The Seeker - The Dark Is Rising
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The Seeker - The Dark Is Rising
Has anyone seen this adaptation of Susan Cooper's book 'The Dark Is Rising', from the series of the same name? I love the books, and I'm interested to know whether the movie is any good.
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[Syl]
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Just got back from seeing this, and I'd have to say no. No it isn't.
Kind of sad, really. You can tell there's some really good themes and probably a decent story to work with. The location, cinematography, and effects are there. The casting seemed pretty good too, though the choice for the lead was a bit iffy.
The biggest problem, I think, was direction. Ham handed would be putting it lightly. It all comes off like a comic book and really leaves you scratching your head at a few things. The pace is slow in the beginning, which would have been fine if they hadn't left such big gaps in some of the characterization or made the second half of it so rushed. And I can't think of any of the major scenes that seemed to happen organically, but rather seem to be jammed in there for no other reason than that "this part has to happen right here."
The younger kids might enjoy it (once, anyway, and that if they stay awake through the first 45 minutes), but even though it's not bad, I think anybody with half a brain couldn't help to feel a bit disappointed.
Of course, I thought the Narnia movie sucked, so... YMMV.
Now if you have any insight into what was with the family's dogs or any reason for a kitten in the plot other than it's cute, I'd appreciate it. And if you do end up seeing it, could you please tell me how everything turns out in the end makes any sense. Oh, and who cares what his dad was working on, sense it seemed to play no important part in the movie other than an unexplainable coincidence.
I think I'll just stop there.
Kind of sad, really. You can tell there's some really good themes and probably a decent story to work with. The location, cinematography, and effects are there. The casting seemed pretty good too, though the choice for the lead was a bit iffy.
The biggest problem, I think, was direction. Ham handed would be putting it lightly. It all comes off like a comic book and really leaves you scratching your head at a few things. The pace is slow in the beginning, which would have been fine if they hadn't left such big gaps in some of the characterization or made the second half of it so rushed. And I can't think of any of the major scenes that seemed to happen organically, but rather seem to be jammed in there for no other reason than that "this part has to happen right here."
The younger kids might enjoy it (once, anyway, and that if they stay awake through the first 45 minutes), but even though it's not bad, I think anybody with half a brain couldn't help to feel a bit disappointed.
Of course, I thought the Narnia movie sucked, so... YMMV.
Now if you have any insight into what was with the family's dogs or any reason for a kitten in the plot other than it's cute, I'd appreciate it. And if you do end up seeing it, could you please tell me how everything turns out in the end makes any sense. Oh, and who cares what his dad was working on, sense it seemed to play no important part in the movie other than an unexplainable coincidence.
I think I'll just stop there.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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Thanks for the feedback, Syl - if I do see it, I certainly won't be getting my hopes up. 
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[Syl]
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In the beginning, the dogs were growling at the boy like there was something wrong with him, or something wrong with them, maybe. Rider had a couple dogs, but I'm pretty sure they weren't the same ones. And of course, at the end of the movie the dogs are normal. *shrug*
No prob, Edge. There are few movies that fit the criteria of kid friendly, playing at my local cheap theatre, and enough effects to be worth seeing on the big screen.
No prob, Edge. There are few movies that fit the criteria of kid friendly, playing at my local cheap theatre, and enough effects to be worth seeing on the big screen.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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stonemaybe
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emotional leper
- The Gap Into Spam
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