Leafing Through

The Dark is Rising: The Motion Picture

I know that I've mentioned it numerous times before but I am excited for The Dark is Rising to come out. When done well, a movie made from a book is great. It brings to life the characters in a different way than you sometimes could have imagined. It also usually gets people reading who might not have looked twice at the book.  The tentetive release date is October 5, 2007. Directed by David Cunningham it does something that I like: has a lot of basically unheard of actors/actresses mixed with some that we know.

Here are two stills from the movie: Will after reading the book (I believe) or possibly in the church. And the Black Rider.

The Dark is Rising

I finally finished The Dark is Rising, not the series, just the book.  I've made it through Over Sea, Under Stone, and The Dark is Rising so far. Now I just need to finish the rest.  They're short books but I haven't had much time lately.  I did want to review these books though.

Over Sea, Under Stone

Over Sea, Under Stone is the first in the Dark is Rising series. Although it is written for a younger audience than the rest of the books it is still compelling.  The book is out and out well written. The Drew siblings are so well written that it is often painful. By this I am refering to the times where they talk openly about their quest.  The reader cringes because of COURSE they're going to be overheard by the multitude of adults who are always around. But of course they don't realize this because, they are in fact children and are unaware of adults in that way that children are.  The book is dark and a bit scary at times, but not overly so, and certainly not as scary as Harry Potter. The book is based in Aurthurian legend and set against the rich Cornwall seascape. The Drew siblings, on summer holiday, discover an ancient map that they believe leads to treasure. It leads them into unimaginable danger. Overall, this book is a great summer read for children who are looking for adventure themselves. They can be easily transported to Cornwall on an adventure filled with legend and mystery.

The Dark is Rising

The second book in the Dark is Rising Sequence, this book is longer and more complex than the first of this series.  Will Stanton gets the shock of his life, when on the morning of his eleventh birthday he discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones to be born.  The Old Ones have fought against the Dark since ancient times. Will's nemisis in this book is the Black Rider, a powerful and ancient being, bent on destroying Will in his quest to find the Signs. The story moves back and forth through the centuries with ease, creating a complex storyline for several books to come. 

Have You Heard?

"When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,

Three from the circle, three from the track;

Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;

Five will return, and one go alone."

Every so often I hear a whisper of a film version of a book being made that gets me as excited as a four year old boy waiting for the next Power Rangers movie to come out. It has come to my attention they are making a film of The Dark is Rising sequence. I read these obsessively as a child. Susan Cooper is such a genius, not to mention a Newbery award winner. If you haven’t read the series, I highly recommend them. The order of the books goes as such Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree Then again if you’re not into all that nerdy magical stuff, you might stay away from them. I rank them up there with any of Alexander Llyod’s books, especially his Chronicles of Prydain, and Westmark series. On the whole though I think that I like his Vesper Holly series the most. Who wouldn’t love a good adventure story?