Donnie Darko

Rating:
Summary: Building a Mystery
Review: I avoided getting this movie because I was almost sure it was about some kid with magic powers. However, after reading some interesting comments on the film I decided to give it a try. Let me just say that if you're the type of person who loves a movie that makes you think and feel deeply then this movie is for you. So, watch it and stop reading this review. In fact, the less you know about this movie the more you will enjoy it.

After listening to the Director's commentary I realized that what I got out of this movie was far from what was intended by the director, and my original impression of the film, about some kid with super powers was correct. Yet the way in which the movie was done, it really does leave things in a kind of mysterious haze and I doubt it's possible for any two people to view this movie exactly the same. According to the Director this is some kind of Star Trek, Twilight Zone hybrid and the things that Donnie thinks are happening are actually real.
My take on this movie is that Donnie's grip on reality was slipping fast. His fear and obsession with death, created in him a kind of love hate relationship with mortality and as a result he created an elaborate story to make sense of his fears and the pointlessness of life as he saw it.
His own feelings of worthlessness and emptiness are remidied by an elaborate story that he intergrates into his imagination. He has taken bits and pieces of things he see's and hears and makes them into something that gives him ultimate purpose. Unfortunately Donnie knows that if he is to keep the illusion he must make the ultimate gesture and what can be more extreme than his own death. And so we are constantly hinted at Donnies "sacrifice" and he gladly embraces it. After all, better to live a short life filled with meaning rather than a long life filled with failure and confusion, right? For Donnie this is the only way he knows to escape. As we see, upon his death he couldn't look happier.

At the end of the movie we see those who are left behind. We see that Donnie's understanding of the world around him was in fact fairly accurate. We see the people who pretend to be happy are really sad. We see the girl who is always upset happy when she is away from the pain of the world. And then, the big engine comes crashing in, symbollic of the tremendous misfortune that his act of suicide really is.
And then there is his family left to suffer the lose their beloved Donnie. Then Gretchen comes riding up the block. This was the most touching part of the movie for me because I saw this as proof that Donnie did have the possibility for a real life and for real love with a beautiful woman. A kind of "what if" passes by to remind us that he made a mistake. In a heartwarming gesture she waves to Donnie's mother in order to acknowledge that her heart is with the Darko family, and as her mother waves back the small boy standing next to Gretchen waves in response to Mrs. Darko's wave, showing us that reaching out, even in the mist of darkness, can have a chain reaction of light.

Rating:
Summary: questions answered
Review: I've been a fan of the Donnie Darko film for a while now, but was wary of spending the money on a "Director's Cut" version of the movie. Many other films have had extended director's cut versions released where there were only a few seconds or a couple minutes of extra footage, which added nothing to the story. That is simply not the case with this particular DVD. In this instance, the director's cut answers many questions that a viewer of the theatrical release may have asked while watching the film. There are a ton of extra scenes, and they're not just "fluff" shots, but actually contribute a lot to the story. If you saw the original version and liked it, but didn't quite understand what was going on all the time, watch the director's cut, and it's very likely that you'll "get it" this time 'round.

Rating:
Summary: buy the version released in 2001
Review: The basic plot revolves around Donnie, a teenage schizophrenic, with an imagined friend in a bunny suit named Frank. It is a very interesting concept and leaves viewers questioning.

Richard Kelly stated that his version would answer some of those questions and provide better understanding than the original release. Simply put, the Director's Cut does not meet this expectation.

I had already paid $20 for the first release, but because I loved it so much, I absolutely HAD to have this new and allegedly improved version as well. I regret this purchase because I really don't have money to waste. There are very few actual scenes added and none are of any great significance or change the meaning of the film. There was one scene regarding his medication that added a bit of a twist... but I don't even think it was in the final version of the movie, but listed as a deleted scene instead. One would have to watch the two versions back to back to catch all of the changes... that is how insignificant the added scenes are. Some of the things NEEDED to be cut - for example, the eye scenes and the pages from the book on time travel (you'll know what I'm referring to if you've seen this version). Those scenes just did not transition well into the movie. Instead of adding meaning, they were distractions. The eye seems completely unnecessary and the information from the book would have been much better if displayed as text on the bottom of the screen or in some other, less intrusive means. Another noticeable difference is one of the ending scenes... in the director's cut there are black lines/boxes over the images, which looks very amateur - as if it was done in photoshop and not done very well at that.

The bonus disc of special features is yet another disappointment. It's boring even to a fan of the movie. I fell asleep during it. I did not have that problem during the special features of the original 2001 release.

Buy the first release of Donnie Darko (which gets 5 stars from me). Don't bother with this version unless you have a free rental coupon and everything else is rented out. I resisted the urge to rate this version even lower than I did, because it would be good... if a better version hadn't already been released. It's just really unnecessary.

Rating:
Summary: Awful
Review: Terrible acting, no pacing, incoherent tone, incoherent script, obscenely self-important and humorless (except for a patheticly Tarantino-esque pop-cult conversation about Smurfs)...


What is the appeal of this movie beyond the hype? I honestly don't get it.


It must be over my head...

Rating:
Summary: Watch it....then watch it again in a rabbit suit....
Review: I watched this at home, and had to wait a few days until I could watch it again. This movie makes you think, and slightly disturbed me. I had to allow for 'processing time' before I could give it a second go. Do not get up to go to the bathroom, try to talk to your friends about the movie while watching this movie or anything. If you have a fear of large rabbits, don't watch this. If you don't fear rabbits, you may afterward.

The basic story is about Donnie Darko, a sixteen-year-old boy diagnosed with schizophrenia. He talks to a very large and very creepy rabbit named Frank that predicts the future. That is what to tell people when you just want to give the short version of this story. The long version requires a rabbit suit. To really understand the story line, you have to watch the movie multiple times and listen to the commentary and all the extra stuff and the maybe, just maybe you might kind of understand what really happened.

Please do not let this deter you from watching. The movie is well acted and the story is intriguing. Jake Gyllenhaal gives the best performance I have seen from a young actor in a very long time. He utilizes his posture, voice and eyes to convince you that he is Donnie Darko. His mother, played by Mary McDonnell, is excellent. In response to Donnie's despairing question "How does it feel to have a freak for a son?" she simply responds "It feels wonderful." That is the most reassuring thing any parent could possibly say. Donnie's older sister is portrayed by Jake's real-life older sister, adding to the plot-necessary sibling rivalry beautifuly. This is Richard Kelly's directorial debut, and he has made his mark. I fear that his next flim will not live up to the expectation left by Darko.

Every character in the film serves a secondary purpose. Frank the rabbit is Donnie's unconcious mind. The teachers that Donnie likes (played by Drew Barrymore and Noah Wyle) serve as guides to help him understand time-travel, responsibilty, girls and that nothing is simple. The one teacher that thinks Graham Greene was a star on Bonanza is a reminder of the failings that all human beings have. Kelly couldn'tfind a company to release the movie because no one was sure how to bill it. The back of the DVD box says a 'psyclogical thrill ride', but that falls short of what the movie really is. Of course, 'a sci-fi dark romantic horror thriller comedy fantasy religious story about being sixteen and having an imaginary pshchic rabbit freind that scares and intrigues you and makes you go sleep golfing' is too wordy for the back of a box.

This film has been released twice to theatres (both times limited areas) and didn't do remarkably well either time. On DVD, it has become a cult classic of sorts. IMDB lists Donnie Darko as the fifth most requested sci-fi movie of all time. Simply, this is not a theatre movie. I don't know anyone who hasn't watched it at least twice, usually more times than that in search of answers.

Watch it, and then find a creepy rabbit to help explain it to you.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: I had never heard of this movie until a few weeks ago when a friend recommended it to me. I will be grateful to that friend for the rest of my life because this movie is honestly the most amazing film I have ever seen in my life. Words cannot describe it. It was put together SO well, and Jake Gyllenhaal's acting is remarkable. It's extremely hard to understand. The first time I watched it I just sat there staring at the screen thinking... what just happened. But after watching it again, and looking up some info on the movie, it makes more sense. But I think the movie was put together perfectly. The mystery of it is what makes it so unforgettable. The soundtrack is amazing as well. Wouldn't change a thing... although the "smurf" scene was a little too raunchy for my taste. Still pretty funny though. :) That's another good thing about this movie. It's got drama, comedy, horror... everything. Watch it, and really pay attention, and you will NOT be disappointed. :) By the way... to those of you who "fell asleep" during this film - what does that have to do with anything?? I've fallen asleep during many awesome movies... call me crazy, but that COULD be a result of not getting much sleep??? Hmmm..

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but pay attention!!!
Review: Okay, I've seen a lot of movies, and this is definately up there, but I wouldn't have said that after the first time I watched it. The first time, I was talking to my girlfriend, blah blah blah, and basically had NO clue what was going on at the end of the movie, and hence, hated it. The second time, though, I paid attention and it was a totally different experience.

You will enjoy this movie if you pay attention. I mean close attention. Like don't go to the bathroom attention. If you have ADD, move on now. But this is a teen movie like none you've ever seen before. It has time travel, violence, craziness, love, and a slew of other ideas going on. It's a very psychological movie, and is made all the better by my personal favorite actress, the beautiful Jena Malone.

You might want to keep your friends out of this one. Lock yourself in the room after going to the bathroom, eating, whatever you need, and dont come out until it's over. Believe me, it's worth it and you will NOT be dissappointed. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: In the Darko
Review: To Fox's credit, and to cultists' delight, none of the extras on the extended version of "Donnie Darko" were ported over from the original 2003 DVD. The extended film and bonus features create an alternate home video experience -- totally in the spirit of "Darko." "I'm just as proud of the first cut as of this one," director Richard Kelly says. He likens the new film to a remixed record. In the digital age, "There can hopefully be two versions of a film that exist."

Wise guy director Kevin Smith and Kelly keep each other amused on the commentary, with Smith occasionally playing the interviewer. (He'd be a talented journalist, it seems.) They set off on some entertaining tangents. More commentators should bring along their smart friends.

The director took deleted scenes from the first DVD's extras and returned them to the film. He added "comic book" visual elements like a giant eyeball. The audio was reimagined to heighten the supernatural vibe. A couple of songs were returned to their rightful positions, and an INXS tune now opens the film.

The new audio (Dolby Digital 5.1) proves a dramatic, subwoofer-smoking upgrade. Not so with the letterboxed images (2.35:1) -- reproduction is as soft and uninspiring as on the original disc.

The hourlong "production diary" is more a collection of on-location footage, with optional voice-over from director of photography Steven Poster ("Blade Runner"). "Donnie is the embodiment of Jesus," a fan explains in the British docu "They Made Me Do It: The Cult of Donnie Darko." She's being interviewed by a man in a cheap bunny suit. The piece tells how "Darko" had its first successes in London.

The highly interactive donniedarko.com found the "No. 1 fan" via a home-movie contest. In his short film, the beefy zealot shows off his "Darko"-infested bedroom and kisses Kelly, who is understandably alarmed.

There also are a good 8-minute storyboard-to-film segment and blazing trailer that makes you want to see it all again.

Rating:
Summary: Bad Marketing, Great Movie.
Review: I can't believe I never saw this movie. But then again, I can believe it. The only thing I can remember about this film when it was in theaters, was the stupid "evil bunny" image they used to sell the film. That image combined with the title was a complete turnoff for me. It seemed as though it was a Stephen King type film, which I'm not into in the least. I'm not sure how that "evil bunny" mask was representative of the film. It's a damn shame they couldn't have marketed this film better, because it's a damn good movie.

I didn't expect a lot of the things I saw, and the story was about as engrossing as anything I've ever seen. The story and the acting were compelling, and the casting was great.
Somebody screwed the pooch in the marketing department on this. It should have done better in box office.


Rating:
Summary: I guess I missed something???
Review: I fell asleep half-way through this movie, which I found just about as interesting as watching paint dry. Music in the movie was pretty good though. A lot of people seem to be raving about the movie here so maybe I'm wrong. Just wasn't for me I guess.