Great movie, ridiculous ending

Rating: Null/10 (27 June 2003)

Contains spoiler in the last paragraph
The ending of this movie is famous as one of the all-time plot twists, for me however it almost completely spoiled what was an intelligent, thought-provoking movie with a lot of style and cult appeal to youngsters, by the very capable director of Seven who admits to just making "MTV-films" in his modesty.
The film has many quotable oneliners, and Tyler Durden says a lot of things to think about ("We don't have a great war, we don't have a great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives." or "You're not the clothes you wear. You're not you're job..." etc. etc.). Wonderful dialogues (or should I say monologues) and I love Brad Pitt's performance, I already knew he wasn't just a pretty boy because I saw him in Twelve Monkeys, he's got a great voice and a certain rebellious coolness.
Besides critizicing the consumption society I think the movie has a lot more to say. One of the most important topics is rediscovering malehood (this is no joke, there are actually guru's who give seminars on this). Women will deny it but society has become very feminine with it's increased communication, meetings, talkshows, the endless shopping, the huge influence of fashion and the typically feminist illusion that work is all-glorifying. We don't get to see a Meat Loaf with breasts for nothing, I thought that was clearly a message. Men turn to violence more and more because of lack of control and power, a sign of weakness. Having bigger muscles no longer helps in this society, having a good lawyer and a good career does. In this movie men try to rebel against this society by returning to a primitive but very essential state of malehood. Just as men fought for their lives in ancient history, these men fight to feel alive. And this movie shows this in a promising way..
only to end with a ridiculous plot twist...Tyler Durden is an alter ego?? Norton was just punching himself in the face?? And he survives a gunshot in the throat?? Yes, you've read that correctly, in the throat. According to my limited medical knowledge this sort of results in a certain lack of much needed oxygen?? Sure, I guess it was luck and the shot just missed the lungs, but how believable is this?? Chance of one in a million. So, I really hated the ending and it ruined a great movie. Too bad, really too bad. It still has it's moments, therefore:
7,5 ouf of 10