The Seeker
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Movie Reviews of The Seeker
Movie Review: Breezes By
Summary: 4 Stars
David L. Cunningham does a good job with this film. While I'd heard of the book, it's not one I ever read. So my perspective will be quite different from those whose opinions are based on a comparison to the book. As a film, the visual elements are excellent with the floods, the signs and the spreading darkness over the world. Alexander Ludwig does a nice job as Will Stanton, a modern boy completely unprepared for the age-old struggle thrust upon him. Christopher Eccleston who was in The Others (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) & Gone in 60 Seconds has a long range from the bookish real-world character to the mythical Rider, a stretch that wasn't altogether successful for me. Frances Conroy who won a Golden Globe for TV's "Six Feet Under" plays Miss Greythorne as a bookish matron. Ian McShane who was nominated for an Emmy for TV's "Deadwood" in 2005 is perhaps the hardest to figure out as Merriman Lyon. His character seemed like it ought to have been more important, but somehow never quite got what it needed to make the point. Wendy Crewson, who I loved as Evelyn Danvers in The Covenant, plays Mary Stanton with a nice but brief touch. Amelia Warner who was in "Aeon Flux" makes an impression as the witch Maggie Barnes. The film breezes by and looks handsome. It comes across as a rushed Harry Potter. Overall, it's entertaining. Enjoy!Movie Review: DAVID L. CUNNINGHAM, OPUS 4
Summary: 4 Stars
***1/2 2007. This motion picture was based on Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence), was written by John Hodge, Danny Boyle's usual screenwriter, and finally directed by David L. Cunningham. Will Stanton is a 14 years old boy who learns that he's in fact The Seeker who must fight the forces of the Dark on behalf of the forces of the Light. As I haven't read Susan Cooper's novel, I'm able to express an objective opinion about this film; at least, I think so. In comparison with, let's say, Matthew Vaughn's Stardust (Widescreen Edition), a film belonging to the same genre I saw a few days ago, THE SEEKER is a good movie with nice special effects, an interesting production design and, most of all, directed by a talented director. My 10 years old son was very much absorbed by the film and I enjoyed the discreet winks of the director destined to the adult audience like the dance of the knives over the kitchen's table for instance. In short, I must admit I pass a very good moment with this film. Recommended if you're not a Susan Cooper aficionado.Movie Review: Will entertain younger viewers
Summary: 4 Stars
"I'm supposed to save the world? I can't even talk to a girl." Living in London with his American family, 14-year-old Will Stanton (Ludwig) is living the normal life of a teenager: likes a girl but can't get up the courage to talk to her, annoying older brothers, distant father - the usual. However, Will is anything but normal as Merriman Lyon (McShane) hastens to tell him: he is in fact The Seeker, one of the last immortal Warriors of Light (and there was me thinking it was Pete Townshend). The Seeker must find six 'signs' that are scattered throughout time, and defeat the forces of Dark, led by The Rider (Eccleston). If it sounds like a Buffy-meets-Harry Potter rip-off, you'd be right - but as rip-offs go, it's not half bad. Adapted from Susan Cooper's novel, The Dark Is Rising is another kiddie movie that refuses to talk down to its audience (remember The Last Mimzy and Bridge To Terabithia?) and has a style not usually seen in fantasies geared towards youngsters. Cunningham delivers some nice touches throughout and isn't afraid to creep out the kids with some dark scenes (the one involving snakes can be a bit much). The Dark Is Rising should entertain the younger viewers until The Half-Blood Prince arrives next year.
Movie Review: Takes some getting used to, but... has its merits
Summary: 4 Stars
Man, this one was a shocker. I have read, and reread, and re-reread, Susan Cooper's books many times since about, oh, 1977? I got my own copies... then I think I got my son his own copies. I've read a few other things too, over the years.
Seriously, the movie is very different from the book. The feel of the movie, the mood of it, the story... it is all very different from the book. At first I was horrified, ugh (see most of the other reviews for the general idea).
But then... well... it seemed to me that the story had almost been adapted to a movie for thirty years later. Will Stanton is from the generation before Harry Potter. In the books, we can really feel the world and the matter of Wales, of ancient Britain, of the layers of history. While I do feel that the movie moves too quickly, and it is often just too wierd and intense -- in a way, that is truer to today's young people. Perhaps it speaks to them better. I don't know. But I would rather think that this adaptation had some merit, somehow, and that is what I've come up with.
Read all the books and watch the movie, just be prepared for something "completely different." Good luck.
Movie Review: A Great Fantasy Film
Summary: 4 Stars
I gave up a long time ago thinking that Hollywood would make films based on history, or in the case of published materials, based on the actual book.
It is the former that I dislike the most--revising history to express artistic expression. It is even more upsetting that "socalled" critics not only overlook this mistake, but they also promote the action by calling films boring or uninspiring that actually remain true to facts.
However, I can still enjoy a well-done movie, as long as they produce something that has a good cast and ensures that the script is well-written, because for the sake of hoping for an intelligent culture's continuing to exist, people should read the book.
Personally, I like doing both. I enjoyed this film, and my five-year-old grandson enjoyed it too. I look forward to having the DVD on my bookshelf.