Ten Movies You Need to See Before Going to Vegas

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 9, 2008

Sure, we all figure that the bigger movie this weekend will be Speed Racer, but we were at a loss for a Top 10 list on that film. So we went to the next best thing, the counter-programming rom com What Happens in Vegas.

In the film, Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher get wild and drunk, then get hitched on a crazy night in Vegas. Their problem is they didn’t see enough Vegas movies to know the dangers that can happen in that town. So, we have put together this list of must-see films before any Vegas trip. Trust me, it will keep you out of trouble.

Flame on!

10. Honeymoon in Vegas

Here’s the Nicolas Cage Vegas movie in which he doesn’t die of alcohol poisoning… and he dresses up as Elvis, no less. Not only does this movie serve as a nice billboard for the modern Vegas, it serves as a warning against betting your wife in a poker game. Duh!

9. Mars Attacks!

Most people traveling to Sin City don’t consider what might happen if the earth is attacked by aliens. Just in case that happens while you’re in Vegas, this film will help you survive, granted you can find Jim Brown and use Danny DeVito as a human shield.

8. Ocean’s Thirteen

Yeah, the Ocean movies got a bit over the top, and what you see on the screen might have more to do with science fiction than actual Vegas security. However, this third movie of the ultimate casino heist shows you some of the lengths properties will go to protect their money. So don’t try fixing a blackjack game unless you see this film.

7. Ocean’s Eleven

The original, mind you, not the remake. Not that there’s anything wrong with the remake, but with #8 already on the list, we can’t put Clooney & Co. on twice. This one is for the history. The original Ocean’s Eleven is a fun reminder of what Vegas was like in the old days when the Rat Pack rules the down and Sinatra was the Chairman of the Board.

6. Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Vegas is known for sin, and no one brought sin to this town more than Hunter S. Thompson and his lawyer. If you’re planning on getting hopped up on drugs for a stint in Sin City, be sure you check this film out to possibly avoid some pitfalls.

5. National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation

Okay, it’s not the best Vacation movie out there. But it is somewhat educational. There’s a lot to learn here, from how quickly you can lose money gambling to how easy it is for underage gamblers to hit the jackpot.

4. The Cooler

Another more educational flick, this shows some old school tricks on how the casinos stop people from scamming them. Oh, and it demonstrates that apparently every waitress on the strip is also a prostitute.

3. Go

While the whole film does not take place in Las Vegas, Taye Diggs’ character learns some powerful life lessons about how to maneuver in a strip club, what a “champagne room” is and what happens if you grab a stripper’s ass.

2. Showgirls

As educational as Go is for the would-be gentlemen’s club connoisseur, Showgirls shows us how things aren’t. Trust me, if you want to get that “explosive” lap dance that Kyle McLaughlin gets, you can find it much cheaper. There’s better ways to spend $1000 in this city.

1. Casino

This is the ultimate Vegas film for people who want a peek behind the tables. Not only does Martin Scorsese show us how the power structure works, he shows us the old school ways they keep things in check. Imagine what they can do with computers now, and you’ll think twice before trying to beat the house.

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