Rating: 
Summary: a beautiful film, hilighted by dashes of dementia
Review: i was excited to get this dvd in the mail today.. i'd already seen the movie a few times, but i was dying to see it again.
its got everything one could want in a film: adventure, romance, comedy, action, mystery, and a six foot bunny.the main thing about this film that sticks out in my mind is how beautiful it is. even when dealing with subjects like hallucination and time travel, there is always a strong feeling of humanity emanating from every scene. You never doubt for a second that every one of these characters, especially the darko family, has something hidden inside of them that is just on the verge of bursting out.. i think this is mostly due to the fine acting... which deserves congratulations all around. it was a touch of genius to have this film set in the 80s.. it adds a rich and unmistakable atmosphere to it, although it could be set in almost any time period, because the story is somewhat timeless.. (no pun intended) i would reccommend this movie to open-minded movie watchers. for instance... if you liked memento and mulholland drive... or even if you didn't like those movies, but want to see something a little different from the average shoot-em-up explosion movie or sappy "chick-flick" with no purpose.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed, I cried, I hid under the couch, and I went "wuh?"
Review: This movie is funny, creepy, and just plain weird but not once does it go over the top. For some reason it makes you think that time travel and a demonic rabbit named Frank could easily exist in reality without having to give it a second thought. The acting is along the same lines as the plot; weird, creepy, but good and it never gets to be too much to take. I was skeptical about actually liking a movie with Drew Barrymore, but her character played a small role. She was also able to tone down the parts of her acting that make me cringe. This movie is just plain bizzare, and I love it for exactly that. I can't wait to see it again.
Rating:
Summary: Talent on the rise
Review: Donnie Darko is a pretty amazing film. It is so well conceived and executed that I am somewhat shocked at how little mention it has gotten from media outlets. Donnie, (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a troubled High School student, who has visions of an imaginary rabbit. This rabbit helps Donnie to see visions of the past and future. As he struggles to make sense of it all, his family must try and come to grips with his condition. The description that I just wrote for the movie is only the tip of the iceberg. DONNIE DARKO is a hard movie to classify into one genre. Usually, films like this are nothing but one big mess, fortunately that is not the case here. The movie touches on many issues and crosses into many different types of films. There are elements of drama, comedy, sci-fi, and psychological thriller within this film. First time writer/director Richard Kelly proves that all of these elements can be put together in one movie and still make sense. The movie has a fine supporting cast that includes Drew Barrymore, Jenna Mallone, Patrick Swayze, Katherine Ross, and Noah Wyle. Another plus for the movie is that it is set in the 1980s. The director uses many identifyers to take you back to that time without overdoing it. At certain times I felt as though I were watching an 80s film, especially the scenes of Donnie eating dinner with his family, dead on in every way. Gyllenhaal delivers a first rate performane. I could really identify with the character and some of his problems. Top-notch all the way around. The DVD is a great package. There are 2 commentary tracks for you to enjoy. It also has over 20 deleted scenes. Some of which are very "meaty" in terms of content. If you are looking for something that is very original and clever than this film should deliver for you. Each person that watches the movie will be able to take away something different from it. This is a must have DVD Kelly will be and is a director to watch in the future
Rating: 
Summary: Enticing rabbit stew
Review: Jake Gyllenhaal plays the title character, a suburban teenager who has it all. Rich parents, a beautiful home, an exclusive private school where the students openly do cocaine in the halls, Drew Barrymore as an English professor and a $200 an hour analyst. In the movies, such a privileged, complacent milieu is bound to weather some unsettling moments, and Donnie soon meets up with a mysterious benefactor -- a six-foot tall man in a bunny costume with a skull face named "Frank." Frank comes to Donnie in a dream state, and saves him from a freak accident. Such a favor can't go unpaid, and soon "Frank" has Donnie running errands -- and the mystery deepens. Surrealistic and dream-like, "Donnie Darko" weaves in a lot of elements that intentionally don't all add up. Time travel, teen angst, apocalyptic visions, madness, budding sexuality and eye-popping special effects find their way into this tantalizing rabbit stew. Set in 1988, the soundtrack offers sing-along favorites such as Tears for Fears "Head Over Heels" and "Mad World" along with hairstyles that will make many older audience members cringe in recognition. In addition, Patrick Swayze plays a motivational speaker who spouts mixture of Reagan conservatism and Nietzchean ruthlessness. Like most everybody else in the movie, he harbors a very, very dark secret. "Donnie Darko" wears a lot pop culture references on its sleeve. Even the least astute will pick up on the references to "Blue Velvet" and "Harvey" this cursory summary mentions. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot the sly nods to Swayze's "Footloose" and have a good chuckle over the very unlikely double feature of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead playing with Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" playing at a near-empty theater! "Darko" is a visually compelling feast for the senses. If not everything about it makes sense, well, it's probably not supposed to -- "Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?" -- Greg Goodsell
Rating:
Summary: Ambiguous and frustrating, but also beautiful
Review: When the movie ended, I was left with a sense of disappointment. The plotlines don't wrap up in a convenient little bundle and I had many more questions I wanted answered. This ambiguity is a strength; it makes the exploration of the movie's meaning and reality enjoyable. The initial disappointment is a small price to pay for such an interesting and unique story.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie of 2001.
Review: I've seen this movie ages ago, and got the dvd on it's release. I really wished this movie was on the oscars. I really deserved to be out there and shown to more people. It is the best movie of 2001, and on my favorite movies of all time list. I suggest everyone who is reading this review to purchase this movie, and carefully watch it and follow everything that happens in the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Overlooked and Underrated.
Review: Like many of the movies I truly love, this one might not be for everyone. It's challenging, original and does not spoon feed itself to you. While some reviewers have complained that Darko borrows elements from other movies, I don't think this movie is merely a sum of it's parts and I think it's ridiculous to accuse it of doing something that all fiction has been guilty of since hunters told stories around camp-fires. There are few stories, and it's the way they are told that make them stand out. While watching DD, I was constantly reminded of another movie I saw earlier this year...I find it difficult to believe that Ghost World was nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay while Donnie Darko was completely snubbed in every category. I loved Donnie Darko for all the same reasons I hated Ghost World. While Ghost World seems to celebrate apathy and selfishness (to me anyway), Donnie Darko rages against it. What's most striking to me about Darko is that on the surface it's dark, twisted, disturbing and even a little depressing, but beneath the surface it really does celebrate life. I described it to one friend as "12 Monkeys" meets "It's a Wonderful LIfe" with an evil bunny rabbit. Ok, maybe that's stretching things a bit, but while most people will fail to see anything other than another dark, sci-fi, time travel movie, the open minded viewer will be deeply rewarded... Donnie eventually discovers the beauty and joy of life against inhuman odds. Life is finite, fleeting and precious, and Donnie represents those fortunate few who discover this in time to appreciate it even in complete defiance to the horrors he witnesses. It's easy to be positive when life is a bowl of cherries, but to delve into the darkness and emerge with hope takes real courage.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie & soundtrack
Review: this movie really gives you that depressing/obsessive/cool feeling of the 80's . donnie darko is very deep and powerful, it's one of those movies that really hangs with you for a couple of days.. it makes you want to be there.
Rating:
Summary: How did I miss this in the theater? Darkly hypnotic!
Review: The original thriller Donnie Darko brilliantly tells a tale of psychosis, bravery and sacrifice, wrapped up in a story of a compelling sci-fi styled mystery. Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is given a four week head's up of the impending doom for Earth. His imaginary friend Frank lets him know, he's the 6 feet tall terrifying monster bunny in the mirror that no one but Donnie can see. Even though he's heavily medicated, in therapy, and risking the wrath of his family, Donnie takes Frank the Bunny's advice unconditionally. He feels he owes it to Frank, he saved his life after all. His first piece of advice proved dead on, to leave his home in the middle of the night, which prevents Donnie from of all things, being smooshed by a giant jet engine which falls mysteriously to earth and crashes into his bedroom. Now the troubled Donnie must cope with his secret and very scary friend taking him on eerie and fateful sleepwalking adventures, his troubles with his family and school, and dealing with growing feelings for a girl with her own set of problems, Gretchen, (jena malone) whose Mom is in the witness protection program. The film is imaginative, intelligent, well acted, challenging and thoroughly original. Gyllenhaal underplays Donnie's mental problems which makes it all the more unnerving and hypnotic to watch. I can't believe I missed it in the theater, word of mouth now that it's out on DVD and Video is this film's best friend, I cannot recommend it enough!
Rating:
Summary: Dark, darker, DARKO
Review: It is always sad to see and hear of such original movies that never get their shot on the big screen. Somehow being robbed of their grand vision. Donnie Darko is another one of those victims. I had read and seen many trailers and previews for this film but never got to see it. Much to my surprise it popped up on dvd this past week. I bought it straightaway. What an unexpected, mind-bending treasure this has turned out to be! First of all, the trailers I saw (which are included on the dvd) were misleading. It seemed as if it was a typical slash and stab flick. Far from it, I say! Part American Beouty, part eighties teen drama, part dark comedy. This movie has it all. Jake Gyllenhall is brilliant as the troubled title character. With the slightest smile or frown the scene goes from childlike fascination to mischevious malevolence. The entire cast was perfect, and I hope that this movie gets more of a following now that its out everywhere. If you saw it in theatres, check out the dvd. The deleted scenes are so amazing, they really unravel the story for you. If you ever wondered if there was something wrong with you, or if you were broken, watch this movie. "They are just placebos. Pills made of water" BRILLIANT!
|
