Fight Club (1999) ♦Movie Reaction♦ First Time Watching!

For monthly polls, early access, extended ad-free videos, and watch-along versions*, check out my Patreon: / whimsory
There's a sign on the front that says "Lou's Tavern"...I'm f*cking Lou, who the f*ck are you?😂
00:00 Intro
00:54 Reaction
31:15 Awards/Discussion/Outro
*must own/rent a copy of the film to sync up with me for watch-along format

[@BoOmBANG_]

I love that twist is revealed hidden at the beginning of the movie. During the pay phone scene he tries to call Tyler but nobody answers the phone so he hangs up. Almost immediately after hanging up he gets a call back from Tyler but if you look at the bottom of the phone there is a small sign that reads "No Incoming Calls" meaning the entire conversation, even the phone ringing in the first place, happened in his head 🤯

[@Fiendy]

Whoa I’ve seen this movie a 100x and I never noticed that 😧

[@Gankzta]

@@Fiendythis movie is filled with subliminal messages. Every time you see it you catch something new.

[@jamesnorthup7717]

At the VERY beginning he says, I know this because Tyler knows this....

[@TennSeven]

They have another one like that when Tyler crashes the car. Tyler was driving but after the car flips he gets out of the passenger seat window while Narrator gets out of the driver's side. One of the editing places pointed it out to Fincher thinking that he had a continuity error in the movie and he was like "don't worry about it."

[@arifeannor9573]

Paper street, I know this because Tyler knows this, lots and lots of things telling you.

[@highlander31527]

This movie is perfect for Whimsory's watch style. She watches and reacts for us, then she watches it again before telling us her thoughts. I'm glad she liked it.

[@mintjulius275]

I love that reaction style

[@davidbrannen2558]

clever girl!

[@Hellseeker1]

"What's in the toilet?" Ohh my dear child you're so precious.

[@ChrismicroART]

I know!!! She just said “”adult time”

[@Mark_Moody]

Omg lol

[@stuartanderws5705]

She did say later I mist bits on my laptop screen so I got TV. And yes precious. I remember telling my friend as a child that I found a rubber on the patio. He said I was lying you never did. I said I did I did. He did say be believed me then asked me "What's a Patio?" Very old jok

[@tetleyT]

"Seven" is another great David Fincher / Brad Pitt movie high up on the list of IMDB Top 250 Movies. Essential viewing really.

[@BJThury]

what's in the box!?!?!!

[@jebus7679]

"We were raised on television that tells us we're all gonna be rockstars and movie stars," he says looking directly at Jared Leto.

[@BoOmBANG_]

😂😂😂

[@wendellwiggins3776]

perfect clever insider detail!

[@BiffBangledong]

As a teenager the one thing i disliked about this movie was I always thought it was so unbelievable that someone would go to support meetings when they don't even have a condition just to get sympathy. Then as an adult, I had to go to some of these meetings and realized there's actually a LOT of people who do this.

[@BOT_JERRY]

Yee. It helps you realize what's your inner problems are by hearing others

[@patrickholt2270]

That's what church is for. They would be getting the sense of community and support like that if they were part of a church, and they're missing it because they aren't.

[@joshuaortiz2031]

This movie scared me from going to those support group meetings. I'm a combat veteran with bad anxiety and mental issues I could probably get some help from the PTSD support groups at the VA hospital but I don't want some big fat guy with giant heaving breasts to hug me 🤮

[@shaomongoloid]

@@joshuaortiz2031Pretty sure you don’t get bitch tits from combat or PTSD, but I’m no veteran.

[@lakewoodln1060]

​​@@joshuaortiz2031Bro what? You know it's just a movie right? Plus the reason for bob's massive honkers is cuz he abused steroids along with having testicular cancer. Doubt you're gonna run into many man-milfs within the veteran community 😂 If your comment was sarcasm, then ignore everything I just said.

[@jazzytims883]

I think what sets this reaction channel apart is all the damn research! Kudos to your work ethic. Keep'em comin.

[@Theomite]

David Fincher was one of a handful of directors (Spike Jones, Michel Gondry, Mark Romanek, Jonathan Glazer, etc.) who came from music videos, so they incorporated their surrealistic visual sensibilities in their work, and that's what makes '90s cinema (particularly 1999) so great overall.

[@MrSporkster]

This movie is a cultural phenomenon. It's impossible to describe just how much impact it had when it first came out. It truly is one of the greatest movies of Gen X.

[@kryptonianguest1903]

Problem is that a lot of people took the exact opposite message from the film than the one it intended.

[@pinkpenzu]

​@@kryptonianguest1903everyone have their own interpretation of art

[@kryptonianguest1903]

@@pinkpenzu When someone's interpretation of art is, "This is telling me to be an asshole in real life. And it's right!" then their interpretation is crap and should be abandoned.

[@pinkpenzu]

@@kryptonianguest1903 its a free world

[@kryptonianguest1903]

@@pinkpenzu Trash is still trash.

[@illuminahde]

The author of fight club, Chuck Palahniuk, wrote another book called Choke that is hilarious. The film adaptation is good too. Sam Rockwell stars in it. I don't think it's a reaction type movie but it's worth the watch when you have the time.

[@yrenekurtz5268]

He also made a sequel to Fight Club in the form of a comic series, and man does it get weird. I've hear he made it that way at least partially as a "fuck you" to anybody who misread the meaning of the original. From what I understand there is a third part, but I haven't read that one because honestly, going THAT meta is not my thing.

[@sharpeslass5452]

Agreed. It was directed by Clark Gregg, a personal favourite!

[@findlestick]

Some people say that Tyler’s philosophies influenced many GenX teens, but it’s the other way around. As a teen during the 90s - rightly or wrongly, some of the stuff he was saying was a snapshot of what many GenX-ers had been thinking for years. A lot of what he says and does is nonsense, but there are *some* nuggets of truths buried in there.

[@S1ipperyJim]

Fight Club was definitely part of the zeitgeist at that time. Probably my favourite movie of all time alongside (weirdly enough) the Blues Brothers

[@silvernova354]

Hello, new subscriber here. I just have to say that I really appreciate how comprehensive your videos are and the extra research that you do is great to see. I'm almost 48 and I have seen many films in my time, and Fight Club is one hell of an experience. I truly hope you enjoy it. Best wishes from Australia.

[@NarnianRailway]

Whimsory's talk about Fight Club was a knockout, always a winner!

[@mikek9297]

worth breaking the first two rules

[@LazloHo]

Another good one :) Hey, don't worry about what your reaction is during the movie. You've carved out a great place with your post-movie discussion. It's true, people probably find you because they enjoy reactions, but you've got something extra going on with all the work you put in for each video.

[@flysoup]

There's nothing wrong with just watching the reveal, it's a lot to take in. It's one of my all time favorite movies and it continues to hold up pretty well.

[@uncaringgenius]

Congrats Whimsory you've just had a near-life experience

[@dklounge7082]

A particular hint of them being the same person is how Tyler was the only one responding to the narrator as he's explaining to the audience about Tyler's jobs

[@MrSporkster]

HBC is utterly incredible in every single movie. Her charisma is insane. You can't look away from her, no matter what she's doing.

[@jonanderson559]

I love that you picked up so much on what a funny movie it is. The narration carries so much weight, and Norton's whole performance... you just never know how much insanity there is in the everyman in the next cubicle.

[@lonnieeastin6401]

Can I say that the awards are a genius way to react to films? I've seen this film a million times. And instead of just saying what you thought about it. Showing off how much you know about cinematography. Or you know how good the Key Grip did. You act like a fan. I love it!

[@MarcosElMalo2]

So the Union has a simple test to determine if new members should be a grip or in the props department. They put you in a room with nothing but a bowling ball. After a little while, they go check on you. If you lost the bowling ball, you’re props. If you broke it, you’re a grip.

[@OzeroCa]

I’ve been passingly aware of the extent you go into for these vids- the rewatching, the research, etc, but I never really appreciated how much it adds to your videos overall. Keep knockin’ em outta the park, ma’am!

[@JeffKogut]

This is my first time seeing one of your reactions. I've also just come off watching around 30 other reactions to Fight Club in the last month. Yours is the best. Adding in your thoughts at the end, and especially rewatching and giving some post re-watch thoughts is way more satisfying to listen to. Not to mention you're fun and I like your quirky personality! But really, so many people watch a movie and it ends and they do a glorified "so that happened!" and they are done. Kudos on rewatching and researching to support your thoughtful commentary. One last note - the first two rules of Fight Club are why it continues to be a success and you had not heard of the twist even though you heard other references to the movie in popular culture. It was great to share your first time through and see you as shocked as I was when this first came out. It totally got me too. Thanks again, and I've just subscribed!

[@system3008]

Her and Jenny's I like.

[@benlongstreth]

I spent a night in a ball pit with a friend and Chuck Palahniuk at a book release party of his back in 2017. Hands down the most Portland, OR thing I've ever done in Portland, OR.

[@terryloh8583]

I see Fight Club as an exploration and social commentary on men's need for authentic emotional connection to other men in a society that neither acknowledges this or teaches boys and men the language to do so. The inevitable result being men acting out in the only language that is deemed 'manly/acceptable' but is also the most base--fighting.

[@aklimar2208]

It’s even more relevant now than back then. So much attention now is placed on girls being empowered and independent. Boys don’t get nearly as much encouragement or support, especially with so many of them growing up without fathers these days.

[@zegh8578]

"She just wants to be your friend, you jerk!" is probably one of the most on-point observations about some of the core themes of this movie, as complicated as it is - there are so many instances, little moments, that just show you how easily some of this madness could be averted (such as the start of the movie, where the protagonist gets to cry and hug a little, for then to sleep like a baby)

[@noodle_fc]

I've always thought the scene on the highway when Tyler asks the two dudes in the back seat "What would you want to do before you die?" is very revealing and *extremely* underappreciated when examining themes. Because, look. The answers are "paint a self-portrait" and "build a house," which are fantastic goals and worthy endeavors. If these guys are like most people, they'd never even think of such things. Tyler Durden and Fight Club have taken them out of the everyday. They're doing something radically different. But the radically different thing they're doing _in that moment_ is sitting passively in a car going the wrong way on a freeway while Tyler sends the car towards a head-on collision. Tyler says things like that, helps people realize and articulate that something is missing from their lives, but instead of learning painting or carpentry, these guys stood on a porch in the toxic-waste part of town for three days with $300 _personal burial money_ because "In Tyler they trusted." It tells you *so many things* about what's happening, if you stop to examine it. Like, that's it; that's the movie. That's the two sides of Tyler Durden, laid bare in a few sentences juxtaposed with contradictory action. It's so perfect.

[@TerminatorJuice]

As much as I love watching first time movie reactions, the thing that kills me about them is knowing that most of you are watching on tiny laptop/monitor screens, and hearing them on cheap headphones or earbuds! As a long time home theater enthusiast, I can say without a doubt that so much of the experience is lost when watching movies the way people do for reaction videos, so one day I hope to do a video series where I invite movie reactors to choose 3 movies that they wish they'd seen in the theater, and then filming their experience of rewatching them in a Home Cinema! I think that would be pretty cool.

[@gnosisevolving]

So true, and great idea!!🎉

[@ThePoke151]

I absolutely love that you did a full on analysis and really put in the work instead of just watching a single time with no research. Earned you a subscriber

[@capncrunch1122]

I love that you re-watch and give your thoughts keep up the awesome work.

[@That_Tunafish_Guy]

I just found this channel from a shout-out by You Me And The Movies, and I have binged every single episode😭😭😭 now I'm waiting for more content

[@paulymar5996]

Helena Bonham-Carter was fantastic in this movie.

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

I loved your reaction and analysis of this, it's certainly an unique film, and all the better for it. We need good cinema to challenge us and to make us consider things.

[@Lalelailulo]

The insomnia quote really hits home. Staying up for days and going from dreadfully tired to oddly energetic and suddenly after 2 days nothing feels quite real and you just feel like you're watching a movie of your life. Not really keeping track of time or the date. After the first few days I felt above sleep like id never need it again. Then boom I crash hard and feel dazed the next day. Watched this movie when i was a teenager and was the first time i ever heard of people talking about insomnia and the effects.

[@2nerC9]

8:23 "like Disney" lmaoooo

[@gnosisevolving]

Love your outro format!!! Been wanting something like that after so many great reaction videos -thank you 🤩 I just found you in fight club (shhh can’t talk about it.;) Your heart and humor are infectious! ❤️😹

[@Whimsory]

OMG! Thank you so much! It means so much ☺️

[@alexbayarsaikhan]

This is my first time watching your reaction. I've watched many reaction videos from other streamers, but I have to say this was very impressive, especially, awards, and discussions sections. They were unique. Keep it up and good luck!

[@SiderEto]

there was a fight club when i was in school, and im from siberia... huge impact on society

[@pasteye1671]

Believe me, Whim, I'm nearly 70 and I still laugh at fart jokes. If it's funny, it's funny no matter how old you are. Don't change. I love you just the way you are. I'm honoured to get to watch these films with you, so thanks.

[@Darkswordz]

12:59 - "What was in that toilet?" Aw....you're so innocent. 😊

[@magnemodi1599]

I did not walk into this film completely blind. I knew Pitt, Norton, and Carter were in it. I knew the title. I saw the film in a theater in the unsolved murder capital of the USA at the time. I grew up there. I was so amazed by the themes and the strong masculine energy of it that I had to watch it again an the same theater, next showing. So I watched twice back to back. Both views were entirely different films for me. I could write a whole book of impressions the script left with me. Crazy huh?. Anyway thanks for watching and sharing. I love your reviews and rarely comment. Now you know why? I ramble and digress.

[@mikegc36]

Havent't read all the comments so I might be repeating some of them, but nevertheless. As I see it, what you've mentioned - consumerism, masculinity, etc. - are not what the story is about. This is the story of a "30-year-old boy" who has no relationships, no friends, no true goals, no purpose in life. The mental illness you spoke of is definitely a key component, but it only starts actually progressing when Jack faces a psychological crisis coupled with insomnia which, combined, causes his psyche to create a new personality. Everything else, everything Tyler does and represents, are Jack's ways of trying to find a purpose without having real-life social and emotional attachments, because his only idea of a relationship is drawn from his dysfunctional family. His parents left such a deep scar on him, that the very concepts of love, trust, sharing, and opening himself to someone are lost on him. Instead, when the midlife crisis crisis kicks in topped off by insomnia, he resorts to complete nihilism because he doesn't know any better. And this causes a personality split (dissociative identity disorder), with Tyler becoming the embodiment of what Jack couldn't or was afraid to do. Marla represents his actual relationship with someone and his fear of it, the fear of becoming attached, not knowing what to do with it, failing to trust and take responsibility. Basically, Marla is Jack's bridge to normal life and solving his psychological issues, while Tyler represents his traumatized and socio-phobic part through nihilism, denial, and revolt against the society that Jack views as responsible for the way he is. It's a story about desperately searching for and finding a purpose in life through trauma and mistakes, about accepting yourself and taking responsibility for your life by accepting your feelings and responsibility for someone else. It's about hitting rock bottom in order to be able to reevaluate your life and make changes.in order to make peace with yourself and find genuine happiness.

[@dsscam]

Again, I am blown away by the amount of detail you put into each Outro-especially in movies like this. I am hoping to find your reaction to The Sixth Sense. I just adore you.

[@willcool713]

Damn, girl, you always come through. I've been on a Fight Club kick for the last week or so, rewatching it, and looking up reactions. And what do I find today? One of the better reactors seemingly catering to me. Beautiful. You're good. I generally like your perspective quite a bit, too. Thank you. Great minds, eh? This movie is particularly appealing to people who grew up rough, because there are a lot of irl tropes that seem familiar here. And as to you not reacting, because you were so absorbed, I have a thought to share. *F* us. Appreciating the experience of movies as written is a personal experience, to be experienced in a group. That's the theater experience, and traditionally movies are written to have you get absorbed and to have your internal experience reinforced by the audible reaction of people around you in the theater. As a reactor you are often expected to break that frame, which means not getting fully absorbed. With many movies this is possible, to multitask. But sometimes it's neither possible nor warranted, if you also want to do the movie justice. For instance, I perennially advocate for reactors to do second watches for movies like *Apocalypse Now* (1979), because you are meant to become lost in the narrative the first time through. And as long as it's fresh, the enthusiasm and initial reaction is still easily communicated. But if you do a first watch as a reactor, you will be robbed of that first watch experience. Idk. Maybe it isn't so important, but I see good films as the masterworks of our day. Ancient Egypt has the Pyramids; Greece has the Parthenon; we have Hollywood (et al, around the world) to share our cultural myths and values, and our greatest export and deepest artistic legacy. As a movie reactor, which comes first, the movies or the likes? My personal answer would be You, you come first. Don't cheat yourself. But I believe in movies as myths. Your mileage may differ. I'll shut up now.

[@chetcarman3530]

This is why I like your reactions. You've got a brain, use it, and are a delight to watch. 🎉😂❤ (I'm 76, so a Boomer, a former rock drummer, film critic & writer. I loved your take on every level here!!)

[@MarcosElMalo2]

OK, Boomer. 😉 I gotta say, as much as I disparage boomers, there were a double handful of them that I will always love and respect. More than that, really. You know who I mean. Lester Bangs. Patti Smith. R. Crumb. DJ Bonebrake (I mention him because you’re a drummer). Neon Park XIII. My cousin Steven. And all the obvious ones. Some I grew out of and I feel a little bit embarrassed that I idolized them. Jim Morrison was a self-indulgent twat (Ray was the real deal). Jim Ladd, the facile and puerile guru of adolescence. Rodger Waters, the wildly successful tortured arteest. Quite a few people that became pompous blowhards when their “genius” was recognized by the world. I don’t know which camp you fall into, but I hope it’s among the good ones. We, the younger generations owe you a debt.

[@chetcarman3530]

@@MarcosElMalo2 I don't like much -- most? -- of my generation, the, so maybe that gives you an idea which camp I fall into, lol.* A lot of us have a lot of issues with your generationS (myself included, of course), but I for one am enormously gladden to see how many of you guys have selected some positive attitudes and values from my own times to carry on. This channel is an example. I thank my parents' generation -- WWII, Great Depression -- for the good things & try not to blame all of them for all the jerks, and I thank my sons' (he's 57) and yours for the good and try not to blame all of you for the bad. (I partied and shared some backstage time with some of the old names you mentioned, & don't know some others. ✌️) Thanks for the response, friend. 💙

[@system3008]

The big problem here is you're putting large portions of people into little boxes. This tactic to try and understand the complexities of human behaviour is absolutely terrible. 52:24

[@chetcarman3530]

@@system3008 ?

[@Ali1986Koksal]

Out of all the MANY, MANY, MANY movie reaction channels on KZbin I personally love your one the best!! You just make me laugh is mostly why I think.

[@moonlitegram]

The speech he gives talking about how they had no great war to fight in etc really resonated with me when this movie came out. Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII and my parents came of age in the tumultuous 60s. So I think there was this general feeling among some of us gen X folk that our generation kind of "missed out" on any kind of real character defining moments in history. Or at least that's the way it seemed to me at the time. Looking back on it now after 9/11, the 2008 recession, all the political turmoil in the past decade, the pandemic and lock downs, and now escalating global tensions and a looming possible WWIII, I can't help but think of how naive I was in my young adulthood being envious of strife. I didn't appreciate how good we had it for those few decades. But I guess that was part of growing up in that generation. We were the first generation after the major cultural deconstruction/revolution of the 60s. I think we felt 'enlightened' but were also aware that we didn't actually live through the defining moments of that 'enlightenment' and thus were kind of undeserving. And I think this film captures some of the angst associated with that.

[@Theomite]

One thing to keep in mind is that this is Tyler's take on it, and he has a primordial masculinist agenda of neo-primitivism. I was 19 when this came out and I saw right through Tyler's BS because I was a cynical teenager with a postmodern gaze that allowed me to find the insincerity in any profundity. That's the thing that the moral absolutists of the 21st Century (late Millennials, Zoomers, Alphas) forget about the moral relativism of the 20th Century: it's rooted in the disdain for the atrocities committed out of fanatical ideology. It's the broken faith in the very idea of faith. We didn't have Y2K, 9/11, The Great Recession, The Pandemic, or The Beer Gut Putsch [Jan 6], but we DID have The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, WWII, The Holocaust, The Civil Rights Movement, and The Cold War to remind us that "strength through strife" was a bullshit ethos. All it seemed to do was traumatize entire continents and plant seeds for the next war. I figured (as did Palahniuk) that Tyler's message was an appropriation of generational malaise for self-serving purposes, but still provided no solutions or relief from the very real problems afflicting his followers. It was sincere commentary with insincere motives.

[@JaggerG]

@@Theomite Yeah, Tyler acts so hard like he has it all figured out. He claims self-improvement is masturbation, as he stands around making poetry about all the problems he's so smart for identifying. To be fair, though, our understanding of mental health sucked back then, and asking for help often led to "buy my book." So real self improvement had been unheard of. People got taken advantage of by opportunists, because they're victims of capitalism, too. They've been taught to imitate success stories, instead of actually listening to themselves.

[@MauriceCalis]

Wow, really well done. I enjoyed the lengthy and researched commentary at the end. Plus, you put in a twist at the end….I didn’t realize until just how much you talked about Fight Club. Maybe more than anyone ever. Good luck with that, hahaha.

[@bigdaddy741098]

This is one of my favourite movies, I really enjoyed your reaction and outro. The writing is so clever and I think a lot of lessons can be learned from it, mainly that you don't have to work to get everything and end up having to work so hard that you never have time to enjoy any of it or even enjoy life at all, sometimes, less is more.

[@Bringmethehorizondude]

I appreciate your approach of watching, then taking time to process and rewatch and study before coming back and filming your final thoughts.

[@sonofliberty1]

I love this film, I love your real-time reactions and I love the time you spend afterwards to really think about and analyse the films. Brilliant.

[@ForeverInDreams237]

"Stop touching people" always makes me laugh when u say that. One of ur unintended catchphrases now. One of my favorite films btw.

[@KandiStomper]

Can confirm that we did have a fight club when i was in highschool (2001 to be specific) but it only lasted maybe 5 months. It was fun though. 😄

[@IulianYT]

I liked the theory that Marla was also one of the personalities of the narrator. Someone even did a whole analysis with the points supporting that, like "Tyler and Marla never being in the same room at the same time" - could be that he is just imagining her. Or a phone line in an seemingly abandoned house, on which narrator speaks with Marla. Or her smoking in inappropriate places, without anyone bothering. Or her joining support groups for men with testicular cancer, again no one bothering. So she could be some of the narrator imaginary friends/alter ego.

[@Micolash_is_behind_you]

I love so much that you re-watch the movies and then research, it means alot.

[@nlingrel]

1995 to about 2005 was the golden era of movies that we will never get back.

[@gravedigger8414]

For many years this has been my fav movie of all time. I still love it with all my heart. David Fincher is a genius! Watch all his movies! 😇

[@elricofmelnibone8256]

Totally agree, this one, Adams Apples, Black Cat White Cat and Requiem for a dream.

[@CharlesVanNoland]

Tyler was practicing nunchucks in the background when Marla called Jack. Nunchucks. Two sticks connected by a chain. Bruce Lee was an expert and it was the weapon of choice for Michelangelo, the teenaged mutant ninja turtle in a half-shell with the orange bands. What, are you some kind of hermit zoomer that doesn't already know all of the things that everyone did back when this movie came out almost 3 decades ago!? GAH!!! Yeah, it's kinda sad to see these awesome films from my youth slowly devolve into being dated. The story is still awesome, still ahead of its time even today, but all the details and the time/place and everything just gets lost and it's sad to see. For instance, "Most of the week we were Ozzie and Harriet", that was a reference to a sitcom from the 50s/60s. Even in the 90s watching this movie I was too young to know that reference. I'm glad you got to watch this film, because everyone who lives in the first world should. It definitely is a bummer though when I show my kids films from my youth and they don't get references and whatnot that were current when the film came out. It's just one of those things, a fact of life. I guess the best a filmmaker can aspire to is telling a timeless tale - but sometimes the most poignant story you can tell at a given point in history is one that reflects that point in time back at itself, like this film did. "I star-sixty-nined you, I never pickup my phone." Yeah, star-sixty-nine was so cool as a kid. You just had a phone plugged into the wall and it would randomly ring, and you had no idea why, no clue who it was that was calling. You could set up an answering machine that had a little cassette tape in it to record a message the way cellphone voicemails do for you now, but otherwise you had no idea who was calling. Then we were able to pay extra to the phone company to get Caller ID, which would show on a little display module you had to hook up what the phone number was that was calling you - a totally free and normal average feature on cell phones today. Back then we had no idea who was calling unless we paid extra! When you didn't have caller ID, or an answering machine, the phone service had a thing where if you pressed *69 on your phone it would automatically call the last number that called you, so you would be calling back whatever mystery caller that had called you. It would be like if emails were anonymous, but you could send an email back to someone who anonymously emailed you. Anyway, I'm rambling. This film was super unpopular when it came out - not that people didn't like it, it was just that boomers and Gen Xers didn't vibe with it, so it went largely unnoticed - until us millennials discovered it. Now it's sorta become our anthem. I'm not saying millennials are anti-social (in the actual sense, not the 'I am uncomfy around people' sense that newbies assume it means), but we were the first generation to really wake up to the lameness of materialism and consumerism across the board. Now what we're concerned about is corruption and anti-American ideologies, because you don't have an accomplished nation like the USA without people sacrificing everything, and themselves, for others to have the freedom we enjoy today. You can create value any way you see fit, for your fellow humans, and earn the compensation you deserve for it in return. That's freedom. Anyone can create value by creating products, goods, or providing services, and nobody can stop you. Meanwhile, you have food readily accessible to you, and all kinds of goods, shelter, water, warmth, air conditioning, clothes, the works. None of these things just magically exist - they all require someone doing work in order for you to have them, or even just access to them at all. America is the place where dreams actually come true, and it's only naive ignorant selfish fools who decide to feel sorry for themselves that don't. People flock here from the world over and make something of themselves, over and over, because this is the land of opportunity. Lately we've been seeing a lot of kids who've been born here, spoiled rotten by first-world convenience and luxury, who take it entirely for granted - like nobody had to work hard for them to have what they have, or die for the freedom they have, and they don't understand or appreciate what it takes just to sustain their luxurious first-world existence. Spoiled rotten ingrate brats. Fight Club's pretty cool though.

[@GoldenCobraa]

Just thought I'd say, I appreciate the work you put into making these videos. You always do lots of research and multiple viewings to make sure you catch all the cool details and backstory us fans crave. Keep it up, you got a good thing goin'! 👏 "You don't know where I've been, Lou" "brghrghrghghrgh"🤣

[@TerminatorJuice]

Sadly in 1999, there weren't many people discussing the twist ending in this movie, because hardly anyone went and seen it at the theater... I for one was there opening weekend at the theater, and then months later I picked up the awesome DVD release on launch day, so I could watch the movie over and over! Such a classic film that was underappreciated at the box office and during awards season... : (

[@atomictacco]

Fight club was an incredibly important movie for me growing up. My friends and I discovered it when we were teens (2015 or 2016) and it struck a cord with us. We started our own fight club, as most young boys that watched this movie probably did. Tyler is right about the act of fighting. There is something primal that comes out, something we are taught to suppress our whole lives. We got hooked on fighting each other for a while. Got broken up when we started coming home with black eyes and bruises lol. We all joined an MMA gym to fight in a more "safe" way, but it doesn't quite feel the same as just going at it. Probably something to do with how society has distanced itself from violence when humans are inherently violent. Or we were just a bunch of idiot teen boys that let a movie convince us to knock the crap out of each other haha.

[@CanadaDan]

Love that after watching the movies a cpl of times you still go and look them up n do your homework on them n then you go back to do the analysis, that's dedication, respect.

[@billbabcock1833]

This is one of my all time favorite movies. It gives you clues all through the movie about what's really going on. The writing is first rate. I use the phrase "I am Jack's complete lack of surprise" all the time.

[@Duckfest]

Great reaction! This was fun to watch. As always, you're analysis after the movie is a very nice addition. Keep it up!

[@olternaut]

Before I even watch the video I just wanted to let you know that I think you are a breath of fresh air. You've already shot up to the top of the charts for movie reaction channels as far as I'm concerned. Now, back to the video. 😊

[@sushijuice6895]

"for some reason i thought of my first fight with Tyler" - the narrator while beating himself up

[@flynngames4703]

I am really excited that you reviewed this movie. I personally think that it is a masterpiece. Since you asked, I'll tell you what I got from the movie. As a product of the 80s and 90s this movie was really impactful. The movie felt like a counter to the themes that my generation was raised on. The "take no prisoners, own everything" attitude that movies like Wall Street (1987) inspired us to do. Comically the actual moral to Wall Street went right over the heads of my generation. Fight Club felt like the answer to the many people that didn't make it to the top. Really enjoy your breakdowns.

[@D-ragon-S]

You are hands down the best reactor on the Interweb !! I admire the work you put in for research. It's the most I've ever seen someone do, and it should be awarded with a Golden Research Statuette !! If I had money I would have given it to you. Much Love to You and Ukraine 💙💛💙🌻🌻🌻

[@gurulimbo]

“... believing we’ll be movie stars and rock stars, but we won’t”. Says Brad Pitt standing next to Jared Leto with Meatloaf in the room. 😂😂😂

[@DBCOOPER888]

That's lowkey the best line in the movie for that reason.

[@eugeneoman]

Excellent commentary on a complex themed movie. Your analysis was very well thought out and detailed. Keep up the good work, Whimsory!👏👍

[@TheRemyLeBeau]

Actually, the movie plot twist is revealed in the first few moments of the movie. The scene when the Narrator has the pistol in his mouth. He narrates: "How do I know this? Because Tyler Durden knows this." That's not even two minutes into the movie and even before we get to see the entire story how he ended up there. But hey - we're all distracted by the gun, the narration and, well, Brad Pitt, that we completely gloss over that piece of information. But yeah, the Narrator completely spoils the twist at the very start of the movie if you pick up on it. Do people pick up on it? My mother did on her first watch, so I suppose there should be others as well. *Themes* Most shows and novels have a 'main' theme that the author or director wants to convey, but in order to have _good_ characters, you'll have to give them character development. Character development usually comes with a side-theme for that particular character. If you do it properly, those themes actually complement each other, but that's pretty difficult to do. *Marla* I actually think Marla's real, because she's the trigger for the narrator's character development. By meeting her, he _needs_ to change. By the end, with everything crumbling, he has made peace with himself _and_ accepts that he doesn't need sympathy, just a person who accepts him for who he is. Faults and all. In that sense you can see this movie as a love story as well, albeit a very unconventional one, perhaps even a broken one because both characters are broken from the start until he comes to terms with himself and she accepting that he's the one she needs to get out of her own spiraling situation. In a sense they clash and burn, but you can see them reaching out for each other to crawl out of the hole they cannot seem to escape. Which, in a sense, is another theme; when you're down, depressed or addicted, you need someone to save you from yourself. Sometimes just being there and not actively trying to save you can be enough of a lifeline.

[@dean2656]

I really love watching your reviews, specifially your final words, the effort you put in to understand the movie and the details after is amazing. Not many reviewers do that. And your wide eyed look reminds me of the first time i watched these movies.With confusion and anticipation. Its ver nostalgic.

[@BigIronEnjoyer]

"You don't know where I've been Lou" is also one of my favorite parts. Sums up the entire vibe of the movie. Its also kind of unique, movies always show people getting what they want through kindness or violence or money or seduction or intimidation or whatever. But I can't think of another instance where someone gets what they want by just being gross and making the other person dirty. My other favorite line is "we should do this again sometime." The idea of men bonding by fighting each other also always struck a chord with me. One of my best friends since childhood, we hated each other at first. I don't even remember why, we just did. We were also in a Tae Kwon Do class together, around 10 or 11 years old. One Friday night, its that night where all the parents come and watch and everyone shows off what they've been learning. We all do Katas, there's some ceremonies where kids get promoted to the next color of belt, and then at the end of the night there's sparing. We get randomly assigned a partner, and each pair spars in the middle of the room for like 5 minutes. Me and this kid get paired up. Our turn comes, we square up, the teacher says go, and its freaking ON. Technique didn't quite go out the window, but discipline certainly did. We just start launching bombs at eachother, and neither of us are really playing defense so a lot of those bombs land. We bust each others noses, we're both bleeding all over our faces and all over each other, some of the parents start shrieking, everyone is freaking out, the teachers come and pull us apart, but we're both just like "dude that was awesome!" Spent the rest of that weekend shooting bb guns in the woods and playing video games. I think about that every time I hear that line "we should do this again sometime."

[@BizNizil7676]

His book "CHOKE" Is equally disturbingly well written.

[@audiogarden21]

Good ole Whimsory. Probably one of the most adorable things on the internet. And yes, I'm including cats.

[@cjvan713]

First, this is one of the greatest movies ever made. Secondly, first time seeing this channel. I can honestly say that every girl that look like this in every way 20 years ago left a tidal wave to broken hearts behind her. One of the few unknowing surfers of crimson tears. With everyone having personalized echo chambers, I understand 20 years ago feel like an uncomprehendable amount of centuries ago. I can't speak on her and her life in today's time. But just looking at her style, her eyes, her smile, and what lies beneath is setting off long dormant warning alarms.

[@stuartanderws5705]

Best line for me is Marla "Don't worry, It's not threat to you" As Tyler (Brad) nuges the chest of draws.

[@Gankzta]

12:58 “What was in that 🚽 did you see that?” Who’s gonna tell her? 🤭😂🤣

[@Fiendy]

Ohh Whimsy she’s so innocent 😇

[@fahooga]

I love the single frame Tylers. They're clever on multiple levels, from his projection room pranks to his background influence on the scene to teasing his emergence as a separate character.

[@je7055]

12:02 Funnily enough, Abe Lincoln was an extremely talented fighter. In his youth, he was well-known locally for his skill in "catch" wrestling (sort of like a very, very early form of MMA, at the risk of oversimplifying). As a very tall & athletic teenager, he defended his stepbrother's river barge from would-be hijackers by beating them up-or just throwing them overboard. At 21, he apparently won his county's wrestling championship. The more you know!

[@TheStacanova]

To me, the biggest theme’s in the film are “Humanity” through “real human connection”, the narrator had zero relationships of substance and wanted to change that. That was the key factor to the narrator’s mental breakdown, wanting to change his life but not having the courage to do anything about it, so he “split”, in order to become the person he wanted to be. This really came to a head with Marla, whom he wanted to connect with but didn’t know how, so he did it with Tyler, which produced a very dysfunctional relationship. So, a positive theme that can be drawn from Fight Club is, “have the courage to change and take some risks”, don’t repress everything or you’ll carry it with you and may one day eventually break you, so you have to be careful to remain balanced. Continuing with that theme was the job the narrator was doing for the automobile industry that weighed heavily on his conscience, treating Human life as a statistic, so much so, he had to experience a car crash himself, in an attempt to regain some of his humanity.

[@LordVolkov]

I read the book before watching the movie, and being at an impressionable age for both it took me a few years to sort out my thoughts over Fight Club 😅 I still agree with many of Tyler's speeches about consumerism, and respecting 'menial labor' ("We cook your meals, we haul your trash, we guard you while you sleep... do not F with us!") but with Raymond his ethos goes off the wall into random terrorism. I used to think he was helping Raymond improve his life, but realistically he just traumatized Raymond and forced him into financial debt to return to Vet school under the threat of death 😬

[@svenpoletka5236]

Your reactions are always so whimsical!

[@SaltyLobster]

Fight Club - probably my no.1 favourite movie of all time. I remember how impressed my barely adult self was by Tyler Durden. Back then he was the coolest person ever. It took awile before I finally seen him for what he really is: anarchistic megalomaniac of a cult leader who twists lost men without a purpose into his personal army with the power of his intellect, charisma and catchy lines (more or less). He's not a hero or an idol, he's the villain. And he wouldn't be such a good villain so many of us fall for, if a lot of the BS he spews didn't ring true (like "the things you own end up owning you").

[@themidsouthcyclist8880]

That one pixel in your camera..... OMG, I thought I was crazy/needed a new monitor.

[@Johnmyork23]

My favorite "you don't know what's real" movie. Personally, I like to believe that the whole thing is the penguin dreaming about being a human. I'm a 1st time watcher. Off the bat I find your reaction both genuine and endearing. I hope someone in Hollywood notices the range of facial expresions in your reaction. If it's something you'd want to do, I think you'd be an excellent actor....or at least I think you have that potential. Best of luck

[@kforblade]

The anti-consumerism movie made you buy a TV. Thats my kind of humor

[@autdelux]

one of my alltime favorites i wish they would make movies like this today

[@1bottlejackdaniels]

13:00 ..."what was in the toilet?! did you see that?!"... 😂

[@1htsht4u]

On the one hand I feel like the younger generations have enough on their plate without learning about people like Lorena Bobbitt, on the other hand it was such a large touch stone of my generation that it was referenced in a lot of popular culture like this film. IDK but it always catches me off guard when people miss references like that in movies. I guess it doesn't matter either way I always come back for more Whimsory!

[@Heroo01]

This is one of the few movies that you NEED to watch twice. It honestly might get better on a second viewing I LOVE Marla in this movie. On a first viewing she seems totally insane, but on a second one you see how hard she tries and that she truly cares about the narrator Your retrospective after the reaction was phenomenal as always

[@howtocookazombie]

That was a funny reaction video. 😂 If you liked Brad Pitt in this movie (as an actor), I suggest watching "12 Monkeys" with him and Bruce Willis.

[@carlostorres-yk4vc]

I am so glad, that in 18 years I never once heard a spoiler about Fight Club. I heard over and over how great it was, but I never knew what it was about, other than a fight club of course. I watched it a couple of months ago, and I loved every second of it, and I never saw it coming. I was amazed and my head exploded 😉 of how good that twist was.

[@xtifr]

"The first rule of fight club" really helped, I think, with getting people not to spoil things. Not every movie comes with its own built-in reminder of that! ☺

[@sgtleska]

Whimsory, thank you so much. Your reactions are awesome, your post-movie analyses are awesome, you're awesome. Thank You for being expressive, real, and fun. *Salutes*

[@11679MRT]

Fight Club is my all time favorite movie. It's always fun to see people react when they "figure it out." Awesome channel.

[@mr_chill77]

Awesome! Can’t wait to watch this one! Fight Club is one of my all time favorite movies. I am Jack’s extreme excitement!!!

[@djaskfjkasd]

I am Jack's ... comes from a long running series in readers digest, eg I am Johns Liver, I am Janes Lungs, explaining the functionality of the bodies organs.

[@SeansMusicVault]

Your breakdowns are awesome! Thanks for the great content! 💖

[@Atom.Storm.]

It's amazing to me that you have no idea about Fight Club. It's been such a big part of my life for so long. A genuine reaction is so refreshing.

[@HappyHarryHardon]

I gave up all of television and commercial radio in 1999. It was the second best decision I’ve ever made. I couldn’t take the commercials anymore.

[@billbabcock1833]

I watched this reaction when you first released it, then today it popped up again. So of course I watched it again. Great reaction. Then I caught something in your outro that I missed the first time. You had to go buy a TV. You reacted to 26 movies on your laptop. Movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Predator, BOTH Alien movies and more. On your laptop. Why do I find that endearing? Hmm, that may be the first time I've ever typed the word endearing. Did it again. I really do like your videos.