Eragon

Eragon is a film with an all star cast (John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons) as the supporting cast and an unknown as the main hero. I generally like this approach due to the audience not having any knowledge or connection to the main actor in the film.  It does away with any baggage a well known actor brings to a project.  It leaves the audience free to associate that actor as their character and nothing more (as Christopher Reeves WAS Superman when that movie first opened).

Taking place in a Lord of the Rings type fantasy world, where Dragon Riders (humans who are bonded to a Dragon and receive magical powers because of this bond) were once the saviors of mankind, but are now merely thought to be a myth.  Eragon (a humble teenager who works on his poor uncle’s farm) just so happens to be a Dragon Rider, as he finds out after a large “stone” he discovered hatches.

The evil King (Malkovich) finds out about there being a new Dragon Rider in existence and sends out his henchmen to kill him (since Dragon Riders are the only threat to his him).  Luckily, Eragon is not alone.  A sort of strange old hermit (Jeremy Irons) seems to know a lot about Dragon Riders and after some pleading, fills Eragon in on all of his knowledge.

In the end, the King’s #1 henchman is defeated, but things are not resolved.  Eragon was supposed to be the first chapter in the Inheritance trilogy, but the film didn’t do well enough to warrant a sequel, so things will never be wrapped up completely.  It’s the familiar story of a farm boy who ends up saving the day after being trained by a wise old man.

I think children would like this movie, because of the Dragons and fantasy element to it.  Fans of the Lord of the Rings trilogy might also enjoy it (though it is no where near Lord of the Rings quality in terms of characters or story).  It’s an okay watch, filled with fantasy and adventure.

I give this movie 1.5 out of 4 stars.