Audience Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Binding: DVD
EAN: 5039036036641
Format: PAL
Label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Languages: EnglishOriginal Language
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Region Code: 2
Release Date: March 10, 2008
Running Time: 95 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2007

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.co.uk Review:
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




Rating: - Don't bother
Appalling. A fantasy film for and by people who haven't a clue about fantasy. Two of our best actors, Ian McShane and Christopher Ecclestone, clearly agree and give performances which appear to be them reading from cue cards. And their performances are just about the best in it. Story is ludicrously badly thought out. At one point the hero finds himself in a village where Vikings are murdering and pillaging and manages to save his life by swapping a watch for a shield. Excuse me, but why would a ... Read More

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Rating: - Truly Dreadful
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 ... Read More

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Rating: - Please stick with the books
I love Christopher Eccleston's work. I love the Dark is Rising sequence of books (ok Over Sea, Under Stone isn't as good as the rest, but even so...). I thought I would at least enjoy the film. But no, it is truly awful. I resent having to give it one star, even, the film is a complete waste of time. Please stick with the books and read them out loud to/with your children if they don't want to read them themselves.

I can't understand why they re-wrote one key element of the book just to ... Read More

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Rating: - A shoddy, unconvincing mess of a film
Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Why do film writers do this terrible thing to excellent books? I love all the Susan Cooper stories and was really excited to see it was the latest 'fantasy' story to be given the film treatment - but what a disappointment when I finally saw the film.
Changes to the story are to be expected because film is a very different medium, but there is no earthly reason to make Will and his family American, no reason for there to be a 'lost twin' brother held hostage by The Rider, no ... Read More

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Rating: - Um...but sorry, NO, NO
As a mum with 4 children who LOVE reading, I like them to try the books, before we see the film attempt at making the 'pictures in your head real, for a given (other people's dreams) value of real'.

Sorry, but this film just does not work to encourage them to read any thing else within the series. It does not encourage anyone to read the rest of the series, why be disillusioned again!

Where are the, slightly Kipling flavoured, rhymes about the future? Where is the menace of 'being ... Read More

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