Reading Movies

I know the film was released over two years ago but it seems to be making a comeback of sorts at the moment and I finally watched it last night. I'm just curious how other people interpreted the end of the movie. I mean, I think I got it but I'm still not sure. Anyone care to enlighten me?

"Hope... It is the quintessential human delusion; simultaneously the source of your greatest strengt

Well, if you watch the special features of the DVD (I think it's on the special features... not sure) the writer/director will give you his explaination. Personally, I don't care for it.

Old fashioned gal, you see - watched it on video :P I'll give that a shot though, thanks.

"Hope... It is the quintessential human delusion; simultaneously the source of your greatest strengt

Well, if you watch the special features of the DVD (I think it's on the special features... not sure) the writer/director will give you his explaination. Personally, I don't care for it.

I read somewhere else you should play the game alongside with the movie. After some levels I became bored, found a "Donnie Darko for Dummies" explanation and was totally underwhelmed. Just because the plot isn't obvious at first sight doesn't make it good.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion

You're right... that isn't what makes it good.

You're right... that isn't what makes it good.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it for any other reason either. The hope for a mind-blowing uber-explanation was all that carried me to the movie. However many of my friends have Donnie Darko among their alltime favourites, so maybe we were just not meant to love each other.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion

Well, I first saw the movie knowing nothing about it. From the way people talk about it, I can understand how you could have unfulfilled expectations of the movie.

This has to be one of my favourite recent films. I find the ending (and to a certain extent, I think there are two endings (which is sort of suiting for a film about two universes)) to be just plain beautiful. Richard Kelly, the director, gives many of his thoughts about the movie on the DVD, but sometimes I think he's downplaying the intent purposely. He likes to explain the film in a rather straight forward sci-fi/comic book way--which is valid. But to me there's so much more underneath and i think he (and most successful artists) seems to like to allow personal interpretations to supercede any of his personal intent. I know i haven't said much about my interpreation of the end, I think because it changes sometimes and in some ways I haven't completely decided what i think. Maybe that's why i love it. I will say my favourite part at the end is the wave between Rose and Gretchen, when they clearly shouldn't know each other. It sums up the whole movie to me. But definately check out the DVD and all the commentaries (just don't let anyone's opinion dissuade any of your own.) I also hear a director's cut may be released soon as a theatrical (very limited) rerelease with added material made it's way to a few places just last month.

I watched that movie a while ago and i didn't understand one bit of it!! I like the movie a lot even tough i have no idea what it is about! Can someone plz help and tell me cuz i don't understand it.
:)

Let the best of your past be the worst of your future ***

I watched this film quite a while ago and I really liked it. I think everyone makes their own interpretations of it, so the ending can mean different things to different people. If you're really confused by it, visit the Donnie Darko website or buy the Donnie Darko Book by Richard Kelly. They both have pages from A Philosophy of Time-Travel, which really helped me understand what it was all about and the idea behind it. I also liked the Special Feature on the DVD showing the art that some artists (can't remember who any of them were) made about DD. Altogether a great film.

It is intersting that I've seen this movie two days ago for the first time. My brother just came in with the DVD and told me to have a look at this movie because "it's cool". Looking at the booklet I first thought this is some sort of horro-psycho-whatever movie but after watching it I felt suprisingly relaxed. The movie is very impressive and I have to 100% agree with Lou that this piece of art is open to everyones personal interpretation. This is one of the few films that leave you to your own thoughts and you actually will think about it.

I really like, I have to show it some other people :)

I spent almost half an hour on finding a cool signature!

I am actually surprised that Donnie Darko isn't more popular. It is a great movie with great acting and a great story. A definite "must see" for anyone looking for a film out of the realm of flashy Hollywood flicks.

I am just me, searching for simplicity.........and a good hair stylist

I just finally watched this movie for the first time. I believe it was on August 26th. I was blown away! I thought, myself, that it would be a "horror-psycho-slasher flick". Boy, was I wrong. The six foot tal bunny with fangs only reminded me of one of my favorite childhood stories: Bunnicula.

At any rate, when I went in to see it, I saw the director's cut, with the excerpts added from The Philosophy of Time-Travel, Grandma Death/Roberta Sparrow's book in the movie. It was kinda surreal in the beginning, partly because I forgot to turn my phone off, and my phone is set-up to sound like a cricket. The noise completely blended in with the soundtrack to the beginning of the movie...it was cool!

Then I watched. Spellbound. Truly a movie that leaves itself open to almost any kind of interpretation. I love that. Nothing is written in stone. It is so not 'cut and dried' entertainment. This is mind-food. I've heard the theories that it is an exploration of the 'realities' of time-travel and parallel universes, as well as the belief that it documents the descent into madness of a severly schizophrenic young man. It makes you wonder what is truly schizophrenic, and if the so-called sane people are really all crazy instead because they don't see the flexibility of reality that he sees. But then again, there is a case to be made for the seeming fact that extreme intelligence seems to go hand-in-hand with madness; or what we like to call 'madness'.

Personally, I like the whole dark take on time-travel. The interludes with Roberta Sparrow remind me of reading Alan Lightman's Einstein's Dreams. For those that don't know, he is a professor of physics who also teaches writing at MIT. I'd recommend checking out that book for avid readers. It really is a gem, and will elaborate on the theories set forth lightly in the movie Donnie Darko.

If mountain goats like living at high elevations, why do none live in high rise apartment buildings?

Hm. I've seen the movie several times, and I found both the premise interesting and the humor (usually) engaging. I do, however, have to say I was frustrated and disappointed with the movie overall. But as mine seems to be distinctly the minority opinion, I'll tread lightly :)

But then again, there is a case to be made for the seeming fact that extreme intelligence seems to go hand-in-hand with madness; or what we like to call 'madness'.

I submit that the "madness" of the extremely intelligent is in fact largely of the same nature as that of [fill in a PC term for everybody else]; having greater "intelligence" (i.e. interpreting and assimilating information more quickly and effectively than average) will allow a person more opportunity to encounter cognitive dissonances.

Incidentally, this very theme of reconciling the abstract with the empirical is explored in great length in the movie π, which I heartily recommend.

Grr. If Verdana didn't suck so much, that would clearly be the lower-case Greek "pi" character up there. Now that that's been cleared up…

The six foot tall bunny with fangs only reminded me of one of my favorite childhood stories: Bunnicula.

Yes! I'm glad I'm not the only one whose childhood was so wonderfully warped by the Bunnicula stories.

"There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it." -GBS

I submit that the "madness" of the extremely intelligent is in fact largely of the same nature as that of [filling in here...bullcrap...mostly?]; having greater "intelligence" (i.e. interpreting and assimilating information more quickly and effectively than average) will allow a person more opportunity to encounter cognitive dissonances.

Yes, I perfectly agree...my point exactly...and therefore I submit, that watching the craziness going on around one, it has a tendency to make one feel a bit looney at times; especially when half the time, you know what the hell is going on, though you can't prove it. The fact that people you think are otherwise honest, will flat out lie to you, can cause paranoia. But you aren't paranoid if people ARE messing with you really.

I suspect that the experiences of Donnie in the movie, are pretty much a characterization for the masses of what it feels like to "just know it" on a particular level. My friend who is schizophrenic sees to the core of people like nobody's business. His understanding of physics as well, is on a deeply intuitive level which I can relate to... But you know, he's looked in the mirror and seen himself as a cockroach. Nevermind, that metaphorically speaking, some of us truly are that at times. He knew it wasn't true at the time. I wonder if his diagnosis was truly correct?

Anyway, I'm hitting on dangerous territory for the AMA.

I understand you aren't a huge fan of Donnie Darko, but don't dislike it. That's cool. But did you laugh your butt off during the scene where he enumerates why Smurfs are asexual? I thought that was the heighth of funny. ;P

As far as "that other movie", which didn't translate so well in Verdana text, as you noted...yes! I have seen it. And yes, I too see what an excellent example it is of pointing out how knowledge obtained through the 'abstract' can be just as valid as 'empirical evidence'...you just can't prove it. But that's it. One has the potential for provability, and the other, well, really doesn't, does it?

Darn it, I just got Mexican bean dip on my "C" key. I am multitasking as per usual. Feeding my mind, while feeding my face.

Oh, and it warms the cockles of my heart (whatever they are) to hear someone else sing the praises of Bunnicula the vampire bunny. I remember, back then, wishing I was still young enough to believe that there could be vampire bunnies who sucked the color and juice out of vegetables in the fridge. I wanted to be free of my daily boredom, by being able to check the fridge to see if somehow, a vampire bunny had snuck in and turned all of the vegetables white. But alas, I was six when I read the story...too late.

You remember that age when adults who thought they were being funny would ask how old you were, and upon replying that you were, in fact six, they would say: "Oh, your sick?" And smile condescendingly. And you'd go: "No...*sigh*...that assumption doesn't make sense, particularly in light of the fact that the question which you asked pertained to my age, and not my health." And of course, you got accused of being the dreaded 'insolent'. Which, of course, I promptly had to go look up, and add to my new vocabulary. It made me wanna sick Bunnicula on their vegetable drawer. Heh.

If mountain goats like living at high elevations, why do none live in high rise apartment buildings?

This post was edited by rosyxxx on Sep 05, 2005.

He knew it wasn't true at the time. I wonder if his diagnosis was truly correct?

Anyway, I'm hitting on dangerous territory for the AMA.

My view on this is that it is only the people who at least suspect their own insanity who actually are sane. You make a good point: your friend has a (very Kafka-esque) vision but understands it as such, "sees through it". This is rational. I think any such diagnosis would have to be based almost entirely on the degree to which one is unable to dynamically modify their perception of reality to "get by" in life. I know that in my life I have certain patterns of thinking, frameworks, ontologies, whatever, that while just as valid as any other, cannot be "indulged" on a day to day basis because like you say

it has a tendency to make one feel a bit looney at times; especially when half the time, you know what the hell is going on, though you can't prove it.

And if you can "prove" it, it's even worse, because people tend not to be governed by logic (for good and for bad). So in solitude one can contemplate the abstract, and maybe even in the back of one's mind during the course of the day, but ultimately we all have a sort of "lowest common denominator" collective perceptual framework that we must adopt to get by.

Right then. Moving along...

But did you laugh your butt off during the scene where he enumerates why Smurfs are asexual? I thought that was the heighth of funny. ;P

Yes, but don't let the humor value interfere with this scene's vital social importance; the more people understand Smurf asexuality, the better off we'll all be ;)

As for Bunnicula, when I was young I actually half–suspected that vampire bunnies did in fact exist; what else could explain the fact that vegetables on our dinner table were soggy and colorless? (It was a revelation to get my first job and have the money to go out to Chinese restaurants, where I discovered that vegetables actually taste good if they aren't boiled for six hours. I mean, sucked dry by vampire bunnies.)

You remember that age when adults who thought they were being funny would ask how old you were, and upon replying that you were, in fact six, they would say: "Oh, your sick?" And smile condescendingly.

Yeah. Unfortunately I think I understood the gist of "insolent" just by context; my reaction wasn't *sigh* so much as "Yes, I'm sick of you being a twit." I like to think I've mellowed since.

"There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it." -GBS

Donnie darko is my fav film ever i love it! thats why i made my own donnie darko msn group, check it out
http://groups.msn.com/GrandmaDeath

http://groups.msn.com/GrandmaDeath

I saw Donnie Darko for the first time a few months ago. It was introduced to us here at the farm by this friend. She loved it because of Frank, the strange twisted version of an over sized rabbit.

I was mezmerized by the movie. Completely. Thinking about it Frank reminds me of a dark and twisted version of Harvey the six foot tall pooka in the movie of the same name.

I watched daily for several weeks. I couldn't help it. The idea that if knowing that your world was about to be over you could finally be completely honest, because the consequences were going to end up the same.

This movie had such a hold on me in ways that made me think about how and what my life had become since the pior August, that it drove me to do a series of drawings.
There were things that got woke up.
I figure that it was one of those sign posts that show up in life with some answers and views of things that help to put to rest some of the internal termoil that happens sometimes.

At any rate, the obsession with this movie got so intense that it began to scare me. I began to wonder if I'd gone off some deep end, lost in some strange circular pattern.
Then I saw the directors cut and watched the number one fan, and this guy was really scary, and it snaped what ever was holding me and sucking me deeper into this place of wanting to have the experience of knowing when my life would be over.

Since then I've watched it once.
It isn't the same now.

I still rate it as one of my favorite all time films, mostly now because it messes with set perceptions, and makes statements about judgements that people make based on surface and frivilous things.

I love the humor, especially seeing the bronze dog with the ax in the middle of it's head.
The inital conversation between Donnie and his sister and their dad's reaction is wonderful.
This biting snapping thing that sets the stage for what's about to happen.

What I really find wonderful is at the end where all these people wake up remembering what happened although now, with time set right again, it never actually happened.
I thought how wonderful if that could actually happen just so people could see the end result of choices and have a chance to make different choices.

But all of this, is just my view.

It only looks that way because your standing on your head.