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Post by JohnGalt on Apr 19, 2005 12:42:35 GMT -5
Throughout the story Donnie Darko is concerned by 2 questions. Do we all die alone? Does Freewill exhist? After seeing the movie and reading the Philosophy of Time Travel, I am convinced that Donnie is Laughing at the end of the book because he proves the exhistance of God and freewill. He proves the exhistance of God by moving the engine and himself back in time 28 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 42 seconds.(Remember Donnie's conversation with his teacher about time travel...He asks his teacher what is needed for time travel...the teacher responds a vehicle traveling at the speed of light or an act of God...so time travel without a vehicle would imply divine intervention, which proves the ehistance of God and that "No one dies alone".) He also proves Freewill when he transports the engine and himself back 28 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 42 seconds. He was surposed to use his gift of time travel to send the engine back to it's appropriate place in space and time. This would have saved the world by destroying the tangent universe before it was able to destroy the acctual universe (refrence from Philosophy of Time Travel). His destiny was to ensure the safety of the universe...he realizes this and accpets his own death leaving the Tangent World open even though he knows the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 42 seconds as a result of the engine paradox. Since he was the "Chosen one" his death ensured the end of the world, but it also proved Freewill (because if Free will did not exhist the Universe would have been saved.) . This may seem horrible but it's not because he proved the exhistance of God.
Everything is going to be Okay
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 19, 2005 16:21:13 GMT -5
Some interesting ideas there. It's certainly the first theory I've read where the universe is doomed!
It's interesting that having read the PoTT that you incorporate time travel into your theory. How do you interpret the ideas of the Tangent/Primary Universes?
If time travel were the answer, wouldn't all the events occur in the Primary universe?
I would also point out that (IMO) Prof Monnitoff did not suggest that time travel would require an act of God.
I don't think he means that wormholes are the sole remit of God - note what he said earlier:
When he uses the phrase 'act of God' I think he means something big, unpredictable and uncotrollable - much like we might refer to a tornado or flood as an act of God. If he had meant anything in a religious sense he would have likely stopped the conversation there rather than later.
But why would he do that? The fact that he has control here and chooses to doom the universe is tantamount to the murder of every living being in existence. Hardly something that would endear him to his new found God.
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Post by JohnGalt on Apr 19, 2005 16:42:16 GMT -5
Ahh I thought the act of god thing he was refering to a wormhole on earth controlled by man....Donnie Darko
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Post by JohnGalt on Apr 19, 2005 16:48:12 GMT -5
In his eye's He wasn't choosing to Doom the Universe...He had proof that god exhists. If God exhists so must an after life. I believe he was testing free will. If he was predestined to save the universe then he would have gotten out of bed the second time and sent the engine on another time trip to it's appropriate place in the space/time continuam. By allowing the engine to fall on that night instead of letting it fall in it's appropriate time he starts another Tangent Universe. However this time there seems to be no one who can fix it. This seems dramatic but it is the only way I can see that he is able to prove Free Will. Without Free Will what are we but cogs in a machine?
How can the World be safe if the Aircraft engine still exhists in 2 different places at the same time?
Anyways, I dont think Donnie liked the Universe very much. Prolly figured his new found God could easily start a new...
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 19, 2005 17:18:52 GMT -5
But in your first post you suggest that he did realise the consequences of his choice. Granted, it's not as if he went round one by one slaughtering everyone, but he had the power to prevent the destruction of everything and chose not to use it. If it was just to test Free Will then that was a pretty selfish act, don't you think?
Also, if he had proved to himself that there was an afterlife wouldn't he have considered the possibility of Hell? IMO if it does exist, then that decision would have earned him a first class ticket straight there!
But, I don't think he sends anything backward in time, but rather between universes (ie Tangent to Primary)
in summary:
'Something' corrupts 4th Dimension in PU-->TU created-->Artifact occurs-->LR (Donnie) chosen in TU-->LR sends artifact to PU-->TU collapses + Donnie Squshed in PU.
Also the idea that the Engine is somwhow responsible for the formation of a Tangent Universe crops up quite often, but simply isn't supported by the PoTT.
From the POTT:
This suggests to me that an artifact (in this case a jumbo jet engine) results from the formation of a Tangent universe rather than the other way around.
I absolutely 100% agree with that. There are a few fate vs free will discussions dotted around the site, and I'm in most of 'em!
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Post by ProvidencePortal on Apr 19, 2005 17:24:21 GMT -5
Your theory certainly is engaging. I wish there were more evidence to support the idea that Donnie has not returned the engine, but in fact has traveled through time and dispensed with his Living Receiver duties altogether.
Even if there were evidence, I'd still wonder this: at the risk of sending us tumbling into theology, does committing suicide and murdering billions seem something a person who believes in the Christian-mythos afterlife would do? After all, according to the doctrine those actions wouldn't send him to hear God's plan and "see what it's all about" -- they'd relegate him to Hell and eternal torment. Would that be worth proving free will?
Although, now that I've typed it, that's pretty close to the story of the fall of Lucifer. After all the times we assumed Donnie was the Christ figure, could it be that he's actually the Satan figure instead?
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Post by ProvidencePortal on Apr 19, 2005 17:26:04 GMT -5
Also, if he had proved to himself that there was an afterlife wouldn't he have considered the possibility of Hell? IMO if it does exist, then that decision would have earned him a first class ticket straight there! Ah, the old simultaneous thoughts typed and sent minutes apart. If that's not proof of God's plan, I don't know what is. |
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 19, 2005 17:48:12 GMT -5
 Spooky! ;D
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Post by JohnGalt on Apr 19, 2005 18:10:51 GMT -5
Nice Turn...didnt even see the satan thing....Donnie isn't the model christian....In the movie he teaters on agnostic/atheist. Watch the deletes scenes. He states that the search for God is Abserd....
Maybe he was a manefestation of satan....it would explain the sadistic laugh at the end when he finnally beat God. His name IS Donnie DARKO.....not Lighto....
Maybe Jim was a JC figure in the story...from the devil's POV....
Seems almost Memnoch(ish)....
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 19, 2005 18:44:00 GMT -5
Like a last chance deal for the Devil -
Save humanity and redeem yourself,
or destroy them and be banished forever and lose any chance of corrupting more souls (because they are all dead).
Interesting.
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Post by JohnGalt on Apr 19, 2005 20:30:51 GMT -5
When a Tangent Universe occurs, those living
nearest to the Vortex will find themselves at the eye-
center of a dangerous new world.
Artifacts provide the first sign that a Tangent
Universe has occurred.
Ahh but now you have a limited loop that will run one more time. There is now a reason behind the mysterious vortex...it was created by Donnie...When he sends the engine back to the PU it is still out of place....would it not be an artifact for another TU. One that is deprived of an RL because Donnie chooses to become crushed?
How do you stop the motor of the World?
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Post by Bigboy on Apr 20, 2005 7:23:44 GMT -5
That't true only if you think that donnie sent the engine back in time. Which I don't.
I also distinguish between the portal that donnie creates, and the corruption vortex we see over Donnies house as two separate entities.
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Post by JohnGalt on May 6, 2005 8:18:35 GMT -5
Can anyone explain the sadistic laughing at the end of the movie?
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Post by Omnipotent on May 6, 2005 8:23:11 GMT -5
Can anyone explain the sadistic laughing at the end of the movie? Richard Kelly states this in the DVD commentary (with Jake Gyllenhal): 1. That he felt the whole experience had been a dream, and was therefore laughing with happiness that he had woken up from this, hence doesn't get out of bed. 2. That the journey through the Tangent Universe had solved Donnie's problem of dying alone through achieving enlightenment, and subsequently he knew he was going to "something better" (from his letter to Roberta Sparrow). He was therefore laughing through sheer joy and anticipation, and didn't want to get out of bed. |
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GrandpaDeath
Junior Member
All around me are familiar faces ...
Posts: 55
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Post by GrandpaDeath on May 6, 2005 13:41:35 GMT -5
Like a last chance deal for the Devil - Save humanity and redeem yourself, or destroy them and be banished forever and lose any chance of corrupting more souls (because they are all dead). ... but then again, a whole new crapload of them will be waiting for you when you get back to Hell! That just MIGHT help explain a couple of Donnie's quotes near the end of the film: 1. "I'm going home!" and 2. "When the world ends, there will be so much to look forward to!" (Fresh meat!)  |
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Spooky! ;D
