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Eragon (2006)
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Reviews Counted:52
Fresh:3
Rotten:49
Average Rating:2.5/10
Consensus: Written by a teenager (and it shows), Eragon presents nothing new to the "hero’s journey" story archetype. In movie terms, this movie looks and sounds like Lord of the Rings and plays out like a bad Star Wars rip-off. The movie spins the tale of a peasant boy who is suddenly entrusted with a dragon and must, with the help of a mentor, train, grow strong, and defeat an evil emperor. The way the critics picture it, the makers of Eragon should soon be expecting an annoyed phone call from George Lucas.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for battle sequences and frightening moments
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Theatrical Release:15-12-2006
Synopsis: Based on the first novel in Christopher Paolini's popular INHERITANCE trilogy, ERAGON is a fantastical adventure in a vein similar to that of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and THE CHRONICLES OF... Based on the first novel in Christopher Paolini's popular INHERITANCE trilogy, ERAGON is a fantastical adventure in a vein similar to that of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. A classic story of a quest driven by destiny and set in a land where elves, magicians, and humans live side by side, the battle between good and evil, innocence and cynicism, is taken up once again. John Malkovitch camps it up as the evil King Galbatorix, a former guardian of peace who long ago went over to the dark side. He now rules over a land from which dragons have all but disappeared, until humble farm boy Eragon (newcomer Edward Speelers) happens upon a mysterious blue object that turns out to be a dragon egg. Eragon befriends the charming dragon cub, Saphira (voiced with aplomb by Rachel Weisz), and becomes her rider, designating him as the principal warrior in the fight against evil. Jeremy Irons steals the show as the wise and mysterious old man who becomes Eragon's mentor, guiding him through the tasks of saving a princess (Sienna Guillory) battling an evil sorcerer (Robert Carlyle, TRAINSPOTTING), and fending off hordes of the hideous Urgals. All of this will strike the seasoned fantasy viewer as familiar territory, but the formula is given life by veterans Malkovitch and Irons, as well as the young Speelers. The film was shot mostly in Hungary, whose breathtaking landscape combines to great effect with excellent cinematography. The special effects, created by LORD OF THE RINGS' Digital Magic and STAR WARS' Industrial Light and Magic, more than live up to the precedent set by those films, while the dragon is film's true star. [More]
Starring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou
Starring: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou, Robert Carlyle, Sienna Guillory, Garrett Hedlund, Alun Armstrong, Christopher Egan, Joss Stone, Tamsin Egerton, Steve Spears, Gary Lewis, Rachel Weisz
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Producer: Roger Barton, John Davis, Adam Goodman
Composer: Patrick Doyle
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Eragon
Are you a 14-year-old boy? A 33-year-old who has never had a date and lives in your mother's basement? Then this may be the movie for you.
So, how much do you penalize an entertaining film for being derivative?
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