DONNIE DARKO
The Directors Cut

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Release Date: February 15th 2005

MSRP Price: $26.98 (estimated price)
Amazon Price: $18.89

Director: Richard Kelley
Format: widescreen 2.35:1 (16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen)
Studio: 20th Century Fox 
Studio: New Market Films & Pandora
Run Time: 133 minutes
Number of Discs -  2
Sound - Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Surround 2.0

Fox Store Website 
20th Century Fox WebSite
www.donniedarko.com

Donnie Darko: DC -DVD Rating: B
Video - A 
Audio - A
Content - B 
Extras - B 
Overall - B

STARS: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jean Malone, Drew Barrymore, Beth Grant, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Katharine Ross, Patrick Swayze, and Noah Wyle

This movie tanked at the box office in 2001, and the director's cut sure as hell wouldn't do any better today. The mix of a wacked out story and music that doesn't match the theme, and some decent acting make for a way out there film. Donnie Darko received critical notice at the 2001 Sundance film festival. From that point on it has been a struggle for the film. It sat on the shelf for months waiting on a distributor to pick up the film. From their the film went into limited release and failed to generate any buzz. The sad part is that the career of a director whose film flops from Sundance is generally over. Richard Kelley has done nothing since directing this film. 

The director's cut of "Donnie Darko" is much better but it's still out there. It's a view of mortality that will leave most people going, huh? The unexplained jet engine, the six-foot green monster rabbit, and Barrymore's odd performance can maintain your interest though the entire film. I was intrigued by the story telling and not so much the rest of the film. 

What was missing throughout the film was the dramatic score that goes with this style of film. The soundtrack was like a run through an 80's dance party. 

Will you enjoy the film? I can't tell you that, but it is an interesting film to watch. First timer Richard Kelley does a decent job with his first major film. 

PACKAGING 
Donnie Darko comes in a white cardboard slip case which looks very nice. The inside DVD case is the standard plastic with a standard feature style insert. 

VIDEO: 
Video quality gets a passing grade. The color look soft and a bit washed out. The darks appear cloudy rather than a deep black.  

AUDIO: 
The audio sounds great, but there's nothing to push the Dolby Digital 5.1. The films musical scores sounds excellent though. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
Yeah, there are some bonus features. They're nice tidbits of information, but nothing that will set this film up as better than it is or isn't.

Disc 2

• Donnie Darko Production Diary with optional commentary by Director of Photography Steven Poster

• "They Made Me Do It Too" The cult of Donnie Darko

• Storyboard to Screen Featurette 

• #1 Fan: A Darkomentary

• Director's Cut Theatrical Trailers

SUMMARY: 
I thought Donnie Darko was interesting. Didn't like the rabbit bit, or the soundtrack for the film but it has something. Some bit of something is in there if you can find it. For me the film worked. It maintained my interest despite the desire to dislike the film. Hell, give it a watch and see for yourself. 

Donnie Darko Overall Rating:  B

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