MovieChat Forums > The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising (2007) Discussion > I DIDN'T hate the film!

I DIDN'T hate the film!

posted 16 years ago by Meryllevykryza
26 replies | jump to latest

I read Susan Cooper's books about 12 or 15 years ago and absolutely LOVED them, so, OK, I don't remember ALL the details of the story, but enough to see that alot was changed a WHOLE LOT..
However....taking it as a film standing on it's own that could not possibly cram into it every detail that was put in the book, I still found the film very enjoyable-- thought it had a wonderful atmosphere to it, was beautifully photographed, good special effects,(I'm a theatrical designer), good cast and a fine soundtrack.
I think it deserves more than a 4.6 rating, and I would recommend it, although some scenes ARE TOO frightening for little children.

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] vitogarvin 16 years ago

i dont' know anything about the novels but i tuned in coz i like Eccelston and McShane. It was just a bad bad film. The directing and writing felt amatuerish. The poor actors were left out hanging with nothing. I felt bad for them. The plot didn't make any sense, you really didn't care what happened to the kid and to say it was sappy is an understatement.

[–] pbarnes-9 16 years ago

taking it as a film standing on it's own that could not possibly cram into it every detail that was put in the book

How about ANY of the detail that was put in the book??

I feel like I'm screaming, "Soylent Green is PEOPLE!" and with the same feeling of horror that something meaningful is being gutted, ground up, and sold to pollute an unsuspecting public.

[–] ggregoire 16 years ago

I agree with you. This was not a bad movie. I enjoyed it for what it was, a film BASED on a book. I do not watch movies and pretend to be a director, film critic, producer, etc. Those that do are fakes and irritatingly arrogant.

[–] pbarnes-9 16 years ago

Of course, in Amercia today, mindless acceptance is much more popular than discernment and analytical thought....

And we also have a tendancy to reverse snobbery -- intellectual thought and expression is "pretentious" and substance runs a far second to style and surface appeal.

It still amazes me, even after all of this time, that so many who support this movie can only do it at the expense of those who criticize it; as though their opinions can't stand on their own unless they belittle those who hold a different opinion. It's not only that others' opinions are invalid but that those who hold them are "fake" or "close-minded" or whatever other pejorative has been spewed on this board.

"You didn't like this movie and I did, so obviously that is an attack on my sense of self-worth, you evil, arrogant witch!"

[–] Duncan_Idaho02 15 years ago

Of course, in Amercia today, mindless acceptance is much more popular than discernment and analytical thought....

Open up your eyes, it is like that everywhere in the world. It is just the pc thing to do to attack america. Geesh.

[–] mcmcormick 11 years ago

Actually, Meryllevykryza who was the one who first posted her support for this film didn't belittle anyone.

[–] pdcr_uk 15 years ago

I watched this film before reading the book upon which it is based. I liked the film. There is some good casting – Ian McShane is always good, Frances Conroy is good as the Lady (or Miss Greythorne as she’s called in the film), and Alexander Ludwig makes a fine young male lead – hope to see more of him. The supporting cast do well, especially given their limited roles – James Cosmo and Jim Piddlock do very well. Christopher Eccleston did chew his lines somewhat, but most of them were admittably a little tough and needed some tenderising. The rest of the cast were nice. (Go figure what that means.)

The details of the plot have little to do with the book, though the outline is still there. Having the fortune to watch the film first I was not disappointed, and found the book (and its sequels) to be much better. This does not destroy the film, and I have watched it several times since and enjoyed it again.

The soundtrack is very good – amongst my top ten. Will’s theme on the horn is somewhat haunting and when developed on strings for his major plot points becomes fantastic. It helps the film along immensely without detracting from the visuals.

I give this film 8/10. The books I’d give 9.5/10

[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

Yes, liked the sound track also, and thought the performances you mentioned, especailly Frances Conroy's, were quite good...

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] Blimey_Harry 15 years ago

I think the actors did the best they could, but they weren't given much to go on. The script and the insane cinematography pretty much ruined any chance of this being a good film.
But to be honest, i didn't hate it. In fact, i found it hilarious. I don't think i've laughed so much in a cinema before, and it wasn't even a comedy.

So now he wants to kill me?
No he wants my candybar!

[–] daria-rat 15 years ago

I've seen worse. It was dead on what I was in the mood for last night. It had the plot in there somewhere, a confusing tale of a (older)young boy searching for a succession of signs in all too brief a time period, all the while taunted by The Doctor... 's perfect!
I tell you what, the cinematography kept me well entertained. They played around, a little amateurish maybe, but it was going on 11 at night. I needed it.

http://daria-rat.deviantart.com
Proud Rumrunner and Ringnut

[–] shadydigital 15 years ago

Ok. But I hated it. Terrible directing, awful acting, embarasing script-writing and ridiculous editing.

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[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

Thanks for your even-handed and interesting analysis of the film. What I like is when people really explain intelligently why they DID or DIDN'T like in a film-- that's what makes these worth reading...!

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] Random Terrain 15 years ago

Didn't know this was based on a book. I watched it for something to do while working on my web site. This movie had promise (it didn't have the 3rd rate little crappy kid movie feeling I was expecting). The problem is that the movie soon started to show signs that it was going to suck. If you didn't know where the 6th sign was long before the kid finds out, you must have been watching with your eyes and ears covered. Same for the 'mysterious' person with the hood on that the evil guy kept talking to. You should have instantly known who that was. I hoped that they were going to trick me and the hooded figure would be somebody else and I'd be pleasantly surprised, but nooooooo. This movie could have been great, but it seems they were focused on making a crappy movie and no one could stop them. If only someone had 6 signs to fight bad movie making.

The good thing is if you're 8 years old and not too bright, you'll probably love this movie, so it's not a complete waste of film.

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Just say no to hugs.

[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

I would respect your opinion more if you didn't feel the need to put down those who liked it:
I am definitely NOT 8 years old and consider myself rather bright, having been a teacher and college professor for 21 years...

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] Random Terrain 15 years ago

I say a good thing about the movie and you take it as a put-down? It seems their target audience = little kids who aren't too bright. That's who should be watching it. If you're an adult who liked the movie and you were completely surprised by everything that happened, it's not my fault if you seem to be on the level of an 8 year old. Most adults I know of would feel offended that the filmmakers would think we're so stupid that we wouldn't see those things coming a mile away. If they think only little kids will be watching and it doesn't matter since most little kids aren't too bright, it's easier to forgive the filmmakers.

My statement wasn't a put-down, it was a backwards excuse for why the filmmakers didn't put more effort into it. They must have assumed that most kids are fairly stupid and adults would be texting or browsing the Web or off shopping while their kids watch the movie.

And by the way, my post was a general reply. It wasn't specifically aimed at you. I probably should have posted in a different thread or created my own topic.

With the state of education in the USA, the fact that you've been a teacher and college professor for 21 years doesn't impress me or make me respect your opinion more than any other or think you're any brighter than the average nose-picking doofus on the street. Those who aren't good enough to make it will often turn to teaching and help thousands of young minds learn how to be just as mediocre as they are. Most people who are theater types and struggle for little parts in movies are usually victims of fuzzy thinking and poor judgment, so you can be forgiven for liking this type of movie. You don't see the movie as it is, you see it through your wanna-be actor glasses. Everything is rainbows and flowers and unicorn glitter when you wish to be on stage or in the movies.

Feel free to like the movie. It's in your nature to like this kind of movie or anything that moves. Yes, you are not 8 years old. You just have the wanna-be actor disease and until a cure is found, you are lost to us. We understand and forgive you. Be well.

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Just say no to hugs.

[–] Blimey_Harry 15 years ago

That was beautiful Random Terrain. Im so sick of people having their only arguement point be "but i went to university - I'm smarter than you". And i totally agree that this movie was made solely to ride the Harry Potter bandwagon for as long as it could.

So now he wants to kill me?
No he wants my candybar!

[–] Duncan_Idaho02 15 years ago

Of course, in Amercia today, mindless acceptance is much more popular than discernment and analytical thought....

For goodness sake, open up your eyes and stop being so closed minded, it is like this everywhere in the world. It is just the pc thing to do to attack america.

And this film was horribly done.

[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

What a sad person you are , that you have to use this site to tear apart other people and stereotype them--- I think your "Just say no to Hugs" says it all

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] Random Terrain 15 years ago

What a sad person you are, that you have to use this site to tear apart other people and stereotype them -- I think your "Just say no to Hugs" says it all.

How dare you stereotype me by saying that I'm a sad person! I'd respect your opinion more if you didn't feel the need to put down those that you think are sad. I am definitely NOT a sad person because I am a college professor, an astronaut, and a ballerina and you can't be sad with such an impressive résumé!

Note to the stupid: I am not a college professor, an astronaut, or a ballerina. It's based on Meryllevykryza's post that said "I would respect your opinion more if you didn't feel the need to put down those who liked it: I am definitely NOT 8 years old and consider myself rather bright, having been a teacher and college professor for 21 years..." There are plenty of stupid, clueless, delusional teachers and college professors out there, so big deal.

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Just say no to hugs.

[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

Get a life.
The end.

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] odalo92 15 years ago

I dident read the books, but I liked the movie a lot. Yes it was not perfect, but after raeding so much about it before watching it I dident expext it too be perfect either.
And yes, I knew who the hooded person was, and the sixth sign, and well, sometimes it was a littel boring. But all in all I liked it!
I would like to see the sequels!
I think people , espessally fantasy fans people, think that after the lord of the rings and harry potter movies turned out so well ( I`ve only heard of one person who dident like the harry potter movies.), they think every fantasy movie is going to be great!

first of all , to all of you who hate it:
1. its based on a book, dont expext a retelling of the book that rerarly happens!
( the princess bride turned out good, so did harry potter and lord of the rings, but they are the exeptions)
when you hear that a book you like is beeing turned into a movie, dont go expecting it to be similar with the book or a masterpiece.
You expext it to be good, and that the main idea of the book is in the movie. ( harry potter is a elleven year old living with his uncle, in both the movie and the book. this is a example of how it should be.)
2. eventhough you havent read the book,see the movie with open eyes, and dont get really mad if its a littel predictable.

My favorite film of all times ( the road to el dorado)
has a few plot wholes, and its not perfect, but that does not mean I hate it.
very few movies are perfect but thats no reason to hate it.

p.s.
so they are probobly not going to make a sequel?( just because the first one wasent very good does not mean a second will be bad. You learn from your mistakes.
( how much did this make?)