is made incredibly difficult by an irresistible trunk full of contraband.

Needless to say, the inebriated duo goes through countless psychedelic adventures.

This isn't your typical "Harold and Kumar" drug story. Rather Thompson's novel and Gilliam's film offer an abstract analysis of the American dream.

A scene with Duke reflecting on the '60s and what the cultural revolution meant, was far more illuminating than any history textbook.

Sure history textbooks are informative, but sometimes the best way to learn about something is to see it, and that is exactly what "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" does. This film may be far from conventional, but it is also an important lens into a lifestyle and an age far past and vastly unknown by our generation.

From a movie standpoint, it's visually stunning. We get to see the famous hallucinations of the societal heroes, so stop and check this movie out.

-- Brett Scruton, junior at West High

"DONNIE DARKO" (2001)

Director: Richard Kelly

MPAA rating: R

Bizarre-o-meter: 2/5

"Donnie Darko," for all its fame, had a few funny lines and some creepy sequences, but it left me with a feeling of dissatisfaction more than one of confusion.

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal), the title character, believes the world is ending and that he is the only one who knows it.

As the final moments near, he becomes increasingly paranoid and has frequent hallucinations.

The best line is when Donnie confronts his imaginary friend (a creepy alien rabbit figure) asking "Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?" His imaginary friend responds by asking "Why do you wear that stupid man suit?"

Donnie is an interesting and inquisitive character, and the plotline is certainly puzzling at times, but as far as artsy and bewildering go, this film ranks fairly low.

-- Elaine Parmelee, sophomore at West High

"PINK FLOYD THE WALL" (1982)

Director: Alan Parker

MPAA rating: R

Bizarre-o-meter: 8/5

Pink Floyd bassist and vocalist Roger Waters wrote the screenplay for this 1982 film based on the 1979 album. If you've heard (and understood) "The Wall," which happens by some accounts to be the best-selling double album in history, you'll have a good idea of the movie's plot: rock star Pink (based on Roger Waters) suffers through numerous trials and tribulations, including his father's death at the Battle of Anzio, an overbearing mother and draconian teachers.

His mental state deteriorates, his marriage suffers and soon a bad heroin trip leads to terrifying hallucinations and delusions of grandeur. That's the straightforward part.

The movie is partially animated. The animations are surreal. "Goodbye Blue Sky" portrays the bombing of Britain in an unimaginable way, and "The Trial" will forever distort your views of the legal system.

Dialogue is minimal at most. The story is told mostly through songs, a few of which do not appear on the album.

The film may take a few viewings to figure out, because different parts of the story appear in different places. Scenes of running and rioting are interspersed throughout, further confusing the plot.

Because the film's animation sequences transcend "The Wall's" status as a simple film, its Bizar-o-meter rating transcends the scale.

-- Sam Holley-Kline, senior at Steller Secondary.

"A CLOCKWORK ORANGE" (1971)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

MPAA rating: Originally rated X, then changed to R

Bizarre-o-meter rating: 5/5

Without giving too much away, "A Clockwork Orange" is a sci-fi satire of government, psychiatry and religion. Taking place in futuristic, dystopian England, it follows the story of Alex DeLarge, the leader of a gang that specializes in "ultra-violence" and rape. After he accidentally kills a woman, Alex is arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The 136 minutes I spent watching this movie were 136 of the most disturbing minutes of my life. I still cannot decide if I enjoyed the film. I'm quite sure of its brilliance and innovativeness, but did I like it?

The movie is basically two hours of people being tortured in various ways, which was at times more sickening than enjoyable. But the violence was not always graphic, and oddly enough, was sometimes funny.

Whether or not I liked "A Clockwork Orange," though, I can easily say that the cinematography was interesting, the acting was disgustingly good, and I have certainly never seen anything quite like the movie.

What I liked most was how absolutely weird the characters were. Alex and his "droogs" speak using Russian and gibberish words for no apparent reason.

Alex's mother dresses like a go-go dancer. Everything in the movie is strange, yet treated as if it is the norm. "A Clockwork Orange" is not for those who are squeamish or easily scared, but anyone who likes really bizarre films, especially those that make you think, will find this movie a real "horror show."

-- Colby Bleicher, junior at West High

"PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER" (2006)

Director: Tom Tykwer

MPAA rating: R

Bizarre-o-meter: 2.5/5

"Perfume" does not earn its place as a bizarre film for having one of those plots that is so difficult to wrap your head around it hurts. Rather, this film earns its reputation for just being generally twisted.

While the drab, muddy colors and film style give an excellent depiction of dirty eighteenth-century France, the opening scenes immediately dash any hope of this being an honestly pleasing film.

The plot is centered on a man, infatuated with the female scent, murdering women and distilling their skins order make the most miraculous perfume ever.

However, setting aside the revulsion, the film offers an insightful look into the process of making perfume.

In retrospect, "Perfume" was more arty and mysterious than I expected, and at times I found myself almost sympathizing with the character and his sick habits.

This could be a result of the pity of the narrator or just from not knowing how else to react to such a grotesque spectacle.

-- Molly Mew, junior at Eagle River