Donnie Darko theatrical vs directors cut

[GORETAURO]

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.

Yeah, the DC 'splained too much. I saw original first as well.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

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

Pretty cool.

And lol @ "Donnie has 2 good friends and he hangs out with them 1 afternoon. As he practices shooting, his friends drink and watch. Donnie is an impressive marksman but the audience is distracted from noticing this as he and his friends embark on a graphic discussion regarding the sexual habits of smurfs."

 

[GSP_37]

This movie was so unbelievably shitty that I couldn't believe the creators got investors to pay to make such a piece of shit movie that never should have been made.

 

[mrln242]

WAYYYYYYYY the fuck back in the day sat in on a lecture with the director, and some of the actors of the film. Very interesting convo, despite my pointless thread.

 

[neverwas]

doesn't matter which version,they're both shit. this is right up there with the shenanigan the table of overrated.

 

[bigbangspiritbomb]

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

timing is a mofo.

 

[weed]

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.

loved the intro too

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

Theatrical release is better, imo. It's my favourite movie, ever, but there's this one scene in the DC, that still bugs me; where he and his sister are bouncing on a trampoline, with firework effects in the background. It was a really pointless and silly addition, that added nothing to what was already a masterpiece.

 

[Plissken]

Theatrical far and away, the dc explained too much, added in unnecessary bits. A lot of director's cuts end up doing that.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

Theatrical release is better, imo. It's my favourite movie, ever, but there's this one scene in the DC, that still bugs me; where he and his sister are bouncing on a trampoline, with firework effects in the background. It was a really pointless and silly addition, that added nothing to what was already a masterpiece.

I don't remember that. I remember the little sister bouncing on the trampoline. But there were firework effects in the background?

 

[Slick_36]

I remember not really knowing why people were so confused from it, then realized I had training wheels in the DC. I need to see the theatrical version, I have the directors cut on bluray.

 

[orangecuse]

I agree. I bought the original DVD after it came out and watched the shit out of it. Eventually got the directors cut and was not really impressed.

 

[Hidden_Hand]

I always thought this film just didn't make any sense? Yes after first viewing I was confused as most were but after reading and watching break down videos I was expecting to be blown away but kinda just felt like 'but why?'

Almost like it got lost in it's own attempt at being witty, intelligent and confusing.

Would watch again though.

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

I don't remember that. I remember the little sister bouncing on the trampoline. But there were firework effects in the background?

I might have the scene mixed-up, but there was definitely a scene like that, that really confused me.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

I might have the scene mixed-up, but there was definitely a scene like that, that really confused me.

I rewatched the directors cut earlier today (I was bored). You're right there's a scene near the end when there's like a celebration and fireworks are going off on the screen. It's ridiculous. It's meant to imply that future people or angels or whoever is directing Donnie are celebrating because they saved the universe. But it sucks and doesn't belong in there.

I remember liking the director's cut more than the theatrical version, but I gotta say after rewatching it today, the director's cut is horrible. Throwing words up on the screen. Fireworks going off. Music changes. No good. Theatrical version >

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

Bump

We need interesting threads again.

- mulder

 

[Thunderflash500]

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.

I remember losing interest in the movie when the director said basically the whole thing was literal. It was just a sci-fi kind of movie. I wasn't looking for some great meaning. But a literal explanation is a little boring. Still a good movie. Good sound track

 

[Dana_is_your_GOD]

This movie is the shit.

 

[ReAnimator Reagan]

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.

theatrical was better, dir cut spoils too much of the mystery