re: Donnie Darko Rewatch

Interesting point.

I always thought that Donnie was supposed to die in his bedroom but he didn't because of his own powers of "seeing the future" (almost like the way Danny "shines" in The Shining but instead of seeing the past, Donnie could see the future and "Frank" was just Donnies version of "Tony").

Donnie comes to realize that all of the tragic deaths that happened (mostly his girlfriend) were unavoidable if he did not die in his bedroom that night. So he used his powers to create the vortex and travel back in time to die the way it was supposed to happen to begin with.

It kind of reminded me of inception in that the director just made up a bunch of bullshite rules via the Philosophy of Time Tavel as he went along. Think the guy was definitely on drugs and there's definitely some plot holes, like why the hell did Donnie have to die at the end?

With that said I really like this movie

The extended/director's cut is easier to follow. I'm not sure it's better, but it spells things out more.

When I first watched it I saw the original version that doesn't hold your hand quite as much. And I didn't really get it, even though I enjoyed it.

Now that I know the construct...it's an amazing premise. And the acting is good. You can tell it was low budget... I find some of the scenes excessively dark.

But it's a masterpiece all the same.

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It was a shite movie. I think it cost me a girl I really liked in college. She came over, I had never seen it But heard it was good so put it on. She was nearly irate about how much she hated it and I tell you she never really looked at me the same.

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I was willing to put in the time for this one. Reading online, commentaries, different cuts, different opening songs. The works. Found it all extraordinary.

I will say had I caught this in a theater in late 2001 I’d have been pissed.

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Frank is Donnie's sister's boyfriend. They don't say that in the original cut) I really got into it.

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Huh? Pretty sure they do. Or it’s easily inferred.

Directors cut shows excerpts of the book and makes more sense. Amazing movie either way. Frank is sisters bf def but in the alternate timeline IIRC. Possibly one of the best soundtracks and best use of the Killing Moon in a film ever,

It's good because Patrick Swayze is in it.

That should be enough.

But I do think I nee to rewatch it after some of the comments I've read in the many years since I watched it.

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If you rewatch the opening, you see her get dropped off from the red sports car Frank drives later in the movie.

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That’s it. I knew the connection was presented somehow but it’s been a few years since I’ve watched it. I also vaguely recall Frank leaving a note for her about “going out for beer” during the party, or something similar.

Definitely stuff that probably wouldn’t be caught on a first (or maybe even second) watch, but is obvious after multiple viewings.