Is it me, or is Donnie Darko logically impossible?

Question

Donnie's task throughout the film is to right the tangent timeline back on to its original path (i.e. make the jet engine land on and kill Donnie). What caused this rift in time to happen? Frank the rabbit called Donnie out of his room and gives Donnie his task which was caused by him in the first place! Another contradiction is that Frank comes to Donnie in the first place, which suggests that the tangent timeline HAD to happen or else where would Frank have come from. This suggests that the tangent timeline is actually within the main one, which is a bit of a contradiction. Anyone care to enlighten me?

Answer 1

Logically, even from the film's standpoint, yes.

However, the premise of the majority of the film is the space-time continumum and Donnie Darko's decision, once he realizes his outcome from his original choice, is to choose that he go back in time and accept death as his option to prevent future pain for his friends and family.

Answer 2

I hope this makes sense. I see Frank as Donnie's access point into "God's Channel" that he spoke of with the science teacher. So that he could veer from the path set before him, which caused the rift or whatever over Middlesex to occur. And he was able to accept his death the second time because he knew he couldn't die alone because god exists. The problem with your argument is that god exists in the film, just watch the scene where he is discussing time travel with the science teacher again. I don't know, I just watched it for my first time last night while I was toast, so I watched it again today and that's just my take on it.

Answer 3

I don't think it is impossible...I mean i think i get it...but when it comes to explaining it i can't...weird that i understand what all happens yet can't put it into words...any movie concerning time travel usually leaves someone with a lot of questions...much like donnie darko...the only thing though...is that most of the time those movies are comedies and we don't really care about the whole time travel thing and past and future events occuring...its the more serious movies like Donnie Darko and even Deja Vu that we try to analyze it...

but oh well they end up being good movies any way...

Answer 4

No, you pretty much hit the nail on there head there. But you have to remember it's just a fantasy.......half the fun of it is trying to figure out what it's all about......I know it was for me anyway.

It's my all time favourite movie.......I got the directors cut of it on DVD and he did explain SOME things in there........

you never mentioned if you actually liked it or not.......

Answer 5

I'm still trying to figure out what the best drugs to take are in order to comprehend this film.

I haven't been this buffaloed since "Videodrome"

Answer 6

I've seen DD over and over again, and it always makes my brain hurt, but I still love it. Just watch it, and don't try and make sense of it, that's my advice.

There is this great site though, it might answer some questions...
http://www.stainlesssteelrat.net/ddfaq.htm

Answer 7

So called 'logic' is 'chaos' to ease our mental continuity and perception that reality is indeed reality.

Answer 8

I love this movie and I agree with bottleblondemama.

Answer 9

its called a paradox, its true that its impossible, great idea though, anyway i love that film

Answer 10

weird. i watched this yesterday, my guy friend is obssessed with it. i didnt get to watch too much though, i was distracted =] sorry though =[