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Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Remarkably original
Review: Any form of media that makes you think has succeeded in what it set out to do.Donnie Darko is a film that succeeds on every conceivable level. The script is original and entirely unpredictable. There isn't a single bit of action or dialogue, not one frame that can be anticipated. The characters, too, are refreshingly well-conceived and highly unique. And it's a treat to see actors we know well (Drew Barrymore, who also produced, and Noah Wyle) stretch well beyond our usual expectations. There is great humor in this film as well as great sorrow. And, ultimately, it's impossible to say if the entire scenario takes place within the dreams of a brilliant but possibly schizophrenic young man or if, as he so desperately wishes, he has, through physics, managed to reverse time.

Jake Gyllenhaal gives a stunning performance as Donnie. Even his body language--incurving shoulders, questioning eyes, uncertain smiles--reveal a vast, searching intelligence. Mary McDonnell gives yet another in a roster of thoughtful portrayals--this time as the despairing mother of brilliant and troubled Donnie, simultaneously loving and hating him for being emotionally beyond her reach. And Jena Mallone is just wonderful, one of the truest, most authentic young actors around today.

This is filmmaking at its best--an adventure for the mind--not to be missed.
Most highly recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Yes, it's DARK
Review: This weird film is the result of a very fortunate mixture of different styles. It's about teenagers but it's "NOT another teen movie". A strange character who wears an ugly rabbit mask who appears suddenly before Donnie, would make us believe it's an horror movie, but it is smarter than that. And the time traveling issue would lead us to think it's a science fiction film. I think it goes further, this is a story to think about, to try to answer the questions that are never answered. Watch "Donnie Darko" and discover how an airplane's turbine falls down from nowhere, why the world is ending in just 28 days, the identity of the "crazy" woman who continuously checks her mailbox although nobody ever writes to her, find out why all Chereeta says is "Shut up!", and learn to appreciate the beauty of the word "cellar door". Intrigued? GREAT! Now watch it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Floyd the rabbit
Review: Donnie Darko is....a complicated movie. a strange mixture of dark adolescent daydreams, spirituality, time travel, faith and fate. the main cahacter is teen age boy named donnie darko (Jake Gyllenhall) whom suffers from schizophrenic daydreams. The characters are well developed and the movie keeps you interested in the plot. Pay close attention because this one will mess with your head.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best teenage time-travel story ever
Review: I won't say any more for fear of spoiling it for you. =)
The soundtrack is also excellent, as is the cast and script.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It Only Gets Better With Age...
Review: For a movie that got such a raw deal upon its initial release it has since developed a loyal cult following that has championed the film to the point where the studio execs have allowed writer-director Richard Kelly to release a new Director's Cut this year in theaters.

This is a movie that really improves with age. Every subsequent viewing only deepens your understanding of the movie and makes you appreciate the complexity of Kelly's narrative. There is a lot going on in this film and every time I've seen it, I've noticed something new or seen something that made me think about it in a different way.

I first noticed Jake Gyllenhaal in October Sky and was immediately captivated by his performance in that film. He has since produced a fascinating output and diverse body of work. His performance in this movie is nothing short of excellent. He starts off as a confused teenager but Gyllenhaal gradually shows that there is so much more to this character than meets the eye. Is he crazy? Is he some kind of mad prophet? A time traveler? A visionary? A mixed up kid? All of the above? It's quite a soulful, thoughtful performance that is also funny and heartbreakingly tragic.

The whole cast is top notch: from ER's Noah Wyle and Drew Barrymore to the always reliably Jena Malone and a surprise turn from Patrick Swayze playing a slimy Infomercial guru. More importantly, Donnie's family is so well cast, including Mary McDonnel as his mom and Holmes Osborne as his dad and, of course, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Donnie's sister (and also Jake's real-life one). They really feel and act like a genuine family with all of the little behavioural nuances.

As for the DVD, well, if you had any questions as to what it all means, listen to Kelly's audio commentary with Jake Gyllenhaal. While he doesn't explain everything, he does examine a lot of the themes and does fill in some of the gaps. This is one of the best audio commentaries out there for that simple fact. Best of all, he points out all kinds of images that were buried in the background that you don't notice the first few times. For example, as Donnie rides his bike home at the beginning of the film, Frank drives by him in his car. Or, the bunny motif that pops up throughout the movie. It is these attentions to detail that really give this film an added complexity and I'm very appreciative of Kelly for drawing attention to them in his commentary track.

The cast commentary is more of a free-for-all but fun to listen to and the many deleted scenes are very interesting to watch and fill in a few more gaps. It should be interesting to see how many of these are put back into the Director's Cut.

This is an incredibly original film that never insults your intelligence. This is definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This movie is GREAT!
Review: This film seriously had me thinking afterwards...
Jake Gyllenhaal was phenominal, along with the fact that the creative and well-made script and cinematography.

It was scary, dark, depressing, funny...overall bittersweet, but it really strikes a cord in you when you after you see things unravel at the end.

If you like to watch interesting films and not the typical romantic comedy or action flick, you'll love this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Creepy and a way good story!
Review: Donnie Darko starts out with this messed up kid and his friends. soon he starts seeing frank, a man in a demonic rabbit costume, and frank tells him when the world is going to come to an end. i can't decide if this movie is a horror/thriller, drama, or comedy! its some of each. its very twisted and hard to understand but its still really good! its a must buy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWSOME
Review: i love this movie, it is such a mind trip. every time i watch it i see something new something that changes my opinion about whats going on. even after the 1000th time (no im not exadurating that) it is still cool to see how the charachters lives twist and intertwine with each other. i would reccomend this to anyone at all.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: hmm.
Review: a slightly confusing, but overall very entertaining and fascinating film. the cast is pretty good, although drew barrymore is absolutely appalling and not quite believable as a high school teacher.
amusing conversations, interesting plot and overall weirdness make this an almost-excellent-but-not-quite movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Depression on Steroids
Review: I bought this movie at the recommendation of a friend, and was extremely regretful of doing so. This movie, in my opinion, was dreary, depressing, creepy, and downright lousy. I don't know how anyone, unless they are on drugs, could enjoy this film. This film puts nothing on your mind except depression and death. I personally prefer movies that show the true beauty of life, such as the recently released Big Fish. Finally, if you are not depressed, Donnie Darko will still surely cast a shadow of darkness and depression over your day.


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