Review: Fight Club (1999)

Title: Fight Club
Year: 1999
Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter
Genres: Crime, Drama, Action
MPAA: R for disturbing and graphic depiction of anti-social behavior, sexuality, and language
Kids-In-Mind.com: 7.10.10
My Rating: 7.3
My adjusted rating: 8.0
IMDb Rating: 8.8 (Top 250: #19)

Synopsis: The nameless narrator (Norton), a depressed office worker, meets Tyler Durden (Pitt). When the narrator's apartment burns down, he moves in with Durden. To deal with him depression, Durden introduces him to the concept of fighting to relieve male stress. They form a 'fight club' in which men come to fight for recreational purposes. Durden becomes sexually involved with Marla Singer (Carter), a character who bothers the narrator. Durden eventually develops fight clubs all over the country and turns them into a cult-like organization called 'Project Mayhem', the goal of which is to commit terrorist acts against massive corporations. The narrator is not made aware of this new organization. When Durden puts large nitroglycerin bombs beneath large office buildings, the narrator rushes to destroy the bombs before they destroy the buildings. Durden stops him and kidnaps him when the narrator realizes that Durden is a figment of his imagination and acts only when the narrator is asleep. He destroys Durden by shooting himself; he survives, and watches the building collapse.

My Take: I know this is one of the most popular cult classics of all time, but I really didn't like it all that much. The plot was not terribly exciting, and while the acting was top-notch, I just couldn't get into it. I can see how plenty of people would like it. A friend of mine has raved about this movie often. Based on what I know about him, I can see how he would really like this show. I just didn't. This is one, however, that I'd be willing to watch it again, and I wouldn't be surprised for the rating to go up as much as half a point on a second viewing. But I won't go out of my way to see it again.

Concerning the rating: The 7.3 ranks it tied for 95th with twelve other films out of 151 rated.

In queue: The Wrestler (2008), Pulp Fiction (1994), Airplane! (1980)

This film was suggested by Colin and Alison.

This film's rating was adjusted. See why here.

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