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The Seeker

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Disappointing adaptation of a great kids' book.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence & scariness :

    Teams of birds and snakes attack at different times -- the Old Ones are completely covered in snakes at one point (they seem oddly calm about it). A crypt is littered with bones -- there's one shocking close-up of a skull. The masked Black Rider is always in pursuit -- sometimes with black, curtainy emptiness swirling around him, sucking up everything in its path. Will sets off an explosion in anger and knocks his brother out with a punch. Mention of a kidnapping that devastated Will's parents. A medieval village is pillaged. A bar in 1690 stages a cockfight (not shown). Giant icicles crash down on Will's family, and they're threatened by forces of the Dark to get to Will.
  • Sexy stuff :

    Teens engage in mild flirting. Teasing about puberty and body changes.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    iPod and Xbox
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some wine and ale drinking by adults. Two men let themselves into a pub during the snowstorm and pour themselves pints.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Seeker

Parents need to know that one scene in this fantasy movie stands out as too much for younger kids: Hundreds and hundreds of snakes attack people in a church, pursuing the teen hero to a crypt littered with skeletons (one of which briefly comes to life). Black birds gather in droves and attack, and Will is constantly pursued by a dark force, most often in the form of a masked man on horseback. The forces also threaten Will's whole family; at one point, giant icicles rain down on them. Will witnesses some violent events in his time travels, including the pillaging of a medieval village and the start of a cockfight in a tavern. In anger and frustration, he sets off a fiery explosion. Adults drink a little ale and wine.

Read our full review by carriew

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the themes in this movie that they've seen in other fantasy movies and books -- like dark riders, forces of light and dark, the gathering of signs, time travel, and reluctant heroes. Which specific books or movies does this one remind you of? Why? If kids have read the book, they can talk about the differences in this telling (expect them to be talking for a long time...).
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Our Members Say

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See all 13 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0

    Cool, but a little intense.

    I loved this film! It had action, fantasy, and a young hero. Oh, and some time-travel. However, my siblings got scared. The scene with the police is too scary for kids.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Mississippi
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 2.0

    Not for those under 13!

    Too scary/violent/dark/evil...

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Harry Potter Fans

    I have four kids 8 and under. My husband and I watched this movie tonight and the kids will not be seeing it tomorrow. It was very scary and intense. Read the other reviews on all the details. The best way we could explain our rating is if you would let your child see the Harry Potter series of movies(death eaters) your child probably is ready for this one. My children still get nightmares too easily and I need my sleep.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 2.0

    No way this should be watched by 8 year olds....

    My 8 year old son was interested in this movie and i checked here and saw the rating, and thought it would be okay. Fifteen minutes into the movie there is a scene where the boy is arrested by store detectives and taken to a basement room, where they start interrogating him, as they start interrogating him, closeups of the men's faces - their eyes becoming solid black, their teeth looking scary and bloody, eventually these men turn into a flock of crows and attacks the boy. On for 8 year olds? i think not. I stopped the movie and watched the rest of it after my child was in bed, and thought it was very intense and scary for kids; it would have certainly given me nightmares if i was age 12 or under.

  5. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Anonymous
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Pretty good adaption with a loss.

    The seeker the dark is rising was a perfect childrens fantasy book. Many people would say and will say things about this movie such as 'The screwed up', and I agree partly. It was a very good movie. It wouldn't have been so bad if i hadn't read the book already. Outside of that i give it a thumbs up.

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