SonOfTheDark Reviews

Eragon (2006)

No Dragonheart

[4/10 · 18 December 2006]

I haven't read the book, so I won't make compare it with the big-screen adaption. In any case the script of the movie is pretty bad! A shallow and excursive plot with one-dimensional characters as well as rather bromidic dialogue. The ending comes fairly abrupt and unspectacular. You are left behind with mixed feelings and it seems like some key elements and sequences have been cut out, so suspense and dramatic don't really come up! Visually the film is indeed pretty good and the dragon is nicely done, but thats almost the only positive things. There is not much new stuff, a lot of the landscape shots are known from "The Lord of the Rings", but in better form. The music is nothing special and it even fails to translate the tension or emotion in some scenes.

Most of the good actors are totally lavished in short, uninteresting roles, particularly John Malkovich and Djimon Hounsou! Only Jeremy Irons has something to do and a few good moments as the mentor, but thats all. Sienna Guillory is nothing more than a beautiful extraction. Speelers is not really a weak point in the leading role, but his part isn't written very well too...

I expected more from a movie with this budget and this cast. Unfortunately "Eragon" is an average fantasy film without heart and depth! I would only watch a sequel with a different writer and director...

4 out of 10 Dragons

Ring of the Nibelungs (2004 TV Movie)

Good TV Production

[6/10 · 1 December 2004]

I've watched both parts and they entertained me very well. The second part was better, because the role of Kristanna Loken ("T3") was bigger and the fightscenes looked much better! This is a very good TV movie and Benno Fürmann ("The Order"), Max von Sydow ("Minority Report") and Alicia Witt ("Vanilla Sky") did a great job. Julian Sands ("Warlock") was very cool as the bad guy ;)

The story was different to the original German saga, but it was enjoyable. The effects were also very exciting for this budget! (23 Mio.)

First part: 6/10 Second part: 8/10

The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

The Son of the Dark is back

[9/10 · 13 September 2004]

5 years after the successful Horror/SciFi film "Pitch Black", the coole anti-hero Richard B. Riddick is back on the big screen!

Director Twohy wanted a surprising continuation without repetitions. Not the same planets, not the same creatures etc.. The Story of the new film has nothing to do with "Pitch Black" and they changed the genre from Horror/SciFi to SciFi/Fantasy. Thus there is not only completely new characters, but a whole universe all around Riddick, which has quite Potenzial.

The Story is interesting, but unfortunately the 2 hours are too short to explain the Mythology and also show all the Action and Effects. (the Directors CUT DVD will be much longer) However the story has plot holes and the character development is not as god as in "Pitch Black".

But the Visual Effects are great and the Sets are really amazing! There are also good camera drives, but on the other side the cuts in some action scenes are to fast and we don't see much of the Fight Choreography. Riddick is one of the few films, where also the bad ones are partly pleasant. That is not a miracle, because in the reason all important characters are bad in their way. But between this dark atmosphere there are a lot of cool Onliners of Riddick.

Vin Diesel is again amazing as Riddick and the other actors also made a good job! Only the play of Thandie Newton is sometimes exaggerated, but on the other side she has a very beautiful costume. Judi Dench's role is small however fine and Colm Feore plays the Lord Marshal quite very well. Alexa Davalos mastered her first role as Kyra sovereign! With Karl Urban alias Commander Vaako I would have wished myself more scenes alone and without his Mrs. Dame Vaako.

The largest surprise effect of the film is probably the end, which represents a nice loan at "Conan".

Result:

+ Effects + Action + Cool Oneliner + Soundtrack

• PG-13 (Thanks Universal) - Cuts in some action scenes (Thanks Universal) - Story Holes (Thanks Universal)

Let's hope they will make a trilogy !!!