Ponderous, entertaining, and thoughtful.

Rating: 9/10 (12 June 2005)

DONNIE DARKO is a cleverly written story about a teenage boy in high school, whose mental illness causes him to speak his mind (a very human thing to do), as well as have hallucinations of a giant, deformed rabbit (not as normal). His name is Frank. Frank tells Donnie when the world will end, and 'forces' him to perform violent acts. Donnie obeys him because he believes that Frank saved him from being killed by a jet engine that unusually fell from the sky. As Donnie begins to experience more and more unusual occurrences and signs that only he can see, he tries to get as much information on one key element that he believes is critical to explaining Frank - time travel.
As soon as the movie begins, you are met with fine acting from Jake Gylenhaal (Donnie), Jena Malone (his girlfriend, Gretchen) and from Drew Barrymore (his influential English teacher) a little later in the story. The course of events in the story is entertaining and suspenseful. When you think something big is going to happen, something actually does, though you don't realize it right away. And when everything seems normal...pay close attention. The subplots and simultaneous (though unexplained) vignettes that link to the main plot are interesting to the story in whole.
Along with the main suspense story there is a good, realistic view of high school and home life. The dialogue is real, intriguing, and easy to relate to. Also, the special effects in some parts of the movie are awesome; giving eerie, majestic, or futuristic auras.
Donnie Darko is an important movie because it delves into a not often ventured part of life -questioning its normality; e.g. What happens to the dead? Do all living things follow a predefined course of life? Can we change our path? etc. It goes deep enough to inspire the viewers' own thoughts, though not enough to answer those questions, to be general.
Overall, I believe Donnie Darko was an excellent film that should be seen by all teenagers in high school as well as adults. If you've already seen it, it may be good to watch it again to pick up on some details that may have passed you by the first time.
*****/***** (9/10)