The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising
Fox-Walden | Release Date: October 5, 2007
3.2
USER SCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 58 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
14
Mixed:
7
Negative:
37
Watch Now
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
JCAndrewOct 1, 2007
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising -- Cherishing -- First of all, lets find out about this film: Its title= Seeker, seeker means by example when a device in a missile that locates a target by sensing some characteristic of the target, as heat The Seeker: The Dark is Rising -- Cherishing -- First of all, lets find out about this film: Its title= Seeker, seeker means by example when a device in a missile that locates a target by sensing some characteristic of the target, as heat emission. Dark= well everyone knows what that means, rising= means to get up from a lying, sitting, or kneeling posture; assume an upright position. Now, if you combine those definitions, then see what happens. Seeker, dark, rising. Think about it, the seeker is obviously the child that seeks something. Maybe dark, or darkness, which is rising. At the eve of 11 years old, Will finds himself the last of the immortal's and uses the destiny of his kind to destroy the darkness that rises ahead which plans to banish Will from the human race. Now that is what I call a story. If you think like how I think before I saw it when you guessed it is worth a 6 then you are wrong, the story deserves so but there is never a dull moment, no kidding. A dark and fascinating film with visual effects beyond human use and reach, you would have to pay millions of dollars for those effects. It has loads of entertainment, it doesn't just have what the story gives you now. It passes by with way more plot's and stories happening. So please, if you think there isn't anything good playing right now because I also think the same, when this releases, go see it. It is worth it. Overall very good. But literally it has a lot of flaws, like the acting, dialogue, key concept, action. But I just say 10 when it deserves a 6 because I know there will not be many high rated reviews for the upcoming future, so just to balance the film's position.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
8
TBlackOct 8, 2007
In our theater, the audience began clapping as the ending credits rolled. I feel for those who have read the book, yet the pace, creativity, suspense targeted at tweens is more than adequate. Many creative shots packed great meaning into In our theater, the audience began clapping as the ending credits rolled. I feel for those who have read the book, yet the pace, creativity, suspense targeted at tweens is more than adequate. Many creative shots packed great meaning into just a few seconds, telling the backstory as quickly as possible. What's wrong with a movie that clearly defines the light and dark in today's world and it's effects on ordinary living? No movie captures the written word, hence they are adapted. This movie deserves to be examined not to see how closely it follows the book, but by the quality of story-telling. I believe this story is worth watching, and it won't leave you bored no matter what others might say.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
10
JoyceC.Oct 1, 2007
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising is amazing, I was astonished at how the visual effects were attempted. The story is wonderful, acting isn't the best. But the movie overall is good.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
sivaruthvikJan 19, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie didn't meet the mark.The direction was good though the plot is uneven.Christopher eccleston and ian mcshane did their part well.but the latter didn't kill the former when he got a chance.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
0
DanniB.Oct 5, 2007
This is a pathetic attempt at making a merchandise/Harry Potter tie-in. The books have been destroyed by them. So very sad indeed.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
SamuelCOct 16, 2007
Don't be misled by the title: the movie is nothing like the series of books. This seems like the first of what will be a long series of cheap Harry Potter knock offs. The entire plot of Susan Cooper's beloved children's books Don't be misled by the title: the movie is nothing like the series of books. This seems like the first of what will be a long series of cheap Harry Potter knock offs. The entire plot of Susan Cooper's beloved children's books has changed entirely, including the addition and removal of many characters to make the film an absurd highlight reel of special effects without a soul, message, or any artistic merit. This to me seems like a tech demo. There are several cool special effects moments, and one or two scenes that are genuinely freaky or slightly disturbing. On the flipside, however, this may scare children. This movie isn't for the easily spooked child. The best part of this film was clearly the very beginning,, .before I realized the masochism inherent in watching the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
AdrianOct 5, 2007
Hey, you three JCs, stop trying to bump up the user score; that's cheating. Anyway, this was fairly engaging at first, but quickly turned out to be a cheese-fest of wannabe epic fantasy movies. That lost it for me there.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
pbOct 5, 2007
A perfect example of industry greed mutilating and cheapening a wonderful novel. Walden/Fox, John Hodge and David Cunningham disrespected the book and the fans, and now the critics and the fans are disparaging the movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
LisaROct 7, 2007
A horrible and cheap knock off of a wonderful book. Dumbed down and made to suit Hollywood. Uninspiring and a dreadful bore.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
DeborahJ.Oct 9, 2007
Since this has always been one of my favorite children's books and has been since I read it when I was 13, seeing this movie was like watching a near and dear friend be disembowled. I was absolutely stricken by the changes made to this Since this has always been one of my favorite children's books and has been since I read it when I was 13, seeing this movie was like watching a near and dear friend be disembowled. I was absolutely stricken by the changes made to this timeless story, and have no plans what so ever to see any further editions to this series or to take my own children to see them.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
PamelaL.Jan 18, 2008
this movie sucked bid time! and i know this even though i never watched it. i only had to read a summary of the movies plot, to realise that it was dumb, unimagiative and cliche. the start sounded a lot like HP, but not nearly as intriguing this movie sucked bid time! and i know this even though i never watched it. i only had to read a summary of the movies plot, to realise that it was dumb, unimagiative and cliche. the start sounded a lot like HP, but not nearly as intriguing or charming. Then there was the whole thing with the signs. Isn't the 'get these magical items from these locations in order to defeat this dark force' thing, getting a little old? And isn't everyone sick of the 'light vs dark' theme yet? In my opion fantasies are a lot like fairy tales, because just like fairy tales, fantasies constantly feauture the same characters and themes. not to mention the way that the characters always stay the same instead of growing and changing (HP is an exeption.) i also have a lot of disrespect 4 movies that differ from the books they're based on. so in conclusion, even though i am seeking 4 them the The Dark is Rising show no signs of being a good movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
XavierH.Mar 21, 2008
"Recapturing Imagination and Rekindling curiousity"- A direct quote from Walden Media, and a blatant sucker punch to the face for anyone who has been subject to the horrible atrocity that is this movie. Firstly the slogan is assuming that "Recapturing Imagination and Rekindling curiousity"- A direct quote from Walden Media, and a blatant sucker punch to the face for anyone who has been subject to the horrible atrocity that is this movie. Firstly the slogan is assuming that our imagination needs to be recaptured and our curiousity rekindled, but lets just forget that for the moment, seeing as soon as the movie is finished you will need a severe dosage of each, not to mention some severe sedatives for anyone who has read the book. It almost seems to me that the entire cast has a personal vendetta against Susan Cooper, disgracing the books at every turn and not even being remotely subtle about it. I'll keep this review diplomatic by saying a good thing about this movie- The combination of an Eject button on my DVD and the relative fragility of said DVD.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
BartC.Oct 10, 2007
Haha three JC's in a row. Look at the bottom. The first three reviews. Coincidence they're all perfect high scores? Hahaha... I loved the books...as for the movies, well...don't the reviews say it all.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JohannesHOct 14, 2007
Just awful. For a movie whose title is the seeker, it spends little to no time actually searching. The signs more or less dump themselves onto the main character at the most unrealistical and logic defying places and times ever. Alot of the Just awful. For a movie whose title is the seeker, it spends little to no time actually searching. The signs more or less dump themselves onto the main character at the most unrealistical and logic defying places and times ever. Alot of the scenes are directly incoherent and even a further amount woefully underbuilt. It would seem like the person in charge of cutting the movie didnt really bother to watch the movie trough in the end, which is understandable. I couldn't have been the only one who thought "huh" at the Mark-Will scene. This thing is basically an amateurish shallow fling with a non-amateurish budget, that's all too often wading in cliches that will make you cringe.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
NinaKOct 16, 2007
I wish it were possible to give a movie a negative rating. If you have ever read the books this movie is supposedly based on - strike that, if you have ever met anyone who's read the books this movie is supposedly based on, chew your I wish it were possible to give a movie a negative rating. If you have ever read the books this movie is supposedly based on - strike that, if you have ever met anyone who's read the books this movie is supposedly based on, chew your arm off rather than go to see this movie. Will Stanton is American? His father is a physicist? Maggie Barnes is a girl at his school? No Walker? I would have been willing to forgive a great deal if they had only incorporated a fraction of the poetry from the books. No luck. Just a bunch of rooks, reminding us how we'd been rooked into seeing this movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
GiorgosD.Oct 22, 2007
Sincerely it was the worst film i ever saw. Imagine yourself going to see the next episode of star wars not knowing that due to cuts it was shot with bad acting drunk puppets that forgot all the time the dialogs. If you want to catch a sleep Sincerely it was the worst film i ever saw. Imagine yourself going to see the next episode of star wars not knowing that due to cuts it was shot with bad acting drunk puppets that forgot all the time the dialogs. If you want to catch a sleep in a nice warm theater here's the chance!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
GregoryJ.Oct 3, 2007
Destroyed the book. They made into modern pseudo-commercial crap.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
ChristyAndersenOct 6, 2007
This steaming pile of trash isn't just bad - it's an insult to the book and to poor Susan Cooper. If the director didn't want to adapt the book properly, he should have left it alone and indulged his obsession for teenage This steaming pile of trash isn't just bad - it's an insult to the book and to poor Susan Cooper. If the director didn't want to adapt the book properly, he should have left it alone and indulged his obsession for teenage angst elsewhere. Not even worth the price of a DVD rental - get the book instead. Contrary to the beliefs of the director and most of the cast, it is written in English and children have been enjoying it for years.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
KeithOct 6, 2007
Gregory J. is the only one who got it right. Anyone who rates this piece of disgusting schlock over a big fat zero obviously has not read the outstanding literary works of Susan Cooper, or knows nothing of film making. I can't believe Gregory J. is the only one who got it right. Anyone who rates this piece of disgusting schlock over a big fat zero obviously has not read the outstanding literary works of Susan Cooper, or knows nothing of film making. I can't believe that Walden hit a home run with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, but totally destroyed this adaptation.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
medeaOct 7, 2007
Recipe for this movie: take one book, remove everything that made it interesting and magical, add sub-boywizard shenanigans, garnish with slo-mo kung-fu fights and cliched dialogue. Congratulations, you have become a hack. Unlike other Recipe for this movie: take one book, remove everything that made it interesting and magical, add sub-boywizard shenanigans, garnish with slo-mo kung-fu fights and cliched dialogue. Congratulations, you have become a hack. Unlike other posters, I am not surprised that Walden filmed The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe so wonderfully, while butchering The Dark is Rising. Lewis' work did not have pagan mythological figures to excise, while Cooper's work did not have dramatic battles to CGI. The Dark is Rising shows us the magic in everyday things, and beautiful and spiritual world underlying our own, but that, of course is not in the film. Read the books!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
SteveJOct 8, 2007
Terrible. Horrible. Criminal. A plodding, insulting adaptation of one of the most interesting and stimulating book series ever. The decision to take a story steeped in English mythology, rich with wonder and simple heroism and turn it into Terrible. Horrible. Criminal. A plodding, insulting adaptation of one of the most interesting and stimulating book series ever. The decision to take a story steeped in English mythology, rich with wonder and simple heroism and turn it into an After School Special is shameful. A dreadful, woeful mistake made by filmmakers who for some reason have ignored the success of deeper adaptations of Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter that prove people can be brought into a world because of rich characters, challenging themes and hidden allusions. This movie should be struck from the record and removed from history. It should be ignored, forgotten and only used to teach how not to make a movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
JaredC.Oct 1, 2007
I found myself fully engaged, it is a full throttle adventure of thrills and non-stop action. An excellent film, like no other, nothing like our cheesy Harry Potter blockbuster, or boring Stardust. This is the year's best. And I found myself fully engaged, it is a full throttle adventure of thrills and non-stop action. An excellent film, like no other, nothing like our cheesy Harry Potter blockbuster, or boring Stardust. This is the year's best. And don't start disagreeing with me because if you think Pan's Labryinth is better because it is. But that movie came out in 2006, not 2007. This luckily passes the wonderful zone. I loved it, I will be definitely seeing it again.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JDOct 16, 2007
This is not a Harry Potter wannabe. This is not a fantasy/adventure film. This is not fit for a straight to DVD release. This is not fit for TV viewing. This is simply not a movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
ZacM.Oct 18, 2007
Wow, this movie was disappointing; I absolutely loved the books, but this almost made me cry. The only redeeming quality this had at all was that it took up a boring Sunday afternoon.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
BethC.Oct 5, 2007
This is a horrible adaptation of the beloved series which should be avoided. They believe that our children are too stupid to handle another nationality as being the lead in anything and that you have to have an "American" playing the lead. This is a horrible adaptation of the beloved series which should be avoided. They believe that our children are too stupid to handle another nationality as being the lead in anything and that you have to have an "American" playing the lead. This has been so mutilated and messed with, that it is not a creative remaking, it's a slap in the faces of children and adults alike. Buy the books for your kids and let them into a world which inspired JKR. Those of you who have had the pleasure of reading these books know what I'm talking about. When a mere movie trailer makes you cringe, just think what the movie will do. It has such a great potential. But with it's roots and heart ripped out of it, all it does is bleed its inadequacies all over the screen. Shame on you Hollywood for thinking our children are just dumb toy buying sheep. I know my children are as outraged as I at this treatment.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JoshuaROct 8, 2007
Ahh, to see people even on metacritic try to bump this piece of crap is soul destroying. This movie is by all means a piece of crap, the ones who decided to adapt it had no respect for either the author or the source material. They lacked Ahh, to see people even on metacritic try to bump this piece of crap is soul destroying. This movie is by all means a piece of crap, the ones who decided to adapt it had no respect for either the author or the source material. They lacked true artistic vision and the creativity necessary to turn a Fantasy book into a movie. What they succeeded in doing is lampooning every fantasy movie from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter a la Epic Movie without trying to be a comedy. Great Job Walden...Great F***ing job.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
JessicaB.Apr 11, 2008
I think that this was a good movie.I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks because I actually paid attention to the story. This movie is about a kid who dosen't really fit in with his family and he feels further set apart I think that this was a good movie.I honestly don't care what anyone else thinks because I actually paid attention to the story. This movie is about a kid who dosen't really fit in with his family and he feels further set apart because he has the fact that he contains magical powers froced on him.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
sandyc.Apr 16, 2008
Very disappointing. dont waste your money or your time.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
JayH.Mar 11, 2008
Wow, the universally bad reviews for this. Granted, it wasn't great and it is a Harry Potter rip-off, but it has some good special effects, wasn't too long, good pace and reasonably entertaining. It was predictable, but fun to Wow, the universally bad reviews for this. Granted, it wasn't great and it is a Harry Potter rip-off, but it has some good special effects, wasn't too long, good pace and reasonably entertaining. It was predictable, but fun to watch along the way.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AaronN.May 21, 2008
I have such resent against humanity this decade. Seeing this movie made me clinch fists at everbody in the theater, including my mother, I almost got grounded losing my temper seeing this child slaughtering piece of **** the kid actor I have such resent against humanity this decade. Seeing this movie made me clinch fists at everbody in the theater, including my mother, I almost got grounded losing my temper seeing this child slaughtering piece of **** the kid actor couldnt have conceived without damaging the american flag. All the bad movies I've seen dont compare to this crap. I would make a 20 page rant about this movie, it seems almost trivial to all religious zealots that my mother became telling me that this references to religious facts. If such a movie makes it off the board like this. I hate everything about 2007 movies after this debauchery. I hate nick I hate ALL movies in 2007 after this! I prayed to god for forgiveness after this ill conceived ovie nobody even liked. I seen nancy drew, but this movie included all of those feelings, except with being dipped into a toilet filled with rancid Habenero peppers in a nevada desert outhouse. I just want to say, denying wanting to cuss out my mothr after this was high, I dont feel good about it, but the burning hot sun outside made my blood instantly evaporate since it was already boiling above 110 degrees FARENHEIT! I want to make this more than three pages, but Ian Mcshane can go choke on a gorilla's log. I hate that little runt! WORST ENDING IN A MOVIE EVER! To give less than murder, I would watch the butterfly effect over this! GOODBY LOSERS.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
MovieLonely94Jun 11, 2011
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After seeing such great fantasy adaptations like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia, other fantasy novels were trying to be successful. Some of them grossed $100 million dollars at first, but only one of them flopped and is why we get 20th Century Fox and Walden Media's The Seeker: The Dark is Rising, based on a 5-book masterpiece by Susan Cooper.

It tells the story about Will Stanton, a 14-year old typical kid, who learns that he is the last of the Old Ones called the Light who spent many years trying to defend themselves from the Dark. The Rider appears and tries to destroy the Light and in order to defeat him, Will must find and guard the six signs of the Light and only them can they win the battle against the Dark.

OK. Some of you already know what the story was about since it was done a lot of times and I have no time to waste, so time for my opinion.

Some of you won't believe this, but I've never read the book series to begin with, but with this being an adaptation, it's just sort of a bland movie. Not good, but not terrible. It's just a mediocre fantasy movie and here's the reason why.

1. Characterization: I'm not going to talk about characters like Will Stanton, Merriman, Mrs. Greythorne, The Rider, Maggie, and the rest of the characters. They did okay at their performances, but there were a lot of flaws in this movie and only one of them counts. In the book, Will Stanton was 11 years old and was kind of shy and a bit of a loner. In the movie, Will Stanton was changed from 11 year old British boy to a 14 year old American teenager and he is also shy, but kind of typical and expresses his feelings in the most irritating and emotional way. That's a nice way to change so much, 20th Century Fox. THe rest of the characters were okay, but Maggie was changed from a maid to a love interest of Will, the black horse was changed into the white horse and that's all I'm going to say about the flaws 2. The pacing: It is just plain awful. The first 20 minutes were okay since they tried to show some of Will and his family and the rest of the scenes turned out fine, but the rest of the storyline had to just rush towards the end. Of course, I'm not talking about the CGI in this movie. They were OK, but not given enough screen time. The dialogue doesn't quite cover it up due to its weak storytelling and shaky cameras.

and 3. The direction: It's just plain mediocre. Not horrible, but not that good either. Some of the sets were too cheesy and bland to begin with, but that's not worth saying much. It tried its best to bring the potential of the book, but fails miserably with oversued clichés and like I said, the rushed storyline. The only aspect that I liked about the direction was the action sequences. Even though they weren't included in the book, they seemed to be very interesting and very good, IMO.

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising isn't a horrible movie, but it doesn't even hold the candle to the book. It had decent characters and very good action scenes, but with a rushed storyline and overused clichés, it could have been better.

If kids like fantasy movies, then this is worth a DVD watch, but as for others, read the book.

5/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
TyranianApr 13, 2019
This kids fantasy adventure film has some okay elements but is quite derivative and not well written.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
1
MovieGuysMar 22, 2014
This movie had good intentions, but the end result is a dismal one. The story wobbles and limps throughout the film, and by the end it falls down and lands with an impact.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
0
chrischarlesMay 10, 2020
Just bad and terrible. The dialogue is literal and the movie was just overall boring.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

38 Critic Reviews

3.2 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL