Rating: Summary: ugh are u 5 star reviewers kidding me?? Review: okay okay.. the message here: in a consumerist/materialistic society its hard to find something thats real and/OR genuine. fine, fine. i TOTALLY agree with that view. i have no problem with that aspect of the film. the next point: the violenece. again, i do not care at all about the violence in this film. i have NO problem with it. what i DO have a problem with is that this movie is absolutely terrible. the first 20 minutes are somewhat interesting.. then the plot turns into pure drivel! this movie is unwatchable!! ed norton fights, stops trying at his job, loses his job, moves into an ugly house, he sits and listens to brad pitt getting it on with some random weird girl who has no purpose within the movie, he talks to himself, he questions himself and his value. and thats it. there is nothing more to this movie. the script is poor poor poor, the story is so convoluted and gets so ridiculous at the end that you begin to wonder why youre still staring at the screen. ugh, it annoys me that i spent my time trying to care about this movie when it just plain old sucked.
Rating: Summary: Actually this is a great movie. Review: A lot of critics gave this movie the finger by saying it was awful and to "violent" etc. Well Even though they say that, I still watched it and rather enjoyed it. The ending shocked me and I didn't even know it would end like that.
Rating: Summary: Classic and engrossing and truly timeless Review: This movie is completely about self-impowerment. But don't be fooled, I don't mean by the surface level either. The movie dares you to make a major decision on your own. If you don't get that question and you don't like the film then you weren't chosen. This film is that good. It choose who should and shouldn't get its message and exactly who is best deserving. The more you think about it the more you will want to watch it and the more it will scare you and force you to search yourself, with unparalleled style and abrasive humor. It is not about violence or the effects of it, not the effects of an oversexed soceity or none of the other things the majority of "them" want you to think it is about. It is what it is to every individual who sees it; which is the highest plateau that art can reach and should reach. It allows something so seemingly brutal and relentless to truly be beautiful.
Rating: Summary: "Fight Club" and Francis Fukuyama's "End of History" Review: The late director, Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, "Clockwork Orange" is a better movie than "Fight Club." This fact, though, should not deter one from viewing this film that includes the incredibly talented actors, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. These two artistic masters alone mandate that a serious person take a chance on this challenging and very disturbing story.Francis Fukuyama's book "The End of History" came to mind while viewing this dark satirical film. Fukuyama argued a few years ago that perhaps our society will evolve to the point where we have essentially accomplished all that can be hoped for in satisfying our essential needs. This satiation of all our everyday basic wants and desires could leave us bored and existentially empty. Do homo sapien males especially have an innate urge to risk their lives? What if there are no wars to be legitimately fought? Is it possible that the male gender will always feel an incumbent need to seek an alternative option to express the violent side of their nature? Edward Norton portrays a white collar yuppie about 30 who doesn't have much of a life. He buys unnecessary consumer goods merely to give himself something to do and add to his sense of security. Norton's character earns a living cynically investigating when it might be better for his employer to pay off on an individual accident claim instead of ordering a far more expensive automobile recall. I usually dislike movies with a strong anti-Capitalist message. This is the economic system which has greatly improved the lives of many throughout the world. Nonetheless, I put aside this rational prejudice to see if the director, David Fincher, could offer some insights into the mind set of those self absorbed males inclined towards violence merely to alleviate the boredom of their meaningless lives. My investment in Fincher was amply rewarded. The Italian Fascist, Benito Mussolini, had a deep intense hatred for logical thinking and the values of democratic civilization. Mussolini argued that violence for its own sake has redeeming and cathartic value. True manliness demanded a cold indifference towards human suffering and a callous disregard for the rights of others outside one's immediate social group. "Fight Club" never directly refers to Mussolini, but Fincher's vision provides us with a window into the soul's of those attracted to a lifestyle rightfully perceived as commonly alien and disgusting. Fincher refuses to romanticize the converts to the "Fight Club" therapeutic culture. We do not in anyway envy or wish to emulate these sick and pathetic creatures. On the contrary, we are left at the end of the film hoping that such angry and frustrated males exist primarily only in fiction. Alas, unfortunately "Fight Club" mirrors at least a bit of what occasionally occurs in the real world. I strongly urge the reader to immediately obtain the 1990 non-fiction book, "Among the Thugs: The Experience, and The Seduction, of Crowd Violence" by English writer, Bill Buford. This superb study of British hooligans who relish beating up innocent people at soccer games complements "Fight Club." Buford's book deals with males who embrace the "Fight Club" morality as their very own. We can only pray that this film does not prove to be prophetic for the increasingly affluent and "End of History" American society beginning the 21st Century.
Rating: Summary: Intense Review: One of the most intense movies that I have seen in a while. Must be viewed on DVD to catch the little secrets.
Rating: Summary: Why do I love thee. . . . let me count the ways Review: I am Jack's sense of utter disbelief. How is it that the general America public completely missed the boat on a movie that struck dead center as a perfect parody of our society? I have to draw the conclusion that Fight Club was received relatively poorly at the box office because most people could not understand its primary themes and messages. I'm a 30-something male living in 'middle' America and from what I see; our society is tittering on the edge of self destruction. Children are rampaging through schools with shotguns reenacting scenes from Quake and the consensus solution is - take away guns? The polar caps are melting and the news reports that scientists still have no proof of global warming? The population is growing at an exponential rate as our health care system approaches financial melt down attempting to sustain every human life. What does this have to do with Fight Club? Obesity is at an all time high in this country, and it serves as a flawless metaphor of America - Fat & Happy. Fight Club puts America (in all of its ugly glory) right in your face, and it appears that the majority of the public is too close to the forest to see the trees. Fight Club says "We'll take their liposuction fat, repackage it in a nice wrapper and sell it back to them as soap". That's an ugly concept that most people don't want to even think about. I have asked a number of people what they though this movie was about, and they essentially respond - guys with mental problems who start a club to act as a venue for macho brawls. Were my peers sleeping during their viewings? It was reported that when this movie was first screened at the movie studio, the executives involved were concerned about being investigated for promoting fascism. This movie takes aim at "the system", "the man", "the establishment" and strikes dead on. On the DVD, there are supplementary commentaries from all the major players involved with Fight Club. At one point during the dialog, Ed Norton says that when he read the script; he was amazed by the depth, complexity and originality of this movie. After the movie was released, he was criticized along with Pitt for pandering to Hollywood's violent tendencies. It may be true that the only reason Hollywood green-lighted this picture was because of the violence, but I don't think they truly understood what they had authorized. If you choose to watch this movie for the first time (or repeatedly which I highly recommend) focus on getting past the violence. The fighting is used as a concept vehicle - we all live in a stress-induced coma that is perpetuated through the daily trials and tribulations of life. The way that the characters wake up from their coma is by experiencing primordial pain - fighting. Once they are awake, they recognize that they have been asleep all of their lives. Oddly similar to The Matrix, but the similarities end there. By endorsing this movie, I'm not purporting that we are all silently asleep at the wheel. Neither movies nor their reviews can completely cover complex concepts in a nice simple package. As Norton touched on in the commentary, this movie has more thought provoking ideas than almost any other I can think of. The sad part about Fight Club is the fact that it has become a self-fulfilled prophecy. Its mediocre showing at the box office reinforces Hollywood's perception that the general public is becoming increasingly comatose - we want intellectual Big Mac EXTRA value meals as opposed to Steak au Poivre. Could you make sure to put heavy violence and low thought on that Big Mac? Fincher, Norton and Pitt all proved that they had big coconuts to make this movie, and I don't think anyone even noticed their contribution. If you like a well trimmed New York strip steak topped with cognac peppercorn demi-glaze then bon appetit!
Rating: Summary: Is this a mirage? Review: Is FIGHT CLUB a mirage is a desert of garbage called Hollywood? I am so stunned that a film of this quality has come out of modern Hollywood. I'm tempted to say that it is the best film of the past 20 years. I am glad to see Brad Pitt acting again, something I've not seen from him since THELMA AND LOUISE. Ed Norton is his usual brilliant self, and director Fincher is the best thing to hit films in a decade. The DVD release is so full of extras it will take an entire day just to view disc #2!
Rating: Summary: That felt good... Hit me again!!! Review: Fight club has gotten a bad rap among professional reviewers, so here's my take. WATCH THIS MOVIE!!! This is by far one of the best films to come out of our so-called Generation X (I loved their first album). It is a mantra for our lost souls, it shows us the truth about consumerism and materialism. It's been called facistic and violent and cruel... Perhaps it IS all these things, but our society is ALSO all these things. You can't comment on the state of a society using a different language than the one spoken there. We live inside this violent, cruel, and yes, even facist American culture and we must see it for what it is. Fight Club helps this process along considerably. I'm not telling you to go out and start beating each other up, but definitly take *SOME* of what this movie has to say to heart. Besides that, Ed Norton is one of the most versitile actors working right now and is performance is EXCELLENT. Check out Helena B-C's American accent too! Great work.
Rating: Summary: Social life in urban areas Review: The movie, "Fight Club" is the story of the socially-challenged Jack, a 30-year old man who lives in an urban area. Jack is suffocated by his job and badly suffering from insomnia. At the beginning of the movie, the interesting point that drew my attention was Jack's struggle to find an appropriate club or association, in order to overcome his problems and distress. Furthermore, in the movie, thousands of social clubs and self-help groups' adds on newspapers gives clues about aspects of urban life and social interactions in highly industrialised societies.I think the movie, "fight club", so far is one of the richest movie in terms of urban sociology. It reflects an aspect of a young man's life, fellings, fears and problems in a highly industrialized city. The urban life is quite hectic, competitive and almost every social movement has been institutionalised. It is possible to see many social associations clubs, these clubs are for variety of specific groups in those societies, such as associations or clubs for subcultures, gays, feminists or for people who have cancer. As people are away from their parents or relatives or have an limited time to see his/her parents or relatives in urban life, people usually feel alienated from the whole society in urban areas, they, therefore, prefer to share or solve their problems through psychiatrists or social clubs and self-help groups. That was the case, as far as I have noticed in the movie, since Jack(Edward Norton) was living alone in an urban area and probably he was away from his parents and relatives, by looking at newspaper adds he was trying to find a self-help group to solve his sleeping disorder. Obviously, I suppose, people in urban areas view these associations or self-help clubs as essential part of urban social life, in such clubs people meet people who suffer from the same problems or who belong to the same ethnicity or group. Thus, people are able to deal with their loneliness and alienation in urban areas. These association and self-help clubs in urban areas virtually replace with strong friendship, kinship and other close social relationships in individuals hometowns or in rural areas. In addition to urban alienation, which occurs as a result of lack social ties and interaction among individuals in urban areas, commodity is the second step for those who experience urban alienation. In the movie, Jack was quite upset when he saw all his furniture was burned in his apartment, and he said that "my furniture was me". By this statement, it can clearly be concluded that Jack virtually identified himself with his furniture and the other properties that he held, besides he viewed them as important parts of his life. Obviously, this scene is a good example of commodity fetishism. In commodity fetishism, alienated people, in urban areas, virtually identify themselves with their wealth and properties. Individuals' cars, furniture, houses, wealth and even type of credit cards are the chief indicators of their prestige and status. Commodity fetishism is especially valid in the urban areas of highly industrialised countries. For me, the movie, "The Fight Club", is not just a movie but a reflection of the highly industrialized societies within their own institutionalized structure. In the movie, therefore, the importance of self-help clubs and other social association clubs in urban areas are emphasised. The terms such as urban alienation and commodity fetishism are clearly displayed in some specific scenes of the movie.
Rating: Summary: i am not a beautiful and unique snowflake . . . . Review: fight club is the best adaptation of a novel made into a motion picture that i have ever seen / read. the novel, by chuck palahniuk is an intense, terrific, well written mind bomb of a story and should be read by anyone who liked this movie. the movie is most of what the book is plus ed norton, brad pitt, david fincher(director), and the dust brothers(soundtrack). see this movie. naturally, anyone who is thinking about buying the DVD version of this movie should know that there is so much on these two discs that i havent yet seen/heard all of the features, and i bought my copy on the release date. well worth the difference between vhs and dvd price. p.s. read "survivor"(in the makings of becoming a major motion picture) also by chuck palahniuk. blah blah blah as if my review in this sea of reviews will persuade you. no one will ever read this anyway. take a number mike from salt lake. i am jacks wasted time writing a review on amazon.com. . . .
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