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Donnie Darko

Director Richard Kelly's strange science fiction drama about a teenager named Donnie Darko.

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This is one of the most overrated movies ever to have been made.

Jan 6, 2009

by JezebeltheNun

Rating:

-2

To be honest, I've seen the movie a few times in my life, and I still couldn't tell you what it's supposed to be about. There's a brooding teen, a deformed rabbit suited alien from the subconscious of said brooding teen, and a lot of dead end imagery that, though it looks nice on film, makes for a confusing and ridiculous movie. To me, the movie seemed more like an attempt at "art school hip" that fell short and landed in the "self-indulgent crap" category, instead.

So many times I've heard this movie referred to as "beautiful" or "deep" and when I've given my honest review people whip out the old, "You just don't get it." For once, that's absolutely right. And you know what? Neither do they. Nobody gets this movie because there's nothing to get. It's like Mulholland Dr. except not nearly as entertaining or interesting. The similarity lies in the What the hell did I just watch? feeling that sweeps over you as the credits roll. I'll be the first to tell you that I watched it twice in a row when I first saw it, just to see if I could make any kind of sense or plot out of the garbled mess that makes itself out to be a movie.

I do think that everyone should see it once, just to fully ingest what I'm saying, here. I'm sure the moody pre-teens/emo teens will find this movie "hauntingly beautiful" and talk about how it really spoke to them, but the rest of us will know the truth. This movie was nothing short of overrated.

Thanks for reading. See you around the campfire.

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Ukedude June 30, 2009

I must really be weird. I loved both Donnie Darko and Southland Tales. Sorry, guys. I thought both were excellent movies. Now, could someone explain Mulholland Drive to me?

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Alric_K May 27, 2009

If you think Donnie Darko is convoluted, check out his Southland Tales. This one didn't work for me either.

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QUEENBFLIX May 26, 2009

That's what people told me when I said I didn't like 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY--you just don't get it. But I did get it and I told them what it was about (its pretty obvious in that case) and they just said, oh. In this case I think maybe it did go over your head but there's no shame in that since it does its best to be convoluted. Maybe it just isn't your cup of tea. 2001 sure wasn't mine!

Count_Orlok_22 May 26, 2009

Mmmmm, Kubrick... Oops, I mean, mmmmm tea!

QUEENBFLIX May 26, 2009

Either way it makes me think of lemons.

Count_Orlok_22 May 26, 2009

Great, now I'm hungry and craving green tea with lemon and filled with the desire to watch Dr. Strangelove. Thanks for that. :)

QUEENBFLIX May 26, 2009

You're entirely welcome. Personally I'm thinking more jasmie tea with almond cookies.

Scotman June 30, 2009

I've not seen Darko, but I've watched 2001 several times -- the evolution of Man further sped up by the Obelisk which further pushes the envelope at the end with the embryo and all that glowie cool hippie stuff at the end .... Takes multiple watchings.

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Count_Orlok_22 May 26, 2009

I think this one just went over your head.

Scotman June 30, 2009

Gosh Count, that's pretty direct.

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stephaniezhu January 08, 2009

HAHAHAHAHAH! this is GENIUS! what a GREAT review!!!!! "Nobody gets this movie because there's nothing to get." I think I will have to see this, because come to think of it... loads of people use to tell me how great of a movie this was.. and I thought they were probably right... now I'm excited for the "What the hell did I just watch?" reaction at the end!

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Scotman January 07, 2009

You mean it won't "knock [me] flat?" Good review; I may watch for fun or rent.

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jrjohnson January 06, 2009

nice review!! I haven't seen the movie, but i feel like i should. When i read some of the other reviews about this movie on Lunch saying how great it is... it really makes me curious... where do i come down on this?? thanks for making me curious!!

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More Donnie Darko reviews

review by NickPlusMovies. November 13, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

A bizarre, intriguing MASTERPIECE.

(Read this on my blog: http://nickplusmovies.blogspot.com/2010/11/m...-donnie-darko-2001.html) "28 days... 6 hours... 42 minutes... 12 seconds. That... is when the world... will end." Two years ago, I watched the cult classic "Donnie Darko" for the first time. Though I didn't think it was bad, I wasn't exactly blown over by it. I didn't understand it, truth be told. Two years later, having heard enough … more

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Quick Tip by rbuchanan. June 30, 2011

A Quick Tip by rbuchanan

This bloodless production's period costume design, cars, TV newscasts and popular music do nothing to make it seem like anything other than a product of its torpid decade; you can't sell a counterfeit 1988 to a fledgling of that enormous, tacky era. If I want '80s teen angst or surrealism, I'll consult the genuine article and watch some old David Lynch or John Hughes films (separately), all of which have what this film doesn't: character, substance and zeitgeist without all the … more

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review by cyclone_march. October 13, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

Not quite anythign in particular

Finally, the pseudo-spiritual, pseudo time travel stuff falls short because nothing actually ties it together. Which is unfortunate, because if it had, I would have found it to be a near brilliant movie. In brief, Donnie Darko is a troubled teen who is possibly schizophrenic, possibly a character quite literally out of time. He gets information and commands from a frightening rabbit character who gives him the date of the end of the world--Halloween 1988. The … more

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Quick Tip by SheilaDeeth. February 03, 2011

A Quick Tip by SheilaDeeth

Fascinatingly odd. One of my sons was very keen to watch this and went out and bought after we rented it together. Definitely odd, but so intriguing I couldn't wait to watch it again.

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review by Lopez15. April 10, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

What would you do if you knew the future?.....

Do you ever wonder if the world you are living in is real? Do you wonder if it is nothing more than just a fabrication of your own insane imagination, or if it is happening for real? Donnie Darko is asking himself those very same questions as he travels down a mind breaking, insanity inducing journey that leaves you with a disturbing and haunting answer that will shatter everything you think you know about reality and also leave you with one nagging … more

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review by Count_Orlok_22. December 23, 2008

posted in Movie Hype

"Where Is Donnie?"

-This review was written in conjunction with the standard edition of the DVD, not the 2-disc Director's Cut- 2001 was a year full of outstanding films, but one film stood out from all of the others for its sheer inventiveness, its brilliant vision, and its director's ambition. No, I'm not talking about The Lord of the Rings (although, my previous statement could easily be applied to that film as well). Richard Kelly's feature debut film as a director, Donnie Darko, is a … more

Comments (16) Compliments (37)

review by Schtinky. November 26, 2008

Dreams and Funny Bunnies

In Donnie Darko, I am vaguely reminded of the question put to the test in The Seventh Sign, where Demi Moore is asked, "Would you die for him?" She doesn't understand the question until the ending. In a way, I compare Donnie's dream, or alternate reality, to this question: "Would you die for love?" It also brings about another question, "Is it better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all?" Donnie is odd, Donnie is strange; but Donnie is a likeable kid despite his problems. … more

Comments (2) Compliments (11)

review by SusiDee34. March 11, 2009

Donnie Darko - 2001

Pros: liked the story, on the border about Frank Cons: none for me The Bottom Line: “I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take When people run in circles its a very very Mad World, Mad World” ~Gary Jules You can beat your head against the wall and try to ‘figure out’ Donnie Darko or you can just take it for what it is, a movie with an intriguing … more

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review by laurashrti. February 13, 2009

Donnie Darko Makes a Marko

Pros: Thought-provoking, interesting concept, variety of actors and actresses Cons: Some people may not get it The Bottom Line: Donnie Darko made a marko on me. A man in a bunny suit, an alternative time-line, a variety of quirky characters, and mostly Jake Gyllenhaal make this movie one-of-a-kind.

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review by JP_Rocky_Raccoon. June 21, 2007

posted in Movie Hype

'Through a Glass Darkly'

It is hard to describe the plot of 'Donnie Darko' without making the movie seem repellant. 'Donnie Darko' is purposely ambivalent, and the causality of bizarre events is intriguing from the very start. The journal development is a retro trip in itself. Using footage of the Dukakis and Bush (I) debates before the 1988 election, the movie authenticates its setting of a high school near the end of the eighties. How they manage to mix nostalgia with an eerie tale and dark manifestations is a mystery, … more

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see all Donnie Darko reviews (16)

About the reviewer

Bonnie (JezebeltheNun)
Ranked #1479

I'm a 28 year old mother of two who loves to sing and write. I've been in several bands, recorded over one dozen albums, and performed for hundreds of thousands of people. Aside from my family, singing … more