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The
Seeker: The Dark is Rising
(2007)
Walden Media wants to create the next big fantasy
film franchise à la
the Harry Potter films or its own Chronicles of Narnia. As an
adaptation of Susan Cooper's popular fantasy novel, The Dark Is
Rising, it's a travesty. Judged on its own merits as a film, it's a
solidly entertaining effort, although unlikely to start a franchise.
Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig) is a seemingly ordinary American boy
living in England with his family until he learns on his fourteenth
birthday that he's destined to become a warrior fighting on the side
of the Light against the Dark, the latter personified by the menacing
Rider (Christopher Eccleston). Will has mere days to locate six
objects of power and use them to defeat the Rider before he can bring
about the apocalypse.
Director David L. Cunningham (The Road to 9/11) has a background in
television and at times this film feels like an oversized television
production, but overall Cunningham does a good job of visualizing the
story and conveying its themes, while relying more on character than
visual effects to move things along. Screenwriter John Hodge
(Trainspotting) said in an interview that he read Cooper's novel and
just couldn't get into it, which likely explains why he felt
comfortable making so many unnecessary changes to it, and raises the question of why he adapted the screenplay in the first place. Faithfulness to
the source material aside, Hodge's script has a compact narrative and
a well-realized protagonist, although the climactic showdown between
Will and the Rider is too brief to be fully satisfying.
Major changes from the novel include transforming Will from an
11-year-old English boy to a 14-year old American boy, the inclusion
of several action sequences, the removal of all pagan and Arthurian
elements, and the complete excision of an important character (The
Walker). The list of changes is a long one.
Although filmed in Romania, cinematographer Joel Ransom (the 2003
Battlestar Galactica miniseries and The Road to 9/11) and
production designer David Lee (art director for Star Wars: Episode
III - Revenge of the Sith) create a beautiful and mysterious England
of fog and snow, of small villages and ancient churches. The lighting
and set design are both excellent. Christophe Beck (License to Wed)
contributes a competent fantasy score.
Ludwig gives a strong performance as Will, convincingly portraying
his character's evolution from alienated schoolboy to magical hero,
with all the angst that entails. Without his presence, the film
wouldn't work even half as well. Former Doctor Who star Eccleston
is splendid as the story's villain, although he doesn't get nearly
enough screen time.
If The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising never reaches the magical highs
of the Harry Potter films, it also doesn't hit the lows of an
Eragon. If you're a fan of the novel, you'll be extremely
disappointed by the screen version. If you haven't read the novel or
can put aside your thoughts about it, it offers a fair amount of
entertainment value.
-Danielle
Ní Dhighe
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All contents ©
2004-2007 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
David
L. Cunningham
Writer: John
Hodge, Susan Cooper
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, James Cosmo, Jim Piddock, Amelia Warner
Distributor: 20th
Century Fox
Runtime: 94
min
Rating: PG
Release Date: October
5, 2007
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