what part of 'donnie darko' don't you understand?

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i saw this enjoyed it, didn't think much about it.

but with the hype for 'mad world', it seems there's a whole world of interpretations out there, and now i can kind of see there's a fair amount going on with this film. possibly it's got this following because it's kind of messed up, incoherent -- i don't know, but it didn't strike me as a brain-exploder in the way 'twelve monkeys' did.

also, i thought 'mad world' was REM. certainly a big part of this films' appeal is its genius use of music.

so -- what are the u&k issues taxing 'donnie darko' fans?

enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

what part of 'twelve monkeys' don't you understand???

(not seen dd btw)

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

well if, like me, you were really keen to discover what you didn't understand you would've watched the film with the directors commentary on. So now all my questions have been answered.

There was a lot there which I never picked up on originally, the whole comic strip super hero thing passed me by.

And I didn't even realise that Frank was his sisters boyfriend.

Good film though.

Fuzzy (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

pedant!

what part of 'twelve monkeys' don't you understand???

erm... well, actually it is easier to understand than 'dd', because the writers/director contrived it that way, but it is quite complex? i can't remember the details, i just remember it being like whoooo!! ditto 'eXistenZ'.

oh! why wd his sister's boyf get involved, dressed as a rabbit and ANYWAY how wd HE know that a plane was going to go into a wormhole a month into the future???? i must watch with commentary (something i hardly ever do).

enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:03 (twenty-one years ago)

the website's this labyrinthine thing, with added backstory and narrative content etc, you might wanna look at that if you've got the patience

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:07 (twenty-one years ago)

And I didn't even realise that Frank was his sisters boyfriend.
whu?!

I was very disappointed with the commentary on the dvd I have. It's more of an actor's commentary and a making of. Very little is revealed about the plot.

dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

hmm, still it's come to a pretty pass when 'plot' is something you need commentaries and websites for. however i will check the website -- i suppose the swayze 'be all you can be' shit ties in with the essntial theme of

Fayyyyte/up agaynst your whii-hill

enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:23 (twenty-one years ago)

And I didn't even realise that Frank was his sisters boyfriend.
whu?!

The director tells us this a couple of times in the commentary, its also evident at the halloween party when his sister asks "has anybody seen Frank?", but he went out to get beer. You can see his car drive away from their house at the very start when Donnie is cycling home.

I'm not sure it's that relevant to the whole story though.

About the commentary, I thought the director gave quite a bit away about what he wanted to achieve but you're right in that he didn't say too much about the plot detail. There is also the 2nd crap commentary by all the other actors who just end up laughing all the time and not making much sense.

Fuzzy (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, i bought mine pre-rental and it only has the crappy actors commentary and it's no fun at all. serves me right for being a cheapskate.

dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:40 (twenty-one years ago)

If you like 12 Monkeys then it is URGENT & KEY that you seek out and enjoy Chris Marker's La Jetée, which is the best 30 minutes of cinema EVER.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, it is grebt 'la jetee'. the anti-rockist in me prefers 'monkeys'.

enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:50 (twenty-one years ago)

you're clearly nuts

jed (jed_e_3), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:52 (twenty-one years ago)

no i'm not; '12 monkeys' is an excellent film. as is 'la jetee', of course, but there's nowt wrong with 'monkeys' (except possibly brad pitt's overacting)

enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 13:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I lovelovelove Brad Pitt overacting.

Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

He's a surprisingly excellent overactor, yes.

Hunter (Hunter), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 06:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I worked out much of the donnie darko plot without having to delve into the website etc for explanations. You just have to watch it a few times for it to reveal all the layers and loops. Bit like Lynch.

I love it. But I've said that on other threads, and I watched the film a gazillion times, it needs a rest in my brain now =)

Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 06:29 (twenty-one years ago)

just because the circular plot can be pieced together doesn't mean it amounts to anything. it's a wonderful mood piece, though.

(i like this movie a lot, but the point escaped me)

brian nemtusak (sanlazaro), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 07:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I think thats a great point Brian. It is a wonderful mood piece. Needing a point isnt ... uhh, the point. I mean it has one, if you follow the director's explanations, but to be honest I was happy working my own out and when I "knew" the concept it was somehow less enjoyable? Having said that, I love this film.

Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:06 (twenty-one years ago)


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