Donnie Darko is Dark, but illuminating

Rating: 9/10 (23 September 2011)

By the end of this movie, my mind was reeling. This movie is a portrait of the difficulties in life with a bit if a sci-fi twist, and it is both confusing and satisfying.
Donnie Darko is a disturbed teen with mental issues who is suddenly thrust into the role of saviour of the world. Seems like an old trick, but the character depth and imperfections save it from being tired and used.
The whole movie is like a fast mental game that will leave you struggling to keep up. I, personally, enjoy this very much in a movie. I get a bit tired of the ol' blockbuster clones. Donnie Darko is a welcome island of complexity in a sea of mindless genre-clichés.
The characters are wholly realistic, despite seeing giant rabbits or the future. Donnie himself is something I enjoy in a movie, a dark hero. A lot of the time, our protagonists whine and moan about their responsibility, then suck it up and save the day. In the end, they are all comforted with the thought that the act of saving the world has made them "perfect." There are no such delusions in this script.
Overall, Donnie Darko is a refreshing look at the old story of boy saves world and has more twists than one can count.