Donnie Darko...a very strange movie - Page 4

Todd Terwilliger · 03-27-2002, 02:36 PM

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Maybe I'm wrong. It just strikes me as a more captivating story if Frank was once just a 'normal guy.' If he's always been some omnipotent God figure...

According to the Philosophy, people who die during the temporal offshoot gain supernatural powers. Thus only dead Frank has any power, not live Frank.[/size]

JohnRice · 03-27-2002, 03:25 PM

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then who is the 'mystery woman?

What mystery woman are you talking about?

I have a few speculations that come right out of left field.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that Donnie might not be entirely human, or that he was "occupied" by some alien concsiousness? He says to his therapist that "there isn't much time until they catch me," and at the end of the film, when he is back on Carpathian Ridge, that he is "going home." Of course, the second one could be a Religious reference.

I also doubt "Carpathian Ridge" is a coincidence. Unless there is actually such a place in Virginia, I expect that is another Religious reference. Unfortunately, I don't know what to make of it. I may have to do a little reading.

OK, here's one of my more outrageous theories. The story seems to make it pretty clear that a time travelling vessel must be capable of traveling at the speed of light, which I believe is actually what Hawking and Einstein theorized. Obviously, a 747 is not capable of this under its own propulsion. What if the the 747 was actually struck by a time travelling vessel, or by its wake, that was possibly coming to get Donnie and that propelled the engine through the vortex, thus creating the "artifact" described in the "Philosophy" book.

No laughing, please.

EricW · 03-27-2002, 04:22 PM

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I also doubt "Carpathian Ridge" is a coincidence. Unfortunately, I don't know what to make of it.

in Ghostbusters 2, Vigo was the 'Scourge of Carpathia'. you don't suppose...?

still, i've no idea who 'they' are that killed of Monitoff. how many copies of that book do you think there are? would anybody be able to trace the the jet engine accident that Donnie back to Monitoff if he "never" gave the book to him?

this is ALOT of conjecture, but the poster who talked about the temporal police, i guess that would be one conventional explanation (the Men in Time?)

although you'd think if they mastered the power of time travel they could've stopped the jet engine anomaly in the first place.

Michael Napier · 03-27-2002, 04:23 PM

Regarding the "mystery woman" if you are talking about the girl at the party with long black hair, I thought it was Donnie's sister in her Halloween costume.

JohnRice · 03-27-2002, 04:28 PM

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but the poster who talked about the temporal police

I was kind of joking. I guess I should have put a smile there.

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the girl at the party with long black hair, I thought it was Donnie's sister in her Halloween costume.

That definitely was Donnie's sister. The reason I asked is, there is an obituary for a woman in the web site stuff that I don't remember being in the movie.

Joseph Young · 03-27-2002, 05:54 PM

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That definitely was Donnie's sister.

And I definitely am obtuse.

:b

-j

JohnRice · 03-27-2002, 06:13 PM

Now I'm confused, Joseph.

Is the "Mystery Woman" you were referring to, Donnie's sister in costume at the party, or were you referring to someone else?

Joseph Young · 03-27-2002, 06:47 PM

I was confused because I didn't recognize Donnie's sister in costume and because there is, in the credits, a listing for "Mystery Woman." Now who that refers to, I have no idea.

Now that I have been set straight, entire portions of the plot are becoming abundantly clear!

Thanks for all the insight everybody!

-j

EricW · 03-27-2002, 11:23 PM

the 'mystery woman' in the movie is the Star Search lady, i think...

Jason Whyte · 03-28-2002, 02:17 AM

[size=]I must say that I'm just thrilled as to how this thread has turned out since the DVD's release. I've went back and watched the film several times now, including with the commentary, and the film just shines with every little new discovery. All from a first-time director who got a lucky card when Drew Barrymore wanted to help.

This film has shot all the way up to #2 on my Top 10 of 2001, which is shocking considering I had thought my list was complete. It would be #1 if not for that damn David Lynch.

And yet, I just can't really discuss the film with you guys. The film lives in my mind. I understand and I agree with a lot of the discussion that has been going on here, but yet I'm obsessed with "Donnie Darko" in viewing mode only: I'll watch it and not talk about it. I will say, though, that I didn't need the commentary to understand the symbolism and meanings that David Kelly was going for; if you look hard enough it's all there.

Jason[/size]

Jeff Cooper · 03-28-2002, 02:38 AM

In the commentary, the director refers to the fat star-search lady as the Mystery Woman. Donnies sister is indeed dating Frank, who is just a normal teenager throughout the film, who then time travels back in time to meet Donnie AFTER Donnie kills him at the end.

Listen to the directors commentary. It will clear up many things, as he tells some symbolism and clues that no-one could ever possibly pick up on without having him explain it to you.