Eragon (2006)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Stefen Fangmeier

Writers (WGA):

Peter Buchman (screenplay)
Christopher Paolini (novel)

Release Date:

15 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

You are stronger than you realize. Wiser than you know. What was once your life is now your legend.

Plot:

In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon's egg -- a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realized he's the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.

Plot Keywords:

Dragon | Eragon | Dragon Rider | King | Egg

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Ed Speleers	...	Eragon
Jeremy Irons	...	Brom
Sienna Guillory	...	Arya
Robert Carlyle	...	Durza
John Malkovich	...	Galbatorix
Garrett Hedlund	...	Murtagh
Alun Armstrong	...	Uncle Garrow
Christopher Egan	...	Roran (as Chris Egan)
Gary Lewis	...	Hrothgar
Djimon Hounsou	...	Ajihad
Rachel Weisz	...	Saphira (voice)
Richard Rifkin	...	Horst
Steve Speirs	...	Sloan
Joss Stone	...	Angela
Michael Mehlmann	...	Villager #1 (as Michael A. Mehlmann)

MPAA:

Rated PG for fantasy violence, intense battle sequences and some frightening images.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | UK | Hungary

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | DTS

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:PG | Ireland:PG | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:PG | Norway:11 | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Germany:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG (British Columbia) (re-rating on appeal) | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:Atp | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | USA:PG (certificate #42356) | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Murtagh's (Garrett Hedlund) name is mentioned only once in the movie. Nasuada's (Caroline Chikezie) name is never said. King Hrothgar's (Gary Lewis) name or authority is never said or stated.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Eragon shoots Durza in the forehead, a close up of Durza's face reveals the arrow coming point first out of his forehead as if he were shot from behind.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Brom: [narrating] There was a time when the fierce and beautiful land of Alagaësia was ruled by men astride mighty dragons. To protect and serve was their mission, and for thousands of years, the people prospered. But the riders grew arrogant, and began to fight among themselves for power...

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

Once in Every Liftime

Don't watch the movie-read the book

When I first heard that a movie is going to be made by the book "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini, I must say I was very delighted, and I was even more delighted when I heard that Stefen Fangmeier will be the director. I have read the book, and thaught:"What a great movie this is going to be". Unfortunately, I was wrong. First of all, I would dare to say that half of the events that happened in the book weren't shown in the movie at all(reason: Lord of the Rings has less then 400 pages and the movie lasts around 3 hours; Eragon has around 500 pages and it lasts around hour and a half). As a result, instead of complexed, unpredictable fantasy plot you get simple, one-way heading fairy tale. Characters that play very significent role in book(like Murtagh, Ajihad and Angela) are hardly even mentioned in the movie, so that it becomes centered on pretty much only 3 characters-Eragon, Saphira and Brom. Villains and locations lack imagination, so they look cheap and ordinary. Choice of actors is, in my opinion, good, except Edward Speleers. There are way too much "memorable quotes" in the movie, so that movie becomes kind of too much theatrical.Everybody, from director to actors failed, but still, I personally bealive that the biggest failure is Peter Buchman, screenwriter. Although he had a fantastic material to work on, he managed to ruin it, and make a pathetic screenplay from a fantastic bestseller. Only bright side of the movie is always top-of-the-class John Malkovich(King Galbatorix), pretty solid performance by Jeremy Irons (Brom), but most of all dragon Saphira (voice by Rachel Weisz, whose vocal abilities are on very desirable level)