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

Colour:

Colour

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 Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:Atp | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | USA:PG (certificate #42356) | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:M | Iceland:12 | Australia:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Christopher Paolini, author of the original novel, expressed his wishes to make a cameo appearance in the film, specifically a warrior who is beheaded in the battle of Farthen Dur. However, he was unable to due to the constraints of his European Book Tour.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eragon takes his first flight in Saphira's saddle, Brom follows them by horse, alone. Towards the end of the flight, he is leading Eragon's horse.

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:

Referenced in JCVD (2008)

Soundtrack:

Keep Holding On

A letdown

For a film with potentially more scope and grandeur than even Lord of the Rings, Eragon falls entirely flat due to lack luster acting, a terrible script and a total lack of pace. Only Rachel Weisz voice acting for the dragon Saphira manages to give the movie its only good performance while Jeremy Irons sincere performance is let down by the hammyness of its lackluster script. The special effects are fine and the cinematography is great, the pace is way off and the movie is way too short for its own good. I have not read the books that gave life to this film but I hope it was much better than this because the movie was a letdown.