Donnie Darko Directors Cut DVD? - Page 3

Jamie Cole · 02-17-2005, 04:51 PM

Listened to the new commentary on the way home from a business trip last night... while it's not screen specific, it's VERY entertaining. Kevin Smith was pretty funny, saying things like "Wow... this is way beyond any of the shit I've done."

Found out towards the end that both are King fans, and that Kelly had heard from Stephen King about the movie and was very gratified to find that he liked it. "Pet Sematary" even comes up.

DaveF, if you listen to the commentary, you'll find you're on the money... Kelly as much as admits he had a difficult time pulling it together. I believe now even more than before that you take out of this movie what you bring to it. There are so many ways to see it and interpret it, and I may be in the minority here but I don't find it troubling that the director/writer isn't sure which way to go with it either.

In a way, that adds to the mystique of the movie for me. I have shown it to others who feel the same way. The movie has a quality that I can only describe as "it." Whatever "it" is, this movie has it. I love it and I don't know why.

Clear as mud?

Joe D · 02-21-2005, 03:28 AM

How is the video quality on the new release?

The original release on my 48" RPTV looks terribly out of focus and lacks fine detail. Is the director's cut any better?

dpippel · 02-21-2005, 08:57 AM

The video on the Director's Cut is no better and no worse than the theatrical release. It looks like the same soft, disappointing transfer with the additional material just added in.

Travis Brashear · 02-21-2005, 09:33 AM

It's the same soft, "disappointing" transfer because it's the look intended for the film by the director and cinematographer so as to lend the film the hazy, slightly out-of-focus quality of a dream.

dpippel · 02-21-2005, 11:16 AM

That's not what I'm talking about. I realize the look that the director was going for, and theatrically it worked. The softness of the DVD transfer however has nothing to do with the way the film was shot. It's filtered, and does not represent what I saw in the theater.

DaveF · 02-21-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

DaveF, if you listen to the commentary, you'll find you're on the money

Thanks for the update. However, I think I will now pass on the DC, at least for a while. Too many other movies to see right now.

Joseph.C · 02-21-2005, 01:11 PM

fyi, Hottopic has a limited edition tin of the director's cut: w*w.hottopic.com/store/product.asp?LS=0&ITEM=272034

Travis Brashear · 02-21-2005, 01:54 PM

Had, not has...

Joe D · 02-21-2005, 04:28 PM

Darn it about the transfer. The first release looks very similar to a 1997 release from Warner. Did anyone in the studio look at this transfer on something larger than a 20" screen and say, "What is going on here?" It looks like crap.

I have a few Amazon coupons to burn, but with this news about the transfer I am in serious doubt if I'll pick this up. Can anyone convince me otherwise?

Travis Brashear · 02-21-2005, 04:40 PM

Um, guys, please, it's not like this is the 1998 release of SCARFACE or something...it's entirely watchable and, despite Doug's assertions otherwise, most (maybe not all, but most) of the deficiencies with the transfer are attributable to its intented original cinematography...

dpippel · 02-22-2005, 08:56 AM

I never said that it was unwatchable Travis. I said that the transfers on both DVD releases do not represent what I saw in the theater. Donnie Darko lacks good shadow detail and appears to be suffering from excessive high-pass filtering. These video attributes have nothing to do with soft focus cinematography or the intentions of the filmmakers. I think the transfer could look a lot better. Your opinion may differ from mine, but please don't assume to be the final authority on the subject.

Travis Brashear · 02-22-2005, 10:12 AM

That's not my intention, but I do feel some of you aren't giving the transfer its fair due and your descriptions of same, I fear, may cause on-the-fencers to pass on buying the title when it's (yes, IMO) not warranted.