Too Much Fight Club Love

I have a real secret that I'm about to let out. Every mentally able male between the ages of 16 and 50 should watch a particular movie. Afterward, you should go out and read the book, which is exactly where I'm at now. I can't tell you why, you see, the first rule is that I don't talk about it.

It should be on every man's movie/book to see/read list, save those that suffer from schizophrenia and fundamentalists. Well, if you've come this far and it's your first time then you have no choice but to fight.

Welcome to Fight Club.

I've seen it too many times and this is an attempt to share my thoughts about it. I know the quotes, I know where the subliminal images are, I know almost all of the clues, everything. I don't want to blow the plot, because that would be contrary to an attempt to encourage the non-initiated to see it. I believe that the fight scenes are just right and the mayhem that ensues is just inevitable perfection.

The bottom line is this: Fight Club is one of the best movies of our time. It is certainly the most unique. Small time director, David Fincher, a couple big name Hollywood actors in Brad Pitt and Ed Norton, both known for eclectic roles all equal a great movie. The original author Chuck Palahniuk was inspired after neighboring campers beat him up when he asked them to turn down their music. The following week at work, he was struck by some of his coworkers' attempts to converse normally with him while trying to ignore his bludgeoned face.

Say what you will about Pitt, just don't say it to his face. Even though it wasn't the smash in the theatres that it should have been, there are several reasons it became a gradual hit and still wows people today. Fight Club simply smashes the face of convention. Pitt defined the book's legendary role. Many of Palahniuk's followers refer to themselves as a cult, for crying out loud. It takes the shallow things you hold dear and smashes the pathetic-ness out of them.

Remember, you're not your khakis. It is perfect for our modern generation because as Mr. Durden says, "We have no great struggles; no world wars, no great depression. Our struggle is a spiritual one."