Rating: 
Summary: Stunning
Review: Wow, what a great movie. It's one that makes you think about it for a few days, and changes your outlook on life. I must say it changed me. It's a little different but it's a great story and it really makes you think.
Rating:
Summary: A Chaotic Masterpiece
Review: Donnie Darko was released to mediocre reviews and low box-office sales, but its rising popularity since its release on DVD has proven that it is a cult classic of the most unique nature.The film explores teen angst, religion, love, and science fiction, all in an unorthadox presentation that may leave you scratching your head, but nontheless inspired by its haunting brilliance. The solution is there if you have the ingenuity to ponder it - I'll just say it has a lot to do with divine intervention to teach a lesson and finding resolution to the painful complications of teen life. (If you want the whole story, you can e-mail me). The film is set in the 80s, and director Richard Kelly does a superb job in giving it a distinct 80s aura. You'll think you're watching a movie that was really made in the 80s. Combining this style with the vivid and eerie soundtrack, Donnie Darko is sure to leave a lasting impression on you and will give you a lot to think about. If it leaves you feeling frustrated, there are plenty of online resources to help you sort it out. The filmmakers admit that with the editing job done to the movie, certain things do not make definitive sense. Supposedly a newly-edited version is being released in theaters sometime soon. Nontheless, it is impossible to see this movie without being stirred. This DVD is a must-own for any movie collector.
Rating: 
Summary: Fools Gold
Review: Donnie Darko. Just another self-important, simple-minded suburban critique, ruined by tedious cliches. The film begins in October of 1988. And in case you missed the point that this film takes place in the 80's, pop cultural references are constantly thrown in your face, either in the shape of 80's music, or through the use of the washed-up 80's icon, Patrick Swayze, who is, of course, not only a famous self-help guru, but runs a porn ring. YAWN. We even get a dinner table scene right out of Married...With Children. Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhall) is, of course, an oh-so misunderstood teenager who is taking medication for his, er, "emotional disturbances". One morning he awakens on a golf course after following the voice of a giant, evil rabbit in a state of somnambulance. This rabbit, named Harvey, excuse me, I mean Frank, tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. Umm, gee, could this be Halloween? YAWN. From there, he uncovers the secrets of the space-time continuum so he can time travel time. Or something. Not that it matters because this is social commentary, dude! It's just too bad the ideas in this films are not only laughably stereotypical (of course Drew Barrymore is the young, hip teacher who is crucified for her liberal views. YAWN), but intellectually dull. Nothing here is fresh or original. All the humor is nothing but nostalgic rot: at one point, Don Darko and his buddies are discussing the sex life of smurfs with second rate, cringe-worthy Tarantino dialog. Speaking of second rate, the films visual style is little more than a shadow of David Lynch; indeed, the whole film is a pale reflection of its influences, like American Beauty. And like American Beauty, it is not a critique of what's wrong with America, but a substitute for such a critique.
Rating:
Summary: of the best movies ever made
Review: oh man, this movie is wonderful. i just read a top 500 reviewer say this movie wasn't good. when i went to see what else this person had reviewed, i noticed they gave scooby-doo 5 stars.
so now you know you shouldn't listen to THAT person. i simply couldn't take my eyes off this movie. it answers all of your questions, you just have to be smart enough to know when it does. and i thought the acting and script were good. buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Ok, but not "WOW"
Review: I saw this movie last night, and it was a bit of a disappointment. After reading others' reviews, I had assumed I was in for something truly fantastic... It was supposed to be creepy, scary, make me think, etc. Well, I guess Frank's halloween mask was a bit creepy, but that's about it. Actually, the scariest thing about it was Grandma Death's hair... And while the movie did hold my interest--it makes you want to see how things turn out--there wasn't much to think about afterwards. There were funny moments in the movie, but it seemed to me to be a bunch of random events going together without much cohesion. That was probably the point, and it kind of came together at the end, but it really left you with more questions than answers. And the questions weren't really interesting enough to ponder. So, go ahead and watch it, but don't expect it to be phenomenal. I don't feel like I wasted my time watching it once, but I don't plan to ever watch it again. It's interesting enough to see, but not particularly profound.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: Jake Gyllenhal plays an amazing role. his personality makes you fall for him because he is so childish and adorable. all the roles are played very well. this is my favorite movie and my favorite song is now mad world. but why is frank's eye shot already when they are at the movie?
Rating:
Summary: Simply (no pun intended) brilliant!
Review: This film is undoubtedly one of my favourite films of all time. Having viewed this film countless times, I thought it necessary to make a comment given the negative opinions expressed by some people. What with the brilliant acting, witty and clever dialogue, intriguing plot and magnificant musical score it's hard to fathom how someone could dislike this film. At the heart of the film's brilliance is its open-ended plot. Unlike Memento and 12 Monkeys (and Mulholland Drive to a degree), the viewer is required to form his own conclusions as to the ultimate meaning the film imparts. It requires the viewer to think; it is indie at its absolute best. It is not a mainstream film in any sense of the word. And it is, as others have said, a film that you will either love or hate. If you generally like films that have a discernable plot and comprehensible conclusion it is likely that you will dislike this film. But with an open mind, multiple viewings and patience (of which some people obviously lack), you too shall fall in love with this film. It is, quite simply, brilliant.
Rating: 
Summary: Unclassifiable and Original suit this film well
Review: I'm really not sure where I stand on this movie, but I've seen it at least 10 times now and that's really whare I stand on it still. It's got so many questions that it makes you ask yourself after watching it, it makes you wonder if you saw it all, or watched it "right." So you watch it again. And the second time, you seem like you THINK you've got a grasp of what happened until you try and reflect. The story is of paranoid schizophrenic Donnie Darko, who has delusions that a man in a bunny suit tell him about time travel, life, death, and just about anything else that comes up. The actual happenings of the movie seem more inconsequential as Donnie struggles with his grasp of reality and fiction, but all the while trying to solve the mysteries of time travel, and growing up. It's a confusing movie. Deliberately incoherent at times and I'm assuming you're supposed to have an opinion of "what exactly happened" after you've watched the film. I've watched the film 10 times or so and still am not exactly sure, but at the same token, I've taken the time to watch the film 10 times, so it couldn't be all that bad. If it were strictly incoherent and not thought provoking in any way, then I'd probably be pissed I shelled out the money for it, but as it sits, I've got my money's worth out of it. Whether you like it or not, I'd say this is a movie for just about everyone to watch. It's got humor, wit and some intelligence to it, in addition to being a confusing little conversation-starter.
Rating:
Summary: Just saw this..WOW..
Review: One of the strangest movies ever, but fantasic. Mix together a psycho bunny, Grandma Death, cellar door, "Sparkle Vision," time/space portals, jet engines falling out of the sky, Patrick Swayze as a preacher/child pornography freak, and quite the hooded sweatshirt obsession and you've got "Donnie Darko." Doesn't make sense? Well, it doesn't when you watch it either, but it's great!! Highly recommend!!
Rating:
Summary: Moebius strip
Review: There is a curious cinematic form that has emerged in the last few years, which is akin to the Moebius Strip. In such films, past shades into future, cause and effect are interchangeable, and the film loops around neatly (and shockingly) to reveal that it is really a sort of closed alternate universe. Examples include Lost Highway, Memento, 12 Monkeys, and now Donnie Darko. One of its charms (and frustrations) is that, like Vanilla Sky, you are never certain just what sort of film it is you are watching until the end. It reveals itself slowly - layer by layer. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Donnie Darko, a likeable young man troubled by what is probably paranoid schizophrenia. Refreshingly, his parents (played by Holmes Osborne and Mary McDonnel), are not the usual teen flick dummies. The family, while a bit dysfunctional, manages to remain cohesive and loving. This is important. The film would function as a sympathetic treatment of mental illness even if it did not have other goals in mind. Darko has strange visions and visitations. He sleepwalks, and finds himself waking up in odd places. Most disturbing, he seems to hallucinate a guy named Frank in a macabre bunny suit, who tells him that the world will end in 28 days. It does not take long to figure out that he's referring to Darko's world, not the world as a whole. To enjoy this film, one needs to understand two things: the events, though strange, are leading to a definite, coherent conclusion; and - importantly - the audience is asked to participate in fitting the pieces of the puzzle together. There is no character given the task of explaining it to the audience to make sure we get it. That there is an answer, and that it's slyly revealed through seemingly inexplicable pieces doled out in the course of the story, is a testament to the skill of first-time writer-director Richard Kelly. As plenty of other reviews here make clear, there are many people who lack the patience for this sort of thing. If you are one of them, you have been warned. You will probably find Donnie Darko both perplexing and pointless. But if you enjoy puzzles, if you find yourself trying to second guess where films are going as you watch, then you will probably find this film enjoyable. Although I didn't think Donnie Darko was very profound, I did find it moving. Jake Gyllenhaal embodies his character completely, making him sympathetic even when his behavior borders on psychotic. His is a brilliant, if malfunctioning mind, and Gyllenhaal's performance manages the neat trick of telling us that there is a decent human being struggling under the burden of his illness. This basic decency leads him to decision at the end of the film that, while not very surprising, is nonetheless heroic in its own way. The DVD is fairly good, with some interesting (if not particularly revealing) extras, and a couple of frustratingly disjointed commentary tracks. In my opinion, actors and directors should strive to actually PREPARE what they are going to say, while still allowing for some spontaneity during the recording session. If not, you get a lot of laughing and people talking over one another, as you do here. It's good for a listen, but don't expect anything truly revealing. I'm not sure how much further the Moebius film can be taken. It may be exhausted with just a handful of striking examples. But then, who could have foreseen such a striking, original film as Donnie Darko in the first place?
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