The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

David L. Cunningham

Writers (WGA):

John Hodge (screenplay)
Susan Cooper (novel)

Release Date:

5 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

Even the smallest of light... shines in the darkness

Plot:

A boy's life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark.

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Power | Dog | Cat | Time Travel

Cast

Alexander Ludwig	...	Will Stanton
Christopher Eccleston	...	The Rider
Ian McShane	...	Merriman Lyon
Frances Conroy	...	Miss Greythorne
James Cosmo	...	Dawson
Jim Piddock	...	Old George
Amelia Warner	...	Maggie Barnes
John Benjamin Hickey	...	John Stanton
Wendy Crewson	...	Mary Stanton
Emma Lockhart	...	Gwen Stanton
Drew Tyler Bell	...	James Stanton
Edmund Entin	...	Robin Stanton
Gary Entin	...	Paul Stanton
Gregory Smith	...	Max Stanton
Jordan J. Dale	...	Stephen Stanton

Also Known As:

The Dark Is Rising (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for fantasy action and some scary images.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #43658) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Taiwan:PG-12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:PT | Finland:K-11 | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U

Filming Locations:

MediaPro Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Alexander Ludwig also plays the role of twin brother Tom, but isn't credited for this role.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Christmas tree is being delivered about fifteen minutes in, the tree outside the house is very thick and full and about ten feet tall, and appears so as they are trying to jam it through the front door. When bringing it down the stairs, though, the tree trunk is much thinner and is much shorter, inferring that the bottom half of the tree was lopped off to make the scene more manageable.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Paul Stanton: Hey man, let's get out of here.
Robin Stanton: School is out.
James Stanton: What's up, little brother? I gotta catch up with the twins.
Gwen Stanton: Hi Will.
Will Stanton: Come on, Gwen. Let's go.

Movie Connections:

Features Tony Hawk's Project 8 (2006) (VG)

Soundtrack:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Bring back the Whipping Post

The Seeker is not only one of the worst films I have ever seen it is probably the worst movie of all time. PT Barnum said there is one fool born every minute so I ask why were they all involved in making this pile of utter crap? It doesn't matter if it had followed the book (it woefully doesn't) but it isn't a good movie in any respect at all. This was a money grabbing, farce of a movie, with terrible plotting, terrible casting and even worse directing.

It insulted, the readers of the books, children's intelligences worldwide and the movie industry in general. I wouldn't trust the writer nor the director to sit the right way on a toilet.

If you ever read Ian Fleming's work you'd know that the books and film stories are totally different but they manage to convey the ruthlessness, the style and epic quality of the books and add their own style of fun to generate the longest running successful sequels in history.

With the care and attention to detail put into the filming of the Lord of the Rings I honestly thought we were past the limitations that dogged fantasy films in older days but Fox proved us wrong, I can only surmise, that the financial and marketing people don't read, watch good movies or even have decent IQ's.

How is this for a financial idea: Susan Cooper wrote a 5 book masterpiece that works for kids and adults alike. If we cast it properly, plan out a set of films to bring the books that brought joy to millions out to billions we could if done properly be in the money for years to come and rule the Christmas films for the next 5 years. Hmm who do we get to produce it, screen-write it and direct it for us.

I know, how about we get a successful producer, can we get the one who did that massively acclaimed hit "Legally Blonde 2", a screenwriter who can't write for children and a director who admits he doesn't like the fantasy genre.

I'm trying to work out if movies qualify under the Sale of Goods Act here in Britain. Calling the film "The Dark is Rising" might just be considered as false advertising or at least an infringement of the trade descriptions act. I can then claim my money back and clear the way for everyone else to get theirs back too.