h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Has anybody seen Donnie Darko?

I saw it for the first time last night and it is class...

How on earth did that one slip through my radar, I have been to see loads of films over the last couple of years but somehow I missed this gem.

p.s.

Might have to watch it a few more times though to make sure I understand what it all is about!

Yeah, I've seen it. Quite a film. Cool and funny and weird and clever all at the same time. There was some dicussion about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/plain/F114557?thread=283313 Geggs

What is donnie darko about? i think i've heard about it somewhere, but never went any further than that...

I know where I am there was only one copy of it at the rental store and the wife and I found it by chance. Afterward there were more

There are no big names and so I think it was taken on quite tentatively at first.

It is good though

Err... Drew Barrymore is in it. That's a reasonably big name. As is Patrick Swayze (or however his surname is spelt).

Though, admittedly, neither of them are in the starring roles.


Geggs

As for what DD is about... well, it goes something like this:

Donnie has is a teenager with psychiatric problems. He sleepwalks, and may actually sleepride on his bike as well. Though he falls asleep in his bed each night he has no idea where he will wake up.

One night, while he is out sleepwalking, he meets a six foot tall bunny rabbit called Frank on a golf course. Frank tells him that the world will end in 28 days 16 hours some minutes and a few seconds (can't remember the numbers exactly).

That same night an engine from a jet plane lands on his house, completely destroying his room. The authorities have no idea where this engine came from.

So, who is Frank? How does he know this? Why did he tell Donnie? And where did the engine come from?

And then, once you've watched the film, read all the stuff on the DVD, cause that goes some way to explaining all the things at are just implied during the course of the film.


Geggs

Highly overrated film. Not bad... but just not worthy of a lot of the praise it gets as being a good example of how time works and so forth. Lots of loose ends.

And don't give me "watch the extras"... if it ain't in the movie, it ain't there.

The thing is, it kinda is there in the film. But only implied, not plainly stated.

Like the line: "Donnie Darko? What kind of name is that? It sounds like a superhero". And Donnie's reply: "What makes you think I'm not?", implies that he actually is. For example, he embeds that axe in the bronze dog statue. Must be fairly strong to do that.

Then there's the bit where Roberta Sparrow answers his letter before he sends it. And Frank. But I'm not going to spoil that one for those that haven't seen it yet.

The one thing that impressed me most about the film, though, is Jake Gyganthall (or however you spell his surname), who plays Donnie. Given some of the things he has to do in the film, that lad is a very impressive actor.


Geggs

Well, I'm speaking more of some of the points I raised in the other forum about the loose ends. Like - why *Frank*? What on does the "end of the world" have to do with anything (unless it's a metaphor for Donnie's world with the things that happen to make him change stuff - but I wouldn't really consider that his *world*)? I would mention more but won't for fear of spoilers. Those sorts of things bothered me.

There are some very interesting things in the movie - some very nice one-liners, etc. The whole book by Sparrow is quite neat for me - but I wish they had picked soemthing to concentrate on rather than try to put out some theories and never validate them or give them any real meaning. Seems to me like they read a few philosophical works about time and read some Einstein and so forth and tried to make it into a movie... that doesn't work.

I suppose the thing that bugs me the most is people who think it's a great movie *because* they don't understand it after a few watchings. Incomphrehensibility does not make a good film - or book, or anything. I didn't so much get it or not get it - I just saw swiss cheese holes all through it.

The kid, though... yeah. Very nice creepy stares.

Tut tut, Amy!
Move with the times, girl, and discover the wonder that is DVD.

There's about ninety minutes' worth of extra stuff in each of the Lord of the Rings films on DVD (the special nerd editions, that is) that doesn't appear in the cinema cut, and it helps to make a lot more sense of it. The characters get built properly, there's a lot more pretty NZ footage, and the battle of Helm's Deep makes sense: it's not just "Oh balls, we're all about to die horribly - no wait! Here's Gandalf! Well, that's a relief."
Mind you, i am a total geek, so that could have something to do with how impressed i was.

And besides, how can you not like a film where someone says "Go suck a f***" ??

Quite easily.

I reiterate: if it ain't in the movie, it ain't there. DVD extras are jsut a way for the movie corperations to make more money.

Actually, I do enjoy some of the extras on DVDs - but why on earth cut out important sequences? That's never made sense to me.

I agree, most of the time the DVD versions are just a fast cash in. Matrix Reloaded is a fine example of this. When it's done right though, the extras add something to the film instead of just being rubbish "comedy" outtakes, 30 seconds silent walking along, etc. There's a lot you can do with DVDs that you couldn't get away with in a cinema.

One reason why directors/editors/whoever's in charge of this sort of thing cut stuff out is because the backers wouldn't have it, or audiences (specifically US ones, not that i'm Listerine...) wouldn't be likely to go for it.

If you're a producer or otherwise involved in the money side of it, your main priority will be to make a film that makes big fat pots of cash. Here's a poser: Would *you* go and watch a four-hour, intermission free film for a fun night out??

Ok, i would, but i'm not right in the head

I think I would agree with skank here...

A cinema release of a film is designed to make money, therefore it follows that that the money men behind the distribution will desire the version of the film that will appeal to the largest possible audience.

Personally I do not think quality equates to number of people who like something; (to my mind there are better films than Titanic) and it is quite possible that a "Better" version of a film (for my money anyway) might appeal to less people. Consequently the distributors might do away with "Artistically" important bits of the film which I personally would have enjoyed.

DVD edition can cater for this, so I like extended editions (when they are good anyhow).

P.S. Interestingly enough, Ridley Scotts directors cut of Alien is shorter than the origional...

hello people just thought you'd like to know bout 2 websites re;dd http://www.donniedarko.com and a walk thru(and more stuff) for the donnie darko adventure at htpp://ruinedeye.com do try to do it yourself first as it's more fun and shows that you were paying attention

ooops spot the mistake doh!sorry but you can work it out i am sure(valley girl accent)
pde

hi,whats the song from donnie darko thats getting loads of radio play at the minute....its a really quiet,slow & haunting tune...sounds a bit REMish...anyone know?

"Mad world"
Originally done by Tears for fears, but the Album escapes me, although it was probably(but don't quote me)
Song from the Big Chair.

Don't normally think much of cover versions ( a la westlife's "Mandy" ) but the is a complete reworking including tempo, and one of the best about at the moment.

Gary Jules - Mad World

im off work at the mo(depression funnily enough)decided to rent D.D to watch,actually felt a deal of empathy with donnie...maybe im worse than i thought.....
no big rabbits .....yet!
when they played mad world at the end i listened to the words and it hit a bit of a nerve,and it is a brilliant version,steve wright played it yesterday or the day before

Aye, it is good. And very well used in the film.

Do you realise, as well, that the first song you hear in the film is by 'Echo and the Bunnymen'?


Geggs