I finally did it...

[plunkybug]

I saw Donnie Darko. If I had a dollar for every person who told me I should see it...

Anyhow, it was at The Enzian for $5 earlier this evening. I am tired so I don't have that much to say about it right now. I can say, however, that I no longer hate Gary Jules' version of "Mad World" anymore. I always thought it was overrated. I still like the original best, though I don't mind the slower pace...never did. Roland and Curt have even begun performing it slower when they play live, like Gary Jules' version. It was always the voice that bothered me. Too wavery and weak, I think. Maybe now I can say creepy? Haunting? I am glad I can be open-minded enough to judge the same song in different context, with different eyes, for a reinterpretation. I think it is wonderful what music can do.

Comments

[plunkybug.livejournal.com]

Well, the first thing is that the lighting was off...it was way darker than it should have been, so it made it hard to catch some of the details. I had thought that maybe it was because it was an indy film, but even indy films know how to light properly. I was told later it was not the film, but the projection from the DVD, since the 35mm print had audio issues. So I do want to see it again. Anyhow...

I generally liked the film, even if I did get a bit lost, which I know had some part to do with the lighting, but also because it was the original cut, which I have read since seeing it, leaves out some things that make the movie more understandable. Typically the Director's cut is the definitive version, but there is some debate with this film whether it ruins the mysteriousness of the film. I guess I will have to check out the DC on DVD sometime. I am not sure I was convinced that Drew Barrymore was a school teacher, though I was convinced that Patrick Swayze was a skeezy person. I like Gena Malone (loved her in Saved!) and I think she was fine here too. I liked the music naturally, though I felt it was a little unnatural in some places.

I really think that seeing it again with proper lighting will be good, and with the knowledge from the FAQs I saw last night on IMDB, I should be able to follow more closely and look for things that I was not able to catch with this first viewing.