Fight Club, more than just soap

Posted on February 7, 2006 
Filed Under Movies, All

This was a movie that I had almost no interest in seeing. As a result my expectations were low, and quickly exceeded. To my surprise it was not the pointless bar room brawl I expected. Not only that, it was a movie that I didn’t sniff out the formula on, and predict the end within the first fifteen minutes. Which is rare. You could call it a study in existential irrelevance resolved through impromptu gladiatorial brutality. But that would be obnoxious and miss the point. This movie could more accurately be described as the illegitimate offspring of Office Space and Memento, with a little Kill Bill and Sixth Sense on the side.

Their Ending

Edward Norton’s character a dysfunctional insomniac, who is never actually named, slowly comes to the realization that the enigmatic Tyler Durden is actually an alternate personality of himself! Durden represents everything Norton is incapable of being in the extreme. Great twist to turn the story on its head. Then showing flashbacks of earlier scenes with Norton rather than Pitt in the role was great! Even the chaotic anarchic plans of Durden make for a good story. The fact that his cult of followers is based on the notion that they ultimately are noting special, though pumped full of vapid self worth as children is a good poke at our society! And they blame the fathers for their inability to function as men!

The final scenes of struggle between Norton and Tyler Durden are very well done. However, you guessed it, the ending I have a problem with. Norton eats the end of a revolver and only Durden dies? Argh!

My Better Ending

No, this movie was about fighting for growth, the two characters yes they need to fight it out in the end, but near death their only resolution should be to combine. Like Captain Kirk split by the transporter in The Enemy Within they must integrate into one stronger person. With an ending like it has the whole conflict results in no gain, no growth, a net sum of nothing. My ending follows the story in growth through strife, fighting, and the realization that life is only what you make of it. My final scene? The integrated Norton/ Durden character dropping into a bed and sleeping like a baby.

Comments

One Response to “Fight Club, more than just soap”

  1. lori on February 7th, 2006 1:26 pm

    Cool, the first post is up!

    I haven’t seen this movie. Brad Pitt is very blah. Very, very blah. Cardboard, unsalted potato chip blah.

    And people should use their words, not their hands.

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