Reader comments about Fight Club

henar (Email address withheld) writes:

Fuck that, I still can't understand why someone would pick out just negative points out of a movie only because their brains don't quite qualify enough to comprehend something as simple as the fact that we ARE consumerist. WE ARE violent, we do wear someone fucking name on our underwear for the fucking sake of it. Now if Figth Club isn't inventive and fresh and David Fincher isn't one of the best directors then I'm not even alive writing this shit.

K (Email address withheld) writes:

Fight Club is a stand against the the consumer ideology of corporate America. Not to mention that it's a wickedly black comedy with some outstanding performances by Brad Pitt, Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter. Isn't this enough to prove that it is one hell of a movie?

Brendan (deus0000@hotmail.com) writes:

Fight Club is a great film, thats why I am bothering myself to write this in here. I'm not with this guy's review. I thought the movie was done very well. Visually stunning is correct, and i thought Edward Norton, Brad Pitt & Helena Bonham Carter acted great. A good script helped, i think.,

Francisco Garza (fjgarza@gama.fime.uanl.mx) writes:

This film remaind me the franmazonery, I guess the author has been red the book: Le matin des magiciens

Joe Smo (Email address withheld) writes:

I think that kamera.co.uk felt bad about his own consumer like shallow tendencies, and didn't like that. That is the only way to explain why he disliked Fight Club. Oh, theres also the fact that he is a pretentious art snob, who is irritated by the immense popularity of this film. Just because the vast majority likes something doesn't mean its great. Hell, all reasonable humans know Independence Day sucked, but the fact that everyone likes something also doesn't mean that you have to run the other way. Fight Club was a fun, thought provoking, creative movie that was easy to understatnd. Bravo. I give this movie an A+

Bob Carroll (pozzi@postmaster.co.uk) writes:

I’ve been watching this forum with some interest. I review movies for kamera.co.uk occasionally and I’m always interested to hear what people have to say about my opinions and also films that I really enjoyed or were dazzled by. And believe me, Fight Club both entertained and dazzled my film-reviewing husk. I did not write the review above and I do not agree with Mr. Tibbles opinion but I do understand it is an opinion. I love Fight Club, you love Fight Club, in his review you can tell Mr. Tibbles has an admiration for it. It just not to his taste for the reasons he states. He makes some intelligent points which many of you, but not all, have not considered. He points out that Fight Club, while it speaks to you and puts your inadequacies and feelings into clever words and images, is as much a mass produced piece of merchandise as that Yin Yan table or a Starbuck’s mocha latte. Fincher got to create this piece of art (and it is work of art as much as it is a product) because the nice people who run Fox for Rupert Murdoch thought that us idiots would gobble it up, even though it criticises their values and way of life. The best thing about Fight Club though is, as articulate and charismatic as Tyler Durden’s alter ego is, he is unwanted and criticised as much as Ikea and car companies by the end of the film. There are no more heroes anymore, boys and girls, but at least Mr. Tibbles expresses his opinion.

Kris Lipscombe (redlorryyellow@btinternet.com) writes:

This film is just less than the sum of its parts. A little cool trick of a movie. Fincher is like some quintissential Studio Director.. happy to work within the machine. It's a self perpetuating little marketing trick of a film. As empty and hollow as it is meant to be.

jEwLia Afford (XjEwLiaXxxx@aol.com) writes:

to say "Fight Club" isn't one of the greatest movies of our time would be a lie. i had been told it was an amazing film by various friends and colleagues but only after watching it did i realise the sheer brilliance of this movie. as Mr Tibbles states, after watching the 2 hours and fifteen minutes of the film, you feel the urge to FIGHT, you want to be TYLER DURDEN, or at best, a part of a similar club such as the one in the film.

after watching this film i have looked around at all the things i own and thought about Tyler Durden's line "things you own end up owning YOU" --this is true, and every one of us must surely know this, even if we know it subconsciously. "Fight Club" serves to highlight this point, along with making great viewing and starring some of the best modern actors. Helena Bonham-Carter plays a wonderful MARLA without a shadow of a doubt, and the chemistry between her and Edward Norton is not seen often in films. Brad Pitt plays a man that can only be described as simply the sexiest character ever to be seen. The role of TYLER DURDEN will make Pitt infamous, and rightly so.

the release of "FIGHT CLUB" is something that we can be proud of about the modern world, definately not something to criticise negatively. i hope that people can only give praise to David Fincher for directing this masterpiece. can't wait to read Chuck Palahniuk's novel.

JimBob (Email address withheld) writes:

Merely reading the comments here I can tell that whatever my opinion it will be met with opposition. Personally I love the film and think that it's anti-capitalist stance came at the right time. But I think the most important thing to come out of the film is the discovery of the Director David Finchers immense talent. In this film he has established himself as one of the most important directors of our time. He has redeemed himself for Alien3 with style, his dark visuals and superb camera angles immerse you in the film (especially on DVD) and it is unthinkable that any other Director could have been considered to helm it. This isn't Edward Nortons film, or Brad's... It is most definitely Finchers!Lets hope his subsequent projects live up to the highstandard he's set himself here.

Iceman (Email address withheld) writes:

Fight Club is the best movie ever made. Not only is it damn entertaining, it contains as many metaphors and symbolisms as a nobel-prize winning novel. The literal plot is great, but the messages and undertones that lie underneath the plot are far greater. I notice something new every time I see it.. a great piece of filmmaking.

Rachel Goldman (Email address withheld) writes:

Somehow I don't think a film romanticizing a terrorist attack on a world financial institution would even get made now - no matter if Brad's in it or not.

Honestly, Fight Club is tosh. The book is tosh. It's tasty tosh. It's clever and stylish and funny tosh. Ed Norton is great as always. But it's tosh none the less. I'm stunned that there are so many who mistake macked out hipdom and facile sloganeering for substance [as the reductive lines of argument in the complaints suggest] but I guess that's Hollywood or rather News Corporation for you. There are better films. There are better reviews too.

(Email address withheld) writes:

I have become a big fan of Edward Norton, simply because aside from his obvious talent as an actor, he usually makes thought provoking movies. (save fro Keeping the Faith). American History X, Fight Club and 25th hour are all flawed movies but none the less, very stimulting and though the messages inherent in each movie are considered too obvious for some "intellectual" reviewer, to my mind the brilliance is just that, conveying a powerful message which encourges the viewer to think, if not necessarily agree, without using overly complex and vague devices. I agree that fight club has many obvious flaws and the acting is patchy and as a puny milk skinned nerd I dont consider Brad to be a reflection of me. Anyone who has experienced 9 - 5 life in an office will identify, hopefully to a less extreme extent, with the enotions therein.

Ben Adams (Email address withheld) writes:

Amen to that boys and girls. This film seems to have got so many people talking. Hey it never fails to make me laugh. If you watched it, and inside you didn't think that was a great film your probably lying to yourself or too old. Sorry.

Grizzly Adams (Email address withheld) writes:

A fantastic film that doesn't lose any of its appeal on repeat viewing. Sometimes you just want to get completely lost in a film - Fight Club does that for me every time. I agree with Ben - it gets your pulse racing throughout for one reason or another.

The point about Fox backing a film with such a strong anti-consumerism motif is an interesting one but not related to whether the film is any good (in my opinion). This is a great film. I don't see the logic that if an independent annonymous backer had put the film out rather than Fox it would be a better film, and I don't think issues of who made / backed a film should be a central issue / criticism in a review of the film itself.

And on a final note, big up to Meatloaf - he is much better in his role than I ever thought he could be.

If you have not seen Fight Club do so and make up your own mind - I don't think you'll regret it.

Harry (Email address withheld) writes:

For all you guys raving about it's Anti-Capatalist message just take the time to realise that this was financed by a large, hundred million dollar studio and therefore it's message could be seen as a wee bit redundant.

Buck Ritchie (Email address withheld) writes:

Does anyone here realize it was based on a book? Read the book. Read about the author.

R wilkinson (Email address withheld) writes:

I think fight club could not get any better. The countless times I have watched it, I am always again impressed by the simple lines and expressions included in the movie. Edward Norton's acting is excellent as usual. This movie really does make you wonder if you actually want to be in a world like Edward Norton portrays before he discovers fight club. The only people who don't love this movie, are the people who are stuck in their shit 9-5 jobs and cannot escape their meaningless consumer driven lives.

S McDowell (Email address withheld) writes:

The movie is amazing, it's been said several times already that who paid for the movie doesn't make any difference what-so-ever. The truth of the matter is that the movie is based on an absolutely jaw-dropping book. Even if you didn't enjoy actually watching the movie (I don't understand how this is possible, but in a theoretical situation...) then it at least made you think, unless you completely shut your mind going into it, in which case you shouldn't be watching movies in the first place. The avg. movie now a days doesn't even approach to challenge popular believes, religion, or the american way. It's simply not done, the fact that this movie does sets it above so many others, it's astonishing. Everyone should at least watch this movie once, if you don't enjoy it the first time, just don't open your mouth, cause some Oxford cloth psycho might just stalk through your office. just kidding.

Emily (Email address withheld) writes:

I saw this film about two days ago and I've watched it about 5 times! I don't know how anyone could hate this film cos it is brilliant. I mean, Edward Norton is such a brilliant actor and without him this film wouldn't be as good. I think that it is really clever and I have also found the line, "Things you own end up owning you." from Brad quite changing. To be honest, and being a girl, the only real reason that I watched this film is cos I have just got into Edward from watching the film Red Dragon! But I must admit that I also think that this is one of the best films ever made.

JAMi3 (Hmm....Doubtful) writes:

I greatly enjoyed this film for many reasons, most of which are listed below. Although one thing that stood out for me, was how poorly it was advertised. These days it is regarded as a great 'cult' film, but in the trailers and adverts it was shown as a super action film, with Brad Pitt. However it is much more than this. Obviously there are other ways of showing us as people the errors of our consumerist ways, but in the film this was done very blantantly and I feel it may have been more compelling to watch, if the messages were deeper and more subconscious from the meaning of the film.

MJ Blount (wetwillysback@hotmail.com) writes:

Fist off, i just like to say that i agree that the reviewer just gave his honest opinion (as said by Bob Carroll) but why the did he say Brad Pitt over did his performance? In my opinionit was his best performance yet in a film and that beats the likes of Seven, Troy, The Mexican.

Anyway...

When i first saw Fight Club i was quite young and it confused me a bit. I saw it more recently and i thought it was an absolute masterpiece. The twist was fantastic and i cannot say more about the performance of Ed Norton. Very powerful scenes and by saying its a bloody action is wrong. The alter ego idea by Fincher was great and is definetly a top film of the '90s.

(Email address withheld) writes:

I think that many of the people on this website have failed to recognise that Fight Club is a book. Written by Chuck Pallahniuk, and left virtually unchanged by the film. Any criticisms of the story, characters, or messages in this movie should therefore be directed at the author, and only after fully understanding what he is trying to do.

Tibbles, the main reviewer, fails to really understand what the author is doing in the light of his pretentious critical attitude. Pallahniuk is a nihilist and consequently beleives nothing, and his story isn't political and social commentary, and offers no solutions. It is the reaction of the character to a material world. The fact that Tyler Durden's philosophies aren't shared by Pallahniuk is reflected in the way in which the story mocks the lead's mindless followers. Tylers 'fabulous body' and 'great clothes' are a creation of the nameless main character, and as a result they reveal contradictions in his view of the world.

To me the film/book depicts main character's lack of comfort with the world, even with all of his possesions and his hign paid job. The alter-ego that he creates consequently becomes very anti materialist as the character tries to find a solution to this. It is not an anti materialist creation.

Pallahniuks' writing often depicts how destruction and change can give direction and resolution to a persons life. That is what this film is about, seeing life and how to live it in a very different light to how normal media does. This obviously makes Tibbles uncomfortable.

Tyler Durden (Email address withheld) writes:

The first rule of FIGHT CLUB is:

You do not talk about fight club

The second rule of fight club is you DO NOT TALK about FIGHT CLUB.

So far you've broken TWO rules of Fight Club.

Well... Keep it up then, right up.

Tyler Durden (Fight_Club@aol.com) writes:

First of all, it's not about how you like or dislike the movie. The only thing that should concern all of you is that how do you accept it. From whose prespective. Would you rather be like Jack(Ed Norton) or perhaps like me - Tyler Durden. The movie isn't just about consumering and how fucked up it is. It's about accepting things the way you want. Tyler doesn't give a shit if you wear an underwear with someone's name on it. Not really. If you pay close attention to the film and Tyler himself, you could see that Tyler wears the type of clothes none us probably would dream to have. And he changes to a new clothing style ever single scene. What the fuck does that tell you about? That this film isn't about underwear of consumering. It's mostly about depression and how you deal with it. That's all. Bye . See next week. At Fight Club.

Johnny (Email address withheld) writes:

Everyone has their own opinion that i can understand so reviews dont usually both me but in this one i noticed the reviewer made a sarcastic snide comment about how Tyler has a great body when he doesnt go to the gym and all i can say to that is...Why would he go to the gym? hes a figment of Jacks imagination, made, not real. He looks how Jack wishes he looks, why would an imaginary friend have to go to the gym? in an instant he could be 400 pounds,a girl, black etc...

Marla (blah@blah.madeupemail.com) writes:

Brad Pitt is very good looking, that goes without saying. What is interesting about the reviewer's comment is it's ability to question the nature of reality - I don't think snidyness is intended here although I could be wrong, ginger, freckles etc...

owning (Email address withheld) writes:

fight clubs the bomb! it kicks ass! got any news on upcoming movies in uk?

Duchamp (passo842001@yahoo.com) writes:

Fight club is a proof of the insignificant meaning of our lives, is a reflection of survival, depending on the power of your mind. Be real and not a product, be you.......

Theo Cipher (Email address withheld) writes:

I will always, always remember the first time that I saw Fight Club.

I was 19 years old...and it hit me like a brick in the face! For me Fight Club was about challenging our acceptance. When Tyler says "Our great deppression is our lives"-I heard the echoes of a prophecy. I guess I was like the 'Ramond J Hardcastle' character in the film at the time. We know Edward Nortons character is an insomniac, but what he's really doing is sleepwalking, Sleepwalking through life-and Tylers the wake up call, and thats what this film was for me.

I think that the critcs who see this as a totally negative film miss the point,maybe because they have never came face to face with the truths in this film. The violence in the film always seems to be of major issue to the people on that side of the fence (maybe there should have been an option on the DVD to change the colour of the blood to cornflower blue:)I think its because of the level of realism in the violence, because they don't see any realism in what the film is saying, (possibly they don't know anyone who feels the way the members of fight club do) this serves to make the violence leap out at them, as somethng that should not belong, but it does! I have never seen a film like Fight Club befor and I doubt I ever will again

doesnt matter (Email address withheld) writes:

Fight Club is a book, as has been stated before, over and over, forget about the movie. If you truly agree with the story and its message then none of us would be sitting at a computer reading other peoples thoughts about a book that makes fun of all of us and how sad we really all are!! Computers, t.v´s and all that shit would play no part in our lives if we really wanted to "be like tyler durden"... Plus the book is telling people to be themselves not like tyler!! In this day and age we are all part of the system and cant escape it, if you try you are labeled strange, psychotic, or are thrown into jail..and you sure as hell wont get away with starting a revolutionary group and blowing up the credit card companies headquarters thats for damn sure!! the point is were fucked either way so what you do is up to you, im as much of a hypocrite as everybody else here who agrees with the books message......

Far (Email address withheld) writes:

What impressed me the most in Fight Club was the manhood problem. The key sentence is when Tyler says that they belong to a generation raised by women and that a woman is not a solution to their problem.

It means that somewhere men were abandoned by their fathers. And they are not in touch anymore with their manhood.

Men have this need to become real men. Tyler behaves like a man and thinks independently. In the film there is only one woman. And maybe she triggered the birth of Tyler too. Maybe the character felt the need to change his relationship towards Marla.

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