Fight Club: I Am Jack's Laryngitis - Redux

Updated
Fight Club: I Am Jack's Laryngitis - Redux
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1999
Original Running Time:
139
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
138
Time Cut:
1
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
Zach's synopsis: By removing Edward Norton’s voiceover, FIGHT CLUB gets to be a much more introspective and artsy film.

All I've done past that is adjust and restructure some shots to flow better with the lack of narration.
Intention:
In August of 2008, a Faneditor by the name of Zach Action released a technically stellar edit of Fight Club (entitled "The I Am Jack's Laryngitis Edit"), completely removing Edward Norton's "The Narrator" voiceover. The only issue, however, was that it was 2008 - and the visual scan of Fight Club used for the edit was atrocious. Zach Action's amazing audiowork was stifled by the overly-black and contrasting shots. A year later, the Fight Club Blu-Ray was released. And, finally, eleven years after that, both of these have fallen into my hands, along with an unprecedented amount of free time, so I figure I'd give "Jack"'s A the V it deserves.

Special Thanks:
Zach Action for conceptualizing and executing the edit (I deserve no real credit).
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
What Zach did: The narration is completely in the center channel of the 5.1 mix, so I simply faded out any instance of it. I had to use the soundtrack to fill in a few musical holes, had to do a bit of foley work (new audio for the Ron Popeil infomercial on TV, whistling as Jack is leaving his job with the shopping cart), and had to trim a second or two off a couple of shots (very minimal and unintrusive).

What I did: Slotted in the Blu-Ray footage in place of the original.
Cuts and Additions:
What Zach Action did:
- Completely removed all narration/voice-over from the film

What I did:
- Replaced all footage from Zach Action's edit with that of the 2009 "Fight Club" Blu-Ray
0:00:00 - Warning from "Fight Club" DVD
0:00:19 - "FE.org" 'Netflix-style' card and my own "CJM" logo card
0:01:20 - Custom Credits
- 0:01:20 - "Fanedit.org Presents"
- 0:01:22 - "A CJ MacMillan and Zach Action Fanedit"
- 0:01:24 - "I Am Jack's Laryngitis - Redux"
0:03:31 - Cut "Bob" introduction
0:20:24 - Restructured transition
0:26:28 - Rearranged shots
0:31:27 - Trimmed shot (removing freezeframe)
1:16:38 - Trimmed shot (removing freezeframe)
Three Minutes (Password: fanedit.org)


Airplane (Password: fanedit.org)

User reviews

7 reviews
 
86%
 
14%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(7)
Audio Editing
 
8.7(7)
Visual Editing
 
9.6(7)
Narrative
 
9.9(7)
Enjoyment
 
9.4(7)
View all user reviews View most helpful
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
They say the mark of a truly great film is that it still holds up with the sound off. Of course, macmilln only removed Edward Norton's narration, but the point still applies. Although this is a minor edit in terms of changes, the effect is staggering. Without the voice over, Fincher's visuals can really shine in ways I'd never noticed before and the film plays as almost avant garde. It's a fresh new take on a modern classic.

While this won't be replacing the (irreplaceable) original for me, I expect that it will enhance subsequent viewings. I'm not sure you can ask much more of a fan edit of an already great film. This is excellent work from a thoughtful, creative editor.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
M
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
The audio edits are sometimes noticeable, but nothing major.

This is a different experience from the original, without narration the film changes to a different genre altogether. The viewer actually gets to be mor focused on the action of the scene, instead of being occupied hearing the Narrator.

It actually made me think of what other narration-heavy films (even the ones where the narration is very well done) could improve / metamorphose if an edit like this were to be done.

Overall, any fan of the original should check this.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I really enjoyed this edit. The beginning 20 minutes or so is a bit awkward but after that it feels perfectly natural. You actually notice some small details in this version since you aren't focused on the narration. Only editing issues I noticed was when there was the occasional missing sound effect. I don't know if those were never added in the first place or maybe they had to be removed. Either way it's not a big issue. Overall I don't think it usurps the original film but it's very close.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
B
1 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
(Updated: July 15, 2020)
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Wow, fantastic edit to my favourite movie of all time. Never even entertained the idea of a version without narration but holy shit does it work. Removing some of the cynical narrative drive makes for a much more artsier movie, one that keeps you guessing and reserves answers til slightly later, keeping you on edge. The presentation is beautiful and the sound editing was done extremely well, resplicing the amazing soundtrack into the mix. Never noticed an edit. Brilliant work.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
B
1 reviews
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Let's put it straight, Fight Club is one of my Top 20 films of all time and one of the best films ever made by David Fincher. The storytelling is amazing, the special effects are great and the character development is top-notch. Everything is worth watching. Whether it’s Tyler Durden getting his face smashed or the absolute genius of the soundtrack, this movie always has something fresh and unique to offer.

So what is more to ask? The answer is this fan edit from macmilln. Taking the Edward Norton narration away from the original release is a brilliant idea and kind of pervert at the same time. It leaves you wondering what is really going into the movie.

The edits are well cut and a must-watch for any fans of the original. If I had to point something out it would be the audio. Pretty sure taking out the narration from the original release was a difficult task but sometimes I had the impression to watch the movie from a swimming pool. Like the previous reviewer already mentioned, there are so many times in the original when the overall audio track is lowered while the narration is raised. It is a bit weird for my taste.

Overall, I need to thank macmilln for giving me a very positive new experience of Fight Club. I recommend this fan edit to any David Fincher fans out there.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
View all user reviews