Post by Stdio Ghibli on Aug 18, 2004 13:31:43 GMT -5
If Donnie refused to send the Artifact back through the portal, he would have died along with the rest of the world--because, per the POTT, the TU would've collapsed, formed a black hole (or whatever), and then destroyed the PU.
However, by sending the Artifact back through the portal, he stills dies, but the world is saved.
So, in either instance, he dies--but, in the latter, the world lives, so obviously the latter is the most logical oucome. If you're going to die anyway, and you have the chance to save the world..
So how am I supposed to sympathize for this decision? His death has no -real- weight at this point.
The -only- way Donnie's death can have any real value is if..
(a) .. the Tanget Universe were to continue on existing, and he had to decide on whether to continue living there with Gretchen dead, or to sacrifice himself so she might live.
However, this was ruled out by the POTT.
(b) .. that his death in the Primary Universe was not a direct result of the return of the Artifact, but instead a decision made by himself. (read: he guided it to kill him)
.. why would he do that, though? Kill himself, that is. Because of the following:
Donnie Darko: Well could these portals erm… could these portals just appear anywhere, anytime?
Kenneth Monnitoff: I think that’s highly unlikely. No, I think what you’re talking about is umm… an act of God.
Donnie Darko: Well if God controls time, then all time is pre-decided.
Kenneth Monnitoff: I’m not following you.
Donnie Darko: Every living thing follows along a set path. And if you could see your path or channel, then you could see into the future, right? Like err… that’s a form of time travel.
Kenneth Monnitoff: Well, you’re contradicting yourself Donnie. If we were able to see out destines manifest themselves visually, then we would be given a choice to betray our chosen destinies. And the mere fact that this choice exists would make all pre-formed destiny umm… come to an end.
Donnie Darko: Not if you travel within God’s channel.
In short, what the above suggests is that, in God's plan, even if you know the future, there are no normal ways to deviate from His plan.
Even if Donnie saved the world, Gretched would still die, and he would still kill Frank--because, as, again, the above suggests, there are no ways to deviate from God's "channel." The -only- way for that to possible would be for, say, Donnie to somehow die.
To die, though, Donnie would somehow have to beat God's will. How can Donnie, of all people, do that?
"I can do anything I want," Frank said, "and so can you."
Also, in a deleted scene, Frank introduces himself with something along the lines of "I've been watching you," "God loves all his children," and "God loves you."
Now, some people like to suggest that Donnie's simply crazy and talking to himself or whatever, but (overlooking the fact that the director has stated he relies on the POTT and that Donnie is not crazy) the ending proves this otherwise, when people wake up from a dream of the Tu with visions of what happened there.
That could be interpreted as a stretch, except Frank's recollection of it all clearly shows him touching his eye, pointing out that, at the very least, he did have a dream where something happened to that eye, and it bothered him enough to touch it in the waking world.
So, time travel, portals, and wormholes are possible. God has a plan for the world, and that plan is unchangeable.
"I can do anything, and so can you."
So.. I think one of the reasons Donnie is laughing at the end is because he knows he's one-upped God.. maybe.
Somehow.
However, by sending the Artifact back through the portal, he stills dies, but the world is saved.
So, in either instance, he dies--but, in the latter, the world lives, so obviously the latter is the most logical oucome. If you're going to die anyway, and you have the chance to save the world..
So how am I supposed to sympathize for this decision? His death has no -real- weight at this point.
The -only- way Donnie's death can have any real value is if..
(a) .. the Tanget Universe were to continue on existing, and he had to decide on whether to continue living there with Gretchen dead, or to sacrifice himself so she might live.
However, this was ruled out by the POTT.
(b) .. that his death in the Primary Universe was not a direct result of the return of the Artifact, but instead a decision made by himself. (read: he guided it to kill him)
.. why would he do that, though? Kill himself, that is. Because of the following:
Donnie Darko: Well could these portals erm… could these portals just appear anywhere, anytime?
Kenneth Monnitoff: I think that’s highly unlikely. No, I think what you’re talking about is umm… an act of God.
Donnie Darko: Well if God controls time, then all time is pre-decided.
Kenneth Monnitoff: I’m not following you.
Donnie Darko: Every living thing follows along a set path. And if you could see your path or channel, then you could see into the future, right? Like err… that’s a form of time travel.
Kenneth Monnitoff: Well, you’re contradicting yourself Donnie. If we were able to see out destines manifest themselves visually, then we would be given a choice to betray our chosen destinies. And the mere fact that this choice exists would make all pre-formed destiny umm… come to an end.
Donnie Darko: Not if you travel within God’s channel.
In short, what the above suggests is that, in God's plan, even if you know the future, there are no normal ways to deviate from His plan.
Even if Donnie saved the world, Gretched would still die, and he would still kill Frank--because, as, again, the above suggests, there are no ways to deviate from God's "channel." The -only- way for that to possible would be for, say, Donnie to somehow die.
To die, though, Donnie would somehow have to beat God's will. How can Donnie, of all people, do that?
"I can do anything I want," Frank said, "and so can you."
Also, in a deleted scene, Frank introduces himself with something along the lines of "I've been watching you," "God loves all his children," and "God loves you."
Now, some people like to suggest that Donnie's simply crazy and talking to himself or whatever, but (overlooking the fact that the director has stated he relies on the POTT and that Donnie is not crazy) the ending proves this otherwise, when people wake up from a dream of the Tu with visions of what happened there.
That could be interpreted as a stretch, except Frank's recollection of it all clearly shows him touching his eye, pointing out that, at the very least, he did have a dream where something happened to that eye, and it bothered him enough to touch it in the waking world.
So, time travel, portals, and wormholes are possible. God has a plan for the world, and that plan is unchangeable.
"I can do anything, and so can you."
So.. I think one of the reasons Donnie is laughing at the end is because he knows he's one-upped God.. maybe.
Somehow.