Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › Donnie Darko...a very strange movie
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Donnie Darko...a very strange movie - Page 10

post #271 of 357
1/16/03 at 5:30pm
You know, if you are going to make a trashing of a movie like Pi, at least try to do a decent job of it.
Reply
post #272 of 357
1/16/03 at 10:01pm
Quote:
You know, if you are going to make a trashing of a movie like Pi, at least try to do a decent job of it.

Bleh. I know I shouldn't even respond, but this thread could probably use a little spice on page 10.

I didn't trash Pi. In my opinion it had great acting, captivating form, catchy music, and superb visual style. I enjoyed it immensely and said as much. However, you cannot deny the fact that it makes a lot of stupid plot and pseudo-science mistakes. (Please correct the points in my last post if any are wrong.) A lot of good films are riddled with stupid errors though.

Donnie Darko, on the other hand, tackled rather ambitous ground but managed to keep me fooled. There were very few (if any) places where I spotted an undisputable error. Most every inconsistancy could be argued over and twisted around in several different ways.

Anyways, both are fun films, but very different. I've already shown DD to my movie group (they loved it), and I'll probably push Pi at somepoint too.
Reply
post #273 of 357
1/17/03 at 3:21am
Quote:
However, you cannot deny the fact that it makes a lot of stupid plot and pseudo-science mistakes. (Please correct the points in my last post if any are wrong.) A lot of good films are riddled with stupid errors though.

Donnie Darko, on the other hand, tackled rather ambitous ground but managed to keep me fooled. There were very few (if any) places where I spotted an undisputable error. Most every inconsistancy could be argued over and twisted around in several different ways.


Both films are fictional. Just because one doesn't conform to your present knowledge (Computers), while the other one conforms to its own made up BS rules (time portals), doesn't make one any more sensical than the other. As a matter of fact, DD's director incorrectly explained his own movie (car beep at the end of the film that actually happened in the beginning too). Anyways, I love DD, despite people needing to read a freakin' manual to actually get it (big flaw here folks!). Pi on the other hand made a whole lot more sense, had more challenging concepts to deal with and did a far better job of presenting its concepts.

No I'm not going to debate this either. I'd much rather spend my time watching the film again.
Reply
post #274 of 357
1/17/03 at 7:04am
Quote:
Just because one doesn't conform to your present knowledge (Computers), while the other one conforms to its own made up BS rules (time portals), doesn't make one any more sensical than the other.

I can concede that if you have two films that are equally stupid in different areas, only one of which you have some knowledge about, then the one that errors within your own ballywick is going to seem dumber. That might be the case here.

So are there any temporal physics buffs (or whatever the heck you call them) out there who can give us the lowdown on the science in DD? Is it anywhere close to scientific possibility, total fantasy, or just plain false?

Quote:
Pi on the other hand made a whole lot more sense, had more challenging concepts to deal with and did a far better job of presenting its concepts.

This will definately depend on your background. It will not be true for all viewers, which is why you may see opinions a bit split on this.
Reply
post #275 of 357
1/17/03 at 4:13pm
They are both science fiction, and conform to their own rules. In the world of Pi, a Ming Mecca Chip only has four transistors, if that's what they were. But who cares? The point was that it was a super chip - that's all you need to know about. You go into these movies looking for the meaning of life and you can lose yourself - HA that was an actual lesson from Pi, so I just created something of a paradox
Reply
post #276 of 357
1/17/03 at 6:49pm
Stephen Hawking has discussed his theories on wormholes extensively, so I don't view "time portals" as being far-fetched.
Reply
post #277 of 357
1/17/03 at 7:10pm
Some of you need to lighten up and maybe re-devote yourselves to Sparkle Motion.
Reply
post #278 of 357
1/18/03 at 3:13am


Yeah, I'm really beginning to doubt your committment to Sparkle Motion.
Reply
post #279 of 357
1/18/03 at 4:21am
Pi=inappropriate discussion topic for this thread.
Reply
post #280 of 357
1/18/03 at 6:36am
I am going to buy DD today, you all have me interested.

I agree with Terry about Pi. Although I love the movie and praise Darren A. movies, it in itself was silly, and unrealistic. It was damn entertaining though, got to love soundtracks to both, Clint Mansell, Aphex Twins, etc. superb..


-Bert
Reply
post #281 of 357
1/28/03 at 8:52am
I just got DD on DVD, and watched it once last night. I immediately went to this thread and have read many of the posts. What a stimulating movie, I plan to watch it a couple more times. Once with the directory commentary on for sure. Maybe I can get my g/f to sit through it too.

Btw, does anyone know the name of the song that plays in the final scenes of the movie?
Reply
post #282 of 357
1/28/03 at 9:08am
It is a cover of the Tears for Fears song "Mad World" featuring Gary Jules.
Reply
post #283 of 357
1/29/03 at 11:38am
It's on the score soundtrack, which is quite good BTW.

I was a little annoyed to see the same cover used at the end of an episode of Smallville a few weeks ago. It immediately brought to mind the closing of DD, which IMHO makes much better use of it. I didn't realise this was a cover when I first heard it. The song almost seems to have been written with Donnie Darko in mind. Music is used so well throughout this movie, it's unbelievable.
Reply
post #284 of 357
2/6/03 at 4:12pm
Ok did'nt have time to go through ALL the posts on this thread. But i'm just after seeing this show for the first tme............. loved it but....


SPOLIER ALERT:::

If Donnie woke up smiling knowing that the jet engine was gonna fall on him after seeing what would happen to everyone else if he was'nt in his room when it crashed.......... does his mother and sister on November the 1st DIE because they are in the plane that looses the engine. I took it that everyone in the plane died........dunno where i got this from but I think after what happened on Saturday with Columbia i took it that those on the plane died and the engine went down that time travel worm hole thing into Donnie's room.



Jesus i'm gonna have to watch that again.
Reply
post #285 of 357
2/6/03 at 4:18pm
Maybe one of the guys who has really disected the movie will have a different take, but my feeling is...


Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
The plane only crashed in that universe. since Donnie essentially ended that universe before it started, they no longer die. The engine is an "artifact" from the other universe, or time line if you prefer.
Reply
post #286 of 357
2/6/03 at 5:59pm
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
If Donnie ended that universe before it started, then there couldn't be a plane engine in the first place.

Oh, but then let's ask what was the point of the plane engine from the alter universe traveling back in time (by Donnie?) into the alteruniverse in the first place? Great film, but it makes no sense when you test the logic. And people complain about Pi
Reply
post #287 of 357
2/6/03 at 6:11pm
Please assume crash positions
Reply
post #288 of 357
2/6/03 at 6:39pm
Brace, Brace, Brace!
Reply
post #289 of 357
3/19/03 at 8:21am
Whoo! I love pulling threads back from the dead.

I finally saw this film a few weeks ago and just loved it, I think I am mildly obsessed. Anyway, I've read through this whole thread but a question popped into my head today.

The Manipulated Dead have additional powers and will do anything they can to guide Donnie toward his task. This is quite obvious with dead Frank who makes his presence known throughout the film and acts on Donnie in many ways. But what about...dead Gretchen? She seems to make no appearance, only living Gretchen. Wouldn't she be desperately trying to save herself and the world along with dead Frank? Comments?
Reply
post #290 of 357
3/19/03 at 11:19am
I'm not sure Gretchen was one of the Manipulated Dead. After all, she was "asleep through the whole movie."

Rob
Reply
post #291 of 357
3/19/03 at 12:21pm
Good to see this thread back up top.
Reply
post #292 of 357
3/19/03 at 12:25pm
I'm not sure Gretchen was one of the Manipulated Dead. After all, she was "asleep through the whole movie."

Good point.


I have to say, I don't get terribly wrapped up in those intricacies, and I think you will get a lot more out of Donnie Darko if you venture further into the themes of the values of life and the point of life having a purpose. Notice that.....
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
The one moment when Donnie is the happiest, really maybe the only (or, maybe second) truly happy moment he has in the entire film is the moment when he knows he is going to die, but has essentially saved the world, including his mother and sister, who he was so contentious with in the beginning, but has come to love. If he had died when "intended" his last encounter with both of them would have been cursing them out, but notice his last scene with each of them as the movie actually plays out. It is a profound change.

As far as Gretchen, she probably does more than anyone by being the only person to love Donnie. she may in fact be the one he is most interested in saving. In fact, I would say she is, because it is while looking at her when he realizes he can save her by sacrificing himself. Notice how he smiles when he realizes this.
Reply
post #293 of 357
3/19/03 at 4:13pm
Quote:
I have to say, I don't get terribly wrapped up in those intricacies, and I think you will get a lot more out of Donnie Darko if you venture further into the themes of the values of life and the point of life having a purpose.


Trust me, I have gotten plenty out of this film! To be honest, this is one of the only unresolved questions I have (which is probably pretty irrelevant). I am just curious. I thought by definition from the Philosophy of Time Travel that anyone who died in the divergent universe existed as the Manipulated Dead who would actively try to right things. Maybe dead Gretchen NOT appearing was necessary to steer Donnie down the right path, that is definitely a possiblity.
Reply
post #294 of 357
3/19/03 at 8:24pm
Sorry if I came off wrong, Jason. I expect the Manipulated Dead did whatever was most productive to get things straight. For Gretchen, that would be establishing a relationship with someone who she in fact would never even meet. For that matter, Donnie's Mother and little sister seemingly die as well, but they don't appear either.
Reply
post #295 of 357
3/24/03 at 5:43am
Finally got around to watching this DVD.. the GF had no interest, so it took me awhile. I'm tremendously impressed by many aspects of the film, but something I was curious about.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Gretchen may have been dead from day one. But I guess we'll never know. Unless I missed it in my perusal of the thread.
Reply
post #296 of 357
3/24/03 at 10:25am
Jamie.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
I don't think dead Gretchen ever shows up. Probably because she doesn't need to.
Reply
post #297 of 357
3/24/03 at 10:32pm
Quote:
If Donnie ended that universe before it started, then there couldn't be a plane engine in the first place.

Oh, but then let's ask what was the point of the plane engine from the alter universe traveling back in time (by Donnie?) into the alteruniverse in the first place? Great film, but it makes no sense when you test the logic. And people complain about Pi

Didn't you say "Bye" on like page 3? After reading the whole 10 pages of this thread, I kind of wish that you had meant it.

Good flick, I just watched it for the 2nd time after finding this thread. Still need to watch again with the commentary. (and need to watch Pi a 2nd time as well )

One thing about the ending where Donnie "chooses" to die. Maybe he didn't have a choice. Wasn't part of the point of the time travel (blobs out of the chest) discussion with his teacher that he thought that you couldn't change what was going to happen even though you know what is going to happen?

Dave
Reply
post #298 of 357
3/25/03 at 10:37am
"discussion with his teacher that he thought that you couldn't change what was going to happen even though you know what is going to happen?

My take: That question reflected Donnie's search for the rules of the universe, he feared the possibility that paths are set. Donnie's joy that there is Choice (which gives Purpose to action) was the meaning of Donnie’s final laugh and smile. His documented struggle reflected in anger and depression throughout the film was his lack of acceptance that all outcomes of events might be predetermined. His aggression when he demands to know what his teacher thinks, is also his dawning realization, that if there is Choice, he might be looking at one of the most ultimate decisions a human can make.

Remember his comments on the Browry Boys. He perceived it as their desire to burn down the world, to change, to have an effect. (perversely an act of creation).

It was the beginning of his understanding that out of death (sacrifice) could come Life for those he loved and the continued existence of their known universe.

If choice was not possible the manipulated living would not have been desperately pushing Donnie towards the ‘right’ choice, the one which ensured their survival.
Reply
post #299 of 357
3/26/03 at 7:55am
In a world where KANGAROO JACK can make millions, it's so comforting to see a wonderful film like DD still spurring intelligent discussions so long after its botched release to theaters. It's a treasure.
Reply
post #300 of 357
3/30/03 at 4:02am
"Please assume crash positions"...



John, after reading this ENTIRE thread for the past 2 hours from page 1, that actually made me laugh out loud!



Brilliant, haunting little gem...



Heck, it's 7am, I've been up ALL nite, but I'm tempted to pop this 1 in again!

D
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Movies (Theatrical)
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Entertainment › Movies (Theatrical) › Donnie Darko...a very strange movie