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From Amazon.co.uk
Developing one's self confidence is difficult for most 14-year-olds, and doubly so for Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig) who's recently moved to England and has just begun his first year of study as an American overseas. Feeling shy and inadequate in school as well as amongst his five brothers and one sister, Will becomes increasingly confounded when he starts to see strange visions including a sinister horseman (Christopher Eccleston) who demands Will give him some sort of sign which he knows absolutely nothing about. Befriended by four elders of the local community (Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Jim Piddock, and James Cosmo) who turn out to be "Old Ones" from ages past, Will learns that his destiny is as a seeker who must travel through time to collect six ancient signs that will somehow enable light to triumph over darkness and save the world as he knows it. As Will discovers that he possesses hidden powers and struggles to learn to control them in order to accomplish his quest, he is racked with insecurity and self-doubt. In the end, Will's inner strength will be tested to the extreme as will his relationship with both family and friends. While based on Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, this movie is significantly different from the book: Will's age and family circumstances have been changed, the role of the Old Ones in Will's education about his powers is much diminished, the six signs are less religiously symbolic, and the treatment of the final battle between light and dark is markedly different. Nonetheless, The Dark Is Rising is a suspense-filled, action-packed 94-minutes brimming with great special effects comparable to The Bridge to Terabithia and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy that's immensely appealing to viewers ages 10 and older. --Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com
Product Description
Adventure film based on 'The Dark Is Rising' sequence of novels by Susan Cooper. The film tells the story of Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig), a boy whose everyday life is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of 'The Old Ones', a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of 'The Dark'. Travelling back and forth through time, Will discovers a series of mysterious clues, some dating back to the founding of Britain and others going all the way back to biblical times, which lead him into a showdown with forces of unimaginable power. With The Dark once again rising, the future of the world rests in Will's hands.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Mary Weaver
Unlike many of this film's reviewers, I first read The Dark Is Rising as an adult,having found it in a little local bookshop and deciding it would be good for reading to my children. From the first page, we were captured by the story. As a student of Arthurian legend and British folklore,I was particularly struck by the creative way Susan Cooper used many of our native myths and legends, weaving them into a vivid,taut story line that caught the imagination - and still does, because, 25 years later, I still re-read this book, loving the story and the good, rich prose produced by a masterly writer. The treatment this excellent book has received at the hands of a producer and director who haven't even the wit to see that a Romanian village will never look British, however many pavements you lay or post boxes you import, beggars belief. Why extract all the Britishness out of what is essentially a modern British folktale? A good book destroyed, by people who just didn't understand it. How sad.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
This was, in my view, an absolutely appalling adaptation of the fantastic book by Susan Cooper. Barely keeping to the story at all the characters bore no relation to those in the book. I was so disappointed that such a wonderful book could be so badly misinterpreted. I normally enjoy Mr Eccleston's roles but in this he really disappointed me.
The only words I can use to really describe it is, shockingly awful. There was no mention of the Tramp and his actions that brought his punishment from the Light, no mention of the Old Lady, and the way the signs were discovered was dreadful. Why did they have to make the family american?! The whole point was that they were a Buckinhamshire family. There was no mention of the Smith and the forging of the link for the chains.... the only authentic bits were a few characters and the 6 signs (but no mention of the elements which they represent). Awful!
The only words I can use to really describe it is, shockingly awful. There was no mention of the Tramp and his actions that brought his punishment from the Light, no mention of the Old Lady, and the way the signs were discovered was dreadful. Why did they have to make the family american?! The whole point was that they were a Buckinhamshire family. There was no mention of the Smith and the forging of the link for the chains.... the only authentic bits were a few characters and the 6 signs (but no mention of the elements which they represent). Awful!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Diverting watch, but ONLY if you have never and will never touch the book
2 July 2010
Probably one of the most disappointing fantasy adaptations of recent years. Susan Cooper's chilling masterpiece of winter fear, ancient youth, nameless evil and myth is ripped to shreds and reformed as a dumbed down American kids adventure. NOTHING WRONG with the film as such, but acres of potential, not least the atmosphere that the book conjured, is lost to pander to contemporary teen grumps, modern American family dynamics, a perceived lack of intelligence outside convention in its audience. No one who has read the book should have to suffer this film.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dark is Rising
I bought this film as a gift for someone who likes fantasy films. I had already seen it myself on the TV and really enjoyed it.
Published 2 months ago by Jill Susan
1.0 out of 5 stars
A slapdash apology of a film
The Dark Is Rising is such a brilliant book, that it must have been quite difficult to turn it into such a truly dire movie. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Seagull
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love this but...
I really like this movie, although I can't help feeling a lot more could have been made of it if it had stayed truer to the book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by angie baillie
4.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD QUAL. ITEM - WELL PACKED - ARRIVED IN PERFECTLY GOOD TIME - WILL...
GOOD QUAL. ITEM - WELL PACKED - ARRIVED IN PERFECTLY GOOD TIME - WILL USE AGAIN
Enjoyed this - BE WARNED - this is SERIOUSLY modified from the award-winning book sequence of... Read more
Enjoyed this - BE WARNED - this is SERIOUSLY modified from the award-winning book sequence of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by K. J. STEVENSON
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended
If you enjoy fantasy then this will appeal. Christopher Eccleston makes a really good evil dude. Thoroughly enjoyable family entertainment, it is magical.
Published 6 months ago by Pink
1.0 out of 5 stars
Another misfired fantasy that throws out most of what was interesting...
An ill-advised bastardisation of Susan Cooper's much loved fantasy novel that throws out most of what was interesting about the story and all of the Arthurian mythology that drives... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
1.0 out of 5 stars
A waste of viewing time
I remember feeling quite excited when I first learned they were going to make a film based on the Susan Cooper 'The Dark is Rising' series. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Fiona Mccaw
1.0 out of 5 stars
I agree with all criticism here!
This is a typical American film adaptation -buy the rights to the book and then completely change the story! Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. J. Turner
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good film but poor adaptation
Anyone who enjoyed Susan Cooper's novels should approach this with caution. The film is far different to the book and a rather poor adaptation, for many reasons; the American... Read more
Published 19 months ago by missmouse
1.0 out of 5 stars
Questing By Numbers
I watched it because it boasts a fairly strong cast giving me some cause for optimism and I was, in fact, reasonably impressed with the openning minutes - unfortunately, as it... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Shrewlord
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