Rating: 
Summary: Good
Review: The social commentary was annoying in the extreme after awhile - the consistancy of it. Shut up already. I like that it was weird and it did make you think - not about life and the here and now - more like a what if... Decisions... had he done it before? because he never should have known what he knew - Why did the rabbit follow him (because he cheated death - did he, if the plane didn't exsist yet? All so dramatic... and yet, I liked the characters. Even the annoying and crazy ones. Love was the all important motivator in this movie, because despite it all, that was what kept the characters going and what most all their actions were based on when it was important (ie mom taking sister to dance contest, most all of Donnie's decisions) Nice message if you saw it. It's subjective though. The movie is. The song Mad World so popular now - and so OVER PLAYED - I loved it in this movie. And the 80s references were fun. Overall, a good movie that probably deserves 3 1/2 stars. Also See: Run, Lola, Run (if you don't mind subtitles)
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most over-hyped, gawky teen movie ever!
Review: This movie is horrible. I can't believe I actually sat through this whole movie without picking up my television and throwing it to the ground. There are so many holes and continuity problems in this script.. not to mention the fact that from a linguistic standpoint, the script changes the definitions of so many words, sometimes mid-movie - to serve its own pointlessness. If you are a 16 year old bi polar, you may like this film... if you are a 23 year old college grad, pass this one up. This script is what would happen if Jessica Simpson took a philosophy class and wrote a script on what she thought the class meant.
Rating: 
Summary: A league of it's own
Review: 'Donnie Darko' is without a doubt one of the best films I have ever seen. It is a brilliant mix of satire, dark humour and sci-fi, founded on Kelly's fantastic dialogue and direction. The plot is based on a single question: Does everyone die alone? This chilling idea sets Donnie Darko on a quest to discover the existence of God and the idea of time travel. On his way he loses his fear of death and learns to love. In the end it is these newfound ideas that force Donnie to make the choice between life and death. The symbolic nature of the film is what makes it outstanding. There are ironic parallels with the Bible, 'Hamlet' and 'Catcher in the Rye', and Kelly uses these expertly for a director of such young years. Most importantly, the story of 'Donnie Darko' is in many ways typical of any teenager. A defiant but bright boy struggles in a world that he cannot understand and does not understand him, until finally he finds strength in the girl he loves. In the end, Donnie goes against the rules of time and fate wtih consequences that will never be understood by the world. Kelly cleverly transforms adolescent indulgence into the act of a saviour. An underrated masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking Gem
Review: Imagine the quirky premise: It's 1986 and a young man starts having disturbing visions of a six foot bunny rabbit who tells him that the world will end in 28 days, on Halloween. That is just the beginning. This darkly comic and touching independent gem was worthy of nominations for director, screenplay, and actor.
I don't understand why some Amazon reviewers did not love it. This movie is rich with details that you miss upon first viewing it. It is a refreshing change from the typical box office no-brainer movies that are always replete with explosions, car chases, and predictable plots.
For sheer originality and quirkiness, Donnie Darko is highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: You will LOVE this movie if you like American Beauty
Review: I should mention there are spoilers ahead. I found this movie trite and simplistic. However, it is very likely that you are as well and will therefore adore this movie. I don't mean to be condescending but it seems that so many people that have watched the movie get crushed in the cogs of the mechanics of the plot and enjoy that. The plot mechanics are, admittedly, somewhat complex but essentially inconsequential. The gist of the story is that all decisions break down to fear or love. The nasty bad man is correct. Donnie confronts his fear of dying alone for the sake of love. That's it. There is the story. The film is visually engaging and at times even stunning. The visuals and the tone of the movie are somewhat well done. The primary problem I had with the film is that it resorts to too many cheap tricks. Making a character a pedophile is a quick and easy method for making them the penultimate villain. I'm not suggesting that realistically this isn't true, but it is sort of a damning deus ex machina for a single character in a movie. The political commentary is comprised of irrelevant and pointless dialogue that has something to do with politics and very moving shots focused on an American flag. That last bit about the flag was intended to be ironical. Regardless, if you are like most people, and it would stand to reason that you are, you will love how the film "messes with your head" or something equally asinine. Watch it back to back with American Beauty and go to bed thinking you are a truly deep individual!
Rating:
Summary: perfect
Review: This movie is a gem! One of the most original, complex movies I have ever seen! Buy it, enjoy it, treasure it!
Rating: 
Summary: Anxiety
Review: "Donnie Darko" is already one of the certifiable cult classics of the 2000s, joining perhaps "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Requiem for a Dream" who already achieve such status in still a young decade. What sets this film apart from the others, however, is its sheer unclassifiable ness: family drama, horror, science fiction and humor are all mixed in this cinematic stew where "Pretty in Pink"-meets-"Slaughterhouse-Five"-meets-"Catcher in the Rye." The outcome is a highly original film that dives into fundamental questions of life itself, all of which makes great entertainment. Set in the tightly-clinched sphincter of late-1980s Reagan America, we meet East Coast Catholic high schooler Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal), a troubled teen with emotional problems that worry his concerned and supportive family. Donnie's world isn't in good shape either: Dukakis is losing badly to George Bush; his fellow high schoolers and friends are brash and racist; his education filled with meaningless fear-and-love emotional studies. The neatly trimmed lawns, big homes and fine green trees of his hometown of Middlesex, Virginia disguise the brewing trouble that is lurking all around. Donnie unexpectedly begins to sleep walk at night, leaving his house to wake up in the morning on hillside roads and golf courses. During one such walk, a disjointed voice lures him out of the house and onto a golf course, where Donnie discovers a guy in a demonic bunny suit named Frank telling him that the world will end in twenty-eight days. This sparks a chain of events that not only puzzle Donnie, but virtually everyone around him, calumniating in a hallucinatory finale where the audience is asked to question what it means to be alive and ultimately what it means to be alone in a complicated and sometimes frightening universe. With a strong cast that includes Patrick Swayze as an ultra-conservative emotional speaker, Noah Wyle and Drew Barrymore as Donnie's progressive English and science teachers, Maggie Gyllenhaal (Jake's real-life sister) as Donnie's '80s-brat sister, and the always great Mary McDonnell as Donnie's confused but loving mother, "Donnie Darko" has a great depth of actors which brings these colorful characters to life. The also fabulous soundtrack includes a slew of '80s favorites, like Echo and the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, the Church, and Joy Division. Its most talked about song, "Mad World" an excellent remake of the Tears for Fears classic by Gary Jules, is absolutely haunting when played near the film's conclusion. Attesting to its power, it went to number one in the UK in December 2003, nearly two years after being released. In all, "Donnie Darko" is a great movie to watch on Friday or Saturday night with all the lights turned off, and possibly a cup of coffee once it's ended to talk about it. Like a good wine, "Donnie Darko" has become more popular since its subdued release in 2001, and with time, has only gotten better.
Rating:
Summary: It changed the way I look at time and fate
Review: Donnie Darko must be the greatest movie ever made. It had everything. Solid acting, wonderful visuals, The Evil Dead, and a steady puzzle piece plot that when coming full circle at the end, left you breathless. I've always been a believer in fate and that we have a set path in which we follow that ends at death. And this film totally explained my beliefs. I never considered the fact that if we could see our set path that we could see the future. I also never considered that our paths came from our chests in liquid spears either. That was a little weird at first I must admit. Jake Gylenhaal gave a wonderful performance as Donnie Darko. His actions and his dialogue were absolutely astonishing. Because it was real. Instead of being comic booky like most sci-fi films, this one spoke to you because some things that are said and done are some things that real people do everyday. You always say when watching a movie "Well you know what I would do in that situation.". This one struck me so hard because I couldn't utter that phrase. Because they did what I would do. We have motivational speakers that come to our school giving out semi good advice every year. And sometimes I just want to get up and make them look foolish so I can stop the bad advice. Donnie did this to Jim Cunningham. That was frickin hillarious too. "You're right I am scared and I am angry but I also think your the f***ing antichrist." Wow. And the adventurous suspense part of it was a real doozy too. At first I wasn't quite sure what Frank was up to. But then I could see his rash orders fit together to ensure the survival of all people when the time lapse's ending came. Pure genius. You don't have to have a college degree to decipher this one, folks. I'm a junior in high school and I figured it out the first time. Buy this film. It may not be a huge box office hit but it sure is a hit with me and millions of others looking for answers about fate. Buy it. You'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: great movie
Review: this is one of my favorite movies- its the kind that really makes you think. now im not going to retell the plot because it looks like the other 400+ people have already covered that one (possibly ruining it-very sad)but i would definitely recommend it to everyone to see at least once- because you will most likely love it or not like it a whole lot depending on your taste in moves.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: One of the best movies I have ever seen and I've seen alot! Simply what storytelling is about making you question everything and keeps you pondering the whole time! Wonderful, I'm amazed this movie was produced via hollywood, compared to some of the crap they put out wow!
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