[Rictor]

Donnie Darko takes the audience through a wide range of emotions because its philosophical goals are so ambitious.

Ebert and Ford give it two moody, existential thumbs up. Way up.

As for Homeland Security, I maintain that the Saudis have the best ministry name I've heard of. The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, which is basically their religious police. How awesome it that.

[Ford Prefect]

Ebert and Ford give it two moody, existential thumbs up. Way up.

Ha. Ha. You know, it's not my fault that being an artfag makes me better than other people.

[Nix]

I also have never seen the original or read the book from which it was based.
Anyway, one thing you can't deny is that the soundtrack was bloody brilliant. Some of the best ambient ever.

I like how the Clooney version explained the story, did a much better job for this generation of people, and kept things interesting.  I have the original Solaris, Criterion version, which in my opinion, was an exercise in masochism, but I still liked it.  Where I was confused in Tarkofsky's Solaris, made sense in the new version. 

I guess one reason why I cant really enjoy Donnie Darko enough to get into it, is Drew Barrymore, and "secretary" Maggie Gyllenhal.  (her brother on the other hand, isnt too bad.)  I cant stand EITHER of them.  They, literally, make me want to pull my own teeth out at the sounds of thier voices.  I'm sure everyone's got thier actors/actresses who annoy to the absolute core.  Barrymore is one for me.  I can't stand her at all.  "Cellar Door".  I about threw the remote at the screen.  Whatever, I'm dumb, but yeah, she's just irritating beyond my level of acceptance.