jklein8787 you are RIGHT!

Rating: Null/10 (5 November 2003)

I have tried to watch Donnie Darko four times. Each time I find the characters stereo-typical and the performances (except For Mary McDonell's) abominable. Since this movie is supposed to be telling a story, and a story is only intersting if one finds the characters interesting, this movie is boring.
Other people may like it (and find it interesting), but I dont. (And apparently, a great many others don't either by the look of the negative comments here.)
As has been said before, there are negative comments for every movie (Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey, etc). Just shows that people have different tastes.
I like science fiction, and horror, and cross-genre movies. I like movies that catalyze thought. I don't think Donnie Darko does that.

Sure, lots of young people like Jake G. (especially--at least on this site--young females. I don't. I think his performances (Bubble Boy, The Good Girl, and Donnie Darko) are all the same, and don't demonstrate (to me, at least) any "great" acting skills.
Some may find the story "thought-provoking." I don't. (As an aside here, I COULD make a list here of movies I do find thought-provoking, as I have seen fans of this movie demand of others who have said things similar to what I have said, but I dont feel the necessity to; I am commenting about THIS movie, not others.) I feel Donnie Darko's story tries too hard to be thought-provoking, and thus brings about its own failure.
The thing I find most unappealing about this movie actually concerns its fans: It seems that they are outraged (for some reason) by anyone who posts negative comments. These fans (for some reason) suddenly feel the need to make negative comments about the intelligence of people who dont like the film. I find this very saddening.
I guess it really says something about themselves...