I would be the first to tell you that Christopher Paolini's 'Eragon' and its sequel 'Eldest' are by no means Shakespearean (the third book, 'Empire', comes out later this year). Sure, Paolini ripped off Tolkien, Star Wars, and Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders, but he managed to make two interesting and enjoyable fantasy novels out of this hodgepodge. The movie version of 'Eragon', however, is simply a mess.
The first of many problems with the movie is pacing. 'Eragon' is a fairly good-sized book, and the decision to cut the lengthy narrative down into an 100-minute film is mind-boggling. The script barrels from one scene to the next with no regard for pace or coherence. Director Stefen Fangmeier, a former visual effects supervisor, does a decent job with the action scenes, but he has no idea how to direct scenes that don't involve special effects.
Just about everyone in the movie is miscast. From Ed Speelers' ultra-bland performance as the title character, to John Malkovich's utterly bored King Galbatorix (Malkovich gives the impression that he was on the set for about an hour), and Sienna Guillory's ear-splitting "performance" as elf chick Arya, almost every actor is utterly wretched. There are two bright spots amongst the actors: Jeremy Irons, who gives the movie's best performance as Eragon's mentor Brom; he's slumming, granted, but Irons is an entertaining actor even at his lowest points. Another bright spot is Robert Carlyle, who, while not exactly good, at least puts some effort into his villainous role as Durza the Shade.
Next to Irons and Carlyle, the best aspect of the movie is Eragon's dragon Saphira (well-voiced by Rachel Weisz). Beautifully realized by Industrial Light and Magic, the film takes off only when Saphira comes on the scene.
While Paolini's books are entertaining Tolkien-McCaffrey ripoffs, 'Eragon' is simply dreadful.
The first of many problems with the movie is pacing. 'Eragon' is a fairly good-sized book, and the decision to cut the lengthy narrative down into an 100-minute film is mind-boggling. The script barrels from one scene to the next with no regard for pace or coherence. Director Stefen Fangmeier, a former visual effects supervisor, does a decent job with the action scenes, but he has no idea how to direct scenes that don't involve special effects.
Just about everyone in the movie is miscast. From Ed Speelers' ultra-bland performance as the title character, to John Malkovich's utterly bored King Galbatorix (Malkovich gives the impression that he was on the set for about an hour), and Sienna Guillory's ear-splitting "performance" as elf chick Arya, almost every actor is utterly wretched. There are two bright spots amongst the actors: Jeremy Irons, who gives the movie's best performance as Eragon's mentor Brom; he's slumming, granted, but Irons is an entertaining actor even at his lowest points. Another bright spot is Robert Carlyle, who, while not exactly good, at least puts some effort into his villainous role as Durza the Shade.
Next to Irons and Carlyle, the best aspect of the movie is Eragon's dragon Saphira (well-voiced by Rachel Weisz). Beautifully realized by Industrial Light and Magic, the film takes off only when Saphira comes on the scene.
While Paolini's books are entertaining Tolkien-McCaffrey ripoffs, 'Eragon' is simply dreadful.