Why do so many hate Donnie Darko with such loathing?

[bonjour]

It's certainly not as clever as it thinks it is, along the same lines as American Beauty in that respect

I didn't think American Beauty as clever, although it may convey the same sort of middle-class suburban family plot, it's still an amazing script, and the characters are so incredibly diverse, and it is beautifully put together. It's just a so-so storyline but done brilliantly.

I can't understand why people would dislike it?

Over.

 

[Neva]

I didn't think American Beauty as clever, although it may convey the same sort of middle-class suburban family plot, it's still an amazing script, and the characters are so incredibly diverse, and it is beautifully put together. It's just a so-so storyline but done brilliantly.

I can't understand why people would dislike it?

Over.

That bit with the rubbish bag blowing in the wind was woeful beyond belief. It also won a lot of awards and made some people a great deal of money when it had done nothing but steal the ethos of various indie films and given it the hollywood treatment.

That's not to say I don't like it though. I think it's pretty good actually but it just didn't deserve the acclaim it got.

 

[bonjour]

That bit with the rubbish bag blowing in the wind was woeful beyond belief.

Nein, it's a lesson trying to teach us that there is "beauty in everything"
Like me.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Inspired by comments on the '50 Films...' thread, and by previous comments made by some about DD, what is it that really winds some people up about what I think is a pretty magical film that, were I 14-18 when I first saw it, would probably mean as much to me as Heathers?

I think people on this forum are just ridiculously difficult about films... In the weird, murky world known as 'real life', virtually everyone I know thinks DD is a cracking film. Same with LOTR... Yet on here it's quite different.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Because it's regularly cited by idiot critics as one of the greatest films ever made.

It isn't.

I don't know about best ever, but it's one of the few really great films so far this decade.

 

[Flashman]

I think people on this forum are just ridiculously difficult about films... In the weird, murky world known as 'real life', virtually everyone I know thinks DD is a cracking film. Same with LOTR... Yet on here it's quite different.

It let me down, and I hate it when that happens. Bought it for a fiver at HMV, thought I'd gotten myself a cheap modern masterpiece (after people telling me it was great/reviews etc) and it just didn't set me alight at all, not shite by any means, but not "great".

Don't believe the hype, is the lesson.

LotR was fucking ace though

 

[Neva]

I don't know about best ever, but it's one of the few really great films so far this decade.

Well that's your opinion but I think that films like City of God, Memento, Amélie, Spirited Away, Amores Perros, The Machinist, Fog of War and Hotel Rwanda all urinate on Donnie Darko from a great height and I haven't even watched many movies for a couple of years.

I think that in ten years no-one will really talk about Donnie Darko to be honest. I can't wait for Kellys' next film though. He's gone overboard on the pretension again calling it a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick" and it's staring Stiffler, Buffy and The Rock

I, for one, predict greatness.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Well that's your opinion but I think that films like City of God, Memento, Amélie, Spirited Away, Amores Perros, The Machinist, Fog of War and Hotel Rwanda all urinate on Donnie Darko from a great height and I haven't even watched many movies for a couple of years.

CoG and memento I'd say were about equal with DD, true, both cracking films. Amores Perros was good but I didn't get into it as much as other people, the Machinist was also pretty cool, but I thought Amelie was very overrated. Haven't seen Spirited Away or Fog Of War.

I merely said DD was one of the best films so far this decade, not that it was the best.

I still think that a lot of people have wilfully decided it's crap because it's just that bit too popularnow. I went to see DD without knowing anything about it and loved it.

 

[bonjour]

Well that's your opinion but I think that films like City of God, Memento, Amélie, Spirited Away, Amores Perros, The Machinist, Fog of War and Hotel Rwanda.

Those films are gold. Memento is a clever film in comparison to Donnie Darko without a doubt, one of the most "thinkiest" films ive seen.

I haven't seen the others, so it'd be unfair to comment.

 

[Structaural]

I just thought it was a low rent Lynch movie myself. Didn't do it for me. Missus fell asleep. It was alright I spose.

Spirited Away is fucking superb.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I'm so glad someone else admits liking Heathers. I was beginning to think it was only me!

(Crispy refuses to watch it with me )

Heathers rocks. One of the few good things Cristian Slater's ever done (other than True Romance of course).

 

[Flashman]

And The Name of the Rose.

 

[belboid]

well said that man.

And Pump Up The Volume

 

[kyser_soze]

And The Name of the Rose.

Is that the one where he gets tugged off by some nyphet?

I vaugely remember reading an interview with him about that scene, cos he was 16/17 I think and 'scared shitless'

 

[Flashman]

Is that the one where he gets tugged off by some nyphet?

I vaugely remember reading an interview with him about that scene, cos he was 16/17 I think and 'scared shitless'

Don't remember any tugging, been a while since I've seen it though.

There were rumours that he actually shagged the lass on camera during the sex bit, but eagle-eyed viewers over at IMDB have watched it and noted his flaccid member on show during the scene.

 

[belboid]

15 I think! (17 when it actually came out) and its a full blown shagaroonie - if you look really really carefully, you can just see his willy!

 

[jms]

Those films are gold. Memento is a clever film in comparison to Donnie Darko without a doubt, one of the most "thinkiest" films ive seen.

I haven't seen the others, so it'd be unfair to comment.

Memento is great.. especially the second time you watch it and realise whats actually happening

 

[frogwoman]

I don't understand it very much to be honest, i thought it was all right but I think i would have enjoyed it better had i actually had a clue what was going on alot of the time. I got the feeling that i SHOULD have understood it though.

 

[ViolentPanda]

well said that man.

And Pump Up The Volume

You need to go to the re-education camp.

NOW.

 

[Utopia]

I loved DD!, thought it was original, funny, clever, sweet & most of all VERY romantic, one of my favourite films of all time.

"Your such a fuckass"

 

[belboid]

You need to go to the re-education camp.

NOW.

pah! you're wrong wrong WRONG.

it's damn good fun, not as good as Times Square mind

 

[Macabre]

I thought DD was pretty average, it was a bog standard scifi plot spliced with a teen flick. I liked what he tried to do by leaving some plot devices out and putting them on the internet like in many asian films (although I am irritated by the fanboys in the same way as Neva) but I just don't think he pulled it off. There was too much reliance on the plot to the point that the other aspects of the film were not developed properly, same as The Matrix Trilogy.

 

[In Bloom]

Nein, it's a lesson trying to teach us that there is "beauty in everything"
Like me.

And it's done in an overblown, painfully heavy handed way. Do they really need to spoon feed the audience platitudes to get a message across?

 

[jodal]

DD is an awesome film. Its not the best film ever made but goddamn its good.

 

[bonjour]

And it's done in an overblown, painfully heavy handed way. Do they really need to spoon feed the audience platitudes to get a message across?

But you're forgetting "stupid people" do exist, not everyones as smart as you and me bloom

 

[poului]

8-ul0i9[-k

some people....



oh and if you think 2001 has dated a bit then give Donnie Darko 30 years!

 

[ghost77uk]

Have to say I really enjoyed it too - By no means the best ever made but still a good movie.

Memento too is a cracking film as is 'The Usual Suspects' and something I watched last week that really impressed me 'Lucky Number Slevin'

 

[muser]

Excellent film (NOT the stupid Directors Cut but the original cinema release), one of my all time favourites. It's probably one of those sad pursuits like the anti iPod thing; it’s become fashionable to knock something seen as too cool for words…

Without the director's cut the film is unfathomable. Anyone saying otherwise is talking out their arse.

 

[Reno]

Without the director's cut the film is unfathomable. Anyone saying otherwise is talking out their arse.

Speak for yourself, but it's not that difficult to figure out if you watch the film a couple of times.

I really love Donnie Darko, hype or not. Was lucky to see it in the US when it had just come out without knowing very much about it and thought it was one of the most promising first features I had seen in a long time.

 

[muser]

Speak for yourself, but it's not that difficult to figure out if you watch the film a couple of times.

I really love Donnie Darko, hype or not. Was lucky to see it in the US when it had just come out without knowing very much about it and thought it was one of the most promising first features I had seen in a long time.

Reno I'm going to take the bait, what was the film about?