Fight Club is 15 years old.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Mon May 19, 2014 11:01 pm

I write it and I still can't believe it. I can't believe it because I just saw it again for the, what, ten billionth time. To say it is timeless because of its message is old-school, a cheat. We could have done that back in 1999 when it was released.

But it appears also timeless in terms of movie-years. It hasn't aged one second, and if it was made today could not possibly look or sound any better.

It's the only movie I know of, with maybe the exception of 2001, and Arthur C. Clarke mumbling to himself in a closed room with a hidden microphone, that the author is on record as admitting the movie is better than his book. And Chuck's book (as most of them are) is incredible. And I still agree with him.

It will always have the distinction of having the widest distance between what the blurb on the DirecTV guide (or however people watch things 30 years from now) says it's about and what it's really about.

It's the only movie I know that the twist is so remarkable, and yet uncovering it matters so little to the viewing experience. I could tell you the twist right now, and it wouldn't make a lick of difference. Not just because you already know it, but because that is not the point. There are movies with the twist where once you know it, there's no reason to watch the movie again. This is the opposite of that. One you know the twist, the movie really gains traction, the artistry of it explodes, and now you have to watch it again.

And again.

And again.

For fifteen years.

I am Jack's worn-out VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray player.

In my old age I've learned to stop trying to make top-five lists, because if you live long enough, anything in the top five is the best thing ever once you experience it again. If I popped Apocalypse Now in the movie machine right now and watched it, I guarantee I'd come out thinking, this is the best movie ever.

But I just watched Fight Club again, fifteen years after its creation, and god fucking dammit...

...it's the best movie ever.

It is art of the highest order, and will always be.

I can tell because it's fifteen years later and I still want to jump up and shake my fist and cheer like a schoolgirl when the end credits roll, just like I did the first time.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Tue May 20, 2014 7:58 am

This is a fantastic post that makes me want to go back and re-watch this film. So thank you for that.

The best and worst thing about this film is that it makes it unavoidable to realize how vapid most of our existences are. I love films like this and Network and V for Vendetta that make you want to walk outside, shake your fist at the sky, leave your meaningless, material life behind and life free. The problem is the feeling only lasts for a day or two and then I go back to all my material things (which I love) and then I feel guilty for loving them.

Hey I take it back, I HATE movies like that!

The ending of Fight Club, as the buildings fell, could only be describes as sickeningly beautiful.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue May 20, 2014 10:52 am

I was introduced to the movie about it being a bunch of guys in a Fight Club. That is not what the movie is about!

I love it anyway. I get very mad when movies have a title and then the movie does not have lots of things that are in the title. This movie not only exceeded my expectations, but it is one of the few films to be about something other than the title and yet I like it anyway.

Kudos to you FIGHT CLUB.

Kudos to you FINCHER.

Kudos to you PITT.

Kudos to you EDWARD.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue May 20, 2014 2:50 pm

I've never seen it, is it any good? The book ( short story, really) was pretty okey-dokey.

THE
SHOULD PUT THAT ON MY LIST
AARDVARK

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue May 20, 2014 3:58 pm

AArdvark wrote:I've never seen it, is it any good?

It's alright.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue May 20, 2014 4:00 pm

AArdvark wrote:( short story, really)

Also: What? Fucking book is 210 pages long. That's a SHORT STORY?

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue May 20, 2014 4:57 pm

Must have been the Cliff Notes. Dunno. It was an etext rip.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Tue May 20, 2014 5:02 pm

All kidding aside, and perhaps obviously, it depends on the font size. I recently downloaded a book and was intimidated by its 600+ page count. I checked online and Amazon lists it as 280 pages. I assume the PDF was enlarged for easier eReading.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue May 20, 2014 5:57 pm

I don't think anyone would argue with the fact that Fight Club was a full length novel. One clue is that its full name is "Fight Club: A Novel".

Tdarcos · Post by **Tdarcos** » Tue May 20, 2014 7:40 pm

pinback wrote:It's the only movie I know that the twist is so remarkable, and yet uncovering it matters so little to the viewing experience.

Ben, Ben, Ben. Tak, tsk, tsk. The first rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue May 20, 2014 7:53 pm

Tdarcos wrote:
pinback wrote:It's the only movie I know that the twist is so remarkable, and yet uncovering it matters so little to the viewing experience.
Ben, Ben, Ben. Tak, tsk, tsk. The first rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club.

I'll let this go. I'm in a good mood.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue May 20, 2014 9:52 pm

The movie put the man with the bad words in a good mood!

RealNC · Post by **RealNC** » Wed May 21, 2014 10:26 am

Never watched it. Probably never will. Nothing in that movie seems to appeal to me.

RealNC · Post by **RealNC** » Wed May 21, 2014 10:27 am

Would the bastard you disabled the edit button please kill himself? Thanks.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed May 21, 2014 11:43 am

RealNC wrote:Never watched it. Probably never will. Nothing in that movie seems to appeal to me.

What do you think is "in the movie" that does not appeal to you? Have we not made clear that the short descriptions of the film you tend to hear/read are absolutely NOT what the movie is actually about?

RealNC · Post by **RealNC** » Wed May 21, 2014 12:29 pm

pinback wrote:
RealNC wrote:Never watched it. Probably never will. Nothing in that movie seems to appeal to me.
What do you think is "in the movie" that does not appeal to you? Have we not made clear that the short descriptions of the film you tend to hear/read are absolutely NOT what the movie is actually about?

It seems to be about fighting . I don't like fighting, unless it's Kung Fu :-P

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed May 21, 2014 2:52 pm

RealNC wrote:It seems to be about fighting . I don't like fighting, unless it's Kung Fu :-P

I would say there is a grand total of 2 minutes of actual fighting in the movie. That estimate might be high.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Wed May 21, 2014 4:22 pm

OK, watched the opening credits and the first five minutes.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Wed May 21, 2014 4:27 pm

I enjoyed the movie even though I do not care for clubbing.

Unless it is baby seals.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Wed May 21, 2014 5:30 pm

AArdvark wrote:OK, watched the opening credits and the first five minutes.

That's basically all you need.

Fight Club is 15 years old.

Fight Club is 15 years old.

Re: Fight Club is 15 years old.

Re: Fight Club is 15 years old.