Review of Fight Club (1999) by Shane K — 22 May 2015

First rule of fight club is - yeah that's cliche, I'm not starting my review with that.

Before seeing this movie, I'd heard it was pretty good and that it even had somewhat of a cult following. I mean, it's the tenth highest user rated movie on IMDb. Basic synopsis, Edward Norton and Brad Pitt start an underground fight club, that sounds entertaining enough. I can't say too much more but there's so much more to Fight Club than that. Watching this movie for the first time kept me starring at the screen the whole time in amazement. The second viewing of this movie is truly unique because *spoiler*. That second viewing was when I realized how brilliant this movie was. The finest example of modern film making since Pulp Fiction.

Without spoiling anything- an everyday corporate nobody (Edward Norton) meets a man by the name of Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and the two form an underground fight club when thing's begin to evolve into far more.

Fight Club is one of the most important movies ever made, not just for it's individualistic take on cinema, but because of it's message. Edward Norton's character, who acts as the narrator, has insomnia and lives an everyday contemporary corporate punch-in-punch-out lifestyle - "I flipped through catalogs and wondered: What kind of dining set defines me as a person?" After meeting Tyler Durden he drops it all. - "It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything." I could probably summarize this movie entirely with quotes! The message is self actualization. The film is telling you to focus on yourself. What are you doing with your life and how are you spending your time? The purpose of life is to do what YOU WANT not what OTHERS EXPECT you to do. Don't just get a job so you can get paid, buy a house, clock in and clock out five days a week because society expects that of you - "We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like." Don't lose focus on what you're ultimately trying to accomplish other wise everything will seem vague and pointless - "This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time.".

One of the most brilliant, deep, stylish, and sophisticated films I've ever seen. With each viewing, it becomes more and more complex but the message is so simple! The story is somewhat tragic, somewhat humorous, and somewhat a social commentary. Its so easy to identify with. The acting is phenomenal being Edward Norton and Brad Pitt's best performances. Not only has this film enlightened me as a movie watcher but as a person. Tyler Durden is somewhat of a psychotic role model of mine. - "You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your f*cking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.".

Everything about this movie is perfect, from the the plot and writing to the editing and production value. Fight Club is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you havenâ??t seen it, youâ??re probably wasting your time â?? see what I did there?