Yeah, it's a great adaption of a very zany book. Dunno how those guys managed to live to tell the tale of those drug fuelled antics!
The biopic Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson which was released in December looks like it should be worth a look for fans of Fear and Lothing in...
I completely agree with what you've said, but wouldn't consider any of them brilliant, neither would they feature in my faves list. But each to their own :)