Donnie Darko

[Vanilla]

Review/Discuss

[The Creator]

This is destined to be a classic indie film. Already I cannot get enough of it. Donnie Darko is unfathomably creative and intensely intriguing. Jake Gyllenhaal really fits as unstable teenager Donnie Darko, who has visions of a menacing doomsday-prophesying bunny named Frank. Frank tells Donnie that he has 28 days, 6 hours, 41 minutes, and 12 seconds until the end of the world. In that time, Donnie develops a relationship with the new girl in town, begins several violent actions against his school and a local author who directs a porn ring, and becomes fascinated with Roberta Sparrow's (Grandma Death) theory of time travel. Donnie Darko is complete with several memorable scenes and characters and some great quotes, including:

"Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion."

and

"Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?" - Donnie

"Why do you wear that silly human suit?" - Frank

and of course, who could forget

"Suck a fuck!" - Donnie

Richard Kelly's mysterious sci-fi indie is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. The ending is unbelievable. When Donnie steps through the portal and returns to his bed 28 days earlier, we get a sense of the sheer brilliance of the film. Donnie sits laughing while the plane engine crashes through his roof. After a fade to black, the most impressive montage in the movie unfolds to the tune of "Mad World" by Gary Jules, displaying an ending where Donnie actually died that first night of the movie.

A+

[CoolioD1]

A-

[Lordmandeep]

I watched the directors Cut.The film is really good but perhaps just to wtf? for me.B+

[Water Bottle]

B+

A great and ambiguous movie.

[ddddeeee]

10/10I see people on boards coming up with all these theories and tbh I don't even care. I don't completely understand the movie but that doesn't even matter. There's nothing else like this movie or the way it makes me feel.

[Fanboy]

I watched the Director's cut, and apparently it's nowhere near as good as the theatrical cut. Strange, because I'm really thinking about giving this an A+. I'm now worried if watching the director's cut will lessen my viewing of the theatrical version. I still don't have a clue what happened, but that's what repeat viewings are for.

A/A+

[Goffe]

(Director's Cut) fantastic and terrifying film, I was in tears by the end of the movie. I still have to watch it a couple of more times to understand completely, though. A (95)

Edited December 22, 2013 by Goffe Luvs 1D

[Goffe]

I watched the Director's cut, and apparently it's nowhere near as good as the theatrical cut. Strange, because I'm really thinking about giving this an A+. I'm now worried if watching the director's cut will lessen my viewing of the theatrical version. I still don't have a clue what happened, but that's what repeat viewings are for. A/A+

I heard that the DC is better than the TC, even RT rating is better for DC. I found this on IMDB

 

"Some prefer the original release because it leaves much of the meaning of the events in the film to the viewer's own imagination, while others prefer the director's cut because it makes the film a little easier to understand. The choice is up to the viewer. The Director's Cut has about 20 minutes more footage, some changes to the music order in the soundtrack, as well as some new tracks and sound mixing, some new effects, and the insertion of pages from The Philosophy of Time Travel. The new scenes and the pages of The Philosophy of Time Travel explain more about the meaning behind the events in the film, but do not fully explain the events of the film. For a complete detailed list of the changes go to the Alternate Versions for this movie or visit http://en.wikipedia.org. A detailed comparison between the theatrical version and the Director's Cut with pictures can be found here."

Edited December 22, 2013 by Goffe Luvs 1D

[luna]

a complete mess of a film, not just plot-wise but also tonally. however, as the conclusion comes and we see what the point was all along, it can't help but being a little affecting. out of lynch's work, probably most comparable to mulholland drive for its narrative structure of dream then reality, but kelly can't come close to sustaining a consistent feel like that one. but i can't say i didn't like it.

 

6/10

[Plain Old Tele]

a complete mess of a film, not just plot-wise but also tonally. however, as the conclusion comes and we see what the point was all along, it can't help but being a little affecting. out of lynch's work, probably most comparable to mulholland drive for its narrative structure of dream then reality, but kelly can't come close to sustaining a consistent feel like that one. but i can't say i didn't like it.

 

6/10

 

I can't wait to see what you think of SOUTHLAND TALES.

[James]

Aside from LOTR, which is a series, this is probably my favourite stand alone movie ever. I can't honestly point at something that's not perfect: the acting, the dialogue, the jokes, the dark humor, the irony, the pacing, the atmosphere, THE END. Saw the movie a few years back and with every viewing I loved it even more. A classic.

 

A+

[lab276]

Weird as, and I didn't completely understand it, but really great! A-

[Goffe]

Weird as, and I didn't completely understand it, but really great! A-

the director's cut is easier to understand

Edited November 17, 2014 by Goffe R Swanson

[Omario]

Saw it back in 2003. One of the worse movies i have ever seen. Didnt understand any of it and dont care to watch it again 

[GiantCALBears]

Haunting movie that I can never seem to get out of my head because Mad World gets played all the time in various ways through our pop culture. Wouldn't be anything special without the amazing work of a young Jake Gyllenhaal, puts his heart into this role & it shows. Fantastic cult classic.

[FantasticBeasts]

Donnie Darko is simply a masterpiece.

I don't think I am quite able to aericulate how many things this movie does right. It is extraoedinary how the combination of a teen story with an incredible protagonist can be blended so well with the thriller elements and the metaphisical questions that arouse, which are deeper than you have any right to expect.

I just finished the movie and I feel a very intresting combination of emotions. Impressed for sure with the whole structure of the plot, a little bit confused too I will admit but also there is that very warm feeling that I didn't expect. The movie has so much heart. When Mad World started playing in the end I chocked up, it was messed up and something I definetely did not expect before starting this.

I am so glad I decided to give Donnie a shot. I am sure I am gonna rewatch and it's not gonna be late.

A+

Edited March 9, 2018 by FantasticBeasts

[Jessie]

This film is simply a pure mess. People choose to like films they dont understand so they dont seem unintelligent. IT is just an idiotic movie and the directors most recent movies show he just not a smart guy, he made a movie of pure gibberish and hipsters jumped on it like a fat kid on a cup cake

 

This film doesnt not deserve a rating

[FantasticBeasts]

3 hours ago, Jessie said:

This film is simply a pure mess. People choose to like films they dont understand so they dont seem unintelligent. IT is just an idiotic movie and the directors most recent movies show he just not a smart guy, he made a movie of pure gibberish and hipsters jumped on it like a fat kid on a cup cake

 

This film doesnt not deserve a rating

You sound like such an unpleasant person.

OK, you didn't like the movie but is there a reason to undermine anyone who does like it?

[Jessie]

18 minutes ago, FantasticBeasts said:

You sound like such an unpleasant person.

OK, you didn't like the movie but is there a reason to undermine anyone who does like it?

Yes because i had to watch this movie 3 times in film studies because so many bloody people thought it was a masterpiece. Thats 6 hours ill never get back. You can surely understand my fustration

Edited March 13, 2018 by Jessie