Do people who liked/hated Darko have a similar response to David Lynch movies?

No, I react to Lynch movies in pretty much the same way you do. Donnie Darko, for me, was like watching a first-year film student's attempt to imitate Lynch. So so painful. (The only reason I didn't walk out is because I was watching it on DVD, and DH wanted to see it through to the end because he's like that, and my computer is in the same room as the TV.)

was like watching a first-year film student's attempt to imitate Lynch

This was the exact reaction I had to watching Mulholland Drive! And I used to love David Lynch. I haven't gone back and watched his older movies but I'm thinking maybe I wouldn't like his stuff as much now.

I was feverish when I saw Donnie Darko and I liked it pretty well. I think that may have been the perfect way to see it. I only watched it the one time so I'm not sure how it would hold up for me.

You should try Mulholland Drive again. I hated it on first watch and decided on the second that it was the best Lynch since Blue Velvet.

Then why stay to the end?

To find out whodunnit...or hopefully get enough clues to figure it out.

Which is why I thought Darko failed as a puzzle movie, because I don't think you could figure it out just from watching the theatrical release. I don't know, maybe smarter people could. My husband was working the tangent universe angle, and had just written a piece about singularities, and I've heard the folktales about metal items being time artifacts, but even putting those together we didn't come up with what the writer/director was getting at without reading "The Philosophy of Time Travel."

I loved Mulholland Drive. It was very much like a dream to me: it makes perfect sense while you're watching it, but when you start describing it to people, the logiv you saw falls apart.

I just couldn't get into Mullholland Drive. Kept putting me to sleep.

The Sopranos is awesome this year! Much better than last despite the lack of a "Restless" moment. (I was completely uninterested in the guys that got out of the joint last year though, Buscemi or no Buscemi, so I may be biased.) Still tempted to have Paulie Walnuts, you know, visit those people and teach them proper respect for a narrative arc. Corwood, you have been my friend for some time...you understand my life is littered with such temptations.Whatareyougonnado, though, right? But that is why I'm completely owned by three guys named Dave right now...nobody writes like HBO's Daves. They are all the man.

New Vampire Movie!

No, I react to Lynch movies in pretty much the same way you do. Donnie Darko, for me, was like watching a first-year film student's attempt to imitate Lynch.

Ouch. And hee. I'm weirded out that people are saying they didn't like the characters, since I think they're really appealling and that's not usually something I value much.

I remember it being in theaters briefly, and seeing some reviews that were like, "It's interesting, and doesn't make sense, and there's a kid with mental problems who talks to a giant rabbit." And I assumed it was some kind of little art-house movie where everyone's very, very serious. So then later when there was a lot of chatter about it, I rented it and was shocked because it wasn't at all like that.

I liked Lost Highway more than Mulholland Drive. But I have no good reason for that. I may just prefer my self-destructive protagonists to be male or something. I understand why a lot of people like Mulholland more, given that they're essentially the same movie. It's a lot less antagonistic.

But I liked Fire Walk With Me, so there's that.

To find out whodunnit...or hopefully get enough clues to figure it out.

But I didn't care, remember?