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Fight Club

Fight Club

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This is possibly my favorite movie right now.
Review: This is such an awsome movie I really can't understand how thisdeserves any less than 5 stars. The acting, concept, and just theoverall appearance of the film is done to perfection. It was shot and edited really well. The only reason I guess someone could rate this so low as I saw someone rating it 2 stars is that they just didn't understand the concept of the film. And I think some people just dont understand the comedy in this film. It's supposed to be funny too. I thought the humor was great. And the acting of Edward Norton was outstanding. Along with others like Brad Pitt. I also guess the reason people would think to rate it so low was they were expecting a totally different type of movie. It's definitley not straight foward fighting in some club. It goes so much beyond that. And I think that's what makes this movie so cool. And this movie was explained so well, they had an explanation for everything that you wondered about so you wouldn't get lost for too long. Unlike movies such as The Sixth Sense which was praised when they don't explain it very well. How can someone go by for however long it was during the time between when he died and started talking to the boy? You can't go by a day and not realize if no ones said anything to you let alone how ever long it was; I know it was quite a long time. And how would his mother set up an appointment with him if she couldn't talk to him, and we know the kid didn't set it up? I suppose I'm getting off subject I'm just pointing this out because it has always bothered me how a movie with such gaps can be praised like that. I just think people were too caught up in the moment to think about it. Anyways, Fight Club is one of the best movies I have ever seen and everyone needs to see it!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Difficult But Rewarding (And Entertaining) Experience
Review: Fight Club represents a virtuoso performance from all three of its principal actors (Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter), as well as in the cinematography and direction that transform it into a surreal experience more meaningful than a first glance might reveal. Edward Norton is well know for the depth his brings to conflicted roles (Primal Fear, American History X), but the surprise here is in how effectively Pitt assumes a persona both supremely irreverant ("God hates you," he says at one point) and with the spiritual gravamen of Nietzche's Zarathustra.

Indeed, for all the press given to the violent aspects of the film, it is not a film about violence. Nor is violence even the medium for a greater message, as might be argued of such films as Saving Private Ryan. Rather, violence is a passing example of the existential message the film examples: What is reality, and how can man transcend it? How does man become the ubermensch? Nietzche is a powerful spectre over the entire film, and the brilliant and diorienting skills of Jeff Cronenweth keep you from ever truly pinning down the "truth." This elusiveness is, of course, inherent to the message.

But even as Fight Club examines questions that deal with the very soul of mankind, it still appeals to the casual viewer. It is of importance that the viewer not be drawn into the trap of deriving some perverse pleasure from the violence. Rather, the violence so ludicrously decried by some critics (Ken Turin of the Times likened the film to Nazi propaganda) is an example of the failures of mankind, something we can be fascinated by but never approve. The mystery of the story envelops the viewer, drawing us into a seemingly normal life that rapidly spirals out of control into a mesmerizing sequence of revelation and epiphany. We are edified along with the protagonist; his confusions are our confusions; his triumphs are ours; the film's triumph is ours as well.

This movie would easily rate five stars for its searching message and enthralling production, but it has received such venom from some reviewers that I cannot in good faith totally ignore their opinions that the movie dwells too much on the violence. I must state categorically that it dos not, but I must recognize that the movei did not appeal to everyeone. Moreover, those squeamish of violence with enjoy this movie no more than Last of the Mohicans: a good movie with far more violence than this one. Still, amovie that cannot appeal to everyone does not merit a full five-star rating.

But as long as you can take a little blood on your way to the ending, do indulge yourself in the brilliant tour de force--consider it a philosophy lesson and rollicking trip at once.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Possibly the most misunderstood film in cinematic history!..
Review: Not since 'Natural Born Killers' has there been such a furore over a film. Reviews focus on the 'gratuitous violence' of the fight scenes, it's 'pro-fascist stance' and it's inability to actually provide any depth or intelligence... However, these comments came from people that obviously really didn't grasp (or even see) any of the movie they were discussing. Fight Club is cinema at its most innovative, and from the very opening scenes it is clear that it is not going to be the testosterone-fuelled fist-fest that so may (including myself) thought it would be. The film echoes in many ways the sentiments of 'American Beauty': our protagonist in (mid-life) crisis, disenchanted with today's consumerist society, searching for his equilibrium, yet is considerably more visceral in style and content. The 'plot' is simple, (yet you WILL want to see it at least twice!) although there are too many intracacies to into in such a short space. It also shows the 3 main actors (Norton, Pitt and Bonham-Carter) at their best... not to mention the chance to see Meatloaf with a huge pair of breasts! It is extremely unfortunate that this film has been so widely overlooked, presumably due to the focus on the fight scenes (which as one of the commentaries succinctly notes are not dissimilar in nature or violence to what anyone would've previously seen in 'Rocky' films, merely in a less 'family-oriented feel-good' context), because these only feature in a small portion of the film. Yes, it is violent, but moreover it is also hilariously funny and often extremely poignant. And as a DVD it has possibly the best array of special features that will keep you enthralled for days! BUY IT NOW!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible use of special features
Review: This movie was really incredible. It completely captured the GenX disillusionment with our pop-bubblegum culture (to paraphrase from the movie a little). The dialogue is witty and intelligent. Having watched the movie a few times now, I enjoyed picking out elements throughout the beginning half of the movie that supported Jack's revelation later. Then I looked at all the special features included with the DVD. This DVD set easily makes the most and best use of the DVD format. They definitely provide enough great stuff to warrant a 2 disc set. If you enjoyed the movie at all, I recommend getting the DVD, if just for all the great special features.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Really Good!
Review: Fight Club is one of the best movies of last year, and one of the best in a long time. It's thought provoking, and just a great movie. See it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic for a Younger Generation
Review: After seeing fight club, I was not at all surprised to find that it didn't get a best picture nod for the Oscars, while films such as "the sixth sense" did; however, my complete lack of surprise does not relate my complete disappointment. This film is an artistic achievement for David Fincher, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bodham Carter, Chuck Palahniuk, the Dust Brothers, and all others involved. It scratches at the soft underbelly of status quo in so many ways. The basic plot of a mentally imbalanced man searching for what he wants in life helps extrapolate the myriad themes present. It shows how all the operations to run the civilization men built are controlled by women. The basic instinct of man is useless in this society. Tyler's vision of laying venicen on the streets of "some abandoned superhighway" show the desire to recreate that purpose. This does not describe the ingenuity of the themes involved, but 1000 words could hardly come satisfactorily close. Additionally, I am not surprised that many of our esteemed film reviewers have brushed this film off as an ultra-violent, underdeveloped, and weak attempt to explain a story. This can be partially explained by these reviewers apparent biases. They are people of another generation, and the ability to grasp ideas contrary to entrenched ideas is disturbing. Something as new as Fincher's adaption of Fight Club is too strange to be taken seriously. Also, one completely intriguing aspect of this film that many dislike is its absence of complete closure. This is also disturbing to some. I notice that people often enjoy a movie better when they are dictated what they are supposed to take from the movies message and what they are supposed to understand happens. I will not tell you the end of the movie, but it does not wrap a story ending in a big red bow for the viewers to unwrap and feel content. It leaves thoughts and ideas to be sorted out and independent conclusions to be drawn. To do this well is to create art. The Chuck Palahniuk, and the cast and crew that made Fight Club a movie did this well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THIS IS THE FINEST DVD OF 2000!
Review: Listen ladies and germs, Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to pick up this digital versatile disk immediately! Not only is the anamorphic widescreen transfer amazing(the quick frames of Tyler seem to pop off the screen) but this film is loaded with, count them, FOUR audio commentaries. If you are a film buff or just an amateur moviegoer, these commentaries are invaluable tools to finding out how the film is made. We have commentary by director David Fincher, one by Fincher, Pitt, Norton, and Bonham Carter, one with Novelist Chuck Palahniuk and screenwriter Jim Uhls, and one with the cinematographer and special FX coordinator. And that's just on disk 1! The second disc features hours of supplementary materials, ie. Trailers, PSM's, Interviews, and behind the scenes footage. It is an extrodinary set and is the perfect component to any great dvd collection. If you can find a better dvd that was released this year, I'd like to hear from you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lord of the Guys
Review: Just when I thought it was impossible for a movie to capture the nuances of a well-crafted novel, David Fincher comes along and proves me wrong. Fincher, the director, shows again his ability to mold a movie like clay, to shape it into whatever style is necessary to convey its dark, moral shape. The cast backs him up with intensity and bravado.

"Fight Club," as implied by the title, is not for the faint-of-heart, for the self-appointed morality squads, or for those interested in mere entertainment...This movie wants to say something--and, in case you're hard of hearing, it'll even yell out its sermonettes at times. No, not every lesson hits home. Some fly off the mark, and some get lost behind the violent foreground--but others hit you like a bullet between the eyes.

Jack begins as an insomniac, "not really asleep, and not really awake." As he finds himself addicted to the close-knit feeling of support groups, he becomes an emotional junkie, attending meeting after meeting with bogus ailments--anything for his next hug, his next "fix." These scenes, though humorous at times, touch on deep felt longings and feelings in us all. But when Jack realizes that another person, Marla Singer, is also using the groups for her own devices, his ecstasy is shattered. His own shallowness, reflected through her, becomes a thorn in his side.

Jack begins losing sleep again...Until he meets Tyler Durden. Soon, the two inseparable partners commit themselves to an anti-social life, pursuing answers and meaning in a world ruled by capitalistic emptiness. "The things you own... own you!" Tyler declares. And the two set out to be free men by casting aside most things society holds dear.

Their intentions and their courage to cast aside convention in the pursuit of a better way left me simultaneously stunned and cheering and repulsed. As the film churns inexorably toward its violent and surprising conclusion, I, like Jack, found myself awakening from this bad dream, hoping there was time and means to redeem the chaos unleashed.

But it wasn't to be.

Like the young men in the classic novel, "Lord of the Flies," the men of Fight Club spiral downward into their own moral mire, resulting in death and destruction. Unlike "Lord of the Flies," there are no rescuers on the horizon this time around. The results of their soul-searching-gone-mad prove explosive and unstoppable.

In the end, Jack and Tyler's questions and frustrations go unanswered, and we are left with the dark realization that these questions cannot be ignored. Their search short-circuits almost before it begins; the paths they travel lead to emptiness.

But are answers out there? I believe there are..."Fight Club" stands up and demands that we keep searching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: FIRST RULE OF FIGHT CLUB: READ MY REVIEW
Review: Best movie ever made. I thought this movie looked dumb, but then one of my friends saw it and said it was awesome and was able to convince me to go see, which I did. I loved it! I loved it so much, I saw it again, which is very rare. This is a must buy. I dunno how someone cannot love this movie. If you have not seen it, at least rent it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: First 2/3 is 5 Star last 1/3 is a solid 1
Review: Fight club gets off the ground brilliantly with Ed Norton playing a severely lonely man that finds companionship through support groups ranging from people with TB to testicular cancer. It is funny, and initially feels like it could be the smash breakthrough brilliant film of 1999. It continues strong through the 2/3 mark, at which time audience members are on their seats with excitement at just how well done everything is. . . and then comes the crash. The "reveal" of Norton's psychiatry is insulting to the intelligent viewer and the film cannot deliver on the "6th Sense" verses "Usual Suspects" approach that it tries. As we say in Hollywood, and audience can always forgive a poor start with a great end. . . but a fantastic start with a terrible end will leave the audience hollow. This is the answer to why people hate the film. Truly disappointing given how awesome it is initially.


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