Reviews

I have tried to watch Donnie Darko four times. Each time I find the characters stereo-typical and the performances (except For Mary McDonell's) abominable. Since this movie is supposed to be telling a story, and a story is only intersting if one finds the characters interesting, this movie is boring.

Other people may like it (and find it interesting), but I dont. (And apparently, a great many others don't either by the look of the negative comments here.)

As has been said before, there are negative comments for every movie (Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey, etc). Just shows that people have different tastes.

I like science fiction, and horror, and cross-genre movies. I like movies that catalyze thought. I don't think Donnie Darko does that.

Sure, lots of young people like Jake G. (especially--at least on this site--young females. I don't. I think his performances (Bubble Boy, The Good Girl, and Donnie Darko) are all the same, and don't demonstrate (to me, at least) any "great" acting skills.

Some may find the story "thought-provoking." I don't. (As an aside here, I COULD make a list here of movies I do find thought-provoking, as I have seen fans of this movie demand of others who have said things similar to what I have said, but I dont feel the necessity to; I am commenting about THIS movie, not others.) I feel Donnie Darko's story tries too hard to be thought-provoking, and thus brings about its own failure.

The thing I find most unappealing about this movie actually concerns its fans: It seems that they are outraged (for some reason) by anyone who posts negative comments. These fans (for some reason) suddenly feel the need to make negative comments about the intelligence of people who dont like the film. I find this very saddening.

I guess it really says something about themselves...

the first few minutes of this movie managed to set up an interesting situation, but then drifted into absolute boredom. the soundtrack is only likeable if you weren't alive during the timeperiod; if you did have to suffer through this dreck during your day-to-day existence, you find the songs to be unbearable crap. the characters are unlikeable. after the first 20 minutes or so, you find yourself asking, "why do I care about these people? SHOULD I care about them...? I don't." this movie had a lot of potential, but fell flat on its face. stop all comparisons to Lynch, Memento, etc. this is not it...

so, what...

bad acting

no script (was there one?)

no plot

the new wave of movies: "let's be quirky! do something unusual! it doesn't have to be good, the upcoming crop of movie watchers raised on the "tarrentino-style" movie (ie "nonsense") doesn't care if it makes sense: the less plausable the story, the more they think its "innovative," and "cool"

a good movie has a story that impells the watcher to watch, maintains viewer attention, has credible actors, and leaves the movie-goer with a feeling that they have gotten something from the experience. Donnie Darko does none of this.

several reviewers have complained that the end failed to wrap everything up. I lost interest long before the end (although I did force myself to sit through all of it until I got there), and that is the greatest crime any movie can commit-- disappoint the audience. that is where this movie fails

comparable to the Police Academy movies, the National Lampoon Vacation series, or maybe an Eric Roberts or Micheal Pare movie...

0 out of 10

This movie is sadly overlooked and underated. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of Goldblum's better performances (sure beats ID4!). He was okay in The Fly, and okay in Jurassic Park too.

I like Kathy Baker's role, but she herself, I find a little annoying at times. Here she's dead on as a psychologist who begins to lose faith in her field.

Mostly thought, it's the tension this movie produces that won me over. For once I couldn't predict how it was going to end. Would she just quit and walk away from it all? Would she stick to her guns and ignore Mr. Frost's wishes like a "good doctor" should? Would she give in to Frost? I really saw it going any of those ways 'till the end.

I could really have done without Francois Negret-- his character was important, but as a person he really put me off. He was the worst part of the movie. And the performance of the doctor unable to withhold his love for Sarah was so melodramatic and overplayed, it bordered on revolting.

Overall I think this movie was original and cleverly-made.