l_moonshade

I've read the books. I knew it would be a horrid adaptation. But, I hate making judgments on things I haven't seen, and I do like Christopher Eccleston. He is the best thing in this movie, and he doesn't even give the best performance I've seen from him. I knew the movie had almost nothing to do with the book by Susan Cooper, which is, to this day, one of my favorites, but I had hoped there would be some redeeming factor. There were some entertaining scenes, but, all-in-all, it was a waste of time and money. The performances were stilted, even by the better actors. The action was WAY too over-the-top, concepts were beat into the ground, even the subtitles were melodramatic. There was no subtlety to this movie at all, which is something I loved about the books. If you like the concept, do yourself a favor and skip the movie. Go straight to Over Sea, Under Stone, the first book in the Dark is Rising series, and go on from there. It'll be a much better use of your time.

Cheesy? Yes. Cliché? Sure. Serious? Not a chance. But, that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyed. It's made-for-TV quality, from the script to the special effects, but the characters are fun, and the actors obviously enjoyed playing their parts, which makes it entertaining. There are a few interesting touches that actually make me wish there was more information on the world, such as the almost technological nature to the magic, and the character who's hand has a mind of its own. It's a great family film, too; my husband, 15-year-old daughter, and I all enjoyed it. Sure, I like deep, well-done productions, and sure, this is, really, nothing more than fluff. But, it's entertaining fluff, we laughed and had fun watching it, and that's what counts.

I've seen this movie many times since buying it, and finally decided to comment. I've seen messages on the boards saying that some of the dates are wrong. I'm terrible with dates so, this may be true, I couldn't tell you. Of course, if I cared, I could look it up. The fact is, I don't. The reason I don't, is because the rest of the movie is so incredible. Okay, the murder mystery may be a bit simple and easy to figure out. But, the setting is wonderful; the town and people look like they've lived long, hard lives. The cinematography is stunning, too; there are many scenes that, while they take place in a dirty, disgusting place are still beautiful. Then, there's the acting. The troupe are wonderful, and Dafoe is a delight to watch, as always. But, Paul Bettany steals the show. He gave a masterful performance as a flawed priest and a flawed man, trying to make amends and put things right. The subtle emotions, the lines he delivers, especially during the last morality "play," are given thought and weight. Yes, there are flaws, but nothing is perfect.

This movie is every bit as good as the first, if not better. The old characters are just as you remember them (with some changes in fortune for a couple), the new characters are wonderfully colorful and memorable, and the bad guys are delightfully evil and cunning. I loved the plot, I loved the way it played out. Jokes and snappy one-liners abound, just as witty as in the first. And, once again, Captain Jack Sparrow has one of the best introductions in movie history. The special effects were very good and everything looked realistic. The sword work was excellent, the fights both suspenseful and entertaining. And, there's a wonderful surprise at the end. If you want a movie that will make you think, this isn't really it. But, if you want a fun, entertaining movie that will take you away from reality for a little while, this is definitely the one for you. It's a great ride, and great fun.