View Full Version : Donnie Darko
Joe Pasquale
23-02-2002, 02:03
Utterly fantastic! :clap:
What else can I say? I saw this without seeing any reviews, didn't even know what 'genre' it was or anything, so I won't spoil it for anyone else here.
Seen some opinions on this now, comparing it to Mulholland Drive, and 'loosely' to Ghost World.
I wouldn't say it's at all like Ghost World, a film I also rate highly, I like both for totally different reasons.
Though Mulholland Drive, funnily enough I saw the day before Donnie Darko. Someone on IMDB describes it as a sentimental version of Mulholland, which I suppose is quite true. I'm not a great Lynch fan, so I greatly preferred Darko to it, though in a way seeing Darko makes me appreciate Mulholland even more.
Why oh why does ***** like Pearl Harbour and Jeepers Creepers top the box office both sides of the Atlantic? Where this gem of a movie barely makes a murmour Stateside and unheard of over here... Thank god for the internet, that's all I can say.
Easily my 'film of the year' so far. :)
BlueDwarf
23-02-2002, 07:42
Just ordered the DVD, looks great just from the trailer.
I didn't read the stuff you put in spoiler tags, but I guess you like it "quite a bit" :)
Dr Derek Doctors
23-02-2002, 13:53
I saw this a few months back (via not entirely legal means, I might add - I'd far prefer them to get a cinema release of it over here) and have got the DVD pre-ordered on PLAY. This film was almost dreamlike in it's imagery and the way it wasn't realistic, but at the same time I accepted it and was involved. Easily one of my favourite films of recent years. Can't wait for that package to arrive!
ive seen it too, gets a big thumbs up here to!:clap: really good.
BlueDwarf
09-03-2002, 10:09
Arrived this morning from Play, and I've just watched it.
Very, very good.
I can definitely see something of "Ghost World" in it, but I wouldn't say the films are similar...
"Good" ending too, sat well with the rest of the film.
Definitely one to watch with the commentary soundtrack.
Fever Dawg
10-03-2002, 08:40
A more than respectable 8.3/10 on Imdb too.
*Out comes the CC*
Arch Stanton
11-03-2002, 21:19
Just watched Donnie Darko.
All i can say is....
WOW!!11111 This film is flippin brilliant. Buy it now.
Mr Stanton too is at a loss at how this film went completely unnoticed in America. It handles the subject of Schizophrinia ( O.K you try spelling it. :) ) a million times better than the movie of the week like 'Beautiful mind'. The direction is quite staggering for a first timer and any film that makes 'Tears for fears' sound cool has got to be good.
Obviously Fox didn't know how to handle the film seeing as they discribe it as 'Stir of Echoes' meets 'Final Destination'. Quite how they come to that asumpition i've no idea.
I'd discribe the film as David Lynch remakes the old James Stuart film 'Harvey' and id still be no where near discribing it.
Dr Derek Doctors
12-03-2002, 13:09
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Arch Stanton
[B]Just watched Donnie Darko.
All i can say is....
WOW!!11111 This film is flippin brilliant. Buy it now.
[QUOTE]
Woss the piccy quality like? Only the DVD file review states that it's a little crappy, but many other reviews praise it?
Basically, I can't wait to get home and watch it (it's on my desk as I type) and I want to brace myself for any possible disappointment.
SloppyJoe
12-03-2002, 13:23
Basically, I can't wait to get home and watch it (it's on my desk as I type) and I want to brace myself for any possible disappointment.
Picture is fine - sometimes appears a little dark, but it's certainly not really poor.
Don't expect a perfect transfer 'cos it's not, but it certainly doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the film.
Dr Derek Doctors
12-03-2002, 13:24
Ta' muchly for that, Joe. :)
Dr Derek Doctors
13-03-2002, 08:34
Lordy! I got this home and watched it and I'm pretty disappointed with the image. Is it just me or is the darkest colour in the whole film grey? Absolutley no contrast and a fairly muddy looking picture. Fortunately there's no artifacting to speak of and not too much grain, but I'm really kinda' annoyed that a great film has got such a weak treatment.
Excellent extras, though.
Arch Stanton
13-03-2002, 08:56
This is from the review on DVDfile.com
(Note: Since first writing this review, I have received the following interesting email. "The reason the picture looks flat and low in contrast is due to the film stock, Kodak Vision 800ASA, which was used to photograph the entire picture. Usually this film is used for extreme low light situations, but the film had a very distinct look which the DP really loved so he used it for the whole picture in order to ensure the same texture throughout the movie. This particular stock has technically more silver in it which gives the DP a large amount of shadow detail, but because it has a large amount of silver this causes the film to not be as sharp as the slower ASA films, not as rich in color, and also not to have the richest blacks possible." My thanks to "Sorro5" for this information. I guess I just don't care for the look as much as the Director of Photography did. At the very least, it does not translate to home video very well.)
So now you know.
Dr Derek Doctors
13-03-2002, 08:59
Well, I suppose as long as I haven't been shafted by the DVD authoring then I can live with it. I certainly agree that I'd have preferred a more conventional look to the film.
Perhaps if they'd bothered to give it a cinematic release I would have seen that it was meant to be this way all along. Oh well.
Thanks for that information, though.
BlueDwarf
13-03-2002, 10:19
I thought the look really suited the film.
Whole thing still looked pretty damn good for $5 mil indie flick.
I think it was scheduled for a Nov 2001 cinema release, but can't remember seeing it advertised. Maybe the bad box office take in the US affected it.
Dr Derek Doctors
13-03-2002, 10:50
I heard they never even found a distributer to pick it up in the UK.
Arch Stanton
13-03-2002, 12:52
The U.S release was seriously scaled down after Sept11th because of the 'Jet engine' scene. The film only showed in a few arthouse cinema's and film festivals. ( total U.S. gross and about half a million. The budget $5 million.)
Fortunatly some one at Sony must have seen it because they've give him a film to direct called 'Knowing'. Which sounds right down his street...When a water main breaks, repair crews prematurely unearth an elementary school's time capsule. When the chairman of the town's historical society combs through the youngsters' drawings and predictions about what the future would look like, he discovers that one child accurately predicted some of the greatest tragedies in the past four decades. And there's one more horrifying disaster the child foretold will come to pass. Can the chairman stop it from happening?
BlueDwarf
13-03-2002, 15:36
Originally posted by Arch Stanton
The U.S release was seriously scaled down after Sept11th because of the 'Jet engine' scene.
Listening to the commentary, and they briefly discuss the fate of the film after the "9/1/1" attack.
IIRC, an engine from a jet crashed into a petrol station in Queens. Not surprising that they might not fancy a trip to see this in a movie just a month later.
Fever Dawg
16-03-2002, 18:08
Great film ... great soundtrack too. Loved the use of Echo and the Bunnymen's 'The Killing Moon' at the start. Superb song.
Just watched this movie tonight - excellent film :clap:
The acting was great - I really liked the under-stated performances from Drew & Noah. I had heard nothing about this movie until I saw it on Play for a measly £13.99 :eek:
It's definetely a movie worthy of repeated viewings!!
:clap: :clap:
BlueDwarf
16-03-2002, 23:17
Still got some Qs about it:
What caused the "rift"? (not sure if this really matters in the grand scheme of the movie)
How did Donnie's Frank-influenced activites actually save the world?
I have been trying to work it out since I saw the film last week, but still cant figure it out.
Fever Dawg
17-03-2002, 21:49
Originally posted by BlueDwarf
Still got some Qs about it:
What caused the "rift"? (not sure if this really matters in the grand scheme of the movie)
How did Donnie's Frank-influenced activites actually save the world?
I have been trying to work it out since I saw the film last week, but still cant figure it out.
Have you read the 'book' that is on the 'Philosophy of Time Travel' special feature ? It explains which roles the characters play ... but I'm still not sure it actually explains the why's and the how's !!
BlueDwarf
18-03-2002, 00:18
Yes, and nor am I! :)
Think I'll watch it again, incase I missed something.
Ordered this film on the strength of this thread. Better be good now ;)
Just seen it and I thought it was excellent. Fine performances from the younger members of the cast made up for weak ones by Swayze and Barrymore (she can't act). Very intelligent movie which isn't <b>That</b> difficult to understand. I hope it gets the credit it deserves.
Originally posted by Blenky
Ordered this film on the strength of this thread. Better be good now ;)
Me to...it was good but not amazing....
A pleasurable nights viewing....nonetheless...
:)
richie99
22-03-2002, 11:29
Ordered this on the strength of other reviews, and watched it the other night.
Very strong film with good acting (apart from a couple of hollywood has beens) and superb use of music - especially the opening track.
Think I'll have to watch it again to fully appreiciate it, but even so, way better than most of the teen thriller trash that comes our way.
richie :D
Dan is Fat
23-03-2002, 14:46
I feel really stupid.
I watched this film, and i really enjoyed it, but i'm not really getting the ending. I am a dunse.
Can Someone please briefly explain it to me......sorry....
I thought it was very good and had some great dialogue (the bit about "Smurfs" had the audience laughing so hard I had to read the sub-titles (Schtroumpfs are big in Belgium)).
As for the explanation, the way I read it was:
The rift was not explained in any way; it just happened. As for DD's actions saving the world this is more open and could be interpreted on a number of levels:
- did he in fact save the world at all? Everything went back to the beginning at the end of the film suggesting that the end of the world was still going to happen.
- was "the end of the world" merely the end of the world for him?
- did any of it actually happen or was he delusional?
baconjoe
29-03-2002, 23:09
<spoiler>"The end of the world" did not actually happen - it was the end of a temporal universe and as such it was the end of everyone's concept of the world - not just his. Everyone changed bodies at the end, and thus the cycle began again, but in a different space-time and as such with different consequences. What we saw was just part of it.</spoiler>
Couldnt get the spoiler tags to work - why the hell aren't they available as part of the standard posting vbCode?
Don't blame me......
......and another thing - why isnt my post count going up???????????????????????? what the hell is going on???
Saw this film on Saturday and :rolleyes:
It was a very well made film which had obviously been thought out.
Unfortunatly I got interupted half way through and watched the last half 24 hours later so the ending only made partial sense to me.
But I'm going to watch this again (soon), IMHO it truly is a film which you can watch more than once and each time it adds something to your perspective about the film.
Well worth £13.99 @ Play, a great film but definately a thinker.
baconjoe
04-04-2002, 16:58
^TO THE TOP EGG-PEOPLE^
gavinhanly
06-04-2002, 11:45
Just saw this last night finally - thought it was very good indeed. The main actor Jake (can't remember his last name) was really very good - who I suddenly realised I had seen last week in This is Our Youth - on at the Garrick in the West End. He's extremely good in that too.
I spoke to my sister, who works for Empire and confirms they couldn't get a distributor - but now have. Apparantly it won't be out till the Autumn!!
She said many of the people who saw it at Empire put it in their top 10 films of last year - so if someone had just taken a chance ealier, they probably would have made some money...
Dear Mr Echo
06-04-2002, 12:32
I saw this last night and really enjoyed it - it never fell into a predictable series of events as I had expected. The cover mentions Stir of Echoes and Final Destination which is very misleading. If it reminded me of another film it would be Magnolia but with a (sort of) supernatural twist to it. I will listen to the commentary this afternoon I think.
I don't know if it is of any significance, or even if I'm correct but...
wasn't Donnie dressed in exactly the same costume as Elliot in ET on Halloween?
Mullholland Dr. for me tonight
Andrew
giant evil bunny rabit (as mentioned in the trailer)
sounds like "harvey" (the ultimate imaginery bunny rabit film) crossed with monty pythons evil rabit to me ;-)
Originally posted by Dear Mr Echo
wasn't Donnie dressed in exactly the same costume as Elliot in ET on Halloween?[/spoiler]
I think the commentary mentions something about ET, they are also riding BMXs in the moonlight (I can't remember if it was done on purpose as a tribute or not).
Just finished watching it and was utterly blown away by it - just amazing
Fever Dawg
07-04-2002, 00:44
Originally posted by john316
Just finished watching it and was utterly blown away by it - just amazing
At least we agree on DVD's. :D
Fever Dawg
07-04-2002, 00:53
Originally posted by Tob
I think the commentary mentions something about ET, they are also riding BMXs in the moonlight (I can't remember if it was done on purpose as a tribute or not).
Definitely mentioned in the commentary as a homage to ET. I liked the commentary, it's full of great little insights. Pointed out things that I hadn't previously noticed ... like Frank driving past in his red corvette in the first scene when Donnie is riding back home on his bike. And Frank honking the horn on his car as he drops Donnie's sister off just as the engine lands on the house.
I bought it from Play and thought it was awesome
Well the way I read the film was...
when they went to watch the 2 movies, the 2nd movie was The last temptation of Christ - this movie centers on fate and what would have happened if christ hadnt been crucified. Well this Donnie Darko centers on what would have happened if he hadnt stayed in bed and gotten killed by the engine. If he hadnt stayed in bed we see his missus dies and he shoots a guy as a result. Hence at the end when it all rewinds he can make the decision (while laughing) to stay there and take the weight of the engine to save the others.
If Im wrong hey fine but thats how i read it
Saw this yesterday and can only agree with the praise it's had so far. Very involving with excellent direction and some great music. Thought Noah Wyle and Drew were quite good in their minimal roles, probably my only disappointment that they didn't have larger parts.
I was quite freaked and surprised to see Evil Dead in the film, i had only just watched it for the first time on Saturday night and thought it was excellent it cropped up in the next film i saw :D.
Looking forward to listening to the commentaries.
Films like this make you glad you visit sites like this and others on the net. No way at all would i have known about this film without the internet.
Originally posted by Robby
Films like this make you glad you visit sites like this and others on the net. No way at all would i have known about this film without the internet.
Absolutely!
George vader
09-04-2002, 11:17
Some more Donnie Darko (http://www.geocities.com/~aral/rdarko.html) stuff.
Great film too!!
You know, there are are so many wonderful things about this seemingly small movie that resonate deeply with me. The time travel/science element is almost a secondary distraction - it's really heartening to see a young writer/director make a 'genre' movie and fill it with characters and convincing human situations.
I think the comparisons with other dramas - Mulholland Drive, Magnolia, American Beauty, Ordinary People - are much more appropriate than likening it to Final Destination or Stir of Echoes. I was reminded of The Virgin Suicides, a movie I didn't wholly like for various reasons, but one that matches DD for a dreamlike construction of a particular setting.
And so many bits and pieces of Donnie Darko raise the eyebrows - the ET homage, the mother reading 'It', the identity of Elizabeth's boyfriend, the empty cinema, the incredibly effective use of 'period' music (particularly that masterful sequence that uses 'Head Over Heels'), the almost washed-out sunny look, the real-life sibling connection.
As Richard Kelly himself says, it pays not to get too hung up on the exact shape of the plot. For the first time I think I watched a movie with time travel as a plot device and didn't come away frustrated and confused. I watched it exactly as andyp2 did above and I'm happy to leave it at that - that simple enough reading ties itself very well to the emotional core of the story, and for me that's the key.
George vader
09-04-2002, 18:52
The "Head Over Heels" sequence is quite fantastic,
please if you haven't seen this film....
DO SO!
GK - here here! My thoughts exactly. To describe it in terms of Sci-Fi is to miss the point.
I bought this DVD on the strength of the posts here and loved every minute of it. That films like this get completely passed over at Oscar time is criminal. And why has this not been seen on British screens!!?
BUY THIS DVD!!!!
Originally posted by George vader
Some more Donnie Darko (http://www.geocities.com/~aral/rdarko.html) stuff.
Great film too!!
I love some of the 'Didja notice' points:
* Donnie's older sis is pretty hot
:clap: :D
Guess I'll have to check this out, I didnt bother buying it after I read it has a demonic rabbit in it :D
Magnificent film!
And it's the director's first feature and he's 26! WOW!!!!!
What a shame this was denied a bigger cinema release.
grounded_dreams
11-04-2002, 13:54
Got it through today, will (hopefully) watch it tonight :nuts:
gavinhanly
13-04-2002, 22:31
Back to the top!
More people should be aware of this film!! Buy it now!!
Joe Pasquale
13-04-2002, 23:49
:)
Has hit the top 250 on IMDB now at #183. Wasn't on there before the DVD release, though the average score is pretty much the same.
Also, check out http://www.donniedarko.com , strange... :nuts:
Fever Dawg
14-04-2002, 09:35
If anybody is interested ... there are loads of American press reviews here. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/DonnieDarko-1110922/)
count almassy
15-04-2002, 14:13
Originally posted by Fever Dawg
Great film ... great soundtrack too. Loved the use of Echo and the Bunnymen's 'The Killing Moon' at the start. Superb song.
Yeah,and then Donnie's visited by a large.....BUNNYMAN !
COOL.:clap:
danielzavitz
16-04-2002, 00:38
i just watched this tonight, and i loved it. a mate turned up just as it ended so we sat down and i watched it again. it's that good.
i can't decide what the ending was about though. it's not that i have no idea, i have too many! i just know i'll be thinking about this all day tomorrow.
I bought this excellent movie from Play when it was first released.
It was only £13.99 but now that alot more people are buying it the price has jumped to £15.99!!!!!
:rolleyes:
Dan is Fat
16-04-2002, 09:33
...It is a really re-watchable film.
I dont know if you have read the post in the DVD and Movie Discussion forum, but it is being released theatrically in the UK toward the end of this year.....
....more about it here www.brilliantcinema.20m.com
Originally posted by Topha
It was only £13.99 but now that alot more people are buying it the price has jumped to £15.99!!!!!
another sale here caused by this thread! I'd have never bothered (and probably never heard of) the movie if it weren't for these forums.
Yes, the price seems to be more or less the same everywhere - demand keeping the price up. Gone with DVDBO for a shade under 15 notes.
Looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!
Fever Dawg
16-04-2002, 19:09
Originally posted by mjb1975
another sale here caused by this thread! I'd have never bothered (and probably never heard of) the movie if it weren't for these forums.
Yes, the price seems to be more or less the same everywhere - demand keeping the price up. Gone with DVDBO for a shade under 15 notes.
Looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about!
DVDBO ?? Don't hold your breath ... you will probably get chance to see it at the cinema before your DVD arrives. :D
kennyruss
16-04-2002, 23:28
hi...
its like pulp fiction...needs several watchings..
there are tooo many questions about it, so I will need to watch it again.. but maybe thats the purpose of the film..
kennyruss
Rollo Tomassi
17-04-2002, 00:56
Yep, another buyer here, and wasn't disappointed. Great film, but will definitely need to watch it again before passing further judgement...
Is the 'Head Over Heels' sequence the one in the school? (near the beginning) - the one near the end impressed me as well, but I don't really know any of the music. Will have to check out the soundtrack I think.
Fever Dawg
17-04-2002, 19:14
Originally posted by Rollo Tomassi
Is the 'Head Over Heels' sequence the one in the school? (near the beginning)
Yes, by Tears For Fears.
- the one near the end impressed me as well, but I don't really know any of the music.
The one near the end is a cover of Tears For Fears' 'Mad World'.
Will have to check out the soundtrack I think.
Not sure that there is one. I'm sure that Richard Kelly says on the commentary that couldn't afford to release one.
Anway, this a list of the tracks that are used in the film ....
"The Killing Moon"
Written by Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson and Pete De Freitas
Performed by Echo & The Bunnymen
Courtesy of Sire Records/Warner Music U.K. Ltd.
By arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Lucid Memory"
Written and Performed by Sam Bauer and Ged Bauer
"Head over Heels"
Written by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal
Performed by Tears For Fears
Courtesy of Mercury Records Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
"Lucid Assembly"
Written and Performed by Ged Bauer and Mike Bauer
"Ave Maria"
Written by Giulio Caccino and Paul Pritchard
Courtesy of Associated Production Music LLC
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
Written by Steve Baker and Carmen Daye
Courtesy of Associated Production Music LLC
"Show Me"
Written by Quito Colayco and Tony Hertz
Courtesy of Associated Production Music LLC
"Notorious"
Written by Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor
Performed by Duran Duran
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets
"Proud To Be Loud"
Written by Marc Ferrari
Performed by The Dead Green Mummies
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari / Master Source
"Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Written and Performed by Joy Division
Courtesy of Warner Music U.K. Ltd.
By arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Under the Milky Way"
Written by Steven Kilbey and Karin Jansson
Performed by The Church
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
Courtesy of Festival Mushroom Records Pty Ltd.
"Mad World"
Written by Roland Orzabal
Performed by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews
Rollo Tomassi
17-04-2002, 23:18
Thanks for that Fever Dawg - I just listened to the commentary track this evening and Richard Kelly did say they couldn't afford to release the soundtrack, which is a shame.
The other music sequence I really liked was at the party with 'Under the Milky Way'.
Dr Derek Doctors
18-04-2002, 09:30
Originally posted by Rollo Tomassi
Thanks for that Fever Dawg - I just listened to the commentary track this evening and Richard Kelly did say they couldn't afford to release the soundtrack, which is a shame.
The other music sequence I really liked was at the party with 'Under the Milky Way'.
There is definately a soundtrack as I've got it. There are three versions of "Mad World" on there, the film one, a different version of the film one and the dire original (comparatively speaking).
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006471F/qid=1019132888/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-1003016-5560914
Bought on the strength of this thread. I absolutely adored this movie! It has surpassed Mulholland Drive as my favourite flick of the Year!
Really original, great script, superb score, brilliantly acted and directed.
If you are reading this and have not seen this movie, BUY IT!!
I guarantee you will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Hmmm...
I thought it was a good movie but not a great movie - I agree that in a lot of respects its really good e.g. directing, acting, camerawork, soundtrack & so on ...
The main issue I had with the film was the storyline - I sorta know its meant to be a little ambiguous but for me it did not work
- I felt it was trying to be too clever & trying to confuse the watcher on purpose - I would really like to hear the directors interpretation of the movie cos I doubt anybody else will be able to provide me with a lucid one
I have read all the comments so far and none of them have provided me with that lucid explaination - I think maybe thats what the director intended
I suppose I just dont like movies that have stuff put in them that are unexplainable on purpose just to create a bit of a hula-baloo
Anybody care to try to explain the movie properly - maybe Im just dumb
the thing with no name
20-04-2002, 18:05
just got through watching this,
superb movie!
Also just got as far as I could with the website.
Cool website,
one word of warning though,
don't try typing the URL of the middlesex-times into your browser:eek: :eek:
go buy this if you haven't already!:) :clap:
theblairwitch
24-04-2002, 09:08
I thoroughly recommend getting as close to your telly as possible and reading the very last extra on the Special Feature page ;)
Was a little confused by the ending but thought I "got it" - then read the Philosophy of Time Travel and hadn't "got it" at all !
bumping for the benefit of people like me who may have missed it:D Watched the other night with three friends... first ever film that we've sat through without a word being said ( may have had something to do with the fact that we're all pushing 30 and loved the music!!! ) really enjoyed it :)
Gary Couzens
18-05-2002, 08:50
For the record, this is due a British cinema release on 4 October - it's included in my now-updated forthcoming releases thread.
I've not noticed this thread before as I rarely come into this forum. I saw DD a while ago after buying it from Play for £13.99. I too was blown away at how good it was, I told everyone at work but I got blank looks :rolleyes:
Top soundtrack as well, anyone that hasnt seen it should go and buy it ASAP.
Cirrus888
19-05-2002, 05:03
Here's my take on the movie I wrote in another thread.
The story is different and its hard to categorised but the impression I got was that it was a film about religion ... both a critique and a praise.
The writers cleverly weave a little sci fi ideals into the plot to keep that age old discussion between science and faith up to date.
The film tries hard to be different which it succeeds for most of the time because the director has an eye for what would be interesting for the audience to see and hear but I found a lot of irrelevance and basically padding in the movie.
A great use of 80s pop songs in the soundtrack I agree.
Morpheus2000
23-05-2002, 22:03
Donnie Darko is a psychological unbalanced teenager with a very vivid imagination. He has an imaginary friend Frank, who's a giant rabbit. Frank tells Donnie to commit a variety of different acts of violence on the local community. He eventually believes through the writings of Roberta Sparrow that he can travel in time through his own mind bending capabilities.
Donnie Darko doesn't have a very coherent plot, as the film jumps from one part of the story to another without making much sense. Donnie is seeing a psychiatrist but this doesn't really help matters since he goes deeper into his own warped mind. The acting in the film is very good, particularly Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie, giving the impression that he's truly miles away from anybody.
Visually the film is excellent, with the gorgeous location work and some very good special effects. Donnie has no emotional connection to the audience since it's so difficult for the viewer to relate to him. The film is a cross between American Beauty and American Psycho, but there is no depth to it. The second part of film gradually makes less and less sense making it in no way gripping.
By the end of the film it's utterly pointless since, the viewer left with a very empty feeling as if they've wasted two hours of their lives. For first time director Richard Kelly it's not a bad effort since it's unpredictable, but clearly demonstrates that he's a disturbed person to come up with this total and utter nonsense.
On a final note the film is set in October 1988, so plenty of eighties music throughout the film, including New Order (aka Joy Division).
NOTE: I got a loan of this from a friend, so thankfully I didn't buy it.
Originally posted by Morpheus2000
I must be the odd one out!?!
Definately. I bet you didn't like Episode II aswell... :rolleyes:
Morpheus2000
24-05-2002, 09:03
Originally posted by Phayze
Definately. I bet you didn't like Episode II aswell... :rolleyes:
Attack of the Clones was better than that.
robbiez666
26-05-2002, 00:40
points upwards and laughs.....
anyhow just watched it and thought it was fabulous. did anyone else think it had a lot of dark sybolism in it?
definitely up there with filcher as a director with new idea and will take risks....
Joe Pasquale
26-05-2002, 15:43
Originally posted by Morpheus2000
but clearly demonstrates that he's a disturbed person to come up with this total and utter nonsense.
From the man with the Matrix-inpsired username, that's quite amusing. :D The War-chow-skees are far dodgier IMO...
After seeing it a couple of times since my first viewing back in Feb though my only gripe with it is probably that it tries to achieve too much... Though IMO it does pull it off without looking silly, I think it's down to your own interpretation whether all the strands and 'genres' work or not. Definitely a film that rewards attention though, if you're watching it with some idiot nattering away about Big Brother or other *****, the whole impact of the film can fall flat very easily.
Tony Keats
26-05-2002, 21:40
Posted by Morpheus2000
Donnie Darko is a psychological unbalanced teenager with a very vivid imagination. He has an imaginary friend Frank, who's a giant rabbit. Frank tells Donnie to commit a variety of different acts of violence on the local community. He eventually believes through the writings of Roberta Sparrow that he can travel in time through his own mind bending capabilities.
No, it's his inability to cope with some harsh truths (and existence in general) that make him unusual. You were probably just summarising the plot as it initially appears, but Frank isn't imaginary and Donnie isn't really unbalanced.
Donnie Darko doesn't have a very coherent plot. Donnie is seeing a psychiatrist but this doesn't really help matters since he goes deeper into his own warped mind. The acting in the film is very good, particularly Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie, giving the impression that he's truly miles away from anybody. Visually the film is excellent, with the gorgeous location work and some very good special effects. Donnie has no emotional connection to the audience since it's so difficult for the viewer to relate to him.
If the underlying themes don't strike a chord with you, then I suppose it's possible to perceive the film as incoherent (though I can't imagine how anyone could miss them!). The Psychiatrist can't help Donnie because he's perfectly sane, he's definitely hyper-aware of some troubling things, but his mind can't be described as "warped". The psychiatrist can't help because she realises Donnie is just an overly inquisitive idealist (the pills she prescribes are just placebos).
As for not relating... Didn't you identify with Donnie when he when he pointed out the inadequacies of the classroom fear/love test? or when he put the motivational speaker (Swayze) in his place? If not, you might have a conformist attitude which clashes with the films principles (as it doesn't attempt to appeal to mainstream audiences). Either way, the 'sci-fi' plot is only the window dressing really and you should be intrigued/compelled by the situations, without getting hung-up on the plot-line technicalities.
there is no depth to it. The second part of film gradually makes less and less sense making it in no way gripping. By the end of the film it's utterly pointless since, the viewer left with a very empty feeling as if they've wasted two hours of their lives...
....total and utter nonsense.
I agree with Joe Pasquale's sentiments here. Admittedly it's a cheap-shot to slag The Matrix (though that won't stop me!) but that's a much better example of a film that leaves the viewer with an "empty feeling" (IMO anyway). You must be able to see how ill-advised it is to call Donnie Darko "pointless" or lacking in depth when the (presumably beloved by you) Keanu flick is 100% skin-deep.
Morpheus2000
27-05-2002, 22:59
Thanks very much Mr Keats for your insightful analysis of my review and also to Mr. Pasquale.
However, I must have got the entire film wrong. I think it's just a matter of perspective really.
For the impression I got was:
Everything was in his head since the end of the film goes back the where the engine came through the roof of his house and he just dreamed an alternate life from himself in the last few seconds of his life.
I love to know who's Patrick Swayze character in it? What's he got do with anything? He's written a couple of books, why's the school so interested in him?
After I saw the trailer and read a load of great reviews I was really looking forward to it. I got a major disappointment, I just thought the film didn't make much sense and I wasn't gripped by it at all. I also found it really difficult to follow, so I must be stupid.
BTW: I also hated the likes of Jacob's Ladder and Vanilla Sky as they're also very similar films.
Tony Keats
29-05-2002, 21:37
Posted by Morpheus2000
For the impression I got was:
Everything was in his head since the end of the film goes back the where the engine came through the roof of his house and he just dreamed an alternate life from himself in the last few seconds of his life.
Very involved and rather pompous description follows!..
Respectfully... NO!. I think the crucial scene relating to the 'time-travel' theories is where Donnie is chatting to his teacher (Noah Wyle). That scene conveys how someone can know the future, but still not be able to change the 'fate' of it (not that particular time-line anyway). So, after the engine arrives, things can either happen with Donnie alive or with Donnie dead. Donnie surviving caused a kind of loop for those connected to him, so his death has a significant impact on each of them.
So, although they don't remember everything, they do have a fleeting memory of what occured before and most are actually woken up by disturbing realisations (at the start of the 'Mad World' sequence). Swayze is crying because he gets the palpable feeling that he's a worthless fraud and a vile human being (as Donnie exposed him as a sham of course). The battle-axe teacher is probably troubled by how inadequate her blinkered morals are and the fact that a fraud like Swayze embodies her beliefs. Frank is touching his unscathed eye for obvious reasons. Donnie on the other hand is laughing hysterically because either A) He knows that he was right about everything and is about to make a supreme sacrifice (just being aware of such amazing facts would be overwhelming enough) or B) He's simply freaked out by the incredibly intense dream he's just awoken from (in the same way as all the others). Either way, these scenes are proof that the fateful events definitely weren't imagined.
I love to know who's Patrick Swayze character in it? What's he got do with anything? He's written a couple of books, why's the school so interested in him?
Thematically I think he's there to represent how society offers simplistic solutions to complex problems and how insincere preaching is sometimes used to compensate for secret depravities. In the plot he's introduced to the school by the battle-axe teacher because she finds his outlook inspiring and believes that her students will benefit from his 'teachings'.
The director isn't taking a sideswipe at motivational speakers in general though, he's just making a point with one of his characters.
After I saw the trailer and read a load of great reviews I was really looking forward to it. I got a major disappointment, I just thought the film didn't make much sense and I wasn't gripped by it at all. I also found it really difficult to follow,
Even if it didn't make sense to you I'm surprised you didn't find enough in the punchy dialogue and interesting situations to avoid disappointment. It is a bit convoluted yes, but repeat viewings make it much easier to digest. If you didn't enjoy it the first time though it's probably not worth the bother (everyone has different tastes!).
Just watched it [finally] and thought it was brilliant and thought provoking. Shall be watching this again.
Don't want to go to sleep in the dark now.:eek:
JOn
________________________________________
Girl: What are feces?
Samantha: Baby mice.
Girl: Ewwww.
Originally posted by Boink!
Girl: What are feces?
Samantha: Baby mice.
Girl: Ewwww.
it was more like.. "Aaawww" :)
toot, you're right, as I watched the film again.
TimJBart
09-09-2002, 23:02
I've just seen it and am thoroughly confused...but after reading this it is starting to make some kind of sense. But I like the idea that no matter how much you think about it you will never come up with a definitive interpretation...
I was very impressed...off to buy it now :)
Tiffany Bradford
09-09-2002, 23:47
Originally posted by TimJBart
But I like the idea that no matter how much you think about it you will never come up with a definitive interpretation...
Therein lies its charm...
This is easily my favourite film of the last several years - superb sountrack and excellent extras-laden DVD!
Im all for clever/original films like Memento/Dark City but this film was terrible, it left you with too many unanswered questions at the end! :rolleyes:
what was the main point of the film??
Donnie had killed the Frank in 1st dimension, so for some reason unknown Frank travels to the 2nd Dimension and stops Donnie from being killed by dragging him out of bed before the engine falls on him. Then leads Donnie along so he can die in the 3rd Dimension??
why not just leave him in bed in the 2nd Dimension?
and the main point of the film, why should one dimension have anything to do with another, what was achived by it all??
If I have to make up my own ending I might as well make up the whole story too, and save my 5 bucks. - quote from IMDB
:clap:
carryonline
10-09-2002, 08:57
Loved this film to bits - I've seen it a couple of times so far and it just haunts me. A question that occurred to me regards the bubbles that come out of people - what's all that about? I understand the dimensions/time aspect of the film, but these poor old eyes aren't up to reading the text from the time travel book. Anyone care to enlighten me?
the bubbles...
I take it the bubbles were are paths that we follow in life ... suggesting we all have a path that we follow (fate) BUT if this is the case then Frank couldnt have had any influence over Donnie since his actions (destiny) were already planned!
if anyone can answer the things in my above post I couldnt figure out Id be interested to hear. I would have liked this film more if I could work out what the main point of it was!
Donnie has no emotional connection to the audience since it's so difficult for the viewer to relate to him. The film is a cross between American Beauty and American Psycho, but there is no depth to it. The second part of film gradually makes less and less sense making it in no way gripping.
By the end of the film it's utterly pointless since, the viewer left with a very empty feeling as if they've wasted two hours of their lives.
Morpheus I agree with this 100% ... how can people like this film when you will never understand it, the ending is left upto the viewers own imagination BUT theres so many conclusions people come up with ... i may as well have switched the film off halfway through (in fact it feels like I did!)
IMO the film has too many flaws, which makes it crap ... even the official ending (from the director) is garbage! and its funny reading IMDB comments praising the film when they simply think the plot was all a dream!!??
TimJBart
10-09-2002, 17:52
Originally posted by Goblin
IMO the film has too many flaws, which makes it crap ... even the official ending (from the director) is garbage! and its funny reading IMDB comments praising the film when they simply think the plot was all a dream!!??
why can't you praise a dream film? There are so many other aspects to a film that you can enjoy other than just winging about the plot
Originally posted by TimJBart
why can't you praise a dream film? There are so many other aspects to a film that you can enjoy other than just winging about the plot
IMO thats complete rubbish ... the plot is the main part of the film, I didnt care about any of the characters because they werent built up enough, the only thing I wanted to know is what the film was about. Even Van Damme films have plots as weak as they are, every film needs a plot ... this film had half of one
and Im not whinging about the plot, Id just like to make sense of it. ;)
Joe Pasquale
10-09-2002, 20:12
Originally posted by Goblin
how can people like this film when you will never understand it
Feels frustrating, yes? I genuinely feel sorry that you're not able to appreciate the film. I for one see movies as being entertained and engrossed by a performance. I can see where you're coming from in your criticism though, I've a similar view on 'The Matrix'; not because of plot, but on general poorness of execution. Some people I know praise that crud to high heaven, so I can see how 'not getting' Darko and seeing all the praise here make's you think 'idiots'... ;)
every film needs a plot
IMO it does actually have a coherent plot going by the actual definition of the term (not that films without them are crap). But it's not neatly tied up into a little beginning-middle-end package where everyone's 'A better person' at the end... :rolleyes:
Out of interest, you seen 'Mulholland Drive' or any other stuff by Lynch?
Originally posted by Joe Pasquale
Out of interest, you seen 'Mulholland Drive' or any other stuff by Lynch?
funny you should ask ... I hate Lynch, I watched Blue Velvet which started good but went nowhere and Lost Highway is the only film Ive watched which I have completly no idea what the hell it was :D
I think rather then comparing the movie to Final Destination and Stir of Echoes it should compare itself to Lost Highway (although at least I partially understood DD)
spe@rmint
10-09-2002, 23:24
just received this on Monday, a little blind purchase, but one I felt I would like, something a little different from the norm, and one that actually requires a little of the ol' grey matter.
Must say I thoroughly enjoyed it, can't believe I waited this long to check it out.
Here's an interview with Richard Kelly, the director of Donnie Darko. It's from Dutch TV, so the intro's spoken in Dutch, but everything after that is spoken in English and subtitled in Dutch.
high-res vid, for fast connections (Cable, ADSL, etc)
http://www.cinema.nl/cinema/smil/vi...ts.sram?7457547
low-res vid, for slow connections (56K modem, etc)
http://www.cinema.nl/cinema/smil/vi...ts.sram?7457551
he does make it clear that he didn't want to spoonfeed the audience, many interpretations are valid..............
Def. one of a few DVDs I won't wait too long before watching again.
Here's my thoughts ......... REALLY enjoyed, I thought it was an excellent film, its great to see something different and non predictable!, acting was great & music was great!
One of the best blin purchases that I have made!
Here's my thoughts ......... REALLY enjoyed, I thought it was an excellent film, its great to see something different and non predictable!, acting was great & music was great!
One of the best blind purchases that I have made!
I really enjoyed the movie and I also bought the soundtrack and it is beautiful. It contains "Mad World" and an alternative version, too.
TimJBart
14-09-2002, 18:45
Originally posted by Zebedee
Here's my thoughts ......... REALLY enjoyed, I thought it was an excellent film, its great to see something different and non predictable!, acting was great & music was great!
One of the best blind purchases that I have made!
umm zebedee, there is an edit button so u can edit your post without having to repost the whole thing again with corrections!
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117085 :)
I know there is an edit function! but when I clicked on submit reply, i pressed the browser Stop button straight away, seeing my mistake, changed it, then submitted it ........ didnt know that it posted the first one anyway, so it was just an honest mistake.
I tried to delete the first post, but it doesnt let me.
TimJBart
15-09-2002, 13:39
Originally posted by Zebedee
I know there is an edit function! but when I clicked on submit reply, i pressed the browser Stop button straight away, seeing my mistake, changed it, then submitted it ........ didnt know that it posted the first one anyway, so it was just an honest mistake.
I tried to delete the first post, but it doesnt let me.
easily done...
so who's gonna go see it at the cinema then? I think i will seen though I've seen it many times, cant wait to hear the exclamations of confusion from the audience :)
I'm definitely going to go and see this at the cinema.
Roll on October!
Boink!
I liked the film, good effort but must try harder. I recall a lesson my english teacher once said during exam time, If you can't think of an ending do anything but "..and then he woke up". On top of this the director has infused alot of ambiguity. It's a lazy ending, why run a marathon when you can drive a car?
Mullholland Dr. is in a different class, I'm not a Lynch fan but I appreciate his work. Donnies more of a painting by numbers effort but someones nicked the paint.
Take the film Heathers, mix in some Sapphire and Steel and you're a bunny hop(sorry) away from Donnie.
A couple of films where the pay-off has worked, off the top of my head, The Usual Suspects and Memento. File Donnie in the cult bin only to come out late at night on CH4. It'll give Mark Kermode something to talk about, ask yourself, is that a good thing?
manicstreetpreachers
22-09-2002, 17:43
FYI - This month's Total Film has a free CD with the piano/cover version of 'Mad World' on it. It also gives the film 5 stars!
Spangled
02-10-2002, 11:40
What a whipped up movie! And I don't mean that in a bad way either.
It all worked so well, the visuals, the sounds, Tears for Fears... :)
I'll definitely be off to see this at the cinema at the end of the month.
And on a side note, good to see that the Channel 5 News Bunny has managed to get some work after battling through his alcohol additon problems.
It's arrived through the post today, so I'm going to check it out and post my thoughts afterwards.... I'm certainly looking forwad to it after all the positive feedback..
Tiffany Bradford
02-10-2002, 21:12
Originally posted by Spangled
Tears for Fears...
The Tears for Fears cover Mad World by Gary Jules was haunting. The best part of the extras was that video! :D
Great film. Watched a DivX download of it a few weeks ago and have been moved by this thread to buy it!
Right, I watched this last night and I really enjoyed it. I have read all the posts in this thread and I can totally understand where certain people are coming from with their criticism but for me this is all part of it's charm.
It's certainly very ambiguous and makes the viewer think and come to their own conclusions, but I must admit to liking other films which have been classed as similar in this thread, Mulholland Drive, Vanilla Sky, Jacobs Ladder etc.
The first thing I wanted to do having watched it is read other peoples opinions and see what others made of it, I will have to watch it with the commentary as soon as possible.
One thing that I am left wondering though is:
What was the significance of the Drew Barrymore 'Cellar Door' scene. Is that actually something an author once wrote? Or is it for the purpose of this movie? And what exactly does it mean? This is one of the things I was really wondering about. I guess with a movie like this you have to try and not worry too much about all the little things, and try to see the whole picture, but I'd be interested to hear what people thought about this as I don't think anyone has mentioned it?
Finally I would say that there are some very interesting interpretations of the movie and ending in this thread and I don't think any of them are right or wrong, it's a matter of opinions. Either way the movie leaves a lot of questions and is thoroughly entertaining. Definitely one of my favourite movies this year.
I think you need to watch it even if only to have your own opinion!
Cheers
Mark
Recieved this from play yesterday.....watched the first 5 minutes and like it already ...just for the opening music track "Echo and the Bunnymen-Killing Moon"...fantastic.:thumbs:
Originally posted by pythons
One thing that I am left wondering though is:
What was the significance of the Drew Barrymore 'Cellar Door' scene. Is that actually something an author once wrote? Or is it for the purpose of this movie? And what exactly does it mean? This is one of the things I was really wondering about. I guess with a movie like this you have to try and not worry too much about all the little things, and try to see the whole picture, but I'd be interested to hear what people thought about this as I don't think anyone has mentioned it?
I guess it was just something thrown in to try and add more confusion, it was no doubt just a coincedance Donnie went to the Cellar at the end of the film ... the film likes to confuse viewers so they think its a clever plot :D
I have thought a lot about this movie and I enjoy debating the plot, even though I thought the film was crap!
BTW anyone come up with any good explanations for the plot yet?
carryonline
04-10-2002, 17:22
There's some stuff in the "Philosophy of Time Travel" book that explains a lot of the plot. I couldn't read it on the screen on the DVD, but this handy site reproduces the pages:
http://www.ruinedeye.com/cd/time1.htm
Actually, having read those pages a few more times over, the book pretty much explains the whole film. I can sleep now :)
Great link it explains quite a lot in there!
If a Tangent Universe occurs, it will be highly unstable, sustaining itself for no longer than several weeks.
answers why the world came to an end
Water and Metal are the key elements of Time Travel.
....Water is the barrier element for the construction of
Time Portals used as gateways between Universes at the
Tangent Vortex.
....Metal is the (transitional) element for the construction
of Artifact Vessels.
the water is the barrier between donnie and frank, see the part were Donnie trys stabbing Frank. The metal would be the engine.
Artifacts provide the first sign that a Tangent Universe has occurred.
the artifact is the engine when it first appears it starts
The Living Receiver is chosen to guide the Artifact into position for it's journey back to the Primary Universe.
I take it Donne is the living Reciever and the Artifact would be the plane engine
The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct
The Manipulated Dead would be Frank who can control the Destiny of Donnie, so this answers my question over Frank being able to control Donnies fate.
When the Manipulated awakens from their Journey into the Tangent Universe, they are often haunted by the experience in their dreams.
Those who do remember the Journey are often over- come with profound remorse for the regretful actions buried within their Dreams, the only physical evidence buried within the Artifact itself, all that remains from the lost world.
shows why Donnies girl waves to his mum at the end
We are told that these things occur for a reason.
unfortunatly we dont find out the reason behind the film
so basically the plot is
A tangent universe has occured through the 4th Dimension becoming unstable.
*
We are in the Tangent Universe when the Airplane Engine first appears.
*
Donnie has been chosen to guide the Airplane Engine back to the Primary Universe. We dont know why he is chosen.
*
Frank dies in this Tangent Universe so he is able to guide Donnie, which would be the water coming from Donnies chest, the path donnie takes to pick up the gun was created by Frank.
I cant seem to figure out the Ensurance Trap created by Frank. Once the Ensurance Trap would take place Donnie would use his 4D power?? to send the Engine back ... was the Ensurance Trap the death of his girl??
its nice to see there is actually a plot to this film and your not left to make up your own ... still think its crap though! :D
Originally posted by carryonline
There's some stuff in the "Philosophy of Time Travel" book that explains a lot of the plot. I couldn't read it on the screen on the DVD, but this handy site reproduces the pages:
http://www.ruinedeye.com/cd/time1.htm
Actually, having read those pages a few more times over, the book pretty much explains the whole film. I can sleep now :)
Fantastic... that just about answers all my questions then....
apart from Cellar door.. ;)
Nice one! :D
Great movie.. :)
Spangled
04-10-2002, 18:40
I watched DD earlier in the week and am still thinking about it now.
Certainly recommend a listen to the Gyllenhaal / Director commentary if people haven't already - it gives some great insights into the movie.
PLUS, a mate has just picked up the Soundtrack CD for me in the US, so I should have that by next week. COOL AS! ! (HMV import it for like £22!, what a rip).
Yonathan Gal
18-10-2002, 22:36
is it a french dvd cover from play? cheers
Arch Stanton
18-10-2002, 22:41
Originally posted by Yonathan Gal
is it a french dvd cover from play? cheers
No it's all in the Queens English
But then again Donnie Darko is a name and can't be translated.
(BTW Donnie Writter/Director Richard Kelly is scripting the new Tony Scott thriller.)
jaminblack
20-10-2002, 12:07
FANTASTIC.
I'd heard good things about this so ordered the R1 from play, just watched it last night not knowing what to expect, it was great.
One of the best original films I've seen for a very long time.
I will be going to see this at the cinema when it finally gets released here and dragging a few of the uninitiated with me....
Jamin
Yonathan Gal
20-10-2002, 18:33
cheers arch stanton :)
saw it yesterday....
and to be honest it makes you think.....
love it or loathe it....it will get you talking !
Scuttler
21-10-2002, 10:02
Finally got a chance to see this on the big screen yesterday, at the Cameo in Edinburgh.
OMFG! What a fantastic film. :clap: Loved it to bits, from all the cheesy 80's references to the deeper stuff, which I haven't fully got my head around yet.
Definite purchase asap.
Mr Flibble
21-10-2002, 10:40
Didn't get to see it at the Cameo, because the people we were going with turned up late,
Instead I had open wallet surgery as I bought the missus a new jacket and shirts to the tune of £150 :oh-hum:
nads
just4fun
22-10-2002, 16:25
Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Didn't get to see it at the Cameo, because the people we were going with turned up late
...and after we Edinburgh residents had the police keep you a parking space behind the cinema too... :rolleyes:
Mr Flibble
23-10-2002, 09:35
:( Sorry mate
just4fun
23-10-2002, 09:50
Originally posted by Mr Flibble
:( Sorry mate
No worries - of course we told the police to send the bill for their trouble to you... it's only about 20K or thereabouts so nothing too serious - that's the price of the parking space, the barricades, the red carpet and the bouncer's they'd laid on. The crowd of anticipating fans and on-lookers were free I believe!
You wouldn't believe the trouble we had convincing them that your names really are "Mr and Mrs Flibble" though... :D
Fantastic film !! :clap:
easily the best of the year
Mr Flibble
23-10-2002, 14:45
Originally posted by just4fun
No worries - of course we told the police to send the bill for their trouble to you... it's only about 20K or thereabouts so nothing too serious - that's the price of the parking space, the barricades, the red carpet and the bouncer's they'd laid on. The crowd of anticipating fans and on-lookers were free I believe!
You wouldn't believe the trouble we had convincing them that your names really are "Mr and Mrs Flibble" though... :D
You've no idea - imagine the looks I get at the post office when collecting DVDs/Buying tax disc etc. - its a nightmare, a nightmare I tell you!
GrossePointeJack
26-10-2002, 11:58
I loved it - and just bought it at Cdwow. Anyway, i kept thinking that the Chinese girl was going to have something to do with it - am i right in assuming that she just fancied Donnie and that was all?
hmm - I must admit I wasn't too keen on it, it was ok y'know, but the recent cinema release has made me curious for a second look so it's now on it's way over from yanky land, again!
Dr Derek Doctors
26-10-2002, 12:22
Originally posted by GrossePointeJack
I loved it - and just bought it at Cdwow. Anyway, i kept thinking that the Chinese girl was going to have something to do with it - am i right in assuming that she just fancied Donnie and that was all?
Chut uuuuup!
Yeah, I reckon that was all.
Originally posted by Goblin
Great link it explains quite a lot in there!
The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct
The Manipulated Dead would be Frank who can control the Destiny of Donnie, so this answers my question over Frank being able to control Donnies fate.
[/B]
It also says
"The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct " so I was wondering that as...
his girlfriend also dies in the Tangent Universe how come she cannot manipulate him in the same manner?
Great film! Destined to become a cult classic.
his girlfriend also dies in the Tangent Universe how come she cannot manipulate him in the same manner?
good point ... faults like that are apparently part of its charm (at least thats what Im told) :D ... I just think its flawed and therefore rubbish ;)
Anyway, i kept thinking that the Chinese girl was going to have something to do with it - am i right in assuming that she just fancied Donnie and that was all?
yes your right ... it was a complete waste of time her being there, I think someone forgot to cut her from the film :rolleyes:
.
.
all go watch frailty instead, its a forum recommendation thats actually worth watching! ;)
Originally posted by Blenky
It also says
"The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct " so I was wondering that as...
his girlfriend also dies in the Tangent Universe how come she cannot manipulate him in the same manner?
Great film! Destined to become a cult classic.
in the Philosophy of Time Travel book, the last page (notes) lists Frank and Gretchen as the manipulated dead. Who is to say she is not manipulating him? It doesn't say anything about the manner in which he will be manipulated
and so, the Ensurance Trap is
a tag team effort between Frank and Gretchen. Frank kills Gretchen, and the only way Donnie can react is to use his "Fourth Dimensional Powers" to open a portal / wormhole back to the Primary Universe, thinking this will give him a chance to change things and save Gretchen (which it does, kind of). This causes the plane engine to be returned, closing the Tangent safely before it collapses. Franks references to the world ending, therefore, are referring to the Tangent Universe collapsing.
I have this on DVD but thought it would be good to watch on the 'Big Screen'.
I was really disappointed. I saw it at the Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton and the picture was very dark with high contrast and the sound was poor.
Anyone else seen this at the pictures and noticed this? Or was it just the one I saw?
I have read that Richard Kelly chose a specific film stock for the film that could explain it - but on DVD it seemed fine.
Joe Pasquale
29-10-2002, 22:33
Originally posted by Blenky
I was really disappointed. I saw it at the Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton and the picture was very dark with high contrast and the sound was poor.
Cheers for that, was considering the trek to take the plunge and visit the flicks for my first time alone... Won't bother now unless I can drag someone else along.
goonieman
29-10-2002, 22:54
Originally posted by Blenky
I have this on DVD but thought it would be good to watch on the 'Big Screen'.
I was really disappointed. I saw it at the Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton and the picture was very dark with high contrast and the sound was poor.
Anyone else seen this at the pictures and noticed this? Or was it just the one I saw?
I have read that Richard Kelly chose a specific film stock for the film that could explain it - but on DVD it seemed fine.
I saw it at the Tyneside cinema in Newcastle, The picture looked a bit dark but i think it was supposed to look like this, It was also a bit fuzzy at the bottom but i think this was down to a crap projectionist (sp)..oh and the metro rumbling past every half hour didn't help!!!
Excellent film i thought !!!
HAving seen the DVD ages ago I took my sister to see it on the big screen Monday at the UGC trocadero and she also thought it was excellent.
As has been commented on the picture was a bit dark but not too bad but the sound was pretty damn poor and got very distorted in places but I don't know whether that was a problem with the film or the cinema sound system.
I didn't get a chance to listen to the commentary when I had the disc but think I might pick it up again if it's any good. Has anyone listened to it and, if so, waht's it like.
Lex Luthor
30-10-2002, 12:10
Has anybody gone through the web site (http://www.donniedarko.com/) to the end?
You get an extra piece of information that you can add to the overall puzzle.
BTW, my emoticon review of the film is: :thumbs:
I've reviewed the cinema release of this for DVD Times.
You can read my thoughts here (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=CinemaReview&id=153&story=3780)
Now, if only we could get the Director's commentary over the audio at the cinema. :D
StuBruise
31-10-2002, 22:40
Originally posted by Blenky
I saw it at the Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton and the picture was very dark with high contrast and the sound was poor.
Anyone else seen this at the pictures and noticed this?
The sound was fine when I saw it but the picture did seem rather dark. I haven't seen the DVD so I don't know if it was supposed to be like that but I doubt it; the pictures on the promo postcards I saw were a lot lighter.
~~stu
Originally posted by StuBruise
I haven't seen the DVD so I don't know if it was supposed to be like that but I doubt it; the pictures on the promo postcards I saw were a lot lighter.
~~stu
The sound and picture on DVD is very good - thats why I was so surprised how poor it was on the big screen
GrossePointeJack
02-11-2002, 14:47
Watching some Entertainment show last night at about 3 in the morning - there was an interview with the Director/Writer. He gave away a few clues as well - One was "The man in the red jogging suit appears 4 times, twice he isn't in the suit" - for me that clue means nothing actually - another was "When Donnie's mother is in the Airport, listen to the flight announcment about the flight number" - I believe it is the same number that Frank gives Donnie for the countdown to the end of the world. The last one was "Look at the skylight in Donnie's new bedroom" - I think that's the scene where his mother comes into the room, and on Donnie's calender is a drawing of Frank.
Oh and to throw something else into the mix - Do you think Grandma Death kept checking her mailbox because she was waiting for the letter from Donnie - thus somehow proving her theory?
StuBruise
02-11-2002, 21:54
Originally posted by GrossePointeJack
"The man in the red jogging suit appears 4 times, twice he isn't in the suit" - for me that clue means nothing actually
From what I've read:
He's from the FAA, checking up on Donnie to make sure he complies with the non-disclosure agreement his parents signed. Not sure if that's what the guy meant though; it certainly doesn't seem to be a particular clue to anything.
~~stu
I thought it was good, particularly Gylenhaal's performance, but...
I'd heard over and over about how 'different' and 'unique' it was, and I felt like I'd seen it all before. Very conventional, especially that ending - now where have we seen that before?
Apart from the most famous example, the same ending can be found on the almost-completely-unknown Lulu On The Bridge - the recent directorial debut from cult author Paul Auster (The Music Of Chance, Smoke) starring Harvey Keitel, Willem Dafoe and Mira Sorvino. It's identical right down to how it plays with time, the fate of the lead character (including their 'journey') and the reaction from 'the girlfriend'.
But unlike Donnie Darko, Lulu On The Bridge is not even remotely conventional, never a genre piece, and you'll probably never see another film quite like it. Even the director admits on the commentary that the film is all but worthless on a single viewing. It's available on R1 - only 4:3 but excellent extras.
This must be the most talked about film on these forums and it's not difficult to see why..........it's fantastic!!!!!!:clap: :thumbs:
Saw this last night and really enjoyed it; the stuff in this thread has been really interesting too...
Since the Bargain Forum is alas no more, I'd like to point out that Deep Discount DVD are doing this for £11 shipped to the UK - link here (http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemid=FXD003640&promotion=y).
showscanner
06-11-2002, 18:23
Originally posted by Blenky
I have this on DVD but thought it would be good to watch on the 'Big Screen'.
I was really disappointed. I saw it at the Duke of Yorks cinema in Brighton and the picture was very dark with high contrast and the sound was poor.
Anyone else seen this at the pictures and noticed this? Or was it just the one I saw?
I have read that Richard Kelly chose a specific film stock for the film that could explain it - but on DVD it seemed fine.
I too went to the DOY in Brighton to watch this film. I spoke to the projectionist before the film and suspect that they are not operating at full screen brightness (could be projector bulb on it's way out) which would explain the dark picture.
Hope this helps!!
Walrus Man
07-11-2002, 06:06
Originally posted by SimonI
Since the Bargain Forum is alas no more, I'd like to point out that Deep Discount DVD are doing this for £11 shipped to the UK - link here (http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemid=FXD003640&promotion=y). Yeah that looks like a great bargain, but check out the release date... April 2003! (must be a re-release at a lower price point)
edit: Doh! It's probably Feb 2003, bloody American style dates. :oh-hum:
Is it the engine of the mothers plane that falls down? If so that puts a whole lot of paradox into things.
Lex Luthor
11-11-2002, 14:12
Originally posted by tbibic
Is it the engine of the mothers plane that falls down? If so that puts a whole lot of paradox into things. It is the engine of the plane that his mother and sister are on but it's the plane in the tangent universe that loses the engine, in the normal universe the plane continues on its flight unhindered and lands safely.
If you follow the website (http://www.donniedarko.com/) through to the end you get a clue to this piece of the puzzle.
everyone seems to be commenting on this films quality - I watched an interview with the camera man and apparently it was filmed in a certain way so it did appear slightly dark and grainy - But to be realistsic as he said - you will really only see it on a 40 ft screen.....
dustjunkie
13-11-2002, 19:44
Arrived yesterday, watched it twice last night, did the website this afternoon, want to watch it again tonight, but think it might be too soon
bedtime viewing with commentry ?????
go on u know u want too . . .
God i LOVE this film.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
The Beyond
16-11-2002, 21:00
Finally got round to seeing this film (caught it at the Filmworks in Manchester) and was surprised at how full the cinema was. It got a really good audience reaction - laughs in all the right places (it is a very funny script.)
Think I'm going to have to get the DVD now.
BTW - how about the idea that the Chinese girl is the one who chose Donnie as the living receiver, and that is why she keeps tabs on him and is so upset when he tells her that things will get better in the future? Huh? what do ya think? Or am I talking out of my rabbit hole? :D
Just checked DVDPriceCheck and saw that DVDSoon have this at £7.17 Delivered. Seems to be a VERY good price.
And it is in Widescreen 2.35:1
Just got my copy today, watched it as soon as it came... Squirrel God's been pushing this to me for ages . Have to say it impressed me no end, especially for a debut. Nice and complicated, really made you think, in fact had to go on-line to find the old woman's book (can't read it on the extras) to get it but I think I do now... Great film, go out and buy it. But it's not better than fight club :p
paulclissold
22-11-2002, 12:17
Got a copy out of interest (and based on this thread) and have to say I was blown away by it. Awesome. Needs a second watch and a listen to the commentaries to fully grasp it all but I am impressed.
Who would have thought that music from Tears for Fears would make such a great addition to a soundtrack?.
bruce-leroy
01-12-2002, 22:53
After reading a dvd review that highly recommended quite early on this year, I have finally managed to see it. To quote Marty McFly, its "heavy", but I enjoyed it. I will keep the dvd as it really has to be watched more than once. I have to agree that the soundtrack is amazing! Love it. :rocker:
stantheman
02-12-2002, 22:17
Soundtrack question.
Is the "classical" track that plays over while they watch Evil Dead on it?
Ta.
Just saw this tonight in Aberdeen and tis true, its a bloody quality film.
now all i need to do is search on the bargain forum for a R2 copy;)
Mr Flibble
17-12-2002, 11:28
Get yourself the R0 version from CD-Wow in January for a tenner, that's what I'm doing :)
ranger1873
17-12-2002, 15:55
I see that the release date for the R0 has been put back to the 1st of March. It was the 15th January because I pointed it out to a friend who ordered it.
Mr Flibble
18-12-2002, 09:19
Originally posted by ranger1873
I see that the release date for the R0 has been put back to the 1st of March. It was the 15th January because I pointed it out to a friend who ordered it.
:mad:
christ I need a multiregion DVD player :(
Originally posted by Mr Flibble
I need a multiregion DVD player :(
Then you can get it for a fiver from DVD Soon!
Mr Flibble
18-12-2002, 13:33
exactly :(
Mrs Flib doesn't understand the need for a multi-region player though :oh-hum:
unrealnils
21-12-2002, 23:38
:eek: :(
bruce-leroy
22-12-2002, 14:17
Originally posted by unrealnils
:eek: :(
:confused:
unrealnils
28-12-2002, 18:37
1/2 the good dvds are on other regions :)
Ive just seen that play have added the r2 release of donnie darko,for 19/05/03.
father_christmas
31-12-2002, 17:11
what a crackin film ~ watched it 3 times already, i seem to take a different view every time i watch it, brilliant :thumbs:
Radiohead
14-01-2003, 22:30
Saw this today and loved every minute of it
But I'm still trying to work it all out.
Well watched this last night, and I don't know what all the fuss is about to be honest, perhaps deciding to buy the DVD after reading this thread my expectations were to high, but I found it to be pretty boring.
grounded_dreams
19-01-2003, 18:26
Anyone that lives in or around Southend, the Odeon is showing the film on Monday night. Check out the listings here (http://www.scoot.co.uk/cinemafinder/details/cintimes.asp?a=00413&ae=southend+on+sea&cc=326&c=767450&ce=DONNIE+DARKO&)
davey1970
26-01-2003, 12:59
saw it friday night after trading something for it - its brilliant, and love the music as well.
Daliah Lavi
01-02-2003, 13:22
Originally posted by ratty
Ive just seen that play have added the r2 release of donnie darko,for 19/05/03.
Or you could order the Dutch Region 2 SE available since Jan 9th!, it contains an English DTS soundtrack as well as Dolby Digital, Dutch subs are optional.
I just went for a copy myself.
Daliah
Daliah Lavi
01-02-2003, 19:34
I placed my order with www.dvdzone2.com/
ciao Daliah
gonna have to wait till it comes out over here,as ive only got a stupid solo card:(
The_Evil_Dean
02-02-2003, 02:08
Just got my copy, oh man does it rock, it has the worlds best Evil Dead reference it is wonderfully done, really smart, very sweet little story, definitly one of the best films I have seen in a while, incredibly cool, you owe it to yourself to at least see what the fuss is about.
Can I have Paul Ross' job now :)
Originally posted by ratty
gonna have to wait till it comes out over here,as ive only got a stupid solo card:(
Don't Play (http://www.play.com) take solo?
Ordered this on the recommendations earlier in the thread, and arrived the other day (dvdsoon - £5.85 charged to my card - bargain!). Watched it last night and it fully lives up to my expectations - very thought provoking, beautifully filmed and excellent sound track. Without reading the Philosophy of Time Travel you could take it so many different ways - and having read it, there are still loads of choices you have to make yourself regarding what it was all about. Great bit of entertainment.
WHere can I find the Philosophy of Time book online? It's really hard to read on my TV and it's just as bad when I play it back from the DVD on my PC.
Splinter
03-02-2003, 23:56
http://www.ruinedeye.com/cd/time10.htm
;)
The Dude
04-02-2003, 02:09
Can any of you guys zoom into the Philosophy of Time extra on the dvd? I can't seem to zoom in on my player and quite frankly I'm begining to think it's a useless extra if you can't even read it.
Thanks Splinter. Dude, look at the link Splinter gave.
:thumbs:
Saw this today after getting it from DVDSoon.....
Strange film but loved every minute of it...
Haven't read the Philosophy book so got my own theory but after reading these posts looks like i'm totally wrong..ah well...
Anyway mine was £6.20 from DVDSoon so do yourself a favour and order it, as for that small amount of money its definately worth it....
What a terrific thread! I haven't read a full 6.5 pager before!
Great film... loads to think about and puzzle over.
I can't believe those people who compare DD to other US teen/high school based movies! I've never known a film to make me think so much afterwards about subjects not directly related to the movie, and I can't think of a movie that covers such a subject as this does.
You really do need to read the Philosophy of Time Travel though (afterwards!) for it to fall into place.
There's a few questions answered from some of the dvd extended scenes and the Donnie Darko (http://www.donniedarko.com) answers a few too.
So loved it.....!
:clap:
Oh yeah, and those praising it's take on schitzophrenia.....perhaps you should look at the deleted scenes on the dvd.....! :nuts:
KeyserSoze
05-02-2003, 19:14
Originally posted by Emanef
I can't believe those people who compare DD to other US teen/high school based movies! I've never known a film to make me think so much afterwards about subjects not directly related to the movie, and I can't think of a movie that covers such a subject as this does.
:D
i received this today and while reading the back, i was thinking, what have i done. Have i wasted on money on what looks like a cheesy teen flick ?
It better be good :D
It certainly isn't and it certainly is!
I loved it!
:notworthy
....and don't read anything else until you've seen it!
Johnny Vodka
09-02-2003, 10:27
Just want to add my name to the growing list of people who love this film!
What a great weekend it's been for cheaply bought DVDs turning into excellent movies (Donnie Darko, Human Traffic and Y Tu Mama Tambien). :D If only all blind purchases turned out like this!
http://www.metaphilm.com/philms/donniedarko.html
:|
ickle yoda1
24-02-2003, 13:36
Did anyone else think that the ending depends on whether or not you read the book? I saw it before reading the book and thought;
Donnie was shown what the world would be like if he moved away from his bed before the engine fell. He was told that the world would end, but this was HIS version of the world. Everything in his life is moving away from him, girlfriend dies, sister leaves for university, mum is away with his younger sister, his teacher at school who likes him is being sacked etc. So, he decides things would be better if he chose to die. That is why at the end of the film he goes back into his bedroom. He is either informed of this through a vision before the jet engine crashes or its part of his schizophrenia. This also makes sense when he says to his psychiatrist that he is scared of being alone.
Or....after reading the book
you learn that it is an alternative dimension and he has been chosed for whatever reason to close the dimension and bring it back to "normality". I am torn between which one I prefer, to be honest probably my first feelings. The book is maybe just ramblings that he subscribes too. Maybe the old woman was in Donnies position and chose to live instead of die? So many questions :lol:
All in all a good film that makes you think, reminded me of vanilla sky and american beauty is some ways. Both films I also enjoyed.
right, well i'm ordering it fairly blind - you lot better be right!!
Or what!?
... and we are right! Except that Goblin fella.
kiran_mk2
01-03-2003, 23:30
Sorry to drag this one back up, but I've finally seen it and I felt the same amazement after it ended that I did when I first saw Memento.
Just a few question though:
Did the engine that fell at the start of the film cause the time anomaly because it travelled through time, or because it appeared from nowhere?
Second, Frank manipulates Donnie so that the only person who can take the girls on their trip to appear on the TV show is Donnie's mother - why is this neccessary? Surely the plane would've been in the right place with or without them on board?
Finally (and the answer to this may be "cos it would have been a very short film") - we are told that the engine's arrival has created an alternate reality, but at the end, the engine falls anyway, so why has the parallel universe not been created again?
Sorry if these seem a bit pedantic, but I'm one of those people wo needs to know the little details.
Watched this last night - brilliant :thumbs:
I was all ready to go up to bed but decided to try the commentary track for the last couple of chapters and it really spoilt the film for me :( There were so many good points including the direction and acting that when I heard them speaking it sounded as if they had nothing to do with the film and missed it's meaning etc :confused: There was me trhinking of all the possibilities and they offer a simplisitc empty suggestion :brickwall
Having read all of this thread I am going back to my first impression which was of pure brilliance. I love this film and will watch it several times.
So much to discuss but to start .....
Originally posted by Lex Luthor
It is the engine of the plane that his mother and sister are on but it's the plane in the tangent universe that loses the engine, in the normal universe the plane continues on its flight unhindered and lands safely.
Then why is she in the house when it lands as the times have to be related right?
Oh and Kiran - I'd like answers to all of your questions as well ;)
Originally posted by Tony Keats
As for not relating... Didn't you identify with Donnie when he when he pointed out the inadequacies of the classroom fear/love test? or when he put the motivational speaker (Swayze) in his place? If not, you might have a conformist attitude which clashes with the films principles (as it doesn't attempt to appeal to mainstream audiences)
Great explanation and 100% how I feel most of each day - reassuring to hear I am not alone :)
Originally posted by lorenzo
Then why is she in the house when it lands as the times have to be related right?
yes but thats when its passed to the different universe, so it could have been the engine from the plane his mother was on.
Originally posted by Marts62
... and we are right! Except that Goblin fella.
:lol:
you should all listen to me! Dont listen to the lies, it didnt get a proper Cinema release because its crap! ;)
Originally posted by kiran_mk2
we are told that the engine's arrival has created an alternate reality, but at the end, the engine falls anyway, so why has the parallel universe not been created again?
I think because Donnie Died this time which stops the Univese being created ... whoever thought of this plot needs shooting :rolleyes:
what a great film.
watching it now - if ever there was a lesson to try some slightly less blockbustery films, this is it
:clap: :clap:
just got to the duran duran scene
if you play the pet shop boys over patricks intro it works FAB
i read on imdb that the pet shops boys -west end girls were used to film the scene but they couldnt afford the rights to it so went for cheaper duran duran instead
shame, works very well
jaminblack
04-04-2003, 19:25
Doesnt Drew Barrymore say in the Cast/Crew commentary that they were lucky and cleared all the rights to the stuff they wanted.?
Jamin
try www.imdb.com then a different story
but what a class film. seen it all now. another sixth sense. class
Watched this for the first time yesterday after buying the DVD ages ago, I have to agree, fantastic film! :clap: :notworthy
Managed to never hear about this before, but after reading through this thread (minus spoilers) I'm gonna have to buy it from somewhere now!
Originally posted by coombsb
Managed to never hear about this before, but after reading through this thread (minus spoilers) I'm gonna have to buy it from somewhere now!
Asda were selling it quite cheap at one point but I'm not sure if they still are.
Its well worth the money IMHO, much better than the "blockbusters" that get pushed beyond belief each year.
i noticed on friday this post has been going for over a year
loads of people missed it but boy are you in for a treat when you find in
Originally posted by cluderi
Asda were selling it quite cheap at one point but I'm not sure if they still are.
Nearest Asda is a few thousand miles away! Got it from cd-wow for a bit over a tenner, looking forward to it now.
ok since this thread cant die, we may as well discuss the movie :D
what was all that "Cellar Door" stuff?
was that chinese girl needed in the movie??
why did Frank manipulate Donnie to burn Swayzes House???
were they both just added to make the movie appear to have more depth then we can understand when in fact they are complete nonsense, or is there a clever reason behing them?
wallofbeans
06-04-2003, 21:35
just got the dd dvd and there is some weirdness going on with the 'cunning visions' infomercials... in that part one is repeated twice (or was it 3 times) before it moves onto part 2.. BUT the commentary (which wonderfully freaks me out in itself) continues over the repeated sections (and gets even stranger but harder to hear)..
am i going CrAzY or is the dvd messed up or is this the way its meant to be?
the future isnt what it used to be Mr Beans
seriously
the whole film is ...... up but makes perfect sense
i guess the commentry is aimed at making you ......up as well!!
kiran_mk2
06-04-2003, 22:39
Originally posted by Goblin
ok since this thread cant die, we may as well discuss the movie :D
what was all that "Cellar Door" stuff?
was that chinese girl needed in the movie??
why did Frank manipulate Donnie to burn Swayzes House???
were they both just added to make the movie appear to have more depth then we can understand when in fact they are complete nonsense, or is there a clever reason behing them?
Have a listen to the director's commentry, it explains a lot of the film.
My opinion is Donnie is forced to burn down Cunningham's house so that his mother takes the dance team to LA. Donnie hears his mother on the answerphone telling him what time the plane will get back so he knows where the plane will be when he pulls it's engine off.
As all the characters are the "living manipulated", Celler Door is the teacher's way of helping Donnie to goto the confrontation at Grandma Death's house (they went through the celler door.
Cherita sems to be either a red herring or simply a sign of what absoluted ************ kids are to each other.
Chut up! She's no red herring! She loves Donnie. :D
THROBACK
07-04-2003, 17:13
I thought it was mince.
Originally posted by kiran_mk2
Donnie is forced to burn down Cunningham's house so that his mother takes the dance team to LA. Donnie hears his mother on the answerphone telling him what time the plane will get back so he knows where the plane will be when he pulls it's engine off.
He pulled the planes engine off? That must have been using his powers :D not that we ever would have known .... but the engine came of over his house and I dont think he overheard his mum say what time the plane flew over his house.
I forgot Swayze was taking them to the dance... why did he flood the school though? I forgot??
Originally posted by Goblin
He pulled the planes engine off? That must have been using his powers :D not that we ever would have known .... but the engine came of over his house and I dont think he overheard his mum say what time the plane flew over his house.
I forgot Swayze was taking them to the dance... why did he flood the school though? I forgot??
to meet that bird
Well i just managed to re-watch this film again after a bunch of friends had borrowed it and passed it on an dborrowed it etc.
I liked it first time but love it now second time. Such great characters and music. reading this thread in it's entirity has been :nuts: but fun.
Just an idea but shouldn't a thread like this be moved to the DVD Forums GOLD. The film and thread is deserving of it because of the reactions it's caused.
How do threads get put into that forum?
good idea last posting bloke
very few films have had this much attention on here?
dont forget, it started over a year ago
lets hire henry kelly in and get him to say.........
lets go for gold:thumbs: :wave:
jaminblack
14-04-2003, 19:45
I second that Idea - this is definately the type of discussion that should be enouraged in the Gold section rather than just making fun of noobs and Snowpatrol.
Jamin
Joe Pasquale
14-04-2003, 20:03
And it's about to hit 10k views..:thumbs:
I feel so proud...:gag: ;)
put it in the Gold section!! but the films just a movie of the year, It'll drop out of the imdb Top 100 quicker then Titanic! :p
actually its funny reading some of the comments over on imdb, people praising the movie who have no idea what its about ... some came to strange conclusions! :D
KeyserSoze
14-04-2003, 21:19
is that such a bad thing ?
i havent read up on what the movie is really about because i dont really want to know. Ive only seen it once, ive come to a conclusion and i look forward to watching it again so i can see if my conclusion is valid.
Mr Flibble
16-04-2003, 14:07
Finally got a multiregion player, and ordered this the same day as the new player - a superb film, looking forward to the commentary tracks :)
:clap: Yay welcome to the real world Monsier Fleebble. You gonna alove it :D, the missus and bank manager may have reservations tho'. Be warned :suspect: :D
Originally posted by Mr Flibble
Finally got a multiregion player, and ordered this the same day as the new player - a superb film, looking forward to the commentary tracks :)
Hope that doesn't intefer with your rowing my friend ;)
wallofbeans
23-04-2003, 20:27
does anybody know if the donnie darko screenplay is available either online or as a book?
i'd love to have a read of the complete script...
Finally got round to watching it and have to agree that thought it was a worthy piece of work but at the same time felt despite its originality(although I question this somewhat), the 'puzzle without a solution school of filmaking' has been done to death. Memento is a far better and cogent example of the genre. Lynch has been there and done it, Egoyan too for that matter.
Don't get me wrong it's a fine piece of work and the tediously predictable nature of 'modern cinema' needs a right good thrashing, just feel there are more worthy examples. Purely because this is an 'American' production with a smattering of mainstream stars everyone tends to assume that it is better than it actually is.
Great film - about time I watched it again :D
Originally posted by Snuffy
Finally got round to watching it and have to agree that thought it was a worthy piece of work but at the same time felt despite its originality(although I question this somewhat), the 'puzzle without a solution school of filmaking' has been done to death. Memento is a far better and cogent example of the genre. Lynch has been there and done it, Egoyan too for that matter.
How is Memento a "puzzle without a solution"? Isn't it very much a puzzle with a solution?
I think what I should have said is that it's open to various interpretations.
just watched it.....sorry but I thought it was a pile of Kak.
kaine106
27-05-2003, 11:24
After reading the 'Time Travel' extra the film totally makes sense and its really quite clever!
One more thing though:
I have read everyones thoughts etc so far but what I dont get is why when Donnie did what Frank told him to do, (flood the school etc) did Donnie write THEY MADE ME DO IT. Who's 'they'?
raymondlin
28-05-2003, 00:11
Just watched it, the film was good but I was kinda expected more or different and I don't quite get it TBH. I love Mulholland drive thou.
TheGrinningReaper
30-05-2003, 19:11
Got it on DVD the other day. Really loved it, rare to see such complexity in a plot so seemingly simple on the surface.
TheGrinningReaper
30-05-2003, 20:51
Sorry bout the double post but found this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2533609791&category=20831
don't know if its been done before. I am Frank :lol:
<img src="http://www.hope.falling-star.org/youarefrank1.gif">
<br>
<font face="verdana" size="1"><a href="http://hope.falling-star.org/donnieq.html">Which Donnie Darko character are you?</a> by <a href="http://www.hope.falling-star.org">Shay</a></font></font>
NinjaBen
31-05-2003, 13:14
? Nothing like this character in real life - when i took the Star Wars test i was R2 (which was closer to the truth)...
<img src="http://www.hope.falling-star.org/youaredonnie.gif">
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<font face="verdana" size="1"><a href="http://hope.falling-star.org/donnieq.html">Which Donnie Darko character are you?</a> by <a href="http://www.hope.falling-star.org">Shay</a></font></font>
oh dear.................
You are Jim Cunningham. You're charismatic and people may like you, but you're really a two faced perverted
moving on:confused:
Originally posted by Snuffy
I think what I should have said is that it's open to various interpretations.
so is every film, but that means you just dont understand it :D
Memento has a real ending and Darko has a real ending. Still lets not put them in the same catagory, Memento is clever. ;)
basegreen
01-06-2003, 13:38
<img src="http://www.hope.falling-star.org/youaregretchen.gif">
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<font face="verdana" size="1"><a href="http://hope.falling-star.org/donnieq.html">Which Donnie Darko character are you?</a> by <a href="http://www.hope.falling-star.org">Shay</a></font></font>
Brunodog
03-06-2003, 14:43
Plenty of varied opinion here. Like Snuffy points out 'the puzzle without a solution' has been done better. I'm of the thinking that DD popularity may lie in the use of 'teen' characters much like American Pie. This combined with the large amount of exposure DD acheived have accelerated it way above any status it truly deserves. It is a pseudo-metaphysical brain teaser for a generation which has been denied a damn good brain teasing in recent years
I watched this last night. Wasn't as impressive as I'd been led to believe, but quite an absorbing film to watch.
At first I thought that Donnie wakes up and it was all some kind of pre-cognitive dream.
Then maybe it was a Donnie-saves-the-world type effort.
Now I've got to thinking it's more a 'God works in mysterious ways' film.
The way I now interpret it is this.
The jet engine travelling back in time creates the tangent universe from just before Donnie is meant to be killed.
Donnie doesn't save the world, he doesn't need to, time will right itself anyway leaving only the jet engine as a puzzleing artifact. But through obeying Frank's instructions he manages to steer many people's lives onto different paths.
During the 28 or so days Donnie:
Promises Cherita that one day everything will be better for her.
Uncovers Cunningham's criminal habit.(and shatters Miss Farmer's belief in Cunningham, as well as showing her that her life is fairly empty)
For a short while Gretchen is not in the throes of a tragedy.
Possibly, through the running over of Gretchen, he teaches the two divvy pillocks wearing stockings on their heads that things will go horribly wrong for them in the end.(I guess this is what the phrase 'cellar door' is for.)
Plus a whole lot of other stuff.
Whatever happens in this tangent universe will be remembered in the dreams of the people in the real universe.Cherita will wake with a sense that things will improve for her, Cunningham realises he is an evil man and so on. Donnie has even affected his own life. He wakes up happy having realised that he wasn't crazy at all, that he won't die alone and that he has done some good.
It is an excellent film in it's own right but not as engaging as I expected it to be.
Great characterisation and study though I thought Gyllenhall looked a bit too ****** in his "hallucination" scenes.
I do like the fact that after 13 pages we can't decide what it was about:lol:
i just think that after over a year and we are still talking about it, this film is very much a classic:clap:
Originally posted by D1 user
i just think that after over a year and we are still talking about it, this film is very much a classic:clap:
It doesn't mean you'e wrong - not at all - but if the film had received decent distribution on both sides of the Atlantic, etc, this thread might have have ended months ago!
*Tiffany*
10-06-2003, 00:14
Originally posted by McD
but if the film had received decent distribution on both sides of the Atlantic, etc, this thread might have have ended months ago!
Yep - It would have ended last summer when I first watched it - it IS a classic though :)
Philipio
17-06-2003, 23:50
I'm still confused....
*Tiffany*
19-06-2003, 15:18
Originally posted by Philipio
I'm still confused....
So am I, but that was its biggest charm, for me anyway :)
kaine106
20-06-2003, 10:33
How can you still be confused after the amount of information in this thread? I agree there are many possibilities as to what it means but if you just watch it with the commentary then all becomes clear. Trust me. ;)
*Tiffany*
20-06-2003, 10:56
Originally posted by kaine106
How can you still be confused after the amount of information in this thread? I agree there are many possibilities as to what it means but if you just watch it with the commentary then all becomes clear. Trust me. ;)
I reviewed the damn thing :D and listened to the commentaries, read every possible explanation on websites and message boards, interviews with the filmmakers and I am still :confused:
But, then I am a little slow on the uptake anyway...
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