Rating: Summary: Pure In-your-face Brilliant Satire Review: Although David Fincher's Fight Club, is acclaimed by many critics as an excellent film who's ideas and revolutionary filmmaking may shape the way that movies of the future are made, many people do not like Fight Club. Violence undoubtedly turned some people off to the movie, however many people who do not like Fight Club, do not dislike the film because of its violence, but rather because these people have an inability to comprehend and/or identify key components of the plot and its underlying themes. Fight Club has every element that defines a classic movie. The complex satirical plot is well developed although; it does require an open-minded audience. The plot is enhanced drastically by a witty and comical dialect. In order to be an epic film, acting performances must be impeccable, Edward Norton and Brad Pitt both delivered all-star performances and every supporting actor or actress was cast perfectly to fit their parts. Innovative visual effects were used throughout the film, to enhance the already energetic movie. Scenes like the one where Edward Norton's character describes the accesorizing of his apartment are unlike any display of effects of the past. Even the sound was befitting of the film. The soundtrack does not consist of a lot of big name acts; it merely includes tracks that would go well with certain scenes. Above anything else it is the motifs, the ideas being presented, and the way in which they are being presented that makes the film the masterpiece that it is. One of the ideas that Tyler Durden tries to convey to Edward Norton's character throughout the film is the idea that as he puts it, "It's only after we've lost everything that we are free to do anything." Tyler tries to show him that life would be much more valuable if people stopped worrying about the material things that truly don't matter. Like when he holds a gun to Raymond, the store clerk's head, and tells him that he is going to die. Raymond really thinks that he is going to be shot. Then when Tyler tells him that he must get back on the track of being a veterinarian, which Raymond had always dreamed of but given up on, because it was "too much school", or else he would be killed. Tyler is able to show Edward Norton's character that Raymond's life will be better. Every breath that he takes will be sweeter than most people can ever imagine. At this moment in time Raymond won't be thinking about what kind of car he drives or what type of stereo he owns, he will be glad that he is getting a second chance and will live his life to the fullest. Fight Club has every aspect of a great movie, yet many people do not like this wonderful film. Fight Club uses beat-em-up and often brutal satire to portray intense ideas, and some viewers may have trouble understanding these ideas. Fight Club is not for the faint of heart, but rather an audience who is willing to open their mind to the experience of not only watching a great film, but also questioning their own lifestyle.
Rating: Summary: Mayhem on DVD Review: This has to be.. the best movie ever. I've got to keep this short, since I've written so many reviews on it, but this movie is so full of surprises. I've seen it over 40 times and it is still my favorite movie. The DVD is even better. It has all these special features on it. It's great. BUY IT!
Rating: Summary: Look a little bit closer--this is not just a Fight Club. Review: Hmmmm....The entire world seems to have missed the point. This is not just a story of rebellion and self-destructive philosophy to find some strange form of enlightenment. This is not just silly lines and guys fighting violently. Not just sex. Not just insanity. This is certainly not a story of freedom. There is a political and social message I've noticed not many people are recieving. It's a poke at every radical out there who fights against "the Establishment" or the "Man." Watch this movie again. Fight Club begins as something innocent, a way to rebel against standardized norms of pleasure. What it transforms into is a terrorist regime. Sure, in Fight Club they managed to escape from enslaving jobs and the "oppression" of modern suburbia through this unsanctioned variety of rituals. But in Project Mayhem, the innocence of rebellion turns into e x a c t l y what they tried to escape from. It's all right there in the mantra of Project Mayhem: "Sir, we do not ask questions in Project Mayhem, Sir." They become Space Monkeys, like the slaves to nine-to-fivers, the old lives they think they've destroyed. Everything comes back to where it started. The rebels form their own chains of self-oppression. In order to rebel, they must establish a conformist society (Project Mayhem). They lose their names and personal identities--exactly what they hated about regular society and jobs that lead to anonymity and industrial disallusionment. The means to usurpation are different, but the underlying bases of Project Mayhem are just as empty and disgusting as the real world's foundations. I suppose this, like many great films of our era, would be easily misinterpreted by the idiots looking for blood and violence, and stupid lines. Critics looking for sub-par Titanics. The empty-minded award givers who gave Michael Caine (Michae Caine!) an Academy Award for one of hte worst written, acted, and directed movies ever--Cider House Rules. (Let us not forget: "What's your business, boy!) I am a writer and an artist and philosopher--Fight Club appealed to all three facets of my being. To all the kids who started their own fight clubs, and you'd be surprised at how many actually did--the idiots--I say this: actually read into the movie. If you have any ability to interpret intelligent symbols, you will see past what everyone else praises emptily. Don't be a Space Monkey--the movie managed to fool more people than even Palahniuk, the writer of the book. David Fincher, Pitt, and Norton deserved Academy Awards. Especially Fincher. Probably the greatest social analysis in film of any generation. The rest is just delicious garnishing.
Rating: Summary: let fight club commence Review: An amazing movie. If anyone hasn't seen it, I highly suggest it. The direction is amazing, as is the writing. The acting is not the only part that makes this movie captivating. It is worth watching at least twice in a row, I know I did. A new aspect will be noticed each time you watch it. The characterization is wonderful, as is the writing, and the very basis. Keep your eyes open, it's an experience. Join the fight.
Rating: Summary: Smart, violent and gripping Review: First off, do not watch this film if someone has explained the ending. Its a gritty, violent cut of the life of a middle of the road 'suit'. The story will blow your mind and the philosophy is amazing. This is one movie you must see.
Rating: Summary: best message ever in a movie Review: This movie is a Buddhist message. "It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything." "The things you own end up owning you." These messages dominate the movie. Forget about the point of a degrading society. This movie is about an individual letting go - including letting go of a society's standards. Letting go of what you think are your needs. This includes anything that you think is important - because it isn't. Believing in FREEDOM is supporting that which you hate as well as that which you love. When one can extend this message completely throughout his life - where no circumstance is inherently different from any other - then he is enlightened. To all the buddhists out there (I am not one) I caution you at seeking enlightenment. For a living, I create artificial intelligence simulations. My progressing understanding of what I may be and the way my awareness works has brought me increasing levels of depression. If there are those that think I have yet to learn, I caution them the same. Fight Club stands alone - in my mind the best movie ever made - (The Matrix, Star Wars and The Godfather were up there). Much of this is due to its message but its presentation is first rate. Don't see it twice - see it 100 times. It is remarkably consistent, rich and if you give it a chance will change what you are. I've quit my job a long time ago - but I still go to that job.
Rating: Summary: Fight Club (1999) d: Fincher, David Review: Directed by David Fincher, Fight Club is a very weird movie that people either loved or hated. It is a dark; very satiric, and incredibly funny movie. Our star played by Edward Norton [American History X (1998)], on one of his many business trips, meets Tyler Durden played Brad Pitt [Kalifornia (1993) / Seven (1995, also directed by David Fincher)], a sly soap-salesman and jack-of-all-trades. When Edward Norton's high rise apartment is mysteriously firebombed, he turns to Brad Pitt for help. After a few drinks, both learn that neither has ever been in a fight. Pitt asks Norton to punch him. The 'Fight Club' is born. Channeling primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy the concept catches on, with underground 'Fight Clubs' forming in every town. Becoming a weekly testosterone social event, the club soon begins to grow, then mutate into a terrorist organization known as 'Project Mayhem'. A nihilistic cult that subverts and disrupt society whenever possible, through pranks and anti-corporate aggression. Throughout the film director David Fincher uses stylized subliminal editing, exciting camerawork, and digital effects to make a his work come to life. The film ends with a surprise ending similar to The Six Sense (1999), when Norton realizes that he is having a "mid-life crisis", and has created an charismatic, alter ego split personality. The DVD is full so many extras that they needed a second disc fit them all on.
Rating: Summary: a fascinating mess of a flick Review: The first time I saw Fight Club, I was pretty negative on it. It seemed to me that the movie was a little too in love with its visual slickness, sometimes half-baked philosophies, and "fighting as a means of expression" babble. But a second viewing greatly improved my opinion. Sure, I still think it's a bit of a mess, and sometimes filled with too much self-aware hipness, but I get it now. The film is obviously a double-edged sword. It means to critique and satirize American consumer culture while at the same time critiquing and satirizing the self-absorbed anguish the characters feel. One can see that near the beginning, as Edward Norton mopes around filled with self-pity, attending meetings for people with cancer and wondering why his life is so lousy. It's really not, but he feels empty anyway. To combat this emptiness, he starts a "fight club" with a mysterious fella named Tyler Durden. Chaos ensues, speeches are made, etc. I won't go much further at the risk of giving away anything to those of you who don't know much about the film, even though I'm sure most of you know everything anyway. Okay, the film is a mess. But it does begin to make sense after a couple viewings. What first appears to be a shallow "authority sucks" rant turns into something at once darker and more subversively funny. We supposed to laugh with and at the main characters, I suppose, which is tricky, but it works for the most part. The major pluses? Fincher's direction, which is really quite beautiful. Sure, it's slick (a strange critique I've heard--how can it be so damn slick when it purports to criticize slickness) but it's also a wonderfully shot film. The acting is terrific, with Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter doing some ace work and Brad Pitt turning in one of those sleazy maniac performances that he should probably specialize in. It's funny how people always mention Pitt in the same breath with Tom Cruise, when of course there are some major differences. Tommy wouldn't touch roles like this, preferring to stay heroic or likable. I know, Magnolia, but that was ultimately sympathetic, and while his character said some nasty things, we came to realize that it was All Because Of His Parents. But Pitt...all he seems to do is play psychos like Tyler Durden, loose cannons like his "piker" in Snatch (blah movie, fun role), or wild-eyed nuts (12 Monkeys). Well, this is not completely true. He plays the straightforward roles as well, but you get my point. Fight Club should probably be seen by anyone interested in modern American cinema, even if you ultimately don't like it (I won't be surprised if that's how you feel).
Rating: Summary: Tripe Review: Yes, I'm a dude, and yes, I did see past its violence. And yes, I do believe a lot of what the movie says (about how products consume us, how we live by what we have) but the most disturbing part is that the characters use VERY poor judgement to let out their anger. This wouldn't be that bad if the film had bombed, but the fact that it got so popular is by far more disturbing than anything this hurls at us. Why there are so many people that think what they did is justifiable is horrible. I'm not the kind that'll say this such-and-such can effect our lives in evil ways, but yes, this has done that. To justify violence by millions of air-headed jocks is wrong. Let the negative feedback come on! ) of 3584689 users found this review helpful
Rating: Summary: My Favorite Film Review: Fight Club is my favorite movie. For years my favorite movie was Terry Gilliam's Brazil, but Fight Club has managed to remove it from the mantle and take it's place as what I consider to be the finest film ever made. Not to quote the infamous line from the movie, but you truly cannot tell a person about Fight Club. It's like The Matrix, it's a film better seen the first time knowing nothing about. Even better if you go into it with misperceived notions of what the movie's about, so you can be proved wrong. I think the only problem with the movie is that it was meant to be seen on the Big screen. It uses certain camera tricks and techniques that were meant to enhance the theatrical experience. I fear that anyone seeing this movie for the first time at home will not take from it everything that the theatrical experience provided. So...for a proper viewing of this film...PLEASE follow the following rules: 1) be relaxed. be ready and in the right state of mind to sit back and watch a long film. It's NOT like watching "The Thin Red Line", but it is an involved film that will require your patients and attention 2) remove all distraction. Go to the bathroom, unplug the phone, and be settled to watch a great movie 3) turn off the lights, you'll like the movie a lot better in darkness...it's a very dark film and you'll need darkness to see everything 4) if you didn't like it...wait two weeks and watch it again. For a movie review: It is difficult to talk about the film without ruining it. I first saw the preview for it when I went to see The Phantom Menace. It was part of a Fox set of previews. I saw a bunch of guys fighting and a bar of soap. I thought, "Is this like that lame Van Damme movie Lionheart? No thanks." In fact none of the previews made me want to see it. Months later, after it's release, I heard a radio add for the film. The add sparked a little interest in me because it involved the reading three scathing reviews by critics and one positive review. I thought it was very ballsy of them to release those adds, but I still didn't go see the movie. The next week I was away in upstate New York on a job interview. I was flown there from California and had nothing to do on Thursday night in the tiny town that I was staying in. They had an impressive movie theater, so I thought I'd unwind from my 10 hour interview by taking a film in. When I arrived at the theater, Fight Club was just starting, so I bought a ticket on a whim (even though I really didn't like Lionheart very much). I walked out of that film with my mind buzzing. I had just enjoyed one of the most incredible theatrical experiences I had been through in a very long time. As soon as I go back to San Diego I took three friends to see the movie. I was so excited for them to see it and to hear their reaction. I Needed someone to talk about the film with. After the movie, and for the entire ride home in the car, no one said a word. I thought to myself "Oh no! They hate me for making them see this movie." Finally all three broke the silence and thanked me for taking them to one of the best movies they've ever seen. I saw that movie 4 times in the theater, because I wanted all of my friends to see it. Some loved it, some hated it, some didn't get it...but all were happy they saw it. I don't want to give away any of the movie. I'll just warn you that you'll like it or you'll hate it. Either way, you should see it. If you have no opinion about it...you need to learn to think a bit more critically about your world and the art that you see, because this is a film that you should have an opinion about. As for the DVD, like the Seven DVD, David Fincher packs it full of goodies and commentaries that make it a worthwhile purchase. Finally, you can make a great Trilogy if you watch three movies in this order. First watch American Beauty, then Fight Club, and finally Office Space. All three films have similar messages told in very different ways. Watch Office Space last, because the first two films are so heavy, you might need a little comedy to lighten your mood. Warning: watching these three films may make you quit your tedious job/life and go look for something more fulfilling in the world.
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