Donnie Darko

[Brad]

So, I finally watched this movie Friday night, and I'm kicking myself...

...for waiting so long to finally watch it! I've watched it 4 more times since then and like it more and more each time. I rented it (the original cut) and then went out an bought the Director's Cut the next day before even returning the one I rented!

It's weird how much I've gotten into it...for some reason I keep wanting to watch it over and over. I also keep wanting to get everyone I know to watch it, hoping that they'll like it as much as I do...and I get frustrated when they don't like it!

Anyone else have love for this movie? My favorite scenes:

1) dinner table:
Donnie: "You are such a f-ck ass!"
Elizabeth: "Did you just call me a f-ck ass? Why don't you go suck a f-ck?"
Donnie: "Tell us Elizabeth, how exactly does one suck a f-ck?" (Mouthing): "I'm all ears."
I literally LOL (and very loud) every time I watch this!

2) "Head Over Heals": I love the song and I think the way it's played while introducing us to the school and the teachers and students is well done. I watch this scene over and over too. Great way of capturing the 80's. My favorite part of it is watching Karen's disgust for Kitty and Sparkle Motion and what they represent.

3) The bus stop:
Donnie: "What happens if you tell Mom and Dad about this?"
Samantha: "You'll put Ariel in the garbage disposal."
Donnie: "You're goddamn right I will."
Just the way he says that last line with almost a half grin on his face cracks me up.

4) The Smurfs discussion

5) Awesome soundtrack...though I think I preferred the original cut's having "Killing Moon" at the beginning instead of "Never Tear Us Apart." But, like Kelley says in the commentary, the INXS song is more effective at introducing the family.

After multiple viewings, it's so amazing how it all links up and how just about every scene and every line spoken is important for making it all come together.

Well, that's all I wanted. I would love to discuss and quote more if anyone is interested...I'm still on my high from watching it...and will probably watch it again before bed...making that viewing #5 in 4 days. It seems like there was a thread about this a year or so ago, but I did a search and couldn't find one. Does anyone remember?

Brad

[dissention]

I love that movie, too. The "Go suck a f*ck" bit always makes me giggle, and I love it when Elizabeth tells her parents she's not voting for Bush.

The Director's Cut is good, but I prefer the original version. The pacing isn't as good and I prefer the extra mystery to it all. It sucks that they didn't include BOTH versions on the DVD.

[Nixxxed]

Oh, you're not kidding. I rented the Director's Cut for the first time about a month ago, and watched it 4 times before returning it (thank God BB did away with their late fees...).

The "Cult of Darko" extra on the disc is great too, with all the different impressions of the movie. I hadn't really thought about all the religious overtones/parallels... Which got me to thinking about Sept. 11, and how by the movie's rules, we could be in a temporary universe just waiting to implode. Too serious for a Monday night?

[David]

I haven't seen it.

How would you compare it with, say, Chabrol's "Les Biches"?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by David

I haven't seen it.

How would you compare it with, say, Chabrol's "Les Biches"?

I wouldn't, but it is one of Claude Chabrol's best movies, along with "Merci Pour Le Chocolat" and "Une Partie De Plaisir". Too bad "The Flower of Evil" sucked so much. That script and Nathalie Baye, oy. Torturous.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by dissention

The Director's Cut is good, but I prefer the original version. The pacing isn't as good and I prefer the extra mystery to it all. It sucks that they didn't include BOTH versions on the DVD.

I agree...the Director's Cut does take away a lot of the mystery of the movie. After watching the original, I got on the internet and did some searches to try to make sense of it. Between that and then watching the Director's Cut...it does make more sense. Which I guess could be a good or a bad thing. On the one hand, I think it would probably appeal to more people as it's not as frustrating. On the other hand, it does make you have to think less...and I think one of the appeals of the original is some of the ambiguity and how you can draw your own conclusions about a lot of it...that kind of gets lost in the DC.

And yeah, it would have been nice to have both versions included. I think watching the original version first and then following it up with the DC to resolve any unanswered questions is a good idea.

Working on trying to get my roommate to watch it tonight...but he seems adamant on watching American History X instead.

Brad

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Oh, you're not kidding. I rented the Director's Cut for the first time about a month ago, and watched it 4 times before returning it (thank God BB did away with their late fees...).

The "Cult of Darko" extra on the disc is great too, with all the different impressions of the movie. I hadn't really thought about all the religious overtones/parallels... Which got me to thinking about Sept. 11, and how by the movie's rules, we could be in a temporary universe just waiting to implode. Too serious for a Monday night?

Hey Chuck. Glad to finally say what's up to you. I've been meaning to say hi and tell you that, what a small world, I'm from Texas City also. Born and raised...bet you never thought you'd run into someone on the Ledge from TC...i know I sure didn't! I'm in Dallas right now but I'll be down there in 2 weeks to do my family practice rotation at Mainland Center and then do a couple of anesthesia rotations at UTMB.

Anyway, just wanted to finally tell you that there's another Stingaree on the board!

Brad

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Brad

I agree...the Director's Cut does take away a lot of the mystery of the movie. After watching the original, I got on the internet and did some searches to try to make sense of it. Between that and then watching the Director's Cut...it does make more sense. Which I guess could be a good or a bad thing. On the one hand, I think it would probably appeal to more people as it's not as frustrating. On the other hand, it does make you have to think less...and I think one of the appeals of the original is some of the ambiguity and how you can draw your own conclusions about a lot of it...that kind of gets lost in the DC.

Well said. That's what I liked about it to begin with; you walked out going 'What the f*ck, man?'

Originally Posted by Brad

And yeah, it would have been nice to have both versions included. I think watching the original version first and then following it up with the DC to resolve any unanswered questions is a good idea.

The thing that royally sucks is that all of the great special features on the theatrical cut DVD are nowhere to be found on the Director's Cut. The commentary on the original disc is fantastic, but the one on the Director's Cut is horrific.

Originally Posted by Brad

Working on trying to get my roommate to watch it tonight...but he seems adamant on watching American History X instead.

Eek, I hate that movie. Not a big fan of those types of movies, anyway. Ed Norton is really good in it, though.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by dissention

The commentary on the original disc is fantastic, but the one on the Director's Cut is horrific.

I didn't listen to it on the original, but I did on the DC, and I agree: it's bad. I mean, the banter between the director and Kevin Smith is fun, but I was really hoping to hear more about his vision and explanation for certain things...and not 10 minutes about why the songs were changed!

Brad

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by Brad

Hey Chuck. Glad to finally say what's up to you. I've been meaning to say hi and tell you that, what a small world, I'm from Texas City also. Born and raised...bet you never thought you'd run into someone on the Ledge from TC...i know I sure didn't! I'm in Dallas right now but I'll be down there in 2 weeks to do my family practice rotation at Mainland Center and then do a couple of anesthesia rotations at UTMB.

Anyway, just wanted to finally tell you that there's another Stingaree on the board!

Brad

*FAINT*

You must be joking. But be glad you're in Dallas! BP has exploded twice in the last month, after the big boom in April that killed 20 people or so. And yes, it's about 1.5 miles from my house. *cough* *hack*

But you'll be happy to know the city has painted all the streetlights around the Stadium black and orange, for your school spirit pleasure. Yes, black poles & orange lights. So, you can't see the poles at night at all. I'm just waiting for the first car crash.

Thanks for saying hi! (Go Stings!)

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

*FAINT*

You must be joking. But be glad you're in Dallas! BP has exploded twice in the last month, after the big boom in April that killed 20 people or so. And yes, it's about 1.5 miles from my house. *cough* *hack*

But you'll be happy to know the city has painted all the streetlights around the Stadium black and orange, for your school spirit pleasure. Yes, black poles & orange lights. So, you can't see the poles at night at all. I'm just waiting for the first car crash.

Thanks for saying hi! (Go Stings!)

My dad works at Sterling, and luckily they haven't had anything happen in a while. Seems like every time you turn around something is happening at BP.

Yeah, every time I get back in town, there's something different...a new fountain or statue, 5 new dollar stores, the pawn shop expanding to TWO stories, and now...black and orange street lights. The town has "class" written all over it. Still, most of my friends never left town or moved back after college, so it's always fun going for a visit to hang out with them again.

Brad

[Serrart]

Originally Posted by dissention

I wouldn't, but it is one of Claude Chabrol's best movies, along with "Merci Pour Le Chocolat" and "Une Partie De Plaisir". Too bad "The Flower of Evil" sucked so much. That script and Nathalie Baye, oy. Torturous.

I actually liked The Flower of Evil, but Chabrol rarely fails for me . Some other or my favourites, besides you list are La Ceremonie, Rien Ne Va Plus, L'enfer and especially La femme infidele, Michel Bouquet was so incredible. Besides if Academy voters had even only one intelligent mind among them, they should give Bouquet at least a nomination for his performance as Mitterand in Le Promeneur du champ de Mars, he's enthralling to watch in it.

Romy

[mylittledemon]

I really disliked this movie. I think it was trying to say something by not really saying anything. It was overrated. And it reminds me of a saying about Pink Floyd..."They're only as good as the current drug you're taking." And I think that applies to this "film" as well.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by Brad

Working on trying to get my roommate to watch it tonight...but he seems adamant on watching American History X instead.

Brad

Now, that is a good movie.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I really disliked this movie. I think it was trying to say something by not really saying anything. It was overrated. And it reminds me of a saying about Pink Floyd..."They're only as good as the current drug you're taking." And I think that applies to this "film" as well.

You wouldn't happen to be my sister would you? That's pretty much exactly what she said...a movie made by stoners who think they're being deep but they're really not...and then all the stoners that watched it sit around and talk about how deep it is. But seeing as how I'm not a stoner, that doesn't really work. Eh, to each their own. I'm also a huge Floyd fan (second only to FM, but oftentimes above them) so who knows. Maybe I'm just wishing I was doing some kind of drug, so I like watching weird movies and listening to psychedelic music.

Oh well, at least you watched it. I haven't been able to convince some of my friends to watch it for even the first time.

Brad