the fresh films reviews

S I N C E   1 9 9 7










 

Eragon (2006)

Director:
Stefen Fangmeier
COUNTRY
USA/UK
GENRE
Fantasy/Adventure
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Eragon
RUNNING TIME
104 minutes
Producer:
John Davis
Wyck Godfrey
Screenwriter (based on the novel by Christopher Paolini):
Peter Buchman


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Eragon Edward Speleers ½
Brom Jeremy Irons ½
Arya Sienna Guillory
Durza Robert Carlyle ½
Galbatorix John Malkovich ½
Murtagh Garrett Hedlund
Uncle Garrow Alun Armstrong
Roran Christopher Egan
Ajihad Djimon Hounsou
Saphira (voice) Rachel Weisz

 

Review

Eragon has a combination of cute, juvenile innocence and cynical commercialism to it. In all likelihood, that is a representation that suit its nature well. Based on the book by copycat fantasy-geek Christopher Paolini, Eragon is evidence that persistence and know-how about marketing today in many instances can get you farther than can talent. That is not to say that Paolini should be categorically dismissed as a writer. His world is thorough and detailed, but of course inherently unoriginal. There isn't one single character or one single plot twist in here that doesn't owe its existence to previous works in the genre, and more often than not the inspiration comes from the most renowned pieces. Still, the fact that first-time director Stefen Fangmeier has major problems with the rhythm and pacing of the film is a problem just as substantial as the plagiarized story. At the hands of Fangmeier, every crucial narrative turn seem like parenthesises. Together with unsubtle choices (like how the dragon comes to life through Rachel Weisz' preposterous 'character'), it makes Eragon a rather lifeless experience. The film might work to some degree for buffs or for youngsters who are new to the genre, but there's little doubt that in retrospect, Eragon will stand as a fairly industrious, but completely insignificant pop fantasy film.

Copyright © 23.4.2007 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

[BACK TO INDEX]

[HAVE YOUR SAY]