Imagine Time Bandits confined to a boring Berkshire village and drained of colour, and you can see why this pig’s ear of Susan Cooper’s well-received children’s story went belly-up at the US box office.
The Seeker (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:89
Fresh:12
Rotten:77
Average Rating:3.9/10
Consensus: The magic of the book is lost in translation with The Seeker, due to its clumsy plot and lack of heart.
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
US Box Office: $8,746,699
Synopsis: Based on Susan Cooper's 1973 Newbery Award-winning fantasy novel, THE DARK IS RISING, director David L. Cunningham's 2007 film follows the adventures of young protagonist Will Stanton (Alexander... Based on Susan Cooper's 1973 Newbery Award-winning fantasy novel, THE DARK IS RISING, director David L. Cunningham's 2007 film follows the adventures of young protagonist Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig), who discovers that he is an immortal being connected with an ancient struggle between good and evil. Aided by fellow "Old Ones," including Miss Greythorne (Frances Conroy) and Merriman Lyon (Ian McShane), Will, an American transplant in England, must face off against shadowy forces bent on world domination, most notably represented by the black-clad Rider (Christopher Eccleston). Taking a different approach to Cooper's revered novel, THE SEEKER, actually drawn from the second book in THE DARK IS RISING sequence, will certainly raise the eyebrows of ardent fans of the series, particularly given screenwriter John Hodge's considerable alterations to the original story. (For example, Will is American instead of British.) For those unattached to Cooper's story, however, THE SEEKER will likely prove to be an enjoyable escapist film, with Conroy (SIX FEET UNDER), McShane (DEADWOOD), and Eccleston (HEROES) adding credibility to a largely unknown cast that is anchored by the likable Ludwig. Presented by Walden Media, the company behind the CHRONICLES OF NARNIA screen adaptations, THE SEEKER may not please Cooper purists, but it will undoubtedly entertain those looking for a diverting fantasy movie. [More]
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy
Starring: Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Jonathan Jackson
Director: David L. Cunningham
Director: David L. Cunningham
Screenwriter: John Hodge
Producer: Marc Platt
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for The Seeker
Off-the-shelf teen fantasy not likely to satisfy the post-Potter/LOTR crowd but guaranteed to enrage fans of the source novel. The newly added quasi-religious overtones don’t help either.
The script is rather bland, the action sequences are extremely dull and it lacks a big effects-heavy set-piece.
Director David L. Cunningham's proffered chills are strictly of the lightweight variety: a menacing flock of ravens, a slimy skein of snakes and a couple of mall security yobs too fat or stupid to overpower even a spindly teenager.
The only sparks of life in the entire production come from Ian McShane, who has a strong enough personality to make his scenes worth watching just for his commanding presence.
Too quick, too slight, and too cliched to make a splash in the company of such high-quality adaptations like LOTR and Harry Potter.
The bum execution ironically sheds light on just how dim this film about light and dark really is.
Just another supernatural time travel movie that lacks passion and seemingly evaporates even as you watch.
A mealy adaptation of one installment in Susan Cooper’s acclaimed book series.
The dark may have been rising, but my eyelids were repeatedly falling as I struggled to stay awake during the interminable and exhausting The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising.
A movie that should've been made shortly after its source material -- Susan Cooper's Newbery winner -- debuted in 1973. As is, it feels entirely too generic to work today.
A mediocre time filler designed to hold fantasy fans over till the release of Chris Weitz's The Golden Compass later this year.
This movie is LAME. The dark may be rising, but the boredom is crushing.
The Dark is Rising is yet another lackluster and derivative entry in the overstuffed genre of youth-oriented fantasy films.
The acting is mediocre, the story rambles, the special effects -- average at best.
Cunningham's scope is myopic and minimal in a mystical yet meandering piece of malarkey that masquerades as a long-winded Tolkien treasure hunt for teenage thrill-seekers.
It's not as detailed as the adventures of a certain other young man who fights against the forces of evil. But it's still an enjoyable fantasy for younger viewers.
A flat, boring, and simple-minded fantasy flick about the battle between the dark forces and the forces of light and goodness.
The genre is bound to have its superstars and average contenders. Unfortunately, despite its production value, The Seeker is one of the latter
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