THE SEEKER: THE DARK IS RISING

RYAN: As you know, I’ve been very excited for the release of “The Seeker: The Dark is Rising.”

CAROLINE: And I was very excited that you went to see it without me, because I had no interest. What’s your verdict?

RYAN: It’s great. But in all fairness, I have to give you two different sides to this review. The first is to review it on its own merits; it’s a film that kids will love. I’m kind of glad you didn’t see it because you probably would have walked away thinking you weren’t that into it – it’s pretty kid oriented. It’s magical, it’s fun, it’s gorgeous and lush and it takes you to different places around the world and in history. It’s just a feast that way. The only problem I had is that it’s not edited that well. I think the editor may have been drunk.

CAROLINE: Asleep at the wheel perhaps.

RYAN: So on its own, it’s a fun movie. But the other side of the story is that this movie is nothing more than all seven Harry Potter books told in one 90-minute adaptation.

CAROLINE: Wow, that’s a lot of info for one movie.

RYAN: It begins exactly the same way that Harry Potter begins, then goes through exactly what he went through and then ends the same way Book 7 ends. So if you haven’t yet finished the last Harry Potter book, don’t see “The Seeker” because it will give away the ending.

CAROLINE: [laughs’ But is it British?

RYAN: ‘Tis. The lead boy is an American in Great Britain. And the book was written by a British author, Susan Cooper. So uber-Harry Potter fan that I am, I couldn’t separate the two because all I could think about was how similar this movie is to Harry Potter. If I’d never read the Harry Potter books, however, this might have been one of my favorite movies ever.

CAROLINE: I’m so glad it did not disappoint. And I’m so glad I didn’t see it. Bottom line?

RYAN: I definitely recommend this movie. It’s short and sweet and fun and thrilling. But it’s also a lot like Harry Potter.