Kenny Fulton reviews
Fight Club
In Tyler we trusted...
Distributed by
20th Century Fox
- Cert: R
- Cat.no: 2000035
- Running time: 139 minutes
- Year: 1999
- Pressing: 2000
- Region(s): 1, NTSC
- Chapters: 36 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English only), Dolby Surround
- Languages: English, French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish
- Widescreen: 2.40:1
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: 2 * DVD 9
- Price: $22.95 (RRP $39.98)
- Extras : Four Audio Commentaries, Cast and Crew, Behind the Scenes Segments
with Commentary, 7 Deleted Scenes (2 with multiple angles), Trailers, TV spots,
Internet spots, Gallery, Public Service Messages, Music Video, Interview
with Edward Norton, storyboards, Visual Effects Stills, Art Gallery,
Merchandise catalogue.
Director:
Screenplay:
Cast:
Tyler Durden: Brad Pitt
Narrator: Edward Norton
Marla Singer: Helena Bonham Carter
Robert Paulson: Meatloaf
Angel Face: Jared Leto
The first rule
of Fight Club is, "You do not talk about Fight Club".
Well sorry Tyler but that aint possible cause this DVD is soooo good!
We have been waiting a bit longer for this disc as it slipped from its
original release date (18th April), but it was worth the wait.
Arguably the best film of last year, Fight Club is told to us by Edward
Norton (the narrator). He plays a character suffering from insomnia and
finds that the only cure for his disorder is to go along various support
groups where he can release his emotions. His cure works until he
encounters Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), she goes along to the groups
because - "it's cheaper than a movie and there's free coffee".
Norton can no longer release his emotions and the insomnia hits back until
Norton meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) on a business flight. When he
arrives home from that flight, Norton finds that his beloved condo has been
blown up. With nowhere to turn, he calls Tyler and they go out for a beer.
Tyler agrees that Norton stays with him until he gets himself sorted out.
As they leave the bar to go home, Tyler asks Norton to hit him, which leads
to a friendly fight. As these friendly fights become frequent (now Norton's
emotional outlet and cure for his insomnia) more and more misfits become
involved, wanting to participate, thus Fight Club is formed. The story then
twists and turns to an enthralling climax, for the minority who have not seen
the film yet I will not go into any more detail for fear of ruining the film.
The cast really excel in this production. Pitt steals the show with his
portrayal of the philosophical but slightly crazy Tyler. He is not one of my
favourite actors but he really does put in one hell of a performance, I
would say his best so far.
Norton and Bonham Carter both put in solid performances, the other actors
really only have bit parts. The Screenplay is tight, and Fincher's
directionworks a treat as the dark tones enhance the story well. The pace is
fast from start to finish, the film is fresh and innovative, the CGI touches
are nice and overall the film is visually stunning - a far better result than
Se7en.
The disc it's self boasts a rock solid anamorphic transfer 2.40:1 and the
layer change was smooth and unnoticeable. The sound is well mixed and very
effective when spread over the 5 speakers. The disc has Dolby Digital 2.0
(Dolby Surround), Dolby Digital 5.1 and it is also the first DVD to feature
THX Optimode. This mode runs a series of video and sound tests on your system
for optimum performance. The disc will default to Dolby Surround, so those of
us with appropriate equipment need to remember to change the audio set up to
Dolby Digital 5.1.
The DVD is a two disc set, presented in a cardboard box that looks like a
brown paper parcel with Fight club stencilled on it. Inside is a 3 panel
fold up that holds the discs and the book. The book is full of quotes from
people like the author, screenwriter, director, critics and actors.
The disc boasts the most extras that I have ever seen. The deleted scenes
section is very good as the disc tells you why the scene was left out before
you play it. The 4 audio commentaries on the disc feature all the main
players in the production from director right through to the actors. As well
as the biographies, trailers, TV spots, Internet spots, galleries and a couple
of hidden extras denoted by a smiley face when you find them.
This disc really is the dogs bollocks. I have not come across a disc
boasting so much that has not been labelled special edition or Criterion
edition. For any film fan or serious collector this disc is an absolute
must.
You will want to watch this film again and again and again. If you do buy
this disc from America, pay some special attention to the FBI warnings at the
start, they may put a smile on your face instead of annoying you this time.
Since receiving my copy I have not been able to put the disc down, it will
stick out in any collection.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
