Okay, I can’t really make a comparison between the movie and the book because I have yet to finish the book. I’m only half-way through it and only attacking it a chapter at a time depending on how much work I need to do at home (and I thought being unemployed would give me more “ME” time…I was wrong…sigh!).
Anyway, on with the review. Eragon is the first installment in the Inheritance Trilogy, based on Christopher Paolini’s best selling novels. To sum it all up, it is a story about a boy named Eragon who found a dragon egg, raised it and eventually revived the legend of the Dragon Riders in the land of Alagaesia. They traveled together with an old Dragon Rider named Brom in search of a group who called themselves the Vardans and stop the evil king Galbatorix. During their quest, Eragon and his dragon Saphira also took a journey of discovery as they find out the history of the dragon riders, their new powers and their connection with each other.
With ILM on board doing their visual effects, it’s no wonder why the visual effects and CGs of the movie were flawless. It was really amazing how they could create creatures like the Urgals, Ra’zacs and the dragon Saphira come to life in the big screen. They just really make it look so real, you would think that they are really there. How Saphira came to life was also great. Her transition from hatchling to full-fledge dragon was really something to be amazed at (though in the book, it really took her months to grow into a full grown dragon…she’s not even fully grown in the part of the book that I’m reading right now). Though, I would have preferred her to stay a hatchling because she was so cute and adorable with her big blue eyes…hehe. The fight scenes were also good. It wasn’t as great as LOTR or Narnia but the aerial combat between the Shade’s magically created flying creature and Saphira was really great. Though the camera angles were a little dizzying at some parts but all was well in the end.
The location was spectacular! I think they shot it in Hungary or the Czech Republic…I can’t remember where but I did read it in the credits and it wasn’t New Zealand.
The music was great. The sound was really just right for the movie. And I also love the ending theme. I would either search for it through torrent or buy myself a copy of the CD.
The actors were okay. Though, John Malcovich as King Galbatorix was only seen once or twice in the whole movie. As was right since, from the part that I am reading, he was mentioned a couple of times (he is the king after all) but he hasn’t shown himself yet. Edward Speleers who played Eragon was pretty good considering this was his first time. Though he still needs a lot of practice though. There were times when his facial expressions confused me. If he still will play Eragon in the next installment (if ever there was one), I hope he can improve in his acting skills. Jeremy Irons as Brom is okay. Though I had imagined a different person altogether when I was reading the book. But he played out the part really well.
Though there was a problem with the continuity of the story. I think it needs more work. Even if I hadn’t finished the book, it was obvious that the cuts and the transitions were a bit messy. As I was watching the movie there were times when I was thinking, “How’d that happened?” or “Didn’t he just said…”
Story wise…I guess if I won’t look at the book, I would have really liked it. Since I am still currently reading the book, they cut a huge part of the beginning and they kinda hurried through to the end of the movie. Like the part of Saphira’s growth. In the book, it took months for her to be as big as a horse. It only took three flashes when she was learning how to fly in the movie. It took several weeks for Eragon to learn on simple spell to levitate a small stone in the book. He learned it like he was a natural in the movie.
But all in all it was an okay movie. The effects where good, the music was great, the actors were famous but it was an okay movie.
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