Eragon (Movie)

Based on Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Studio: 20th Century Fox (2006)
Rating: PG

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Main Cast: Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons

Viewer’s Annotation: Eragon is chosen to be a dragon rider but faces the wrath of King Galbatorix who has for generations suppressed all the riders in his kingdom.

Summary: Simple farm boy Eragon happens upon a strange blue stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. The egg promptly hatches into the majestic Saphria, for Saphira has chosen Eragon to be her rider. This relationship is complicated by the evil King Galbatorix who orders his sorcerer Durza to kill the fledgling dragon rider. With the help of wise former rider Brom, Eragon embarks on a journey to the Varden, a group of rebels who have long waited for the emergence of a new rider who can help them challenge Galbatorix’s reign. Durza, however, proves a formidable foe.

Notes: This movie feels like a poor imitation of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in every regard from the weak plot to the much less impressive sweeping landscape sequences, and when the token princess in distress calls Eragon “Farm boy” in a pitiful recall of The Princess Bride, the movie condemns itself.
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