I saw something, in YT I believe, about a week ago that reminded me of this movie. As it happens this movie was released almost exactly 25 years ago (October 15, 1999). I watched it again tonight, and I imagine it had been about 25 years.
As the credits were rolling I rocked back on the couch and thought about what I saw. I didn’t have a clear memory of it, some scenes were crystal clear like I just watched it yesterday, some were lost to me.
I read about the author, Chuck Palahniuk, of the book the movie was derived from. He stated that he was on a camping trip, yelled at a group of people camped nearby that their music was too loud, and was beaten up.
When he returned to work, he was fascinated to find that nobody would mention or acknowledge his injuries, instead saying such commonplace things as "How was your weekend?" Palahniuk concluded that the reason people reacted this way was because if they asked him what had happened, a degree of personal interaction would be necessary, and his workmates simply didn't care enough to connect with him on a personal level. It was his fascination with this societal 'blocking' which became the foundation for the novel.
Like the first time I watched it, it’s not easy for me to put into words how I felt about the movie. I think now that Fight Club is one of those movies you have to watch a few times because (at least for me) it takes more that one viewing to take in things that I was probably too distracted to see before. I’m glad I watched it, I’ll try to watch again before the rental expires. I have questions.
_______________________________________________________ despite them
October 14, 2024, 01:58 AM
iron chef
A factoid I always found amusing about Fight Club:
The original "pillow talk"-scene had Marla saying "I want to have your abortion". When this was objected to by Fox 2000 Pictures President of Production Laura Ziskin, David Fincher said he would change it on the proviso that the new line couldn't be cut. Ziskin agreed and Fincher wrote the replacement line, "I haven't been fucked like that since grade school". When Ziskin saw the new line, she was even more outraged and asked for the original line to be put back, but, as per their deal, Fincher refused.
October 14, 2024, 05:05 AM
clang
I loved this movie when it first came out, but haven’t seen it since. Meat Loaf and Helena Bonham Carter were great supporting characters.
I’ve got to rewatch it soon.
October 14, 2024, 11:02 AM
corsair
His name is Robert Paulson
October 14, 2024, 03:21 PM
Prefontaine
Tyler had words of wisdom to live by. Crazy that it takes a movie to get through to “few” people.
quote:
The things you own end up owning you.
And
quote:
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 fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
October 14, 2024, 03:29 PM
hberttmank
Great flick, I have it on BD, don't know how many times I've watched it.
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
October 14, 2024, 04:21 PM
Rey HRH
I didn't know Brad Pitt was a figment of his imagination until I saw someone explain it.
"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
October 14, 2024, 08:00 PM
Black92LX
Such a great movie. One of those movie you remember exactly where you were and who you were with when you watched it for the first time. I was a Sophomore in High School. Probably watched it 15 times that year and probably 15 or so since then. Guess I need to watch it again soon to commemorate.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
October 15, 2024, 09:34 AM
PASig
A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.
Woman on Plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
You wouldn't believe.
Woman on Plane: Which car company do you work for?
A major one.
October 15, 2024, 04:19 PM
DoctorSolo
I have discovered that you can use this movie as a litmus test for whether or not a man is ashamed of his masculinity.
It's a very important movie exploring the role of a man's relationship with violence in this sterilized corporately controlled society.
Me and others my age(43) or older love it.
I showed it to a younger cousin, who is in his late 20s and he hated it and couldn't articulate why. I told him it's because it challenged him and his worldview, unlike the superhero movies his generation clings to.
October 16, 2024, 02:05 AM
Prefontaine
quote:
Originally posted by DoctorSolo: I have discovered that you can use this movie as a litmus test for whether or not a man is ashamed of his masculinity.
It's a very important movie exploring the role of a man's relationship with violence in this sterilized corporately controlled society.
Me and others my age(43) or older love it.
I showed it to a younger cousin, who is in his late 20s and he hated it and couldn't articulate why. I told him it's because it challenged him and his worldview, unlike the superhero movies his generation clings to.
Excellent, excellent point.
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
October 16, 2024, 02:28 AM
P220 Smudge
One of my favorite films, and I quote from it regularly. About time to watch it again.
______________________________________________ Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
October 16, 2024, 07:39 AM
benny6
The author has a very whacked sense of imagination. I watched his interview on Joe Rogan. It's kind of...weird. Here's a whacked out backstory he wrote on Marla and her parents' demise...
Great movie. I learned if you gotta punch someone, go for the ear.
October 16, 2024, 01:38 PM
0-0
^^^^^^I like “almost exactly” in OP.
Haven’t we all agreed on the #1 Rule of Fight Club?
0-0
"OP is a troll" - Flashlightboy, 12/18/20
October 16, 2024, 01:48 PM
HRK
Love the flik, tons of great scenes.
“Remember this. The people you're trying to step on, we're everyone you depend on. We're the people who do your laundry and cook your food and serve your dinner. We make your bed. We guard you while you're asleep. We drive the ambulances. We direct your call. We are cooks and taxi drivers and we know everything about you. We process your insurance claims and credit card charges. We control every part of your life.
We are the middle children of history, raised by television to believe that someday we'll be millionaires and movie stars and rock stars, but we won't. And we're just learning this fact. So don't fuck with us.”
October 16, 2024, 02:09 PM
TMats
quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
quote:
Originally posted by DoctorSolo: I have discovered that you can use this movie as a litmus test for whether or not a man is ashamed of his masculinity.
It's a very important movie exploring the role of a man's relationship with violence in this sterilized corporately controlled society.
Me and others my age(43) or older love it.
I showed it to a younger cousin, who is in his late 20s and he hated it and couldn't articulate why. I told him it's because it challenged him and his worldview, unlike the superhero movies his generation clings to.
Excellent, excellent point.
Agreed
_______________________________________________________ despite them
October 16, 2024, 07:04 PM
flesheatingvirus
If you liked the movie, I HIGHLY recommend reading the book. The movie was one of the best adaptations of a book I've seen, and the book was fantastic by itself. Got myself a signed copy.
________________________________________
-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
October 16, 2024, 10:18 PM
DoctorSolo
^^^ That's cool! The movie is very faithful to the book IMO.
One funny thing that just occured to me, is that I remember when Meatloaf passed away.
My immediate reaction was the next thing I read as a reaction to it here:
His name is Robert Paulson.
When I heard it in my head there was reverence. I did not take it to be a reaction of mockery when I heard others say the same.
October 18, 2024, 09:00 PM
apprentice
Easily in my top ten, probably top five favorites. One thing I recently saw on a youtube vid was that everyone except the protagonist were just in his imagination. Not just Tyler, but everyone else. They made a pretty good case for that as I recall.
I have a story about ignoring someone else's injuries as mentioned in another post. Was working the register at a sporting goods store and had a guy come through the line looking like he was just mugged and didn't stop by the ER yet. He looked at me in a way that suggest he didn't want any questions, so it was just the basics and thank you. The next guy in line I knew as a regular customer. Him: "What happened to that guy?" Me: "He wanted a refund."