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.
Flags: 2

The Goose Girl ~ Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury (2003).
ISBN: 1-58234-843-X
383 pgs

Classification: YA Fiction
Genre: Fiction, fairy tale, fantasy
Age Level: 12+

Reader’s Annotation: In this reimagining of the Grimm Brothers’ tale of the same name, Ani, a crown princess tricked out of her title, must find the strength within to reclaim her rightful place as queen.

Summary: Though first daughter to the Queen of Kildenree and thus Crown Princess, Anidori-Kiladra Tialanna Isilee is undeniably a disappointment to her formidable sovereign of a mother. Indeed, when Ani turns 16, she is crushed to learn that her mother has arranged for her marriage to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Ani, helpless to resist her mother’s will, must forfeit her birthright and her claim to the Kildenree crown and journey through forest and mountain to meet her new fate. Along the way, Ani’s lady-in-waiting proves traitorous, claiming Ani’s identity for her own and orchestrating a massacre of Ani’s guards to cover her deceit. Narrowly escaping death herself, Ani makes her way to the foreign city she is supposed to call home and takes a job tending the king’s geese. Among the other workers, Ani experiences friendship and loyalty for the first time, and discovers within the strength to reclaim all that has been taken from her.

Notes: Book 1 of a series (The Books of Bayern). Every character is vibrant and Ani is a timeless heroine, but Hale’s greatest achievement with this novel is the creation of Bayern, a land and a people so well imagined it seems a forgotten piece of our own history.
Flags: 5

Stardust (Movie)

Based on Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Studio: Paramount Pictures (2007)
Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Main Cast: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox

Viewer’s Annotation: To win the heart of his long-time crush, Tristan Thorn ventures from his small town of Wall into the kingdom of Stormhold to retrieve a fallen star, but he is not the only one who seeks it.

Summary: Determined to win the affection of the beautiful Victoria, Tristan vows to bring her the star that has fallen some ways beyond the wall that borders their town. Tristan ventures into the magical world on the other side of the wall and is surprised to discover that the star is not at all the lump of meteorite he expected, but rather a lovely young woman named Yvaine. Still intent on fulfilling his promise to Victoria, Tristan insists that Yvanie accompany him back to the Wall before he will restore her to the sky. But an old witch called Lamia is pursuing Yvaine because eating the heart of a star provides immortality. Meanwhile, the king of Stromhold has passed away and his feuding sons vie to retrieve the royal ruby (which Yvaine now wears) and claim the throne. As Tristan rushes to bring Yvaine to Victoria as a birthday present, the two narrowly escape the trap Lamia has laid for them and encounter a ferocious sky pirate aboard his flying ship. Even with danger closing in from all sides, Tristan and Yvaine fall in love.

Notes: This movie is hilarious, with terrific performances from an all-star cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Rupert Everett.
Flags: 5