You can't turn around without a new trailer hitting you in the face at the moment, and today it's the turn of The Dark Is Rising, the adaptation of Susan Cooper's acclaimed and much-loved children's fantasy series about a young boy who learns he has a very old soul.
Our hero is Will Stanton (Alexander Ludwig), who discovers that, as the seventh son of a seventh son, he has certain magical powers that could prove decisive in the battle between light and dark to control the world, and that he's destined to use them against the Dark forces led by The Rider (Christopher Eccleston). He's aided by the mysterious Merriman Lyon (Ian McShane) and The Walker (Jonathan Jackson, not to be confused with Joshua).
However, for anyone who's read the book, it's apparent that some changes have been made. The '50s (ish) setting has been updated, the English countryside has made way for what looks like California, and there's a lot more rock music involved. In fact, if it weren't for the title and the somehow fitting presence of Ian McShane, you'd be hard-pressed to guess what book this was based on.
Now there's nothing inherently wrong with transposing a book's time and place - but when a story is as much wrapped up in the mythology and history of a certain place (say, England) and you move it to a place without comparable mythology and history (say, whatever part of America that is) you risk turning it into a flat, hollow, pre-teen version of The Covenant - and that, for all the latter's cheesy majesty, is something devoutly not to be wished.
So our initial reaction is pretty anti-, but have a look and see what you think here.
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L: Dave25
I used to love these books when I was a kid and watching this trailer I felt sick. I'm pretty certain Susan Cooper would turn in her grave at this Americanised tosh. p;
God I hope not, cos she's still alive p;
She also, being still alive, gave the producers permission to adapt her story in anyway thay saw fit... ... Read More
The Dark Is Rising seems to be strolling down the Eragon path but after seeing this trailer it makes Eragon look like LOTR. If your looking for a great trailer based on childrens fantasy novels try out The Spiderwick Chronicles. It's ten times better than this and i'm surprised that no ones noticed it yet. Head over to Future Films where you can watch it in glorious HD! ... Read More
These were my favourite books as a child and seeing this trailer made me wince. How they thought that they could Americanise some of it and not have people scream bloody murder is beyond me! I understand that its to get the US Audience interested but still. Hopefully when more footage starts leaking out it might get better - but its surely not looking like that now. ... Read More
I used to love these books when I was a kid and watching this trailer I felt sick. I'm pretty certain Susan Cooper would turn in her grave at this Americanised tosh. Why do we continue to let this happen? The government won't do diddily squat, look at U571 (bastards) and don't say its because of the money as the Chronicles of Narnia was true to its source material and made a shitload! I give up....you American bastards think you can walk all over our history and litrature like you own it, I'd li... Read More
OMG... I loved all the books as a kid...
Then to see it like this, a bad Doctor Who ep with the dodgy CG look and fast cut trailer.
What a shame that the Potter ' every young kid thinks they are special and have buried magical powers... ' has forced a bandwagon jump-on which will confine these great fantasy adventure stories to sit alongside Dungeons & Dragons, Eragon and any other total bollox movies in the video shop.
Definately where this story doesn't belong!!!
The cry of 'AhhhJeee... Read More
For a book I loved, this really looks like balls. I mean I realised it was crap when Will started to speak in an American accent. How the hell can this film possibly work in America, with Americans?! ... Read More
I read the book when I was a kid and what made it effective for me was a sense of very English creepy gothic dread.
I know it's a common (and sometimes unfounded) complaint but why relocate stories whose geography play an integral part. It's like trying to re-write Tom Sawyer and set it in Birmingham. ... Read More
