Donnie Darko...

[NoCalMike 0]

Well with the release of the director's cut of Donnie Darko yesterday, I find myself not sure whether to purchase it or not. I have seen bits and pieces of it a year or so ago, before they decided to pull it from cable beause of the theatrical re-release.

 

For those that have scene it, sell me on it, or tell me to avoid purchasing it. Either way, I want to hear your thoughts. As of now, I liked what I saw, but that could always be deceiving. I am leaning towards getting it, but I can be talked out of it......

[Nighthawk 0]

In the movie, there's two little girls and one of them says feces means baby mice. That should sell you on it well enough.

[Guest JMA]

I've never seen the movie, but I'm heard very good things about it. I'm considering buying it myself. I would rent it first, but it's always out at the video store I go to.

[cbacon 0]

I picked up the Directors Cut yesterday after a year of having to restrain myself from buying the old version. I first saw the movie a couple of years ago and thought it was brilliant. I don't remember some parts, and there did seemed to be a few aspects that didn't make sense that this new version supposedly ties up.

 

If your into movies that deal with time travel/illusions of reality/paranormal stuff (mixed with a teenage suburban backdrop) then you'll like it

[teke184 0]

Donnie Darko is worth picking up in some form, either the original edition ($6 at Best Buy) or the new Director's Cut SE.

 

 

The easiest way to sell you on it would probably be the humor and dialogue, such as Donnie and his older sister getting into a dinner-table argument where the "You're such a fuck-ass!" and "Go suck a fuck!" are featured prominently.

 

 

The second way to sell you on it would be that Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone are both in it. Jena Malone in a schoolgirl outfit = VERY nice

 

 

The third, and most serious, reason to watch it is that it's a very well-crafted story that continuously builds on itself until the big ending. Very few movies can build up for so long without either blowing it completely or losing you along the way due to boredom.

 

(See "Barton Fink" for the latter. Great climax, horribly boring buildup.)

 

 

It's also one of the most original recent films this side of "Being John Malkovich", as it really defies classification into any single category. It's not really a high-school movie, horror, comedy, action, sci-fi, etc.

 

However, it IS one of those films where you tend to either "get it" or not, which will put you solidly into the "I loved it!" or "What a piece of shit!" camps. Most people tend to fall into the "I loved it!" camp though.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

The worst part of the movie is all the douche bags who think its the second coming. Honestly, its a pretty decent movie - go into without expecting anything, and it'll be better.

[Special K 0]

It's a very good movie. It has a very dreamlike sensibility, and Gyllenhall(sp) and Malone are awesome (I am convinced Malone is always awesome having seen Saved! and the secret lives of quoir boys)) Humor, pathos, and a dab of creepiness are the nbame of the game. It also, honestly, has one of the only affecting teen love stories I've seen in movies.

[nl5xsk1 0]

The worst part of the movie is all the douche bags who think its the second coming. Honestly, its a pretty decent movie - go into without expecting anything, and it'll be better.

You could say that about just about anything, though ... people that get too into anything is wicked annoying to me.

 

Oh, and re: the movie .... I dug it. It's not the be-all-end-all, but it's a movie that can be re-watched, which is what I like in a film. Definitely buy it.

[Ripper 0]

Don't get the Directors cut. The stuff they cut out was better left out and the movie flowed alot better in the original.

 

 

SERIOUSLY. Don't watch the Directors cut first.

[JasonX 0]

Don't get the Directors cut.  The stuff they cut out was better left out and the movie flowed alot better in the original. 

 

 

SERIOUSLY.  Don't watch the Directors cut first.

Regarding the director's cut; doesn't it also remove the film's best music montage moment (IE "The Killing Moon" sequence at the start of the film) and replace it with a crappy INXS song?

[Guest BrokenWings]

Don't get the Directors cut.  The stuff they cut out was better left out and the movie flowed alot better in the original. 

 

 

SERIOUSLY.  Don't watch the Directors cut first.

Regarding the director's cut; doesn't it also remove the film's best music montage moment (IE "The Killing Moon" sequence at the start of the film) and replace it with a crappy INXS song?

What?

 

Gary Jules' version of "Mad World" is the film's best music montage.

 

Also, definitely see this movie. Go into it with an open mind, you should have no problems with it. Most of the people I've come across who dislike the film were conditioned to believe it was the best movie ever, which it's not.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Don't get the Directors cut. The stuff they cut out was better left out and the movie flowed alot better in the original.

 

 

SERIOUSLY. Don't watch the Directors cut first.

This is exactly the same way I feel about Clerks, so I'm going to go ahead and take your advice in this instance.

[teke184 0]

Don't get the Directors cut.  The stuff they cut out was better left out and the movie flowed alot better in the original. 

 

 

SERIOUSLY.  Don't watch the Directors cut first.

This is exactly the same way I feel about Clerks, so I'm going to go ahead and take your advice in this instance.

That's the same for most movies...

 

Just about the only movies that are most watchable in the Director's Cut format rather than the theatrical cut are Once Upon A Time In America and Brazil, both of which had their stories destroyed in the studio-mandated cuts but actually make sense in the Director's Cut versions.

[Nighthawk 0]

Hellboy wasn't bad. Or Daredevil for that matter.

[teke184 0]

Still, many Director's Cuts have problems for various reasons.

 

 

One particular example that sticks out to me is Escape From New York: Director's Cut, as the one added sequence, in which Plisken and his partner rob the Federal Treasury, did not age well and seems more impressive when referred to in passing in the theatrical cut.

 

Director John Carpenter said as much on the DVD, which is part of why it was cut from the Theatrical Cut to begin with.

[Sonic Reducer 0]

My favorite movie. I'll be buying the Director's Cut tomorrow.

 

See it. Buy it. It's great.

[Boon 0]

Most of the people I've come across who dislike the film were conditioned to believe it was the best movie ever, which it's not.

That was my problem.

 

It was billed to me as the single greatest film I'd ever see, and it ruined it for me. Had it not been built up so much, I probably would've liked it more.

[Guest JMA]

I bought the Director's Cut of Donnie Darko and just finished watching it for the first time. I loved the movie and I can see why so many others do as well. I just wish I'd watched the movie when it originally came out.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Still, many Director's Cuts have problems for various reasons.

 

 

One particular example that sticks out to me is Escape From New York: Director's Cut, as the one added sequence, in which Plisken and his partner rob the Federal Treasury, did not age well and seems more impressive when referred to in passing in the theatrical cut.

 

Director John Carpenter said as much on the DVD, which is part of why it was cut from the Theatrical Cut to begin with.

Another one is The Butterfly Effect, although the changes were small, they were significant and I felt much better than the theatrical version.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I was just happy to hear Echo and the Bunnymen in a movie. The rest was underwhelming.

[Guest Edmond Dantes]

Hellboy wasn't bad. Or Daredevil for that matter.

I think everyone was referring to the director's cuts of REAL movies.

 

I mean, we're talking ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA and BRAZIL here. Trust me, I don't think friggin' HELLBOY and DAREDEVIL are going to be released on Criterion Collection DVD any time soon.

[Nighthawk 0]

Donnie Darko is on the level of Hellboy and Daredevil, retard.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

Fuck Donnie Darko. I could do without Hot Topic porn.

[JJMc 0]

The worst part of the movie is all the douche bags who think its the second coming. Honestly, its a pretty decent movie - go into without expecting anything, and it'll be better.

I didn't like the movie at all. Honestly, it just did nothing for me. Cool idea, but for the amount of hype it gets, it didn't deliver.

[spman 0]

I just watched this tonight, and I'm not quite sure what to think. On the one hand, I did find it to be enjoyable, and I sort of followed the story. On the other hand, the story didn't really make much sense to me and I didn't understand the ending. Is this just one of those films you have to watch several times in order to truely grasp?

[Guest JMA]

I just watched this tonight, and I'm not quite sure what to think. On the one hand, I did find it to be enjoyable, and I sort of followed the story. On the other hand, the story didn't really make much sense to me and I didn't understand the ending. Is this just one of those films you have to watch several times in order to truely grasp?

You do have to watch it several times to fully understand it. I believe Richard Kelly himself has said this.

 

There's also a FAQ of the movie here.

[Guest El Satanico]

Is this just one of those films you have to watch several times in order to truely grasp?

Yes

 

I followed it reasonably well on my initial viewing, but everything was alot clearer on my second viewing.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

I've watched it numerous times, with and without the various commentaries. I seem to pick up on subtle things each and every time that I missed before.

 

The first time I saw it, I was just in awe at the end. I didn't know what to think, or do, or anything. I just know I loved it. The more I read about it, the more I began to understand, the more I enjoyed it when I sat down to watch it again.

 

And my favorite sequence is definitely the time sequence in the beginning, where they fly through the school going slower and faster depending on the action. The principal just missing a drug pass was an awesome little touch.

 

After you watch it a few times and begin to understand it, the very very first scene makes much more sense.

[Jericholic82 0]

I only saw the original once, a few months ago on HBO (and actually missed the first 15 mins of it so) It was inetersting, yet confusing. I still don't really understand the end or the whole point. Any help?

I should probably see it again.