Warning: The 'Dark is Rising' film adaptation is Not Scottish.

[sff_corgi_lj]

Excerpted from Zealot Benmergui, Baron BardHaven's journal, which reproduces the commentary from The Guardian:

...the film has opened, and the verdict is...

..that the film is a total abomination. It appears they sucked out everything interesting about the plot and made it into yet another disposable teen age adventure film.

Sigh.

...Ah, but caveat emptor! The makers have taken considerable liberties with their source material - not only changing the nationality of the hero and his family (to American), and the title throughout the rest of the world (to The Seeker), but also excising virtually the entire back story of the town and its inhabitants, and turning the original narrative - fairly gripping, you might recall - into little more than a find-the-treasures video game. Thus, after a thousand years of inactivity, The Dark is marshalling his power (why now? we’re never told). In order to save the world, our hero, Ludwig, must locate six “signs” - all of which happen, conveniently, to be located within a few miles of his own home. No mention of their connection to the elements. No trace of the Lady, or the Walker.

These changes would be bad enough. But more seriously, Walden have assiduously removed every trace of the pagan (ie, non-Judeo-Christian) elements that were crucial to the original plot, all that fine old Celtic/Arthurian folklore - the Sleepers, Herne the Hunter, the Old Magic - presumably because they ran counter to the
“family values approach to positive messages” which the film’s makers seek to impart....

I thanked the Baron for saving me $10+ and the time it would take to drive, park, be horrified and disgusted, and return home a broken Dog.

(Ludwig?? Is more 'American' than 'Will'?!?)

Comments

[livii.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can say as saving grace is the characters' name is still Will Stanton; this reviewer uses the actual actor's name in lieu of character name in the review, for reasons I can't fathom.

When I saw OotP, they played a preview for this first, and Billy had to shush me as I almost jumped out of my seat in horror when I realized they were 'trying' to make the book into a film. And that's coming from someone who re-read them a few years ago and was far, far less impressed than the first time through.

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

...this reviewer uses the actual actor's name in lieu of character name in the review, for reasons I can't fathom.

Possibly because they're in denial as much as the rest of us, going THAT IS NOT WILL! ;)

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

Alexander Ludwig is the name of the actor who plays fake!Will; it's not a character name. Not that I'd be surprised at this point if it were. :P

[proudofthefish.livejournal.com]

I was so freaking excited to see the previews during OotP but I will go see the movie if only to pull it apart. I think I can think of it as just a movie unfortunately I am getting good at that. it's most disappointing because walden did such a decent job with Narnia.

[arafel.livejournal.com]

When I heard that Christopher Eccleston was cast as the Rider, I got excited. Nothing since then has made me want to see the movie. It seems that the cast of characters adapting the movie wanted to turn into Harry Potter.

[barsukthom.livejournal.com]

But, it would have been more like HP if they hadn't changed it!

[themorningstarr.livejournal.com]

When I saw the preview at Stardust, it was still called The Dark is Rising. Then I saw a commercial on the Disney Channel, and I thought "The Seeker?" WTF? And I looked it up on IMDB, and sure enough, title change. Whatever.

But the trailer so little resembled the book I remember that I wasn't sure I wanted to go see it. Now I'll probably wait for DVD.

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this. I will go out and get the book, and save my movie $ for "Sweeny Todd".

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

*seconded*

Now that sounds like a great idea!

(Much corgi love from my Underdog, Ringo.)

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

Corgis rule! And so do horror films and Sims 2 (I checked your profile). Mind if I friend you?

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

this isso wh yi got sick of movie adaptatiosn of fantas yseries. man i'm glad i decided ot stick tothe books which means ill reread them and sya fuck you cinema.
is the northern lights/godlen compass mangled liek that as well?
hollywood boo hiss

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

No, actually, I keep hearing positive mutterings about that one. Nobody I've seen has expressed any misgivings about what's in the trailers, etc.

[immovablemover.livejournal.com]

Unrelated to your post, but I was just browsing the Pets page on CraigsList and saw an ad for someone who is looking for a home for their "welch corgee." I thought you might get a laugh out of that. :)

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

Very... erm... vintage spelling.

stormrunner used to send me corgi listings from San Diego just to torment me, because she knew I couldn't come get them.

[immovablemover.livejournal.com]

Well, honestly, I shouldn't torture myself by looking in CraigsList because I just end up getting down about the nasty pet owners on there who are trying to give their animals away because they "don't have time for them" or the shelter dogs that are going to be euthanized. Ugh.

I think we're going adopting this weekend, though (we have our eyes on a yellow Lab pup at a local rescue, and we've been approved to adopt), so hopefully soon I can spend my time playing with a dog instead of looking at them online.

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

Yay for puppy! :D I'm the dogmother of a yellow Lab, but I haven't got to see her for aaaages.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning, I will now go purchase the proper book on Amazon and save at least 49% there as well! :)

(Poor Chris Eccleston... being associated with a flop like this after everything else he's done... Wonder if he ever regrets not doing a second season of DW?)

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

I haven't read either The Dark is Rising or The Golden Compass, but after reading this, I think I know what I'll be reading on the plane next week.
*licks to your corgwn from Ringo*

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

I thanked the Baron for saving me $10+ and the time it would take to drive, park, be horrified and disgusted, and return home a broken Dog.

...'cos it's not as if several members of your flist at least haven't been warning you off this film for weeks, eh?

Anyway, yes, *petpets*, and thanks for passing the word along to those on your flist who hadn't previously heard.

[badgerangyl.livejournal.com]

Chris E.+Fantasy type black leather/fur/feather cloak+long hair+horse = WIN, no matter how bad the movie is...just wait for the DVD and fast forward through the crap.

I haven't read either of these series either, and I don't know if I will. Opinions, please, and please to remember that I am a fantasy purist. In other words, Tolkien is still God to me.