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Review #338 of 365
Movie Review of Eragon (2006) [PG] 104 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $9.50
Where Viewed: United Artists Denver Pavilions Stadium 15, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 15 December 2006
Time: 12:10 a.m.
Film's Official Website
DVD Release Date: unscheduled
Directed by: Stefen Fangmeier (debut)
Screenplay by: Peter Buchman (Jurassic Park III) based on the novel by Christopher Paolini
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Edward Speleers (debut) • Jeremy Irons (Casanova) • Sienna Guillory (Rabbit Fever) • Robert Carlyle (Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School) • John Malkovich (Art School Confidential) • Garrett Hedlund (Four Brothers) • Alun Armstrong ("New Tricks") • Christopher Egan ("Everwood") • Gary Lewis (Goal!) • Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) • Rachel Weisz (The Fountain)
Soundtrack: Download now from 
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Since the stunning, world-wide phenomenal success of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and last year's wondrous Chronicles of Narnia, the fantasy genre has seen a rebirth as source material for Hollywood films. Hence the adaptation of Book 1 of Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy, Eragon. One of the most highly anticipated films of the year by sci-fi/fantasy film fans, it may prove to be the most disappointing of all time. Of course, as per site policy, I have not read Eragon, so my criticisms must be based on the film alone, with all due respect to Mr. Paolini, I sincerely hope that the dialogue in his book is superior to that of the film, or I'd rate my chances of reading the book now even slimmer than they would have been based on a lack of time I presently face to read books and see a movie every day. Ah, but I digress a tad.
Not knowing the plot of the book with which to compare, here is a synopsis of the plot of the film which, again without intentional disrespect to the original story. The film beigins with a voice-over history of the past centuries of history in Alagaësia, a mythical land overseen by stunning dragons with their riders until one evil rider named Galbatorix (John Malkovich) managed to persuade the power hungry and arrogant riders to war with each other until all of the dragons and nearly all of the riders had been slain. At which point, Galbatorix claimed himself King and begin a treacherous reign of power using every means to bring fear and darkeness into the hearts of his subjects. Fortunately, a group of men known as the Varden have been gathering in a far away corner of the realm to serve as opposition. In a small village a drunken bum named Brom (Jeremy Irons) tells these tales of the past in Alagaësia, where he is overheard by an intrigued Eragon (Edward Speleers) who believes him because, while hunting in a nearby region called The Spline, a strange blue object is delivered to him from out of nowhere that, upon having its sale rejected by the local merchant, hatches into a small, an unknown winged, reptilian creature resembling a mythical baby dragon. Turns out that the egg was sent to him by the elven sorceress, Arya (Sienna Guillory) as a last ditch effort to keep it out of the hands of Durza (Robert Carlyle)—the evil magician shade who serves Galbatorix in his evil plots to ensure that no more dragon riders ever emerge. Too late, as once Eragon touches the head of the dragon, they are linked telepathically. The dragon, named Saphira and voiced by Rachel Weisz, grows to full-size in about 20 minutes one afternoon just after Eragon teachers her to fly. When Brom learns of the existence of Saphira and her connection to Eragon, he realizes that Saphira's egg was the last of the dragon eggs. Preserved over time until the matching rider is finally born, the egg then hatches only in the rider's presence. Once connected, the two begin to share in each other's magic and strength. He knows what he must do and that is get Eragon and Saphira to the Varden so they can mount an effort to defeat the king. But, while in Durza's confinement, Arya gives up Eragon's location, and Durza sends his minions to catch and kill the boy which will automatically also kill the dragon. I won't spoil the rest of the plot at this time, I'll simply say that the journey to see the Varden brims with peril ordered by Galbatorix enhanced by the foolishness of Eragon who doubts that he's unready to take on the challenges of a full-fledged rider.
Not knowing the plot of the book with which to compare, here is a synopsis of the plot of the film which, again without intentional disrespect to the original story. The film beigins with a voice-over history of the past centuries of history in Alagaësia, a mythical land overseen by stunning dragons with their riders until one evil rider named Galbatorix (John Malkovich) managed to persuade the power hungry and arrogant riders to war with each other until all of the dragons and nearly all of the riders had been slain. At which point, Galbatorix claimed himself King and begin a treacherous reign of power using every means to bring fear and darkeness into the hearts of his subjects. Fortunately, a group of men known as the Varden have been gathering in a far away corner of the realm to serve as opposition. In a small village a drunken bum named Brom (Jeremy Irons) tells these tales of the past in Alagaësia, where he is overheard by an intrigued Eragon (Edward Speleers) who believes him because, while hunting in a nearby region called The Spline, a strange blue object is delivered to him from out of nowhere that, upon having its sale rejected by the local merchant, hatches into a small, an unknown winged, reptilian creature resembling a mythical baby dragon. Turns out that the egg was sent to him by the elven sorceress, Arya (Sienna Guillory) as a last ditch effort to keep it out of the hands of Durza (Robert Carlyle)—the evil magician shade who serves Galbatorix in his evil plots to ensure that no more dragon riders ever emerge. Too late, as once Eragon touches the head of the dragon, they are linked telepathically. The dragon, named Saphira and voiced by Rachel Weisz, grows to full-size in about 20 minutes one afternoon just after Eragon teachers her to fly. When Brom learns of the existence of Saphira and her connection to Eragon, he realizes that Saphira's egg was the last of the dragon eggs. Preserved over time until the matching rider is finally born, the egg then hatches only in the rider's presence. Once connected, the two begin to share in each other's magic and strength. He knows what he must do and that is get Eragon and Saphira to the Varden so they can mount an effort to defeat the king. But, while in Durza's confinement, Arya gives up Eragon's location, and Durza sends his minions to catch and kill the boy which will automatically also kill the dragon. I won't spoil the rest of the plot at this time, I'll simply say that the journey to see the Varden brims with peril ordered by Galbatorix enhanced by the foolishness of Eragon who doubts that he's unready to take on the challenges of a full-fledged rider.
"With a miscast hero and villain and a story that's derivative and tedious without the majesty of the magic it portrays, this film was on a path toward mediocrity before it left the canister."
The story suffers from inexplicable continuity issues—how old are Brom, Arya, and Galbatorix, that no one else seems to remember the tales of the dragon riders? What is so special about these Varden that they remember and are working to fight the king? What are the doing to prepare to fight the king? What of the rest of the subjects? It suffers from a lack of originality in certain ways while there is some originality to the connection and mutual magic of the rider-dragon pairing. The rest of the story, however, is just like any other journey movie plot without the greatness or real sense of adventure of Frodo's fellowship. Even the knock-off shadow riders in Eragon lack the presence and fear-inducing power of their LOTR counterparts, for example. The effectiveness of the story is weakened by a preposterous casting job where a world-wide search for the guy who would become Eragon yielded, Edward Speleers a young man who over-eagerly tries to become the over-eager kid who will become his realm's only hope of defeating the evil king. His platinum blond hair, sizeable toothy grin, and lack of physical size and presence make him more well-suited to portray the star of a new British boy band than a legendary dragon rider. Worse, his lack of acting experience and the demands of carrying this lead role coupled with some of the worst dialogue ever spoken in a sci-fi / fantasy film decreased his chance for effectiveness in this role. He tries, to be sure, however, the result, sadly, left the audience laughing at him, not with him throughout the picture. This was disheartening to be sure. Ironically, Garrett Hedlund, himself a fairly unseasoned actor, was cast as Murtagh, son of the most traitorous of dragon riders who assisted Galbatorix in his rise to power, would have probably made a far superior Eragon, but spends the entire film in the back seat chomping at the bit as if he would claim Eragon's spot in an instant and be ready for it both as a character and an actor. As Murtagh, though, he's nearly awful. Jeremy Irons gives a decent, although nearly sleep-walked performance as Brom. Sienna Guillory's role is too limited to be able to judge. Nothing, however, could possibly prepare a person for the utterly terrible performance by Robert Carlyle and John Malkovich—surely two of the worst miscasting jobs of the decade. I barely even know where to start considering how many ways these two were just awful. With a miscast hero and villain and a story that's derivative and tedious without the majesty of the magic it portrays, this film was on a path toward mediocrity before it left the canister. A very sad outcome from a year of eager anticipation by fans of the genre and the books. Worse, all of this could have been solved with better writing, better plotting, and better casting.
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Other Projects Featuring Eragon (2006)
Cast Members
Edward Speleers
• Jeremy Irons • Sienna GuilloryRobert Carlyle
• John Malkovich • Garrett HedlundAlun Armstrong
• Christopher Egan • Gary LewisDjimon Hounsou
• Rachel WeiszDirector
Stefen Fangmeier
Screenwriter
Peter Buchman
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Eragon (2006) Review-lite [150-word cap]
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1 comment:
A good review (though I don't agree with every part of it) I do agree with you that most of the characters were dreadfully miscast!
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