THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING
US, 2007, 99 minutes, Colour.
Alexander Ludwig, Christopher Eccleston, Ian Mc Shane, Frances Conroy, James Cosmo, Jim Piddock, Amelia Warner, John Benjamin Hickey, Wendy Crewson, Emma Lockhart.
Directed by David L. Cunningham.
On paper, this looks like a cross between Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. On screen, it is a slight fantasy that has its moments – but loses a lot more. (Writer of the original novels, Susanne Cooper, must be disappointed that the material is reduced to less than a hundred minutes and, while set in England, is very Americanised.)
A young American boy, the seventh son of a seventh son, is revealed as The Seeker, a boy with hitherto unknown talents to find the hidden signs to save the world from an overwhelming darkness. A group of elders, who have lived in many historical periods, appear to protect him from the power of Darkness, The Rider, who wants to get the signs and control the earth. The Seeker has five days and the film highlights the drama in discovering each sign. In the meantime, the weather, darkness and storms, begin to play havoc with civilisation as we know it.
The family will seem too American for a non-American audience: mother, father and six children in an English village. The boy (Alexander Ludwig) lacks the oomph for this kind of hero. The elders do a lot of standing about in a group and talking, though Ian Mc Shane is strong and Frances Conroy brings some motherly charm. Christopher Eccleston, having abdicated his role as Dr Who, is the Rider and seems to be enjoying some villainy.
Like Eragon, this is a fantasy that misses out on its intended grandeur and is reduced to something of a Saturday matinee show.
1. A fantasy for young audiences, based on a popular novel and series?
2. Fans of the novels and their deep criticism of this film? Feeling that it is a travesty of the books? The impact for those who have not read the books and take it at face value?
3. Production values, the British cast, the American cast, the British setting? Filming in Romania? The realism of the present? The time travel, the different locations, the Middle Ages, the 15th century, the 17th century? The church? The tombs? The battles in the Middle Ages, costumes and weapons? The musical score?
4. The plausibility of the plot as fantasy, concerning a young boy, 14th birthday? And the story of the disappearance of his twin brother?
5. The family, moving from America, the father and his study of science, nerves, neglecting his children? The devotion and support of his wife? The older son away in the Navy? The next son, Max, and his studies, returning home, the story of his failing exams, being honest with his father? The twins, the older brother, the younger sister? William as the seventh son of a seventh son?
6. School, the school bus, Maggie and the attraction? The family home, meals, the decision to move from America? The effect of England?
7. The invitation to the reception, Merriman Lyon, his role in the household, Miss Greythorne? Mr Dawson and Old George and their helping with the tree? At the mansion?
8. William, the sense of something special, the antagonism of the dogs, his wandering from the reception, the Old People encountering him, his walk, taking him to the church, explaining his mission? The encounter with The Rider on horseback?
9. Lyon and his explanation of the situation, the thousand years of darkness and light, the role of the signs, William having to seek them out, getting them in time to avert darkness enveloping the earth? William and his lack of self-confidence, the mission, his time travel and the effect on him, think he was not a seventh son, the discussions with his mother, discovery about his twin brother and the disappearance?
10. The details of the quest, the gift of the belt, the visuals of the signs, their appearing in different places, his travelling, the struggle to get each of the signs and put them on the belt? His sister time traveling with him, the dangers?
11. Maggie, the attraction, William succumbing, her being an agent of The Rider, the final confrontation with him, the struggle, wanting the signs, his standing up to her? The promise that she would not age, falling into the water, aged?
12. Max, his problems, being taken over by The Rider, the confrontation with his brother, time travel, come to his senses, William’s advice, talking to his father?
13. The Rider, sinister, yet appearing in ordinary life, with his mother, the celebration of Christmas, in the church, singing Joy to the World? William and his disappearance, the old people also disappearing, his quest, the tomb of his ancestor, the confrontation with The Rider’s mother, Dawson and the bet about a dragon, her appearing as snakes, William using his strength, recovering the sign? The severity of Lyon and his advice? Miss Greythorne more moderate?
14. Time coming, the desperate finding of the fifth sign, not knowing what the sixth sign was, coming to his senses, realising that it was him in himself, his
strength, convictions, standing up to The Rider, letting loose the darkness, William holding out his hand and repelling it? Light coming over the world?
15. The survival of the Old People, the family reuniting, the father not being preoccupied with his studies, the bonding of the family? The world saved?
