This video was made in 2014 for Blip and then re-uploaded when I migrated Renegade Cut to KZfaq. My politics are better defined now than they were six years ago. If something I said in 2014 contradicts something I said in 2020, it's because I have evolved on issues and ideology. In 2014, I was a garden variety progressive, and now I'm a leftist. This is not too complicated, I think.

The Starbucks joke comes full circle when the Narrator goes on the run and discovers that Fight Club has become a national franchise - there's one on every corner, to his horror.

The beauty of Fight Club is that the story and the meaning are so good that knowing the twist doesn’t diminish a subsequent viewing.

30 years later, we get our own Great Depression, Black Death, and even a smidgen of Civil War, as a treat. Be careful what we wish for, future comment readers.

A good twist has 1 more thing that you didn't mention. A good twist also recontextualizes the meaning of all previous events. This twist is amazing because it also reframes all of the Narrator's interactions with Tyler, Tyler's character as a whole, the Narrator's relationship with Marla, the Narrator's sanity, the purpose of the gang they created, and probably dozens of more things, of course all relating back to the themes of the film.

I always called this a homoerotic masterpiece even without knowing the author's orientation. I also like the idea that Calvin and Hobbes served as the template for the characters including Marla as Susie Derkins and Bob as Moe.(He called Calvin "Twinkie")

There's another one. When Tyler and the Narrator are having beer, Tyler offers a cigarette to the Narrator, but the Narrator says he doesn't smoke. Later, in his office, we see the Narrator smoking a cigarette.

I always found _Fight Club_ to be disturbing (like most of David Fincher's films) because of how people can be easily duped by a one charismatic person because they're not satisfied with their life and do these dangerous things with such callousness towards others who more than likely might be suffering from the same dissatisfaction as them. The people who take Tyler's "message" seriously are probably looking for catharsis, which I guess is somewhat understandable but the fact that they don't see him as the villain is the real disturbing part of Fight Club.

Fantastic analysis. Enjoyed every minute of it. And ignore these haters telling you to leave out the homosexual undertones...especially with Chuck being gay himself, everything you posit seems firmly grounded in logic. That's what an effective analysis does -- explores every possible interpretation and doesn't leave anything out. Very interesting!

"That goes double for president" *distressed laughter from 2020*

Man, why wasn't my mental breakdown this badass and kewl?

Tyler Durden: "We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars, but we won't" Random guy: "Hang on, you're Brad Pitt. You are a millionaire movie star!"

I read the book and I STILL haven't seen the movie (but I want to), and, initially, I thought the narrator was in love with Tyler in a very possessive kind of way. He even kind of talks about a supposed love triangle: "I want Tyler, Tyler wants Marla, Marla wants me, and Tyler doesn't want me around, at least not anymore."

BTW, one of my favorite hints about the twist was the fact that Tyler's hand is not blocked in any of the previous scenes (not deliberately, anyway), and does not have the "Lye Kiss" on it. Afterward, of course, he does have it.

I'm of the opinion that you can easily litmus test any given person by showing them Fight Club and then seeing if they got any of the message or if they just thought the idea of a fight club was cool. If you get something along the lines of "I want to start my own fight club" then you should just avoid that person forever, or until they get out of junior high and can think a little bit.

"Through a scanner darkly" also pulled off this twist expertly. Pity it's such an underappreciated gem.

i never caught the penguin connection, awesome

The very first time I watched Fight Club, I think I got maybe 5% of what it was trying to say. That's why I love it so much. I've watched it about 15 times and read the book twice and it still holds up every time. I feel that, above all else, the film (and book) is about self-destruction. A lot of people don't get why shooting himself in the cheek makes Tyler go away, but it's because the narrator had to be willing to give up everything (his life) in order to truly find peace. I see it as being almost Christian in a way. The narrator's sacrifice allows him to be "reborn," much like Christ's death and resurrection. Giving up his material possessions is analogous to Jesus' teachings about "do not be conformed to this world." But again, that's just one interpretation, one that probably wasn't even in the minds of the filmmakers and author. But that's what makes Fight Club such a rich film: You can bring your own ideas to it. It doesn't spell everything out the way some films try to shoehorn in symbolism.

10:27 I know this is an old video, but when you said “That goes double for president” I laughed out loud. How the tables have turned. And again, recently!

The whole "stand outside and not be let in for days" thing is directly lifted from formal Zen training. Particularly the Japanese "koan" based styles, such as Rinzai.

"Pay me no mind, I seen the Fight Club, About 28 times" Fred Durst

this movie is just "you construct intricate rituals"

Fight Club is arguably the best film of the 90's. Although the Shawshank Redemption deserves a mention aswell.

I just like the dark tones of the film, dim lights and shades....it's very pleasant.

I've never understood how people view this film as misogynistic. That's one of the few things I can think of that doesn't seem to be a part of this film. Women are barely even in this film, and it's very clearly focused on men and the way they see and treat themselves and other men. Glad you mentioned this, because I've seen several folks analyze this and not mention the bits about gender, masculinity, and sexuality.

I particularly like the scene when Tyler is selling the soap, and Narrator is in the rear ground in the same profile as Tyler, taking a "back seat" while Tyler speaks...

Nice use of Paranoid Android, m8. really fit the tone of the video

"Tyler is not someone to be admired [...] bits and pieces of his philosophy may have some accuracy [but] Tayler is the villain" So much this. So many people buy into his initial (as you rightly pointed out almost Buddhist) ideas and think "this is the guy we're supposed to root for" and end up thinking that the latter ideas (3d act) are the logical continuation of those, missing the fact that Tyler ends up being a manifestation of toxic masculinity Also I think it's worth to notice that Tyler is the byproduct of the Narrators insomnia, so, as a symptom, he starts off pretty mild and then gets more extreme and crazy When I first watched the movie I also fell for "Tyler's right" thing, but then I read the book and I ended up thinking that the story is ultimately about finding balance: first Narrator lives a life of extreme consumerism, then he trashes all that, reconnect with his masculinity (suppressed by his consumerist lifestyle) finds some happiness in it, but ultimately ends up on the opposite side of the same coin and realizes that extreme anti consumerism and supermasculinity are equally bad. In the end Tyler is not exactly dead, but he and Narrator are sort of united, the Narrator find the balance between the consumerism (the original Masturbating-to-Ikea Narrator) and extreme anti consumersim (Tyler), becoming whole

OMG, I love how when you talked about the lack of identity theme in the movie you played paranoid android by Radiohead in the background: truly an amazing song.

This video really shows how much there is to say about this film. It's twice as long as most of his videos and he still has to talk faster to fit it all in.

This has to be one of the most misinterpreted films of all time. How or why people are unable to recognize the satire about consumerism and toxic masculinity is beyond me. Every dude-bro in a frat has a poster of Tyler Durden. It baffles me that people don’t understand this movie.

I see Project Mayhem in the same light as the Proud Boys.

The line about the qualification to become the President really aged horribly from today's perspective. xD

so far the best review about Fight Club, good job

The one detail I missed until I watched this was that the curtains in the hotel room when the narrator was confronting Tyler look like a bar code.

Holy crap all I can say is this channel is one of the best on youtube. Wonderful content, keep up the good work.

- In reference to the homosexual undertones/symbolism and/or theories, I think it could be possible that it's more of a representation of masturbation, or more specifically mental masturbation (self absorption - not necessarily in a bad way - more so just a person being content with living in their own head). - When Tyler says "I'm wondering if another woman is really the answer we need." I can see that as a point where his mind is starting to play with the idea of embracing his 'self' as opposed to an outsider for comfort, male or female. Though he obviously wavers a bit with Marla. - Soon after on the bus Tyler also says "Self-improvement is masturbation" which segways into where The Narrator becomes completely one-minded about 'masturbating' his main desire at this point in the movie - the emotional release he gets from Fight Club and to some extent (his Tyler Durdan side) Project Mayhem, though things start to fall apart at that point. He starts to live only in his mind, in his little world that he's created, where things like being presentable at work, or being rude or making people uncomfortable, are not a concern. He even gets some happiness/fulfillment out of rejecting everything outside of his world (mind) as he sees it as beneath him. He sees this all as self-improvement, embracing this mental projection named Tyler and his philosophies, which are of course his own to begin with - stroking the ego in a sense (sexual pun intended). - By the Project Mayhem time period a lot of other influences and emotional changes for The Narrator have happened, and the 'masturbation' starts to fall apart. The Narrator starts to reject the solitary world of his mind, as it starts to go out of control, crack and spill out - a big starting point in the story being the decision to start recruiting people and having them move into the house. - It then continues to the climax of the film, where he fully rejects the solitary/mental masturbation state of mind and kills Tyler. He then embraces another, holding Marla's hand, as they watch the buildings collapse. - This is just a working theory, decided to watch this video before re-watching the film again. Great video!

I wonder if he still thinks the Dissociative Identity Disorder twist can't be used again properly with Mr. Robot being ten flavours of awesome?

I'm not sure you should be talking about Fight Club...

I know I'm very late to this but finally i found someone who can express why I love this movie so much. Thank you for this!

You can also watch Marla as an imaginary character too.

What is it with 1999? The internet can't stop talking about Fight Club, The Matrix, & The Phantom Menace. ;)

nice radiohead paranoid android cue in with that late 90's talk

I love how excited you sound in this video. It sounds like me when I'm tipsy and happily talking to someone about a movie I love.

Twenty years on and I'm still running into refreshing takes on this film that I maybe glimpsed when watching but never had the opportunity to explore further.

I watched this for the first time with my roommate a few months ago and he told me he liked seeing my reaction to the little blips of Tyler

When I read the novel before the movie came out, the twist was "ruined" on the back cover. The hint on the back cover made it clear what would happen. I still read it anyway to see how it was going to be pulled off.

I'm loving your videos...your insight makes me see these movies in a slightly deeper way and that makes me enjoy these films all over again from a fresh perspective.

thats not a penguin on Tyler's shirt its a toucan

Wow this analysis completely blew my mind. Especially the homosexual undertones part that was really cool. Just subscribed and turned on notifications for this channel. Keep up the great work!

Holy shit you were a part of channel awesome? Oh how times have changed!

My stepfather (who is a trotskyist) told me that this movie is about revolution and how to do it. He said it with straight face, unironically.

It's funny because when I finished the movie I kept thinking back, "damn, there's no way, other characters talked to both of them in the same room." Just justifying everything, I never would have picked out those little details, thanks for this video, I'll have to rewatch Fight Club now haha

I love Fight Club, and as I am studying it for A Level at the moment this video was a massive help To all those disagreeing with any themes in this video, especially the Queer Theory, not once does he state that these are HIS personal ideas - they are popular theories that you can use to analyse the film, he is just explaining them so you can understand every aspect and possibly view the film in a new light. Film isn't black and white - everyone's viewing is different! Enjoy each film and its different possibilities y'all! :)

i was walking around primark once (not to buy clothes just out of boredom) and i seen a fight club logo shirt, and knowing the anti-capitalist themes of the movie the way one of the most shady retailers for treating their garment workers are putting it on shirts is really weird

this movie is still mind blowing .. awesome analysis.

You broke the first two rules of Fight Club

+Renegade Cut Have you heard the theory that Marla Singer is a figment of the Narrator's mind also?

I never noticed that they enter the car thought the same door and I've watched this movie tons of times

eyy I noticed that paranoid android in the background. Great song.

This is amazing! you deserve more likes and views!

For what it's worth, I enjoyed this muchly. Gratitude

Very thoughtful analysis. I think I appreciate this film more from your commentary.

Ooo man that subtle radio head. Ur fucking amazing dude I love this series

I like the starbucks part, I've never been there in my life and never will. Stovetop percolator coffee works just fine for me

And the final twist being Marla as the third personality.

Actually, in the Fight Club comic (which is a sequel to the book AND the movie, more or less) is said, as being Sebastian.

"Feel like corporations don't care about your wellbeing? Fine, there's probably some truth in that. Boycott individual major corporations, or even live a more minimalist lifestyle, just don't go 'too far'" - lines that aged like fine milk :P Glad you've moved leftwards since :) I thought the video was new at first and had been confused all the way through, only saw the timestamp after this bit I think. In hindsight it was probably suggested to me cos I watched Maggie May Fish's Fight Club video a couple of weeks ago

I really liked The Village. I didn't see the twist coming but you're correct in that there weren't any subtle telegraphs pointing to it either. But Fight Club? Freakin' awesome movie!!

Running out of words to thank you

My favorite movie of all time. 😍😍😍

IS THAT MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS I HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND??

I love that Paranoid Android plays at 6:39. Perfect.

It's your life it will end minute at a time.

They should have ended the movie showing a real manifestation of tyler living his life somewhere else, unaware of the narrators insanity.

I predicted the twist so early in the movie that the guy who took me there never called me out to another date. Idk why I saw it coming so easily, I guess it was because of some of the clues.

Am I Tylers bad dream, or am I his.

Tyler and Marla are in his head

Exhaustive analysis! Great video!

"that goes double for president" hehehehe hahahahahahahhahahahahahaha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

My favorite movie!

There is exactly one thing about this movie that I do not understand. How would a guy in a parking lot, beating himself up, result in other men becoming interested in joining in? This is a crazy thing. Like, the first guys who see the parking lot fight seem very taken aback, but other men clearly are NOT taken aback. So how did this actually SPREAD to other men? Hanging out with people who beat themselves bloody is generally not a thing. (Or maybe it is. I could be wrong.) Either way, it's a weird way to start a club. This was a really great analysis of the movie. I've watched it like 10 times (maybe more) and you pointed out some stuff (particularly about the way the characters are stripped of individuality besides the name thing) that I've never thought of before. Interestingly enough, this movie made me realize in high school that I was a total misogynist (even though I'm a girl) and that I needed to knock that shit off.

best video on entire youtube yo!

Anarchism isn't the same as "chaos". Anarchism is a political philosophy, if anyone thinks Anarchism is the same as "chaos" then Fascism is anarchist, which is an extreme contradiction.

Fight Club is my favorite film, you did a great job analyzing it. For a cinemaphile such as myself, that's great.

In Tyler We Trust

I like to think that the narrator's name Fred Broca.

Its funny, some anarchists look at Tyler Durden the same way some skinheads look at Derek Vinyard (American History X) when both movies are trying to demonstrate the flaws in their logic

I am blown away! I love this film but have never picked up on these things you have touched on. Great job!

I disagree with your take on "a plot twist is only good, if it has a build up or it directly makes sense", although it is totally true for Fight Club or Citizen Kane or The Shawshank Redemption. But The Empire Strikes Back works also perfectly and no one could have possibly see that coming...

such a great year for film

Excellently Done.

Final Fantasy 14 managed to pull off the same twist by blurring the lines on how much of Fray was real and how much was aethiric manifestation

Great video. Now I feel somewhat vindicated thinking that fight club was some kind of strange gay porn! Good movie though.

Leon, I noticed you played "Paranoid Android" during the review... Is this a reference to the anime Ergo Proxy (which is also about identity), or am I jumping to conclusions?

It's ironic that "Red Pill," bros and Incels reference this movie so much, when the movie is VERY against their beliefs!

Not to me, the Village twist was more of a surprise due to NOT having been foreshadowed to death, like Fight Club.

Nobody else takes the interpretation that Marla is also the narrator? It's lampshaded that she goes to the testicular cancer support group, she also makes a reference at one point to the narrator wearing her dress.

This was great

Phenomenal!