Or are the majority of people who saw this Chuck Palahniuk fans?
I was just curious.
I would imagine most of them are Palahniuk fans. This movie wasn't widely advertised or released, so most people who know about it are because of Palahniuk.
...that's my case anyway.
You gave up everything you had to find me. You found me broken.
Everyone I know who has seen this movie saw it without reading the book, actually. I did as well.
shareI haven't gotten around to reading any of Chuck's work though I desperately want to. The movie was all right (7/10) but I wasn't expecting another Fight Club either. I can't wait to read the book, I'm sure it's much better.
The real trick to life is not to be in the know, but to be in the mystery. -Fred Alan Wolf
I saw it without reading the book. A very nice film (maybe not a great adaption).
shareI didn't read the book, but I'm going to. Not quite what I expected (I expected something much more comedic), but that's not a bad thing. I just got the distinct impression that there was something more there.
I was looking for a straight comedy in the aftermath of Synecodche, New York. Had I known, this would have been a great lead in film for that film.
However, this has to be one of the worst marketing jobs I've ever seen for a movie. I'm about to rewatch the trailer, which, if memory serves, does NOT do a good job of hitting this flick's target audience.
Proud 17'er
I read the book first b/c I heard there was going to be an adaptation. Most of the story is there on screen so I don't think you really need to read the novel as well to have the complete experience.
O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall.
I didn't read the book, I watched this because I liked Fight Club so I thought I'd try watching Chuck's other stories.
shareI hadn't read the book before I saw it,I do like Palahniuk though and have read Fight Club.I just happened upon the film really,lucky really,because I really enjoyed it.
shareI am a big fan of Palahniuk, but Fight Club the movie was better than the book. The film was simply brilliant. In the case of Choke, the book is better than the movie - but only just. It is worth reading the book (it is one of his better books).
shareI haven't read the book, at least not yet. I was repulsed at first by this film, but I have to say its quirky charm really grew on me. Not a perfect film and nowhere near as good as "Fight Club," but worthwhile nonetheless.
shareI saw the movie without reading the book. I like the director (Clark Gregg) and a few other movies that Sam Rockwell was in and decided to give it a shot....and liked it.
A friend of mine did tell me a little about what the book was about, though. He played it down by saying the book was kinda weird and gross.
I like Sam Rockwell and Clark Gregg too, and I love offbeat movies that other people tend to hate. As for Chuck's books, I'm told they are quite graphic and definitely an acquired taste, but watching films like this proves to me that he's definitely inspired, if a bit twisted.
share[deleted]
Planning on reading the book now. I gotta find out for myself if the book is as great (compared to the movie) as some of you say it is.
shareDidn't read the book though my cousin did and told me about it. I liked Fight Club the book and movie and Palahniuk in general though I haven't gotten around to reading most of his stuff. I keep meaning too but haven't. Heard about this movie and saw it. It wasn't the next Fight Club but it was still very good and I hope to read the book eventually and hope more of Chuck's books will become films.
shareI've read the book, along with a lot of other works by Chuck, but I have yet to rent this movie. His books are pretty graphic. But it's only necessary.
shareI haven't yet read the book Choke, but I'm definitely a fan of Chuck Palahniuk - I've read Haunted, Invisible Monsters, and Fight Club. I've been meaning to read Choke for a while.
I rented this movie because the story looked intriguing; it's definitely one of Palahniuk's very twisted, dark, satirical plots. However, I definitely agree that with the movie Choke, I can sense that there's more beneath the surface, that this movie didn't quite hit on the brilliance of the book. The ONE moment that I think captured the true essence of Chuck Palahniuk's writing (based on my enjoyment of his other works) was the whole exchange leading up to and then the "rape" scene itself. That was the dark craziness that Chuck is famous for, and it was probably the one laugh-out-loud moment in the movie!
I thought the lead actor was quite good; he and the actress playing Victor's mother carried the film, in my opinion. I could sense hints of Chuck Palahniuk's satirical voice, but it seemed lost in a tone which was too light for the subject matter, and pacing which seemed off. The whole "wry voice-over" which worked so well in the movie Fight Club just... didn't seem to work here. Seemed to emphasize the fact that this movie was trying really hard to become another cult classic.
Don't get me wrong though - I enjoyed the movie. The relationship between Victor and his mother was unique and absorbing to watch - the flashbacks were great, though they weren't paced the best they could have been. And the story, of course, is so twisted, so excellent - but that credit goes to Chuck Palahniuk, not the film. I think that with a more capable director, this movie could have been much better and much more acclaimed.
Even though! Now that I've seen Choke I'm going to go out and get the book as soon as possible - even though I know all the plot twists, with Palahniuk's writing it's not so much about the twists as about the journey there, the brilliant way he writes. Plus I know a lot of scenes were cut from the movie, so I'm excited to become absorbed in the book!
"And poof. Just like that, he's gone." - The Usual Suspects
Yep.
I watched it because I love Fight club and was interested to see what Palahniuk's other stories are like (I don't get a lot of time to read).
I also enjoy Rockwell's performances.
I thought the Film was alright and wasn't expecting a couple of twists.
Do all of Palahniuk's novels end with surprising twists?
Not all, most though. Well, actually, they all have what some might call a twist nearing the finale of the book. Some are drastic realizations like Fight Club, while some are more subtle, more like an expected climax. Albeit, the twist that comes from the expected climax is 9 times out 10 completely unexpected.
And to add to this thread, I read the book first and loved it. I saw the movie and loved 97% of it. The ending was cliche and rather Hollywood and completely neglected what I believed was the grand finale of Victor's self-made/clone-made "martyrdom," which was one of the biggest driving plots (if not the biggest) of the book.
Eh.. to each his own, and supposedly the DVD has said scene
www.inANOTHERcastle.net
"Game over man, game over!"
This posting is obviously late, but I agree here with the ending of the movie. In fact, I was kinda hoping and thinking it would lead up to the grand finale of the book since it was something you didn't really expect while reading, but still central to Victor's theme of being "self-made" or making one's own life. It was also a bit of a let down to see that they made Paige, for all intents and purposes, a sane doctor who admitted herself. When they explained it as a result of her getting a B-, I was just sitting there thinking "errm, that's kind of weak". It took away the believability of the character's eccentricity and how it plays as something of an extension of Ida's personality.
shareYes I saw this without reading the book, it was a very different movie to what I thought it actually would be. I now want to read the book because of this.
shareI watched it without having read the book or knowing that there even was a book, but immediately after the film ended the first thought in my mind was, "I bet the book is good." It had all the elements that represented a good book and many of those things were poorly transfered to the screenplay and movie. I enjoyed the movie, but overall it could have been better. I won't be reading the book.
shareI've read three Palahniuk books (Lullaby, Choke and Rant) and Choke's the lesser of the three. I was so disappointed they cut the ending, which I didn't see coming at all and was delighted upon reading in the book.
BTW Rant's one of the greatest book I've read all year, you have to check it out.
O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall.