You are absolutely right.
Saw it for the first time in 16 years twice last night on VH1, and while I did raise the score slightly to a 6.5/10, it is just not that good, and not even close to top 5 all time or 8.9.
My theory is that it's a bandwagon thing fueled by a testosterone party: just the thought and sound of something called "Fight Club" with Brad Pitt wandering around in his ripped abs in an underground club is every rebellious teenager's fantasy. The older people who vote it high were teenagers or early 20s when it came out and they don't want to let go of that fantasy experience. Females who liked it just like seeing Brad Pitt's abs. Ultimately, it is the "cool thing" to like and "talk about fight club" as if it's the best movie EVER! But it's not even close.
It does have some very well directed scenes, which actually reveal that it had plenty of potential if it had kept things in tact, but it really wanders off at times into absolute boredom. It is an overall very boring movie because it contains long stretches of scenes of boring dialogue and activity throughout. The fight scenes are very entertaining though. Also, I agree with you- neither Brad Pitt or Norton were anything above average in their acting in this. They weren't bad, but they weren't good compared with the best actors of the time and this time. Norton is a great actor and has some great roles, but this is just average for him.
My Cable provider rates it a 2 out of 4 star movie and film, which I think is fair and where it belongs. It's okay and entertaining, maybe a little bit better than most movies that come out due to Fincher's directing and some at times interesting concepts, but it's definitely not a classic.
The Game IS better than this. The Game is a good movie. I never understood why many Fincher fans on here rate it among his least best. It's better than Fight Club. I's give the Game about a 7-7.5, maybe an 8, but I could never give Fight Club more than a 7, and a 6 is really where it belongs due to the boredom, long boring scenes in the middle, and unrealistic ending, which while entertaining is just too hard to believe and accept with all the buildings exploding.
In conclusion, I just really believe you have a bunch of "bandwagon hoppers" with this one just due to the Title, and like you said having Pitt and Norton on the cover, while they know it's the cool thing to like it, worship Pitt's abs (think this is the big one), and live out their testosterone fantasies of fighting in an underground club while rebelling against the system.
The whole film relies on a gimmick.
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