Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1437 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-05
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 134 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
All films require a certain suspension of disbelief, Fight Club perhaps more than others; but if you're willing to let yourself get caught up in the anarchy, this film, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, is a modern-day morality play warning of the decay of society. Edward Norton is the unnamed protagonist, a man going through life on cruise control, feeling nothing. To fill his hours, he begins attending support groups and 12-step meetings. True, he isn't actually afflicted with the problems, but he finds solace in the groups. This is destroyed, however, when he meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter), also faking her way through groups. Spiralling back into insomnia, Norton finds his life is changed once again, by a chance encounter with Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), whose forthright style and no-nonsense way of taking what he wants appeal to our narrator. Tyler and the protagonist find a new way to feel release: they fight. They fight each other, and then as others are attracted to their ways, they fight the men who come to join their newly formed Fight Club. Marla begins a destructive affair with Tyler, and things fly out of control, as Fight Club is transformed into a nationwide fascist group.

The depiction of violence in Fight Club is unflinching, but director David Fincher's film is captivating and beautifully shot, with camerawork and effects that are almost as startling as the script. The movie is packed with provocative ideas and images--from the satirical look at the emptiness of modern consumerism to quasi-Nietzschean concepts of "beyond good and evil"--that will leave the viewer with much food for thought to take away. Pitt and Norton are an unbeatable duo, and the film has a great sense of humour too. Even if it leaves you with a sense of profound discomfort this is a movie that you'll have to see again and again, if for no other reason than to just to take it all in. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com

Synopsis
FIGHT CLUB is narrated by a lonely, unfulfilled young man (Edward Norton) who finds his only comfort in feigning terminal illness and attending disease support groups. Hopping from group to group, he encounters another pretender, or "tourist," the morose Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), who immediately gets under his skin. However, while returning from a business trip, he meets a more intriguing character--the subversive Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). They become fast friends, bonding over a mutual disgust for corporate consumer-culture hypocrisy. Eventually, the two start Fight Club, which convenes in a bar basement where angry men get to vent their frustrations in brutal, bare-knuckle bouts. Fight Club soon becomes the men's only real priority; when the club starts a cross-country expansion, things start getting really crazy.
Like Tyler Durden himself, director David Fincher's FIGHT CLUB, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, is startlingly aggressive and gleefully mischievous as it skewers the superficiality of American pop culture. Outstanding performances by Norton and Pitt are supported by a razor-sharp script and an arsenal of stunning visual effects that include computer animation and sleight-of-hand editing. One of the most unique films of the late 20th century, FIGHT CLUB is a pitch-black comedy of striking intensity.

Customer Reviews

Rule Number One
Rule Number One, you do not talk about fight club,
Rule Number Two, you do NOT talk about fight club.

Except DO talk about it. Tell everyone! This film is a modern classic.

David Fincher's directorial career had been a bizarre one in the build up to this effort. Alien3 had been heavily altered by the studio, which lead to a poor first feature from the director. He followed it up sometime later, with another modern classic: Se7en. He then proceeded to make the cult film 'The Game', which divided critics and film goers alike.

And then came Fight Club.

It was heavily anticipated, but poor reviews from critic test screenings meant that it flopped at the box office. Only on DVD was it resurrected, when it too became a cult film, before it was finally (and justly), recognised as a classic modern piece.

Due to the nature of the story, it is difficult to give away too much of the plot without spoling it. Suffice to say, the film is a self narrated account of Jack's boring and meaningless life, and how it changes when he meets a rather strange character on a plane... and his house blows up.

Jack and his new friend start a secret underground fight club, which proves suprisingly popular.

Whilst the obvious credit goes to Brad Pitt, for his stunning performance as soap salesman Tyler Duerden, it is Edward Nortons quietly composed performance as 'Jack' which really makes the film, giving it a human face which we can all relate too, while Helena Bonham Carter and Meat Loaf provide crackling support.

With sparkling dialogue, heart pumping action, and a twist that will knock your socks off, Fight Club is possibly one of the most entertaining modern films ever made, and I would recommend it to anyone who isnt of a really sensitive disposition (as some of the fight scenes get quite brutal).

Whether it is a good as Se7en is up for debate, but Brad Pitt's contrasting performances in both films do make them excellent companion pieces.

One of the best films ever made
Fight Club, is without a doubt one of the finest thrillers ever made. Directed by David Fincher, who also directed Se7en,(another modern classic) Fight Club stars Edward Norton as a man who suffers from insomnia. After a chance meeting with the mysterious Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), Norton's character (who is unnamed and refered to as "The Narrator" in the credits) befriends the friendly yet slightly sadistic Tyler. As a result, he finds a way to overcome his insomnia and the boredom in his life as the two set up an underground, illegal arena where people meet to relieve their agression and beat each other senseless. However, as the film progresses, it seems that nothing in "the Narrator's" life is what it seems and that Tyler has other secret and more sinister reasons for setting up the Fight Club...

That's as much of the plot as I'm going to explain as to reveal any more would be to ruin a brilliant piece of film making. The films credibiltity is mainly down to the excellent performances of it's two leads (Pitt and Norton) and the fantastic, captivating plot, which finishes with one of the greatest twists that I have ever seen in a film, as it makes you look at the entire film again in a different light. Pitt and Norton are perfectly cast as the two friends who are complete contrasts in character and Fincher provides top class direction for a plot that it is chilling, dark, thrilling and at times, also humorous.

Due to the film's final twist (which completely makes the film), it benefits several more viewings- more the reason to buy the DVD! I completely recommend this film as it is easily one of the best and original films ever made- just don't let anyone tell you the twist to the film before you have seen it for yourself!

Fight Club is possibly the best film you will ever see
Where to start?...
I think most of the reviews will already cover the quality of this film on here. The first time I saw Fight Club I didn't really watch it properly. It was over-hyped by friends and I was expecting much violence and bit of a sterotypical "blokes film". Thats NOT what this film is about at all. The violence is a mere portion of the film, of which some feel is uneccesary. Most of these negative veiws people have on the film however, come from those that have already decided the film is bad before watching it, and feel it a poor excuse to view men beating the c**p out of each other repeatedly.
If you just go into this film forgetting all said and done about it, with an open mind, and just relax, sit back and enjoy; I can guarantee 99% of you will come out of it with the same "positive" views, on this - in my opinion - award winning film.
When I bought this DVD and sat back and actually watched this properly, it blew me away. Fight Club is different when you watch it the second time round. MUCH different. Since without giving too much away, there is a twist to the story and much hidden depth and meaning. Such detail is best experienced when viewing the second time around for sure...
Fight Club could actually be the next "Lord of the Flies" in the sense that it could be studied as a piece of English work at school....ok make that College then since its an 18 plus film...ahem!

The opening title sequence (created on an entirely separate budget from the film!) takes you on an infamous computer genrated journey, through the human brain seeing the multi-nurons and chemical secretions where messages are relayed, out through the scalp, and onward past the hair folicles right at the end of the line. It sets the scene well, and gives a hint that this film will be different in some way immediately. Such a psycologial roller coaster of a thriller, does follow....

The film starts at the end - an often overused "sandwhich" styled sequence. But in this instance, Director David Fincher films what at first seems a rather muddled order of events. But later on it all becomes clear that this was the only way to film Fight Club.
Jack (Edward Norton) tells the story (as a voiceover throughout) of how his life takes a remarkable turn, as he becomes a support group addict as a result of his Insomnia. From here on, Jack meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter) who "ruined everything" as Jack puts it. She came along and also faked the support groups Jack was attending for Cancer support amongst other disease and illnesses, which caused Jack to turn back to his Insomniac ways again, since he couldn't release his stresses anymore.
Jack experiences further more stress when his flat containing pretty much his life, blows up as a result of a gas explosion. His obsession with designer goods and furniture all gets thrown out the window...quite literally. In also loosing his luggage on a Business Trip, he looses another part of him...his designer clothes. That briefcase had "everything" in it....everything to Jack being most of his wardrobe.
In meeting a certain Tyler Durden however (Bradd Pitt) - which seemed by coincidence at first - this changed everything. Jack met Tyler on the plane and found him to be a strange character...a bit different. A soap salesman Tyler is in fact, of which Jack recieves a business card from.
Jack has nothing left after the explosion, and makes a phone call...For a reason Jack cannot explain, he calls this new found Tyler on the off chance he'll be able to help him with a place to stay for a while...
Tyler opened Jack's eyes to his take on life, which filters down to Jack. Tyler helps Jack cope with loosing everything he had in his life by introducing him to Violence.
"Its only after you've lost everything that your free to do anything". I think this quote sums up the film. Jack begins to realise from Tyler that in loosing all the materialistic things in life that soon take a hold of him, he looses a need to be "owned by what he owns" and lets go. Jack tries to be Tyler and finds pain to be a "white ball of healing light". "Its not about winning or loosing" but more the taking part and feeling that pain. As Meatloaf aka "Bob" puts to Jack, "Ive found something new...something much better". FIGHT CLUB.
An underground Fight Club is started up, of which Tyler begins to use for a lot more than just giving Jack and himself a new life and such freedom....

So much more can be said about the film, but really you have to watch it to understand the originality and stunningly directed master piece by Fincher.
The sound track stands out, and is very atmospheric. I actually own the sound track seperately which isnt much on its own...but coupled with the visual effects and sharp filming styles of this modern day and age, makes for a great film. Originally based on the book, this is one film that somehow converts such a complex psycological thriller into visual cinematography, AS WELL as the book tells the story itself - which usually isn't the case.

Why did I write this review? Because it's the film that has mostly affected me and got through to me with its powerful meaning. It opens your eyes to the fact we are told how to live by the media and advertising. Having watched the film it psyches you out and makes you think at how pathetic we all are.

"I say never be complete. I say evolve and let the chips fall where they may."