A dreary, frequently nonsensical ordeal.
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
Devotees of the source material will no doubt grouse at the liberties taken, but [Ian] McShane does what he can to keep the torches and pitchforks at bay.
[The film features] episodic set pieces with disorienting action, culminating in a face-off that defies logic in its resolution.
Ecclestein and McShane are so captivating it's almost worth putting up with The Seeker's inept script.
Poor writing and production values like these bring no light to Cooper's novel -- or the audience.
Cooper presented this rather basic good/evil mythos in more low-key, atmospheric form than the film allows, leaving thesps (particularly McShane) having to poker-face their way through lines like, 'The future of the human race rests on you!'
The movie ultimately emerges as a lackluster tale of teenage empowerment and doesn't fully conjure the requisite sense of magical escape necessary to truly captivate and immerse us in the tale.
Though stylishly produced, this clumsy parable will probably engender more boredom than sequels.
It communicates almost no sense of its own identity; everything seems borrowed and tired.
Ludwig, a relative unknown with some TV and film experience, is awfully cute, but lacks the needed gravitas and charm to turn Will into more than a caricature.
The special effects are not spectacular, but they are certainly adequate and Cunningham keeps the action moving so that the pace never flags.
Although the plot remains essentially the same, little else is left of Cooper's original story, as the film's title implies, and the results are anything but magical.
The shameless Potter/Tolkien recycling is the least of this movie's problems.
The Seeker feels passé and lacks a charismatic lead. Too bad Daniel Radcliffe is an only child.
Given superpowers, Will does approximately nothing with them (he can command fire, but uses it mainly to throw cool supertantrums). He's as passive as a dead mackerel.
A reasonable choice for bored tweens -- as long as they don't demand too much magic from their movies.
A modest proposal: What say we declare a moratorium on special-effects movies about adolescents on a quest to save the world from darkness?
[The filmmakers] jam together action sequences that are too intense for younger viewers with a story too dumb for teens.
The storytelling is clunky but the performances are decent, and Ludwig is both cute and talented.
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