Donnie Darko theatrical vs directors cut

[Losfer Words]

I saw it in the theater when it came out many years ago. I just watched it a couple nights ago (the directors cut). I don't remember much from the theatrical release but I remember being much more engaged with it than the directors cut. The directors cut took a lot of the mystery away. Anybody prefer the theatrical release to the directors cut beside me?

Also I didnt remember Seth rogen being in the flick.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

Would be interesting to see a list of movies that got a re-release because the hype started to build up a bit after the original theatrical release.

I saw it when it first came out and I remember most people (there weren't many) not thinking too highly of it. Enjoying that it was different, but thinking it was more gobble-de-gook (as the kids nowadays say), than anything else.
But then it just got such a huge upswell in popularity.

I bet it was that damn, "poor me" song by that hippie guy... Gary Jules "Mad World". I bet that carried the day for the boost in popularity. Put in a song by 3rd Bass instead and it would probably have flopped.

 

[LOST CAUSE]

The Directors cut is unnecessary. The theatrical release is phenomenal.

 

[Losfer Words]

Would be interesting to see a list of movies that got a re-release because the hype started to build up a bit after the original theatrical release.

I saw it when it first came out and I remember most people (there weren't many) not thinking too highly of it. Enjoying that it was different, but thinking it was more gobble-de-gook (as the kids nowadays say), than anything else.
But then it just got such a huge upswell in popularity.

I bet it was that damn, "poor me" song by that hippie guy... Gary Jules "Mad World". I bet that carried the day for the boost in popularity. Put in a song by 3rd Bass instead and it would probably have flopped.

Damn 3rd Bass was dope. Steppin to the AM

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

Probably my favorite movie of all time. The soundtrack gets a lot of credit for creating the unique atmosphere of the movie, with songs like The Killing Moon and Love Will Tear Us Apart. And the soundtrack does kick all kinds of ass.

But imo the actual music score for donnie darko is CRIMINALLY underrated. One of the most unique scores you will ever hear. And without this the movie wouldn't be anywhere near as interesting. It almost subconsciously tells you right off the bat that ok, this is gonna be weird...but good weird.

 

[Loiosh]

Probably my favorite movie of all time. The soundtrack gets a lot of credit for creating the unique atmosphere of the movie, with songs like The Killing Moon and Love Will Tear Us Apart. And the soundtrack does kick all kinds of ass.

But imo the actually music score for donnie darko is CRIMINALLY underrated. One of the most unique scores you will ever hear. And without this the movie wouldn't be anywhere near as interesting.

I saw two of the songs from that soundtrack played live by the original bands.

The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
Under the Milky Way - The Church

Also, saw New Order perform Love Will Tear Us Apart.

 

[Losfer Words]

I saw The Church like 7-8 years ago. They were super mellow, I guess they have some hearing issues and play live on the quiet side. They were good. Dude gave a hilarious speech about Under the Milky Way before they played it...he personified the song saying that it has its own house and car and has supported the band through good times and bad.

 

[LOST CAUSE]

The Killing Moon and Mad World could never fit as perfect in any other movie.

 

[MC Paul Barman]

Damn 3rd Bass was dope. Steppin to the AM

Hey... don't get me wrong. I love 3rd Bass. I first grew out sideburns because of Pete Nice

 

[Losfer Words]

Hey... don't get me wrong. I love 3rd Bass. I first grew out sideburns because of Pete Nice

I posted a Barman line in the best rap verses of all time thread today...My dandy voice makes the most anti choice granny's panties moist.

 

[TrueBias]

Donnie Darko is probably THE most overrated movie of the film industry. Drive isnt far behind, but my fucking god, what in holy hell is the interest?

How did I find out about this movie? Well, remember renting straight to DVD movies at Blockbuster? In the beginning of said movies, they had trailers for other shit movies. In Donnies trailer, Jake Gyllenhal is walking with some dyke and she said she had mental issues. Jake says "I have those too!" Then I saw images of a fucked up giant rabbit. Sitting in my chair, awaiting to watch Jack Frost the horror, I knew I just had to look for Donnie Darko when I return to the video store.

I rent it. I watch it. I got duped.

Behold, an artsy fartsy movie!

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, whom also wrote and directed other hits like The Box! Domino! Southland Tales!
This guy is a hack and he scored a known actor and put him in a familiar setting: high school. Ohhhh I was troubled growing up, I can relate!

Instead, we got some deep, dark bullshit about a plane that did or did not kill Jake and his family during a freak accident. Jake starts to sleep walk (or doesnt), talks to some asshole in a bunny suit (or doesnt), and still manages to be spry enough to call Patrick Swayze the anti christ.

The movie is presumptuous, emo, and above all a fucking charlatan. Its a fucking wannabe artsy, emotionally crippled American Psycho/Beauty. A fucking joke.

BUT!

It has an AWESOME Tears for Fears - Head over Heels scene.

 

[Losfer Words]

Donnie Darko is probably THE most overrated movie of the film industry. Drive isnt far behind, but my fucking god, what in holy hell is the interest?

How did I find out about this movie? Well, remember renting straight to DVD movies at Blockbuster? In the beginning of said movies, they had trailers for other shit movies. In Donnies trailer, Jake Gyllenhal is walking with some dyke and she said she had mental issues. Jake says "I have those too!" Then I saw images of a fucked up giant rabbit. Sitting in my chair, awaiting to watch Jack Frost the horror, I knew I just had to look for Donnie Darko when I return to the video store.

I rent it. I watch it. I got duped.

Behold, an artsy fartsy movie!

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, whom also wrote and directed other hits like The Box! Domino! Southland Tales!
This guy is a hack and he scored a known actor and put him in a familiar setting: high school. Ohhhh I was troubled growing up, I can relate!

Instead, we got some deep, dark bullshit about a plane that did or did not kill Jake and his family during a freak accident. Jake starts to sleep walk (or doesnt), talks to some asshole in a bunny suit (or doesnt), and still manages to be spry enough to call Patrick Swayze the anti christ.

The movie is presumptuous, emo, and above all a fucking charlatan. Its a fucking wannabe artsy, emotionally crippled American Psycho/Beauty. A fucking joke.

BUT!

It has an AWESOME Tears for Fears - Head over Heels scene.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

Donnie Darko is probably THE most overrated movie of the film industry. Drive isnt far behind, but my fucking god, what in holy hell is the interest?

How did I find out about this movie? Well, remember renting straight to DVD movies at Blockbuster? In the beginning of said movies, they had trailers for other shit movies. In Donnies trailer, Jake Gyllenhal is walking with some dyke and she said she had mental issues. Jake says "I have those too!" Then I saw images of a fucked up giant rabbit. Sitting in my chair, awaiting to watch Jack Frost the horror, I knew I just had to look for Donnie Darko when I return to the video store.

I rent it. I watch it. I got duped.

Behold, an artsy fartsy movie!

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, whom also wrote and directed other hits like The Box! Domino! Southland Tales!
This guy is a hack and he scored a known actor and put him in a familiar setting: high school. Ohhhh I was troubled growing up, I can relate!

Instead, we got some deep, dark bullshit about a plane that did or did not kill Jake and his family during a freak accident. Jake starts to sleep walk (or doesnt), talks to some asshole in a bunny suit (or doesnt), and still manages to be spry enough to call Patrick Swayze the anti christ.

The movie is presumptuous, emo, and above all a fucking charlatan. Its a fucking wannabe artsy, emotionally crippled American Psycho/Beauty. A fucking joke.

BUT!

It has an AWESOME Tears for Fears - Head over Heels scene.

I think the movie was brilliant. But you're right about Richard Kelly. Dude's a hack. Southland Tales was so bad it literally pissed me off. I mean...wtf WAS that?! Justin Timberlake was IN the movie and he's on record saying he still has no idea what it was about.

I think Richard Kelly probably got lucky with Donnie Darko. Probably had a really good editor or something.

 

[Michaelangelo]

Donnie Darko is probably THE most overrated movie of the film industry. Drive isnt far behind, but my fucking god, what in holy hell is the interest?

How did I find out about this movie? Well, remember renting straight to DVD movies at Blockbuster? In the beginning of said movies, they had trailers for other shit movies. In Donnies trailer, Jake Gyllenhal is walking with some dyke and she said she had mental issues. Jake says "I have those too!" Then I saw images of a fucked up giant rabbit. Sitting in my chair, awaiting to watch Jack Frost the horror, I knew I just had to look for Donnie Darko when I return to the video store.

I rent it. I watch it. I got duped.

Behold, an artsy fartsy movie!

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, whom also wrote and directed other hits like The Box! Domino! Southland Tales!
This guy is a hack and he scored a known actor and put him in a familiar setting: high school. Ohhhh I was troubled growing up, I can relate!

Instead, we got some deep, dark bullshit about a plane that did or did not kill Jake and his family during a freak accident. Jake starts to sleep walk (or doesnt), talks to some asshole in a bunny suit (or doesnt), and still manages to be spry enough to call Patrick Swayze the anti christ.

The movie is presumptuous, emo, and above all a fucking charlatan. Its a fucking wannabe artsy, emotionally crippled American Psycho/Beauty. A fucking joke.

BUT!

It has an AWESOME Tears for Fears - Head over Heels scene.

if you got the time to spare I'd watch this. May change your mind.

 

[bigbangspiritbomb]

I saw it in the theater when it came out many years ago. I just watched it a couple nights ago (the directors cut). I don't remember much from the theatrical release but I remember being much more engaged with it than the directors cut. The directors cut took a lot of the mystery away. Anybody prefer the theatrical release to the directors cut beside me?

Also I didnt remember Seth rogen being in the flick.

It had a better cult following outside box office similar to Fight Club, The Boondock Saints, and several other movies. Similar to Donnie Darko, I thought the directors cut for Butterfly Effect was better then the theatrical version. I wish Dark Knight rises had a directors cut.

It is like everything and anything. They want that Mcg money. Happily ever after usually sells to the masses but, something really authentic and even dark at times can be the game changer

 

[Peteyandjia]

Theatrical version is awesome.

Director's cut is a pile of shit.

For example, the 'Head Over Heels' highschool video is one of the classic moments of the original, and the director hacks the song out of his special 'cut'. Plus all of the other stupid unnecessary changes.

The director totally pulled a George Lucas here, and fucked with his own creation, much to its detriment.

I highly recommend everyone just watch the theatrical version & forget the 'director's cut' exists

 

[fingercuffs]

Kevin Smith.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

It had a better cult following outside box office similar to Fight Club, The Boondock Saints, and several other movies.

Yeah but Darko had the misfortune of being released right around 9/11. Nobody was going to the movies at that time.

 

[Losfer Words]

Theatrical version is awesome.

Director's cut is a pile of shit.

For example, the 'Head Over Heels' highschool video is one of the classic moments of the original, and the director hacks the song out of his special 'cut'. Plus all of the other stupid unnecessary changes.

The director totally pulled a George Lucas here, and fucked with his own creation, much to its detriment.

I highly recommend everyone just watch the theatrical version & forget the 'director's cut' exists

That was my original intent of the thread. I had an immediate response after watching the directors cut but I didn't know if it was because I hadn't seen the original in 16 years.

 

[Peteyandjia]

That was my original intent of the thread. I had an immediate response after watching the directors cut but I didn't know if it was because I hadn't seen the original in 16 years.

It goes in the same category with George Lucas' old Star Wars movies, Coppola's Apocalypse Now, Spielberg's E.T., and even to a minor extent Michael Mann's Heat -- movies that are better off with you watching the original, as the directors got weird and fucked with their great old art years later.