Rating: Summary: Nothing is ever as it seems... Review: People like to rag on this movie for being too violent, too subversive, wholly pointless, or empty. I bit my lip, and sat down to watch Fight Club, more than a little afraid that I would find I had wasted my money on the DVD. I hadn't. The movie itself is fanstastic, gross and violent, but fantastic. Reviews against the film claim it is "overly violent", or preaches a twisted mentality. The violence? Not as bad as, say, Saving Private Ryan, but more personal. The typicaly fight in a movie may have blood, but few real sound effects. These guys get hurt, you see and hear to fist-on-face-on-concrete effects. The audience is supposed to wince. As for Tyler's mentality-- That's up to interpertation. But the movie doesn't seem to revel in it, instead, Fight Club points toward thinking for yourself. Blindly following the orders of anyone is condemned, be they boss or leader of a revolution. The visuals, the dialogue, the cast, the soundtrack. All of it is perfect. Something you really have to see to believe. As for the DVD presentation? Also amazing. It's made to look like something tossed in a paper sack, but this DVD set is definately a keeper. Aside from the luxury of being able to pause on the exact frame of the early-movie anamolies (Which is pretty fun to do the second or third time through), the 2-disc set is loaded with fancy extras. Four seperate commentary tracks, deleted scenes, behind the scenes, technical explanations, trailers, teasers, commercials, PSA's, and even a THX television-optimization section. The only downside? Cardboard packaging. Cardboard wears out, and with the number of times I keep returning to this set, I'll need a new case by the end of the year. All in all, a solid DVD release. A must have for fans of the movie, and worthwhile to check out either way, just to see the true potential for DVDs.
Rating: Summary: Great DVD Package, OK Movie Review: I wanted to like this movie so much. I really did. I caught onto the plot twist early on, and had no problem with it. The acting and the direction were good, I just felt the story itself was just ok. I dont want to give too much away, but in the end the movie was just ok.The DVD package is awesome. The extra stuff is great. But the movie is not. Three Kings was a Great Movie with a great DVD package. Fight Club is a Ok movie with a great disc full of extra stuff. I say rent it, don't buy it.
Rating: Summary: Cinematic Genious Review: Movies are about more than what is on the screen, aren't they? If after watching this movie your brain hurts and you begin to question every stick of furniture, personal possession, and the entire course and meaning of your life, then you got it. If not, well, there may still be hope for you. WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? That is the central question this movie submits for your consideration. Some people are comfortable with this question and some, sadly, are not. All the hoopla about the violence, and blood, blah, blah, blah, is just a convenient way to avoid answering the question and dismiss the film. If you're in the latter group, you'd better get back to your worker-bee, consumptive life. Or, should you? This film didn't get the reviews because so many people realized they couldn't look that simple little question in the eyes and it was an conversation killer at cocktail parties. Sadly, this is the life-plan many young generations are steadfastly glued to...image, consumption and hedonism. If the majority of us had embarked on a slightly more spiritual path and taken the time to teach our children what is truly valuable in life, this movie probably wouldn't have been made. Think about it...or, go watch some more TV.
Rating: Summary: Brutal and raw Review: 'Fight Club' is a superb filmmaking achievement. It is brutal, innovative, raw, realistic, and extremely powerful. You could not ask more from the actors. Edward Norton once again portrays a psyche in delicate imbalance with potent and believable intensity. Brad Pitt moves to the far side of diabolical and excels in making his character both warped and charismatic. Helena Bonham Carter also shines as the Tyler's pathetic and parasitic girl friend. 'Fight Club' takes some of the most pernicious elements of societal dysfunction and wraps them up into a single imaginative well crafted and entertaining film. We have elements of gang behavior, cultism, anarchy, terrorism and debauchery all glorified in the name of iconoclasm. Exciting, seductive and subversive. How utterly cool and hip! So now comes the twist. I hated this film. It is a monument to everything that is wrong with filmmaking today. It is clever and technically superb but philosophically and socially bereft. Its attempt at social satire, while effective and visceral, was destructive and noxious. I also can't help but notice the extreme irony of using satire against consumerism as the theme for inducing the masses to buy tickets to consume your film. At what point does a film cross the line between art and depravity? 'Fight Club' is a brilliant but dangerous film that begs the question. If art is a reflection of a society's culture and values, then when I look at this film I have to be frightened at what is staring back at me. When I reflect on some of the most popular films of the last five years, I can't help but notice the accelerating celebration of random and impulsive violence, depravity, decadence, and pure bad taste. 'Fight Club' has pushed the envelope once again to find a new pinnacle (or should I say nadir) in the portrayal of these corrosive elements of societal dissolution. It's comical how many people think it is avant-guard to attack the establishment, as if this is a concept only recently conceived. 'Fight Club' is just the latest rallying cry to anarchy in a long line of such cries that have plagued society throughout human history. It always seems to be a romantic notion for everyone to be totally free and just live "naturally" (like animals) until one of those animals decides that it is you whom it might be fun to kill today. It doesn't seem to occur to those who extol the sardonic message of such films, that they simultaneously promote and lionize societal destabilization, and that anarchy and mayhem are much less fun in real life than when you are watching them in the air conditioned comfort of your local movie house. Just ask the kids at Columbine High School. I like dark movies as much or more than the next guy, but this film simply goes too far. There is nothing wrong with criticizing the establishment. Constructive criticism is the only way to bring about progressive change. But this film is merely vulgar cynicism that suggests that mayhem is preferable to imperfect culture. That is grossly irresponsible. So I am placed in the paradoxical position of admiring this film while I must condemn it. As a flickjunkie I must stand in awe of it as a filmmaking accomplishment. But as a human being concerned with the greater good of the species, I must cry out against it. How far are we willing to go in the name of entertainment? Are we so myopic as to demand entertainment at any cost? I guess we will see when someone raises the ante and the next shock treatment comes to a theater near you.
Rating: Summary: Why is this movie so misunderstood? Review: This movie is a really great film. Most reviewers see the violence and think wrong. They see two men useing the same bathroom as gay. They see a bunch of guys in black blowing up things as facist/anarchists. They say this about a movie which is, if you really watch the movie instead of trying to find its faults, a poke (or rather a hard shove) at society and the jump from 20something to 30something. Durden says it best in the film, "we are raing a generation to think they are going to become rock-stars and millionaires." I also think some critics & viewers may have misinterpted the movies tone, which isn't that difficult. I recall philosophizing with myself on even buying a DVD player when I could by something more practical... They took the movie as a request for people to model thier lives as a Tyler Durden. This movie isn't a cry to blow up credit card buildings, it isn't asking for people to start thier own fight clubs, & it doesn't want people peeing in the bisque. And it definitely isn't teaching the twentysomething kids out there that making & using homemade napalm is a good idea. I think reviewers and those who detest this movie are seeing themselves in it. They are seeing these emotions inside themselves, the fear of what the film says: Eventually you have to live, MTV probably isn't going to offer you that job and you probably aren't going to have a million dollar job offer to play playstation all day. Do fear not having your wants, be glad you have your needs. On the DVD note: This DVD is amazing from start to finish. The commentary is very witty. You get a lot of extra Fight Club humour thoughout the second disc. If you are a major fan of the movie or like fully loaded DVD experience, Fight Club is a must have/must rent. Enjoy.
Rating: Summary: TYLER DURDEN SAYS......USE SOAP! Review: The best movie of 1999, possibly of the 90's. Fight Club is a vastly underrated film of significant importance. This movie requires at least 2 viewings before you can truly understand everything that is going on. Fincher's direction is simply spellbinding, as is Pitt as Tyler Durden. This film truly Rages against the machine, anti-establishment, anti-life, basically anti-anything you can think of. Not many movies can actually make you think about life on a larger scale, this movie accomplishes it. Fight Club is violent, profane, offensive, and brilliant. This movie must own you, it will change your life.
Rating: Summary: Intriguing, provocative, and downright adrenaline-pumping! Review: No letup from start to finsh! The best musical score! The coolest acting! I ain't a Pitt fan, but damn he was good in this! Norton was even better! Don't bother to rent, BUY IT! Simply the best of its genre, if there even is one for this movie!
Rating: Summary: Fight Club Review: David Fincher's "Fight Club" starts out as a satire on modern society, claiming how programmed and materialistic the world has become. Edward Norton stars as a white-collared worker, who's an insomniac and feels is trapped in his dead-end job. Then one day, he meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) on the airplane supposedly as a "single-serving friend". He then talks to him, learns about where he's coming from, then finds out that he is a mysterious fellow. He meets Tyler again and is taken into a dangerous underworld, or cult, called the Fight Club, and soon, finds out that he is trapped and cannot escape. As said before, the film starts out as a satire against society today. As the whole idea of the Fight Club flourishes in the story, the film becomes a profile of violence and the horrific side of human anger. Finally, one more surprising turn is taken, and the film turns into a tightly wound psychological thriller. The film exceeds at all these levels, but not fully so. The fatal flaw was the ending. Of all the current David Fincher films I've seen, they are excellent, toy with your mind, but are completely diminished because of the poor ending. I found the ending in this film to be laughably bad and utterly stupid. "Seven" was a great film, but was ruined by the ending, as was "The Game". Another problem with the film was that there was too much of the Helena Bonhamn Carter character, Marla. Many scenes with her could have been trimmed, because her character dragged the film a bit. but the flaws were overpowered by a strong script, strong characterizations, great acting and photography, and many great moments. The idea of the fight club is inventive and highly fascinating. Edward Norton plays his character with energy and belief, and never lets down. This really shines on Brad Pitt as one of his greatest, if not, his greatest job of acting, as the multi-dimensional god-like Tyler Durden. Though the film takes many turns, the message still remains this: anti-Society, as seen through a group of lost souls, who never had any direction in life to go, were spat on and rejected from society, and could not fit into the world.
Rating: Summary: Flex your head Review: If you think this movie is just about/advocating violence, anarchy, and nihilism then you can't take a joke. I liked it because the cinematography was slick and got me thinking about a thing or two. It's too long to watch all at once because there is so much talking. Better to watch in slices.
Rating: Summary: a great DVD for an amazing film Review: Fight Club never really found a wide audience during its theatrical release--that's a shame, because it is truly a wonderful film. And this DVD is a gem. Over the two discs the distinctive Fight Club mystique is maintained, as all the behind-the-scenes and commentary add to the viewer's understanding of this film. It is clear that the DVD was designed for the true film lover, the same type of people who first embraced Fight Club in theaters. You will not be disappointed.
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