Donnie Darko ---> Best movie EVER

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Have any of you seen this gem?

If you didn't like the movie, that's fine too .. but I really want to discuss something...


WARNING
If you haven't seen the movie, but are planning on watching it, please do not read any further. You have been warned ;)






So, in the end, when he's in bed and the jet kills him, did he have knowledge of it? Because I don't think any of the other characters in the movie did (they didn't, for sure) .. but did he? Did he actually travel back in time? If he did know, why didn't he save himself? What was with the Sparrow lady? Was she checking for his letter? My brain hurts.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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I think "best movie EVER" in my thread title answers the 'good/bad' question .. and it's pretty new.
 

HombrePequeno

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Mar 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: smp
Have any of you seen this gem?
So, in the end, when he's in bed and the jet kills him, did he have knowledge of it? Because I don't think any of the other characters in the movie did (they didn't, for sure) .. but did he? Did he actually travel back in time? If he did know, why didn't he save himself?

He had to sacrifice himself to put order back into the universe.
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
Originally posted by: smp Have any of you seen this gem? So, in the end, when he's in bed and the jet kills him, did he have knowledge of it? Because I don't think any of the other characters in the movie did (they didn't, for sure) .. but did he? Did he actually travel back in time? If he did know, why didn't he save himself?
He had to sacrifice himself to put order back into the universe.

But how is order restored? What about the old lady? What about the kiddie porn guy? He goes on being a dirty kiddie porn loving fiend, that isn't order ... ;)
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
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interesting mood peice but fatally flawed. theres a copy of the book u can read on the net.. the rules basically. couldn't work it into the movie:p
 

HombrePequeno

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Mar 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: smp
Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
Originally posted by: smp Have any of you seen this gem? So, in the end, when he's in bed and the jet kills him, did he have knowledge of it? Because I don't think any of the other characters in the movie did (they didn't, for sure) .. but did he? Did he actually travel back in time? If he did know, why didn't he save himself?
He had to sacrifice himself to put order back into the universe.

But how is order restored? What about the old lady? What about the kiddie porn guy? He goes on being a dirty kiddie porn loving fiend, that isn't order ... ;)

I don't know about the old lady. I haven't seen the movie in quite a while so I don't remember who all dies...Anyway, that one guy he shot would live and so would the person that guy ran over. And I think his mom dies in the airplane but that wouldn't have happened if he died.
 

TheShiz

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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get the dvd and listen to the commentary track, the director pretty much spells out what he meant with everything in the movie. Its more fun thinking about it yourself though.

Tim
 

JeremyJoe

Senior member
Dec 8, 2000
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I just finished watching this movie like an hour ago and i didnt think it was the best ever, it wasnt a fight club or matrix for me
 

Spoooon

Lifer
Mar 3, 2000
11,563
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Originally posted by: JeremyJoe
I just finished watching this movie like an hour ago and i didnt think it was the best ever, it wasnt a fight club or matrix for me

Donnie Darko is playing in a whole other league if you're going to compare it to The Matrix. ;)
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
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the bullsh*t you have to know to understand...


"Philosophy of Time Travel
Here are the book's contents, transcribed from the website:
Foreward
I would like to thank the sisters of the Saint John Chapter in Alexandria, Virginia for their support in my decision.

By the grace of God, they are:

Sister Eleanor Lewis
Sister Francesca Godani
Sister Helen Davis
Sister Catherine Arnold
Sister Marry Lee Pond
Sister Virginia Wessex

The intent of this short book is for it to be used as a simple and direct guide in a time of great danger.

I pray that this is merely a work of fiction.

If it is not, then I pray for you, the reader of this book.

If I am still alive when the events foretold in these pages occur, then I hope that you will find me before it is too late.

Roberta Ann Sparrow
October, 1944

Chapter 1
The Tangent Universe

The Primary Universe is fraught with great peril. War, plague, famine and natural disaster are common. Death comes to us all.

The Fourth Dimension of Time is a stable construct, though it is not impenetrable.

Incidents when the fabric of the fourth dimension becomes corrupted are incredibly rare.

If a Tangent Universe occurs, it will be highly unstable, sustaining itself for no longer than several weeks.

Eventually it will collapse upon itself, forming a black hole within the Primary Universe capable of destroying all existence.

Chapter 2
Water and Metal

Water and Metal are the key elements of Time Travel.

Water is the barrier element for the construction of Time Portals used as gateways between Universes at the Tangent Vortex.

Metal is the transitional element for the construction of Artifact Vessels.

Chapter 4
The Artifact and the Living

When a Tangent Universe occurs, those living nearest to the Vortex will find themselves at the epicenter of a dangerous new world.

Artifacts provide the first sign that a Tangent Universe has occurred.

If an Artifact occurs, the Living will retrieve it with great interest and curiosity. Artifacts are formed from metal, such as an Arrowhead from an ancient Mayan civilization, or a Metal Sword from Medieval Europe.

Artifacts returned to the Primary Universe are often linked to religious Iconography, as their appearance on Earth seems to defy logical explanation.

Divine Intervention is deemed the only logical conclusion for the appearance of the Artifact.

Chapter 6
The Living Receiver

The Living Receiver is chosen to guide the Artifact into position for its journey back to the Primary Universe.

No one knows how or why a Receiver will be chosen.

The Living Receiver is often blessed with a Fourth Dimensional Powers. These include increased strength, telekinesis, mind control, and the ability to conjure fire and water.

The Living Receiver is often tormented by terrifying dreams, visions and auditory hallucinations during his time within the Tangent Universe.

Those surrounding the Living Receiver, known as the Manipulated, will fear him and try to destroy him.

Chapter 7
The Manipulated Living

The Manipulated Living are often the close friends and neighbors of the Living Receiver.

They are prone to irrational, bizarre, and often violent behavior. His is the unfortunate result of their task, which is to assist the Living Receiver in returning the Artifact to the Primary Universe.

The Manipulated Living will do anything to save themselves from Oblivion.

Chater ??
The Manipulated Dead

The Manipulated Dead are more powerful than the Living Receiver. If a person dies within the Tangent Dimension, they are able to contact the Living Receiver through the Fourth Dimensional Construct.

The Fourth Dimensional Construct is made of Water.

The Manipulated Dead will manipulate the Living Receiver using the Fourth Dimensional Construct (see Appendix A and B).

The Manipulated Dead will often set an Endurance Trap for the Living Receiver to ensure that the Artifact is returned safely to the Primary Universe.

If the Endurance Trap is successful, the Living Receiver is left with no choice but to use his Fourth Dimensional Power to send the Artifact back in time into the Primary Universe before the Black Hole collapses upon itself.

Chapter 12
Dreams

When the Manipulated awaken from their Journey into the Tangent Universe, they are often haunted by the experience in their dreams.

Many of them will not remember.

Those who do remember the Journey are often overcome with profound remorse for the regretful actions buried within their Dreams, the only physical evidence buried within the Artifact itself, all that remains from the lost world.

Ancient myth tells us of the Mayan Warrior killed by an Arrowhead that had fallen from a cliff, where there was no Army, no enemy to be found.

We are told of the Medieval Knight mysteriously impaled by the sword he had not yet built.

We are told that these things occur for a reason."


 
Feb 10, 2000
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I thought it was decent, not great, and definitely not the best ever. I enjoyed the first half much more than the second.
 

flavio

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,823
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I thought it was brilliant. Astounding for the first time out of the gate for that director. What is his name?

I need to see what he does next.
 

WhiteWonder

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2001
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after i saw the movie i wanted to ride my bike to the mountains and sleep on the road.

but they are to far away, and i'm lazy
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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Originally posted by: JeremyJoe
I just finished watching this movie like an hour ago and i didnt think it was the best ever, it wasnt a fight club or matrix for me

That's because fight club and matrix sucked ;)
 

Drekce

Golden Member
Sep 29, 2000
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Just watched it last night for the first time. Great movie. My wife hated it (of course), she only likes mass market crap!

Wife: "I want to go see Swimfan!!!"
Me: "That movie looks ridiculous, I stopped watching crap like that in high school."
Wife: "OK then, lets see Fear.com"
Me: "Doh!"
 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
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yes that movie really was awesome.

I think when he was killed by the engine, he knew he was being killed by it - I think he was dreaming of everything that was happening in the alternate chronology.

yea the sparrow lady was checking for his letter... all her life...

he didn't travel back in time, only the engine did

I think all the characters ended up with some form of residual influence from the alternate chronology.
 

Gnurb

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2001
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Spoiler alert
I just got done watching, was really impressed. Watched part of it a second time (as the writer suggested I found out) Haven't looked at the commentary at all. I think in addition to all the comments here, donnie was given a second path in life in order to experience love before he died. Frank came back as a ghost after Donnie shot him so that he could lead Donnie to the girl and set a couple of other things right, all the things seemed like vandalism, but they were actually for a purpose. Flooding the school, so that he would get a chance to talk to the girl, burning patrick swayzes house down so that his little sister wouldn't be subjected to the kiddie porn. Great film, if you haven't seen it, see it.
 

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
11,642
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great movie... i just watched it for the first time and i don't fully understand it, but it was really amazing.

i definately recommend to the crowd that likes independant films such as Mulhallond drive.
 

davestar

Golden Member
Oct 21, 2001
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smp, no offense, but how do you declare a movie "the best movie ever" while self-admitedly not understanding important portions of it?

regardless, i was very intrigued by the movie. it was nearly impossible to guess where it was going, and for it to simply turn into a time travel movie (albiet with practically no time travel) with light religious overtones was a great way to wrap up everything. drew barrymore's performance, however, was painful as all hell.
 

markuskidd

Senior member
Sep 2, 2002
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Originally posted by: davestar
smp, no offense, but how do you declare a movie "the best movie ever" while self-admitedly not understanding important portions of it?

The best things in the world are like that. Take the Bible, a great amalgamation of religion, history, morality, you name it. You can work through it hundreds of times and you still probably won't understand important portions of it.