Donnie Darko: Director's Cut - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SecretMethod70 · 03-17-2004, 06:09 PM

Alright...I was hoping someone here might be able to help me out on this. Comingsoon.net lists the director's cut limited theatrical re-release as Summer 2004 (<a href="http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/d/donniedarko.php">LINK</a>), but IMDB lists it as March 19, but that's only at one theatre in NY! (<a href="http://imdb.com/showtimes/tt0246578/2004-03-19">LINK</a>)

So, does anyone have information about this? I don't know if they're planning a DVD release of the director's cut either. I figure someone here has got to know SOMETHING, especially since I know there are a lot of people here who liked this movie.

deepinjello · 03-17-2004, 09:11 PM

I was a fan of the movie but I've heard anything about this. Odd that the sites would have conflicting dates for a movie this close to release.

/me Hopes for the Best

philosopherking · 03-17-2004, 09:56 PM

I haven't heard anything about it, but my guess is that the theatre in New York has it as a special engagement, but that it won't be released nation wide until the later date.

Cynthetiq · 03-30-2004, 10:19 PM

fans of the movie who live close to NYC. It plays midnights in the East Village at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater

http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer/#midnight

Nimbletoe · 04-21-2004, 10:18 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movi...eut/index.html

All I can say is.... /fap!

Cynthetiq · 04-21-2004, 10:30 AM

for the link challenged:

Quote:

'Donnie Darko' to be re-released
Movie has become cult hit on video

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "Donnie Darko," a cult drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a disturbed teenager, is getting a new theatrical release, featuring 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage.

Newmarket Films, which released the film in 2001, is unveiling a director's cut at the Seattle Film Festival on May 29. It plans to release the film theatrically in Seattle before moving into other markets later in the summer.

The new version will also have new visual effects and music.

"Even though I am proud of the theatrical version of the film, I've always felt that the story was somewhat compromised in order to come in under two hours," said "Darko" writer-director Richard Kelly. "With this version I feel like I've finally been able to complete the film."

"Darko" grossed just $515,545 at the domestic box office but has since gained a following on DVD, where it has grossed more than $10 million domestically. It also stars Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Cynthetiq · 04-21-2004, 10:31 AM

I saw this this morning and was going to post it. good thing someone else reads the entertainment sections besides me

absorbentishe · 04-21-2004, 12:34 PM

That's exciting news! Can't wait to "unseen" footage.

FaderMonkey · 04-21-2004, 01:01 PM

I've never seen Donnie Darko. Should I rent it and check it out? Is it really that good?

philosopherking · 04-21-2004, 07:17 PM

Any idea if the "unseen footage" is stuff that's on the DVD, or if it truly is unseen?

Yes, it's really that good, check it out.

SecretMethod70 · 04-21-2004, 07:24 PM

From what I understand, I think it's some stuff from the DVD and some stuff that wasn't on it.

Plan9Senior · 04-21-2004, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FaderMonkey
I've never seen Donnie Darko. Should I rent it and check it out? Is it really that good?

Its an entertaining movie, but very overrated in the internet community

Speed_Gibson · 04-21-2004, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Plan9
Its an entertaining movie, but very overrated in the internet community

just what is it about?
"a cult drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a disturbed teenager" is rather vague. I got the impression the cast was mainly young kids from references to it on another forum (that and someone posted pictures of actors I had mostly never heard of that were apparently in that film).

JStrider · 04-22-2004, 07:01 AM

woooo i hope it gets released here!
my luck it prolly wont... but if it does im gonna see it!

SecretMethod70 · 04-22-2004, 05:34 PM

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Donn...0922/about.php

Quote:

In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take Time's Arrow for a ride.

October 2nd, 1988: just another ordinary day in Donnie Darko’s teen-aged existence. He’s taken his medication, watched Dukakis and Bush debate, and had dinner with the family. Then comes an outrageous accident. Out of the blue, a 2,000 pound jet engine plummets from the sky and crashes into Donnie’s bedroom, obliterating it. Luckily, Donnie isn’t in bed. Or is it luck? As Donnie begins to explore what it means to still be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.

From 26 year-old first-time writer-director Richard Kelly comes the provocative Donnie Darko, a genre-busting fable that blasts the American suburban drama into a wildly imaginative realm of time travel, alternative universes and the manipulation of one’s fate. But at the core of Donnie Darko is the simple story of a boy trying to make a stand in a lonely, chaotic world – and discovering that every little thing he does counts on a cosmic scale.

Seen at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Donnie Darko became one of the festival's most talked-about and debated films, praised for blending sci-fi fantasy with an original vision of a modern suburbia teetering on the edge of dread and disaster. The question became: what is Donnie Darko? Is it a look back at the underbelly of the Ferris Bueller and Back to the Future era? Or is it a wild journey into multiple realities and multiple outcomes? Is it the story of an increasingly cynical, hypocritical society on a crash-course with apocalypse? Or is it a fairy-tale about a teen hero who changes the world around him? Is this the cosmic death knell of the Reagan Era, or a portrait of a troubled community redeemed by the hand of God?

The surprising answer is that Donnie Darko is all of these – a deep inquiry into the recent past and the possibilities for the future all wrapped up in the story of a teenager unlike any you’ve met before. Writer/director Richard Kelly purposefully wanted Donnie Darko to be vast enough to mean different things to different people. But he offers this guidance for the mind-blowing ride ahead: “Maybe it's the story of Holden Caulfield, resurrected in 1988 by the spirit of Phillip K. Dick, who was always spinning yarns about schizophrenia and drug abuse breaking the barriers of space and time. Or it’s a black comedy foreshadowing the impact of the 1988 presidential election, which is really the best way to explain it. But first and foremost, I wanted the film to be a piece of social satire that needs to be experienced and digested several times."

CSflim · 04-25-2004, 01:00 PM

Oooh wow. Can't wait.

My one annoyance about Donnie Darko was the fact that it wasn't self contained. Lets face it, no one would actually be able to understand all that mythology about the manipulated living, the tanget universe, etc etc etc purely from the movie.
However despite all this it was still highly entertaining. I wonder will the new version of the film address this? probably not, as it wouldn't really make riveting viewing, would it?

It'll be fun to see what new stuff makes it in, and I am delighted about this news. Though I am a bit annoyed at having bough a now obsolete DVD!

PyschoticSoup · 04-25-2004, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CSflim
My one annoyance about Donnie Darko was the fact that it wasn't self contained. Lets face it, no one would actually be able to understand all that mythology about the manipulated living, the tanget universe, etc etc etc purely from the movie.

I agree. The Donnie Darko website was really cool to visit after I watched the movie, though. It helped explain almost all my questions. The commentary on DVD anwsered the others.

SecretMethod70 · 04-25-2004, 02:07 PM

I think the whole point is that it wasn't self-contained. It's been said he intentionally wanted to leave things open to interpretation, and I think it worked. It engages the viewer and makes you think. It's almost impossible to not seek out more details after watching the movie - even my parents, who NEVER care about special featuers and such, wanted to watch the deleted scenes and other stuff after seeing the movie.

FaderMonkey · 06-15-2004, 12:20 PM

Has anyone heard yet when the director's cut is being released outside of Washington? I can't seem to find anything about it playing in the Los Angeles area.

mercury-hg · 06-15-2004, 02:49 PM

i actually felt the movie WAS self-contained. while ambiguous in a few places, i think it leaves the viewer with all the clues needed to construct an interpretation of the movie that is not only all-encompassing, but also internally consistent. i'd offer my view, but i doubt anyone is begging for it considering previous threads about this movie.

i do understand the frustration with non-self-contained movies... 9th gate comes to mind...

Casus Belli · 06-17-2004, 05:49 AM

I hope the new theatrical version makes its way to europe..... Or on DVD at least. That was a damn fine movie!

Nafter · 06-17-2004, 08:15 AM

Looks good and hopefully will be, but im apprihensive about the new unseen footage, if it is left off both the orginal release, and the DVD, how good can it be? unless im missing something?

FaderMonkey · 06-17-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nafter
Looks good and hopefully will be, but im apprihensive about the new unseen footage, if it is left off both the orginal release, and the DVD, how good can it be? unless im missing something?

It seems the thought isn't that they are just adding footage that the director didn't want there, but that he had to make cuts in order to shorten the film. Here's a quote from him:

Quote:

from http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Mov...reut/index.html

"Even though I am proud of the theatrical version of the film, I've always felt that the story was somewhat compromised in order to come in under two hours," said "Darko" writer-director Richard Kelly. "With this version I feel like I've finally been able to complete the film."

Cynthetiq · 07-22-2004, 12:56 PM

I just added it to my list of things to do since it's now playing here in NYC

Quote:

'Donnie Darko' in a new light
John Anderson

June 13, 2004

'King of the Hill." "Local Hero." "Empire Records." "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." "A Little Princess." "Wonder Boys." "Gummo."

Roger Ebert's bedtime viewing? No, just a few items in the movie Lost & Found - films that were more or less ignored by the public on their original (or non-) release, only to be later embraced by a devoted, even feverish, fan base.

We're not talking about cult movies that got that way because they're bad ("Plan 9 From Outer Space") or are really lost (the 42 original reels of "Greed") or are squirreled away out of embarrassment (Jerry Lewis' notorious Holocaust film, "The Day the Clown Cried"). We're talking movies that were made for a mass audience, came out, died and were reborn.

The thanks goes to the VHS and DVD revolution of the past two decades, which has given such movies a second chance - an opportunity for rediscovery, reassessment and sometimes passionate appreciation (of the type the movie nut reserves only for those films that he or she believes only he or she has sense enough to love). And most of the opportunity for these people eventually finding each other has been the rise of the Internet chat room.

Or...the Seattle Film Festival, which ends Sunday (and is perhaps the best event of its kind in the country) and presented, two weeks ago, the restored, 2 1/2-hour "director's cut" of "Donnie Darko." As a few of us observed, it was good that some of the people in attendance had the film to obsess about, because it kept them off rooftops with rifles. But the passion was palpable - one guy claimed to have driven 14 straight hours from California to see the new version and wangled his way into shaking director Richard Kelly's hand and stealing a squeeze off stars Mary McDonnell and Jena Malone (who seems to be the official dream girl of committed Darko-philes).

Newmarket's Bob Berney, the man behind the gargantuan releases of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Passion of the Christ" (now there's a double bill), is rereleasing "Donnie Darko" beginning July 23 in New York and figured Seattle would be a good spot for a test run: Audiences there are young and enthusiastic and they go to the festival. The reaction, predictably, was "fantastic."

"It's evolved over the past six months," Berney said of the new "Darko," which also stars Drew Barrymore (one of its bigger supporters) and Jake Gyllenhaal in the title role. "I always felt the audience sort of missed out on the film. It opened right after 9/11, so the timing was not good for this movie. [A key scene involves a jet engine crashing into a house.] But the subsequent DVD sales were through the roof. I felt that the audience was definitely there."

Critical reaction to the film was strong in 2001, even in the aftermath of Sept. 11, but it took the Internet and the DVD to set it on fire. The story of a suburban high school student whose mental health is in question (among his visions is the signature Rabbit from Hell, which was impersonated by several people in the Seattle audience), "Darko" was the first and, thus far, only film by Kelly, who spoke to the festival audience after the screening with the intention of clearing up "misperceptions." He only made things murkier.

"Donnie" is not about mental illness, Kelly said (although when he added that "mentally ill people see things the rest of us can't," he got worrisome applause from certain sections of the audience). But if not, then what? Donnie Darko is a classic hero of alienation - a Holden Caulfield, let's say, for the "Friends" generation. Holden was on a psychiatrist's couch at the beginning of "The Catcher in the Rye." It doesn't diminish his story.

But Kelly's the one who created the film, and with Berney's help got it to a "finished" state. (A fellow sitting next to me filled me in on all the new aspects, which include title pages from Roberta Sparrow's time-travel book, hallucinatory eyeballs and some family scenes that didn't make the initial cut.) Also, Berney certainly knows what he's doing.

"I don't want to take away from the original theatrical version," he said, "but I feel the additions completed it in terms of storytelling." If it opens even more questions, or makes it more confusing, he said, "I think that's perfect for this film."

link

matteo101 · 07-22-2004, 01:02 PM

Craziest thing in the world, I just saw this movie last night, and was just gonna come and find a donnie darko post to say how much I loved this movie. Little did I know it was at the top of the entertainment section. Anyways, if it was re released into theatres, I would definetly see it. It is such an amazing movie. Probably moving up to numuro uno, in my books.

FaderMonkey · 07-22-2004, 03:49 PM

I went to the LA premiere of the director's cut last week. I loved the theatrical cut and the director's cut is great, but I don't know that I really liked it any better than the original. Go see it though if you get a chance. The one thing I can't decide is whether someone who's never seen the movie at all should see the theatrical or the director's cut first.....I don't know.

Cynthetiq · 08-19-2004, 09:10 PM

I just saw the Directors Cut tonight... finally. I have been trying to get it done for like 3 weeks now and I"m glad that I was able to finally see it. I enjoyed it alot.

I did like the different subtexts going on in the movie. I'm looking forward to seeing the regular version to compare.

Key · 08-20-2004, 05:09 AM

There's no way the film was self-contained. You definitely needed outside sources in order to understand it, or for any of it to make sense. That's the reason there's 20 minutes added to it. I haven't seen the Director's Cut, but definitely waiting to. One of the things that's been added are scenes from the book that clear things up.

Spoiler:
For example, how would you know that Donnie, as the Chosen One, has special abilities? He has telekenesis (thus enabling him to rip the jet engine off the plane and send it back through the vortex and closing the whole) and super-strength (enabling him to ram the axe through the solid bronze statue).

I understand it's better to leave some interpretation open, but this is a far cry from it. In the original, when Donnie first meets Frank outside his house, Frank says "God is watching you. I'm watching you." Or something to that extent. Kelley had it taken out because he felt it showed too much and ruined it for the audiance. That was a good move.

But yea, I loved the movie. But I'm also the type of guy who loves mind-fuck movies and has to look it up and find as much info about it as possible right after getting up from my seat. It's become ritual to check out the movie on IMDB right afterwards.

On a side note, I kept thinking to myself "dude this guy sounds EXACTLY like tobey mcguire". It's funny because he was already cast for the role in Spider-Man 2 until Tobey decided to come back for it at the last minute. Good replacement choice by the studio. Anyway, i'm rambling.

Gustoferson · 08-20-2004, 09:23 AM

Ever since I heard about them releasing a director's cut I've been hoping it would play somewhere around me, so far no luck.

But as to the original question in the thread about where its playing, the distributor's website has a list of opening dates. Go here and click on the "playdates" tab. It seems the do a decent job updating it whenever they decide to release it to another theater.

SecretMethod70 · 08-20-2004, 09:48 AM

THANK YOU GUSTOFERSON!

I have been looking and looking every now and then to find a place listing where the movie is playing. Not only did you post such a place, but you did it JUST in time for me to see that it is playing in Chicago TODAY.

You have made my dream of seeing the director's cut a reality

Redlemon · 08-20-2004, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Key

One of the things that's been added are scenes from the book that clear things up.

This is always a loaded question, but... how does the book compare to the movie? I have only heard about this movie recently, but it is generally easier for me to take time to read rather than to watch a movie. Does the book have the same title?

Key · 08-20-2004, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlemon

This is always a loaded question, but... how does the book compare to the movie? I have only heard about this movie recently, but it is generally easier for me to take time to read rather than to watch a movie. Does the book have the same title?

Heh, sorry. Let me clarify. When I said "the book" I was referring to Spoiler: "The Philosophy of Time Travel," a book within the movie that helps Donnie understand the things that are happening around him. It's written by one of the characters from the movie, and is pivotal in that it contains KEY knowledge you would not otherwise know. They do not show actual pages from the book in the original cut, so the audiance has no idea what Donnie's reading. In the Director's cut, they show the crucial information that Donnie gets from it. Thus making the movie is much more self-contained (before they added it, they made you go to the website which had pages of the book available).

There's no actual book the movie was based off, though there is a book available which is just a script of the movie, I believe.

I purposely tried to be ambiguous when I referred to "the book" because I wanted to give as litlte information from the movie as possible to avoid spoilers for those who hadn't seen it

Redlemon · 08-20-2004, 10:26 AM

Gotcha, Key. Thanks. If you want to go back and edit your reponse, feel free to put the dangerous information between {spoiler} {/spoiler} tags (using square brackets).

Key · 08-20-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlemon

Gotcha, Key. Thanks. If you want to go back and edit your reponse, feel free to put the dangerous information between {spoiler} {/spoiler} tags (using square brackets).

sure thing

Stompy · 08-20-2004, 12:06 PM

After I realized what the movie was about, I liked it even more, but could understand how some think it's overrated. If you're not into physics and theory of alternate/simultaneous universes, then I see how it wouldn't be your cup o tea!

It's basically about the consequences of going back in time and altering shit. Like the whole plane engine thing from one universe going back into a tangent universe, but the universe can't contain more matter than it oringinally had, so you end up where shit blows up and universes collide (for lack of a better explaination).

People get too deep into the movie with the "religious" themes, but I think it's just pointing out consequences in what happens if someone could actually pull off time travel.

SecretMethod70 · 08-21-2004, 08:43 AM

Wow.

I loved Donnie Darko, and the Director's Cut was every bit equally as amazing.

There are enough significant changes to the point where I can't simply say one is better than the other the way one can with most Director's Cuts. I liken it to Blade Runner. The theatrical version is great, and the Director's Cut is also great, but they are two different movie-watching experiences. It is the same with Donnie Darko. The theatrical version is sort of like the Director's Cut of Blade Runner in that it involves a lot more self-analyzing and thought, whereas the Director's Cut of Donnie Darko is a lot like the theatrical version of Blade Runner since it does a lot more guiding of the viewer to help explain what's going on.

I give this movie an EASY 5/5

Gustoferson · 08-21-2004, 10:38 AM

SecretMethod70, you have my envy for being able to see the director's cut. I'm glad to see pretty positive reviews of the Director's Cut, I still had that small bit of worry that they might screw up the things I loved about the first one. Honestly, the sciece-tangent-universe angle wasn't near as important to me as the overall tone and acting and just feel of the movie. And the dark humor.

Not really a spoiler but on the off chance you haven't yetseen the movie, this line is too funny to give away:
Spoiler: "He asked me to forcibly insert the life line exercise card into my anus!"

bundy · 08-21-2004, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SM70
I loved Donnie Darko, and the Director's Cut was every bit equally as amazing.
I give this movie an EASY 5/5

ok, you've convinced me. i'm going to go and see it.
thanks to this thread i found out that the directors cut has a limited release in sydney.

Xiangsu · 08-22-2004, 09:59 AM

I noticed a relationship between this movie and Field Of Dreams the other night. When you think about it Field Of Dreams may have been is inspiration. Kelly wrote Donnie Darko right around the same time this movie was released so it seems very possible.

Here is a small list of some of the similarities I noticed:

1. It started with a wispering voice in both stories-this is the most obvious similarity.

2. After the main character in Field of Dreams heard the voice there was a part when he saw his daughter watching an old show and the guy in the show was ranting about how he saw a 6ft tall bunny rabbit.

3....umm....its been awhile since I noticed this(about a week), I should have said something before now because now I can't remember. Anyhow I just thought it was interesting and maybe you can find some other similarities.

SecretMethod70 · 08-23-2004, 08:26 AM

Something I just thought of:

When I saw the Director's Cut I noticed that the music in the talent contest scene was *not* changed from Duran Duran's Notorious back to the original Pet Shop Boy's West End Girls. Does anyone know why?

Personally, I think Notorious is probably better, but I'd really love to see it with West End Girls - especially considering the dance moves were choreographed for it.

So, anyone know why it wasn't changed like everything else was (i.e. the opening song being changed from The Killing Moon to Never Tear Us Apart)?

03-17-2004, 06:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Donnie Darko: Director's Cut Alright...I was hoping someone here might be able to help me out on this. Comingsoon.net lists the director's cut limited theatrical re-release as Summer 2004 (<a href="http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/d/donniedarko.php">LINK</a>), but IMDB lists it as March 19, but that's only at one theatre in NY! (<a href="http://imdb.com/showtimes/tt0246578/2004-03-19">LINK</a>) So, does anyone have information about this? I don't know if they're planning a DVD release of the director's cut either. I figure someone here has got to know SOMETHING, especially since I know there are a lot of people here who liked this movie. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

03-17-2004, 09:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
deepinjello Insane Location: Where everyone knows my name	I was a fan of the movie but I've heard anything about this. Odd that the sites would have conflicting dates for a movie this close to release. /me Hopes for the Best __________________ "Hike up your skirt and show the world to me"

03-30-2004, 10:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	fans of the movie who live close to NYC. It plays midnights in the East Village at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer/#midnight __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

04-21-2004, 10:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nimbletoe Junkie Location: Michigan	Donnie Darko Re-Release! http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movi...eut/index.html All I can say is.... /fap! __________________ Go Pistons!

04-21-2004, 10:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I saw this this morning and was going to post it. good thing someone else reads the entertainment sections besides me __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-17-2004, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
philosopherking Crazy Location: Lincoln	I haven't heard anything about it, but my guess is that the theatre in New York has it as a special engagement, but that it won't be released nation wide until the later date.

04-21-2004, 12:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
absorbentishe Boy am I horny today Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!	That's exciting news! Can't wait to "unseen" footage.

04-21-2004, 01:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
FaderMonkey Psycho Location: Orlando, FL	I've never seen Donnie Darko. Should I rent it and check it out? Is it really that good?

04-21-2004, 07:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
philosopherking Crazy Location: Lincoln	Any idea if the "unseen footage" is stuff that's on the DVD, or if it truly is unseen? Yes, it's really that good, check it out.

04-21-2004, 07:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	From what I understand, I think it's some stuff from the DVD and some stuff that wasn't on it. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

04-22-2004, 07:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	woooo i hope it gets released here! my luck it prolly wont... but if it does im gonna see it! __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

04-25-2004, 01:00 PM	#16 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Oooh wow. Can't wait. My one annoyance about Donnie Darko was the fact that it wasn't self contained. Lets face it, no one would actually be able to understand all that mythology about the manipulated living, the tanget universe, etc etc etc purely from the movie. However despite all this it was still highly entertaining. I wonder will the new version of the film address this? probably not, as it wouldn't really make riveting viewing, would it? It'll be fun to see what new stuff makes it in, and I am delighted about this news. Though I am a bit annoyed at having bough a now obsolete DVD! __________________

04-25-2004, 02:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	I think the whole point is that it wasn't self-contained. It's been said he intentionally wanted to leave things open to interpretation, and I think it worked. It engages the viewer and makes you think. It's almost impossible to not seek out more details after watching the movie - even my parents, who NEVER care about special featuers and such, wanted to watch the deleted scenes and other stuff after seeing the movie. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

06-15-2004, 12:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
FaderMonkey Psycho Location: Orlando, FL	Has anyone heard yet when the director's cut is being released outside of Washington? I can't seem to find anything about it playing in the Los Angeles area.

06-15-2004, 02:49 PM	#20 (permalink)
mercury-hg Psycho Location: U of MD	i actually felt the movie WAS self-contained. while ambiguous in a few places, i think it leaves the viewer with all the clues needed to construct an interpretation of the movie that is not only all-encompassing, but also internally consistent. i'd offer my view, but i doubt anyone is begging for it considering previous threads about this movie. i do understand the frustration with non-self-contained movies... 9th gate comes to mind...

06-17-2004, 05:49 AM	#21 (permalink)
Casus Belli Crazy	I hope the new theatrical version makes its way to europe..... Or on DVD at least. That was a damn fine movie!

06-17-2004, 08:15 AM	#22 (permalink)
Nafter Insane Location: The Eng	Looks good and hopefully will be, but im apprihensive about the new unseen footage, if it is left off both the orginal release, and the DVD, how good can it be? unless im missing something? __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

07-22-2004, 01:02 PM	#25 (permalink)
matteo101 In transition Location: north, no south abit, over to the right, getting warmer...there!	Craziest thing in the world, I just saw this movie last night, and was just gonna come and find a donnie darko post to say how much I loved this movie. Little did I know it was at the top of the entertainment section. Anyways, if it was re released into theatres, I would definetly see it. It is such an amazing movie. Probably moving up to numuro uno, in my books.

07-22-2004, 03:49 PM	#26 (permalink)
FaderMonkey Psycho Location: Orlando, FL	I went to the LA premiere of the director's cut last week. I loved the theatrical cut and the director's cut is great, but I don't know that I really liked it any better than the original. Go see it though if you get a chance. The one thing I can't decide is whether someone who's never seen the movie at all should see the theatrical or the director's cut first.....I don't know.

08-19-2004, 09:10 PM	#27 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I just saw the Directors Cut tonight... finally. I have been trying to get it done for like 3 weeks now and I"m glad that I was able to finally see it. I enjoyed it alot. I did like the different subtexts going on in the movie. I'm looking forward to seeing the regular version to compare. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-20-2004, 05:09 AM	#28 (permalink)
Key Crazy	There's no way the film was self-contained. You definitely needed outside sources in order to understand it, or for any of it to make sense. That's the reason there's 20 minutes added to it. I haven't seen the Director's Cut, but definitely waiting to. One of the things that's been added are scenes from the book that clear things up. Spoiler: For example, how would you know that Donnie, as the Chosen One, has special abilities? He has telekenesis (thus enabling him to rip the jet engine off the plane and send it back through the vortex and closing the whole) and super-strength (enabling him to ram the axe through the solid bronze statue). I understand it's better to leave some interpretation open, but this is a far cry from it. In the original, when Donnie first meets Frank outside his house, Frank says "God is watching you. I'm watching you." Or something to that extent. Kelley had it taken out because he felt it showed too much and ruined it for the audiance. That was a good move. But yea, I loved the movie. But I'm also the type of guy who loves mind-fuck movies and has to look it up and find as much info about it as possible right after getting up from my seat. It's become ritual to check out the movie on IMDB right afterwards. On a side note, I kept thinking to myself "dude this guy sounds EXACTLY like tobey mcguire". It's funny because he was already cast for the role in Spider-Man 2 until Tobey decided to come back for it at the last minute. Good replacement choice by the studio. Anyway, i'm rambling.

08-20-2004, 09:23 AM	#29 (permalink)
Gustoferson Crazy Location: Chapel Hill, NC	Ever since I heard about them releasing a director's cut I've been hoping it would play somewhere around me, so far no luck. But as to the original question in the thread about where its playing, the distributor's website has a list of opening dates. Go here and click on the "playdates" tab. It seems the do a decent job updating it whenever they decide to release it to another theater. __________________ ...And then I found $5!

08-20-2004, 09:48 AM	#30 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	THANK YOU GUSTOFERSON! I have been looking and looking every now and then to find a place listing where the movie is playing. Not only did you post such a place, but you did it JUST in time for me to see that it is playing in Chicago TODAY. You have made my dream of seeing the director's cut a reality __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

08-20-2004, 10:26 AM	#33 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Gotcha, Key. Thanks. If you want to go back and edit your reponse, feel free to put the dangerous information between {spoiler} {/spoiler} tags (using square brackets).

08-20-2004, 12:06 PM	#35 (permalink)
Stompy Banned from being Banned Location: Donkey	After I realized what the movie was about, I liked it even more, but could understand how some think it's overrated. If you're not into physics and theory of alternate/simultaneous universes, then I see how it wouldn't be your cup o tea! It's basically about the consequences of going back in time and altering shit. Like the whole plane engine thing from one universe going back into a tangent universe, but the universe can't contain more matter than it oringinally had, so you end up where shit blows up and universes collide (for lack of a better explaination). People get too deep into the movie with the "religious" themes, but I think it's just pointing out consequences in what happens if someone could actually pull off time travel. __________________ I love lamp.

08-21-2004, 08:43 AM	#36 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Wow. I loved Donnie Darko, and the Director's Cut was every bit equally as amazing. There are enough significant changes to the point where I can't simply say one is better than the other the way one can with most Director's Cuts. I liken it to Blade Runner. The theatrical version is great, and the Director's Cut is also great, but they are two different movie-watching experiences. It is the same with Donnie Darko. The theatrical version is sort of like the Director's Cut of Blade Runner in that it involves a lot more self-analyzing and thought, whereas the Director's Cut of Donnie Darko is a lot like the theatrical version of Blade Runner since it does a lot more guiding of the viewer to help explain what's going on. I give this movie an EASY 5/5 __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

08-21-2004, 10:38 AM	#37 (permalink)
Gustoferson Crazy Location: Chapel Hill, NC	SecretMethod70, you have my envy for being able to see the director's cut. I'm glad to see pretty positive reviews of the Director's Cut, I still had that small bit of worry that they might screw up the things I loved about the first one. Honestly, the sciece-tangent-universe angle wasn't near as important to me as the overall tone and acting and just feel of the movie. And the dark humor. Not really a spoiler but on the off chance you haven't yetseen the movie, this line is too funny to give away: Spoiler: "He asked me to forcibly insert the life line exercise card into my anus!" __________________ ...And then I found $5!

08-22-2004, 09:59 AM	#39 (permalink)
Xiangsu Addict Location: Illinois	I noticed a relationship between this movie and Field Of Dreams the other night. When you think about it Field Of Dreams may have been is inspiration. Kelly wrote Donnie Darko right around the same time this movie was released so it seems very possible. Here is a small list of some of the similarities I noticed: 1. It started with a wispering voice in both stories-this is the most obvious similarity. 2. After the main character in Field of Dreams heard the voice there was a part when he saw his daughter watching an old show and the guy in the show was ranting about how he saw a 6ft tall bunny rabbit. 3....umm....its been awhile since I noticed this(about a week), I should have said something before now because now I can't remember. Anyhow I just thought it was interesting and maybe you can find some other similarities.

08-23-2004, 08:26 AM	#40 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Something I just thought of: When I saw the Director's Cut I noticed that the music in the talent contest scene was not changed from Duran Duran's Notorious back to the original Pet Shop Boy's West End Girls. Does anyone know why? Personally, I think Notorious is probably better, but I'd really love to see it with West End Girls - especially considering the dance moves were choreographed for it. So, anyone know why it wasn't changed like everything else was (i.e. the opening song being changed from The Killing Moon to Never Tear Us Apart)? __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling