Bah... it's all just hype

Rating: 2/10 (12 December 2002)

Well... when this movie was released in my country, I still hadn't read much about it, I only had a notion that it was causing a bit of a stir in the US; but I had the feeling that it would be just one of those gimmicky, pretentious "weirdo" movies that come along from time to time, and which people choose for no apparent reason to become cult movies; and then when you watch them you see right through them and realise that it was all just hype. So I passed.
But then the whole Donnie Darko thing has ballooned so much throughout the year, that I found it impossible to go on without finding out what the fuss was about. So I rented it.
And you know what? I was right all along. There's nothing here but hype.
Please don't give me that "You're just dissing it because you're not smart enough to understand it" line. If I don't understand it, it means the director and the writer (who happen to be the same person) didn't do their job right. Don't compare it to Memento; there's no problem in understanding Memento, as long as you pay attention. This just doesn't make any bloody sense. Don't tell me to read the friggin Philosophy book; if I'm required to read some text to understand what was on the screen, then this Kelly guy had better find a different line of work. And yes, since you ask, I have read the thing, and it explains the story, and you know what, it still isn't very good. A story that needs to be so painstakingly explained to make sense, becomes hollow.
I hope everyone will continue to have fun endlessly debating the "finer points" of this gobbledygook. Me, I'd rather watch real films.