I bought the DVD last year and watched it. While they seemed intent on making some profound point, I completely missed it. I really got a kick out of the special features where the actors basically said they were just winging it and often weren't sure what point they were trying to make either.
I think the emphasis was on the "Freedom" thing at that time. If you can, turn on the commentary by Dennis Hopper when watching it. The scene around the campfire with Jack Nicholson talking about UFO's was completely ab-lib on Jack's part. Hopper was was laughing so hard they had to do a cut.
Also, if you look closely at the scenes at the commune when the four of them went skinny dipping you won't see Peter Fonda in any scenes with the other three. Fonda got really sick and they shot the scenes without him and dubbed in his part after the fact.
I think you had to grow up in those times to understand what was trying to be said. The film has dated badly and has lost it's luster from when I first seen it when it came out but still fun to watch and listen to the music. And like others have said, it did have a profound impact on the rest of my adult life with motorcycles.
Rest in peace Dennis Hopper
