4 Stars, a must see, but not for those weak of heart, or mind.

Rating: Null/10 (24 October 1999)

This was an amazing movie. I've been a huge fan of Edward Norton since I saw Primal Fear years ago. He's an incredible actor with more talent than most veterans of this genre. Though I've never been a big fan of Brad Pitt, I enjoyed seeing him in this role because he was more than just a pretty face. In fact, for most of this movie his face was far from pretty. Both men are great at what they do.
There was so much more to this movie than met the eye. It kept me both perplexed an intrigued throughout the entire film. Thankfully, there was humor in the movie, but it was the kind that made me feel bad for laughing at it. After I laughed, I looked guiltily around the theater to see if anyone else had enjoyed the satirical humor as I had. Few people did, but then, few people would fully appreciate this movie.
The ending was only a bit of a disappointment. But after that movie, any ending would have been a disappointment. I'm just thankful that it didn't end with Jack fighting Tyler in some sort of duel to the death, which would have completely falsified the point to the movie with a juvenile portrayal of good versus evil. With the ending as is, Jack found the battle had to be fought within himself. Something more universal, but less believable, the way it was brought up.
At one point in the film I felt that the idea had gotten away from the writer, and it was losing its meaning, but the film redeemed itself with the way Norton's character reacted to the situation. Overall I was severely pleased with the entire work. I left the theater confused, but satisfied.