Unlike Ryan, who has written most of the info on The Dark is Rising up until now, I am not familiar with Susan Cooper's fantasy novels. So, as is often the case, I'm looking at a poster with a fresh mindset. I have read some bits and pieces about the adaptation, though, and have seen some of the disappointed comments regarding the choice of director and the changes made from book to movie. I can't imagine that this new poster, which MTV shares with us, gives any new hope to fans.

First of all, the title and credits in the middle is just not pleasing to the eye. It could just be my being used to seeing them on the bottom, but something about their placement there makes all the stuff beneath seem unimportant yet distracting. Obviously the placement is to divide the two groups of characters, but they seem so contrasted that each makes the other appear kinda silly. The top section looks like a cheap Lord of the Rings knockoff -- Christopher Eccleston's Rider even seems to intentionally evoke Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn -- while the bottom section looks more Clockstoppers than Harry Potter, which is what I imagine the studio would prefer (though this didn't work for Eragon).

This is the kind of one-sheet that makes me wish Drew Struzan could paint every poster. The style, though more photoshop/photorealistic, is totally his, with all the little plot details represented in the background, but the composition and design is nowhere near as good. It isn't even as good as most of those influenced by his style these days. Whoever made it should have paid more attention to the original Fellowship of the Ring poster, and learned how to copy correctly. If this artwork does have you intrigued, take a look at the production stills we released last month. And make sure to see if the movie does the books justice when it comes out this October.

(Reminder: Click on the movie titles to see a Weinberg-approved DVD review. If a review is unavailable, I'll just go with an Amazon link.)

Recent Theatricals

Akeelah and the Bee (Lionsgate) -- Bee-movie should make for an interesting double feature alongside Spellbound (the documentary, not the Hitchcock). (three featurettes, deleted scenes, gag reel)

Friends With Money (Sony) -- Aniston, Cusack, Keener & McDormand? Count me in. (filmmaker commentary, three featurettes)

Lonesome Jim (IFC) -- Y'know, that Buscemi guy is not just a pretty face; he's actually a pretty good director. (filmmaker commentary, featurette)

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (WB) -- We all love Albert Brooks' patented brand of nebbishy neuroses, but let's chalk this one up to bad timing. (deleted scenes)

Mountain Patrol: Kekexili (Sony) -- A fantastic doco-style story about the dangers of Tibetan antelope poaching. Rent it. (no extras)

The Sentinel (Fox) -- Just keeping us warm until 24: The Movie shows up. (writer/director commentary, four deleted scenes, two featurettes)

Take the Lead (New Line) -- Because middle-aged housewives like movies too. That's why. (director/editor commentary, seven deleted scenes, four featurettes, three remixed trailers)

I'd like to make two thing clear before we begin:

1. I love, love, love Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and this is coming from a guy who read the Tolkien only after the movie adaptations were announced (but not yet released). I presently own all three Extended Editions, which are prominently featured on my highest DVD shelf and are dusted twice a month. (OK, twice a year.)

2. In most cases, I'm not a real big fan of the "double dip." (We're talking about DVDs here; when it comes to ice cream, double dips are always welcome.)

So you probably know where I'm headed with this: Yes, very soon there will be all-new DVD releases of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Each package will contain the movie on disc one and an all-new documentary on disc two. And if you don't already own the Extended Editions, here's something semi-nifty: All three first discs will offer your choice of the theatrical cut or the extended cut. It's a little bit of magic we call "seamless branching," only on lots of DVDs, the branching isn't always that seamless. Taken in one sitting, the all-new three-part LOTR doco, which was put together by Costa Botes, will set you back about 300 minutes, just in case you were worried about the extras being skimpy. New Line plans to unleash these platters on August 29th and the cost to you should be in the $19 - $23 range. (Hey New Line, throw the theatrical trailers on there and you got a deal!)