This has been on my mind lately, and I just need to share my disgust. I was sitting blissfully unaware, watching the previews before Harry Potter, and one flashed on that began with something like, "Will Stanton was an ordinary boy . . . "
Now that made me sit upright, because Will Stanton is a character in some of my most beloved books, The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I inherited them from my brother (aka, stole) and we both fell in love. Looking back, I think that was what started my love of fantasy. From there it was Redwall, Terry Brooks, Lloyd Alexander, and now it's J.K. Rowling, Tolkien, and Robert Jordan. But I digress.
Anyway, these Dark is Rising books are amazing, all about a boy named Will and how he comes into the circle of the Light (called Old Ones) to fight the powers of the Dark. The first book, The Dark is Rising, is about how he discovers he is an Old One and his quest to collect the six Signs of Power. It's my least favorite of the series, but still really well done.
So when I heard this name, I bolted upright. But as the preview went on, it showed a 14 year old boy living in modern America and worrying about girls, fighting with his family, and getting caught shoplifting in a mall. "Must be a coincidence," I thought. "This doesn't look anything like the Susan Cooper books." But oh no, it is indeed. The preview made me so ill, I was disgusted that they thought to put the same name on the movie (although it recently changed from "The Dark is Rising" to "The Seeker: The Dark is Rising." Wonder why. Couldn't be the fan backlash, could it? Seriously, just read what fans are saying about the movie. I don't think I've read anything positive.)
So for those who care, here is what is wrong with this movie.
* It takes place in America. Really? The books took place in the rural UK, like Buckinghamshire and remote villages in Wales. Cooper's descriptions of the landscapes caused me to run to an atlas, where I sat pouring over the UK, trying to find some of the places she talked about, because I wanted to go see them. I fell in love with Wales from Cooper (and went to go there, specifically because of her books.) I still haven't made it to Snowdonia, or the Brenin Lloyd, but I will someday. To me, this is like Harry Potter being set in Los Angeles. It's unthinkable.
* Will. In the books, he is just 11 and already wiser than his years. He does not flounder or sputter. He is quiet and self-possessed.
* Merriman. All fantasy possesses a wise, all-knowing guide to mold the young one and reassure him/her. Like Dumbledore, Gandalf, or Obi-Wan Kenobi. That is what Merriman is to Will. But in the movies, he apparently fights (the Old Ones do not have weapons, people!) and the actors playing him hates the movie and says the book is dense and outdated. In an interview, he (Ian McShane) said "No, I never heard of them. I did try to read the book, but they were a little...I think...I don't know how...There's four of them apparently. Or five. Oh, god. That means I might have to do a sequel." Could you imagine Michael Gambon or Ian McKellen saying that? Read the whole interview if you're interested. I'm surprised he got away with saying some of the stuff he did.
* Gregory Smith. Will's brother goes along for the ride? What? That never happened! I quite enjoy Gregory Smith as an actor, and think he's great. But it just didn't happen. The role is Max is very small.
* Christopher Eccelston. Oh wait, that is one good thing about this movie. He is wonderful. Good choice.
Anyway, I could go on. Like I said, I don't want to turn people away. It may be a good movie on its own, if you haven't read the books. If you haven't, and you want to see the movie, please go. Let me know your opinion, because I am curious what a non-Cooper fan thinks. Then go read the books. Just don't read them first, because you will hate the movie.
Now that made me sit upright, because Will Stanton is a character in some of my most beloved books, The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper. I inherited them from my brother (aka, stole) and we both fell in love. Looking back, I think that was what started my love of fantasy. From there it was Redwall, Terry Brooks, Lloyd Alexander, and now it's J.K. Rowling, Tolkien, and Robert Jordan. But I digress.
Anyway, these Dark is Rising books are amazing, all about a boy named Will and how he comes into the circle of the Light (called Old Ones) to fight the powers of the Dark. The first book, The Dark is Rising, is about how he discovers he is an Old One and his quest to collect the six Signs of Power. It's my least favorite of the series, but still really well done.
So when I heard this name, I bolted upright. But as the preview went on, it showed a 14 year old boy living in modern America and worrying about girls, fighting with his family, and getting caught shoplifting in a mall. "Must be a coincidence," I thought. "This doesn't look anything like the Susan Cooper books." But oh no, it is indeed. The preview made me so ill, I was disgusted that they thought to put the same name on the movie (although it recently changed from "The Dark is Rising" to "The Seeker: The Dark is Rising." Wonder why. Couldn't be the fan backlash, could it? Seriously, just read what fans are saying about the movie. I don't think I've read anything positive.)
So for those who care, here is what is wrong with this movie.
* It takes place in America. Really? The books took place in the rural UK, like Buckinghamshire and remote villages in Wales. Cooper's descriptions of the landscapes caused me to run to an atlas, where I sat pouring over the UK, trying to find some of the places she talked about, because I wanted to go see them. I fell in love with Wales from Cooper (and went to go there, specifically because of her books.) I still haven't made it to Snowdonia, or the Brenin Lloyd, but I will someday. To me, this is like Harry Potter being set in Los Angeles. It's unthinkable.
* Will. In the books, he is just 11 and already wiser than his years. He does not flounder or sputter. He is quiet and self-possessed.
* Merriman. All fantasy possesses a wise, all-knowing guide to mold the young one and reassure him/her. Like Dumbledore, Gandalf, or Obi-Wan Kenobi. That is what Merriman is to Will. But in the movies, he apparently fights (the Old Ones do not have weapons, people!) and the actors playing him hates the movie and says the book is dense and outdated. In an interview, he (Ian McShane) said "No, I never heard of them. I did try to read the book, but they were a little...I think...I don't know how...There's four of them apparently. Or five. Oh, god. That means I might have to do a sequel." Could you imagine Michael Gambon or Ian McKellen saying that? Read the whole interview if you're interested. I'm surprised he got away with saying some of the stuff he did.
* Gregory Smith. Will's brother goes along for the ride? What? That never happened! I quite enjoy Gregory Smith as an actor, and think he's great. But it just didn't happen. The role is Max is very small.
* Christopher Eccelston. Oh wait, that is one good thing about this movie. He is wonderful. Good choice.
Anyway, I could go on. Like I said, I don't want to turn people away. It may be a good movie on its own, if you haven't read the books. If you haven't, and you want to see the movie, please go. Let me know your opinion, because I am curious what a non-Cooper fan thinks. Then go read the books. Just don't read them first, because you will hate the movie.
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