Finally watched Donnie Darko
- Thread starter Capn_Jack_Savvy
- Start date
When it was over I actually thought, "Why did I just waste all that time on nothing?" I mean it said nothing. It was about a loser who saw stuff. There's no deep philosophical meaning. It was like the writer said, "The boy is nuts. He sees a rabbit. Then some weird stuff happens. Then the movie ends."
robstyle
Master Member
Like with "Boondock Saints", I guess I just dont get it with Donny Darko and why it connects with people. I took multiple trys to watch the movie all the way through and even then it was like pulling teeth, through my ass, with Tom Thumb as the dentist and a lying Pinocchio as the chair.
Now,
"Southland Tales" is another story all together and a decent film.
Now,
"Southland Tales" is another story all together and a decent film.
At least Boondock had a story. Wasn't a good one, but it had a story. 
gokarosama
Well-Known Member
One of my favorites. Didn't think Donnie was a loser at all.
Loved the "period" feel of it, too. I grew up in the 80s, and it was like watching my high school days.
And I usually avoid "interpretations" or Director's versions of what the film is supposed to mean. You don't always have to "get" something with your brain to have it affect you.
Loved the "period" feel of it, too. I grew up in the 80s, and it was like watching my high school days.
And I usually avoid "interpretations" or Director's versions of what the film is supposed to mean. You don't always have to "get" something with your brain to have it affect you.
Too Much Garlic
Master Member
Thought it was pretty silly and not my cup of tea.
Darklighter
Sr Member
I'm with Jcoff on this one.
On that note how about that star wars movie? Some blond kid goes on a space mission with a gorilla and Harrison ford. Then he kisses his sister and blows up a small moon. In the next one the bad guy is his dad.:rolleyes
On that note how about that star wars movie? Some blond kid goes on a space mission with a gorilla and Harrison ford. Then he kisses his sister and blows up a small moon. In the next one the bad guy is his dad.:rolleyes
DARTH SABER
Master Member
Meh, the movie was entertaining, but I didn't like the mix of sci-fi with a fantasy.
The movie started out pretty good with the anomaly that creates an alternate timeline that must be restored, but after he ended up in the alternate timeline this book pops up with fantasy rules which seem to have no logic about alternate realities etc.
Whenever there's a rift in a timeline there will be an artifact made of metal??
THen there was something about water....What is this based on?
The person most effected by the artifact must restore the artifact?
The manipulated dead guide Donnie to accomplish his mission?
Donnie creates a Wormhole?
I wish they would have at least given some justification for these rules.
I don't mind if a sci fi movie uses elements which are not a reality in our world, but at least base it on some scientific theory.
As soon as these fantasy elements popped into the film, the movie turned into a wierd amalgam of fantasy/ science.
As a result of this , the writer can change the rules at any moment to solve any problems that character has in the story....Creating a Deu Ex Machina.
The ironic thing is that the film even mentions Deu Ex Machina, almost as though the director was acknowledging that he's doing this.
The movie itself was pretty decent, I liked the smartass attitude scenes between Donnie and the grownups, I liked the 80's poeriod and the acting, but I didnt like the strong arm apporach of making up the wacked out sci-firules as the story moved along.
The movie started out pretty good with the anomaly that creates an alternate timeline that must be restored, but after he ended up in the alternate timeline this book pops up with fantasy rules which seem to have no logic about alternate realities etc.
Whenever there's a rift in a timeline there will be an artifact made of metal??
THen there was something about water....What is this based on?
The person most effected by the artifact must restore the artifact?
The manipulated dead guide Donnie to accomplish his mission?
Donnie creates a Wormhole?
I wish they would have at least given some justification for these rules.
I don't mind if a sci fi movie uses elements which are not a reality in our world, but at least base it on some scientific theory.
As soon as these fantasy elements popped into the film, the movie turned into a wierd amalgam of fantasy/ science.
As a result of this , the writer can change the rules at any moment to solve any problems that character has in the story....Creating a Deu Ex Machina.
The ironic thing is that the film even mentions Deu Ex Machina, almost as though the director was acknowledging that he's doing this.
The movie itself was pretty decent, I liked the smartass attitude scenes between Donnie and the grownups, I liked the 80's poeriod and the acting, but I didnt like the strong arm apporach of making up the wacked out sci-firules as the story moved along.
robstyle
Master Member
I wished I could get a DD fan to watch Southland Tales and then come back and give me an honest opinion between the two films. From what I could retain from DD, alot of the same story elements and time travel aspects cross between the two. Im still in shock that Southland Tales didnt become a cult classic yet DD did? It boggles the mind.
sebmodio
Well-Known Member
I accept! Now I need a copy of Southland Tales.
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sebmodio
Well-Known Member
OK, so I watched Southland Tales.
It was definitely a weird movie and I can see the connection one would make between this and Donnie Darko.
I didn't like most of the movie; I found the last 20~ minutes to be the most entertaining. Whether this was due to the mildly grating ensemble cast, horrible CGI interludes, or the fact I was confused as all get out, I'm not sure. But the last 20~ minutes tied up the movie, so it's probably the last one.
As for the movie itself, I had to think a lot and I like that in a film. I was constantly making conjectures about the thread the story would follow, only to find that I was pretty much completely wrong five minutes later. At the end of the movie, I felt like I understood about 75-85% of what happened, but I still need to watch it a second time that way I know the story and know what to look for. So, the movie kept me interested and I want to watch it again which is what good movies should do.
In comparison to Donnie Darko, I liked Donnie Darko better. I feel that as sci-fi, time-travel, alternate future movies go, Donnie Darko was more relatable for me. I also feel that Donnie Darko's story was more convoluted than Southland Tales. At the end of my first viewing of Donnie Darko, I was still completely befuddled, but (as I said before) for Southland Tales, I felt 75-85% sure about what happened. Southland Tales just kept a lot up in the air about the story, waiting to reveal the back-story until the very end. Donnie Darko gave the audience all the pieces, you just didn't know what to do with them.
Two things that I especially liked about Southland Tales (one thoughtful, one petty):
-I liked that they gave you the very, very beginning and then after the title card went into 'Chapter IV.'
-I enjoyed Justin Timberlake lip-syncing "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers.
Did I find Southland Tales an enjoyable movie? Yes.
Would I recommend it to a friend, especially one who enjoyed Donnie Darko? Yes.
Also, there is a amazingly large chance that I missed or overlooked something incredibly important, so I apologize for that.
It was definitely a weird movie and I can see the connection one would make between this and Donnie Darko.
I didn't like most of the movie; I found the last 20~ minutes to be the most entertaining. Whether this was due to the mildly grating ensemble cast, horrible CGI interludes, or the fact I was confused as all get out, I'm not sure. But the last 20~ minutes tied up the movie, so it's probably the last one.
As for the movie itself, I had to think a lot and I like that in a film. I was constantly making conjectures about the thread the story would follow, only to find that I was pretty much completely wrong five minutes later. At the end of the movie, I felt like I understood about 75-85% of what happened, but I still need to watch it a second time that way I know the story and know what to look for. So, the movie kept me interested and I want to watch it again which is what good movies should do.
In comparison to Donnie Darko, I liked Donnie Darko better. I feel that as sci-fi, time-travel, alternate future movies go, Donnie Darko was more relatable for me. I also feel that Donnie Darko's story was more convoluted than Southland Tales. At the end of my first viewing of Donnie Darko, I was still completely befuddled, but (as I said before) for Southland Tales, I felt 75-85% sure about what happened. Southland Tales just kept a lot up in the air about the story, waiting to reveal the back-story until the very end. Donnie Darko gave the audience all the pieces, you just didn't know what to do with them.
Two things that I especially liked about Southland Tales (one thoughtful, one petty):
-I liked that they gave you the very, very beginning and then after the title card went into 'Chapter IV.'
-I enjoyed Justin Timberlake lip-syncing "All These Things That I've Done" by the Killers.
Did I find Southland Tales an enjoyable movie? Yes.
Would I recommend it to a friend, especially one who enjoyed Donnie Darko? Yes.
Also, there is a amazingly large chance that I missed or overlooked something incredibly important, so I apologize for that.
agent5
Sr Member
I think Darko has a solid story, one which the viewer is in control of. It's up to you in the end to decide if he's just a drugged out kid having halicinations or is he really a super hero who goes back in time to set things right for certain people with Frank as a guide? It makes total sense to me and I think it's rather brilliant.
Capn_Jack_Savvy
Sr Member
All true above posts but Frank The Bunny image still scared the pants off of me when trying to go to bed that night!!!
JediG60racer
Sr Member
meh. it was okay. wouldn't watch it again though... unless the director's cut has more scenes with Drew.
outlander
Sr Member
When it was over I actually thought, "Why did I just waste all that time on nothing?" I mean it said nothing. It was about a loser who saw stuff. There's no deep philosophical meaning. It was like the writer said, "The boy is nuts. He sees a rabbit. Then some weird stuff happens. Then the movie ends
And yet the film affected you enough you've posted 4 times on this thread in order to tell us you don't like it. :lol
And yet the film affected you enough you've posted 4 times on this thread in order to tell us you don't like it. :lol
Yup and I'll say it again. Waste of time.
