Eragon movie review
Caution: Spoilers! Cynicism!
I know it seems like I can't be pleased when people make my favorite books into movies, but I can; I really can. Joe Wright's 2005 Pride and Prejudice, for example? My all-time favorite movie. And last year's Chronicles of Narnia? I saw it in the theater 3 times! The first two Potter movies are the reason I took the time to fall in love with the books. I kind of griped about Goblet of Fire, but -- here's a promise -- after seeing Eragon last night, I will never complain about a Potter movie again.
Christopher Paolini's Eragon is not Lord of the Rings; it is not Narnia; it is not Harry Potter. And that's a compliment. It is a beautifully-imagined book that stands on its own in a really tough genre. I even think Eragon succeeds in ways Tolkien did not: Paolini writes more than just an adventure epic; he puts you inside the heart of his characters, and the mind of a dragon. Eragon hasn't been around long enough to gain Lord of the Rings type support, and it doesn't have the... magic to create a Potter following. But Eagon deserved better than what 20th Century Fox gave it.
You expect a screenplay to make cuts to a book. What you don't expect is for a screenplay to cut out the heart of a book. Dwarves, Elves, Urgals, Ra'zac? You won't find them in this movie. There is a single reference to fact that elves and dwarves exist, but that's all you get. You expect CGI took look a little like, well, CGI. What you don't expect is for CGI to look like reused Never Ending Story footage. You expect a little love in an action movie, what you don't expect is one of the book's main characters (is she a human? an elf? just a really pretty prisoner?) to act like a love-sick teenager. (Arya's like 900, right?)
There were some good bits to the movie. Jeremy Irons as Brom was spot on. Edward Speleers as Eragon? So hot. And the Saphira graphics weren't all bad, especially the bits when she's a baby.
But everything else, from the costumes (did the props staff just go around the 20th Century Fox lot and start pulling out time period costumes from movies that were made in the 30s?) to the script (does anyone remember Eragon being given over to fits of prose in the book? something like, "Take to the sky to fight or die!" no? me either.) was so hokey that by the middle of the movie most of the people in my theater were actually giggling, in an embarrassed-for-the-director kind of way.
To echo Durza: "Forgive me for gawking, I just expected...more."
20th Century Fox gave Christopher Paolini a check for the rights to his book. I think they also owe him an apology letter.
Dear Mr. Paolini,
We apologize to you for all the people who will now never read your cleverly-written book thanks to our shoddy movie.
Yours,
The guys at Fox
P.S. Remember when you came to the set and took home that coffee mug? We're going to need it back. We exceeded our $65.00 production budget and we need to sell it on Ebay.
Comments
yowzers.
*puts $10 back in pocket*
Posted by: Jenn The Sister | December 15, 2006 09:19 AM
Well, I was never going to see the movie, but I may read the book now.
Posted by: Jennie | December 15, 2006 09:23 AM
I bought the book yesterday :)
Posted by: Alisa | December 15, 2006 09:52 AM
well at least now I know which movie to avoid...movies based on books suck. (most of the time...)
Posted by: tobi | December 15, 2006 10:30 AM
So now I know to avoid the movie and stick to the book. Thanks!
Posted by: Jenn (the not-sister) | December 15, 2006 10:53 AM
Sorry you didn't like your movie. If I had the time and money and skill, I'd make a better one for you.
Hello, Heather Anne.
Posted by: scott | December 15, 2006 11:09 AM
geez... now that school is done, though? it's all eragon. all the time. the book, that is. i think i'll wait for the movie to come out on tape. that was an awesomely written movie review, though. (i was about to come and comment on the fact that you needed to post again today. but it wasnt really a spoiler. it was perfect.)
Posted by: Brenda | December 15, 2006 11:57 AM
In these matters, I trust your judgment. But I'm still disappointed, it should have been better done.
Still, I suppose I'll have to rent the DVD when it comes out, just so I can see how poorly they interpreted the book.
As far as the Tolkien movies go, they DID make some pretty sweeping changes to the text, but I think Jackson kept with the "spirit" of Tolkien throughout. Therefore, I was happy with the finished products (well, at least with the extended versions, that is...the theater releases were a little short, if you can imagine that.).
Posted by: toadman | December 15, 2006 01:23 PM
I my mind, there is only one movie about dragons. That movie is Reign of Fire.
Posted by: Noelle | December 15, 2006 03:01 PM
True or False: The dragons in Eragon did not look as real and scary and like it would burn off your head with it's fire breathing-ness, as the dragons in Goblet of Fire.
Posted by: Heather B. | December 15, 2006 04:41 PM
So Heather, you insist that I don't waste my last 14 days of student discount at the movies on Eragon? But the trailer looked SOOOOOOOO good!
And I so wanted to see a movie like this. Because thew new Potter movie needs to come out QUICK! And Tolkein should come alive and right another book. And more movies should be made on the other Narnia books.
PEOPLE, I WANT MOVIES TO SEE. COOL MOVIES. I have only 14 more days and then no more student discount for me.
Posted by: Aakanksha | December 15, 2006 05:39 PM
I totally agree with you, but I think that Arya,Brom,and Murtagh needed more character development. I mean
CAUTION~SPOILERS!!!!!
when brom died, to a person who hadn't read the book it's like,"Wait, who was that guy again?"
And comon they must have known that the movie sucked because they left no room for sequel.
OMG! It's a miracle Murtagh wasn't captured! Eragon wasn't terribly wounded! Ajihads alive!
Eragon (the book) is like the best i have ever read, its a great plot and very visual. Eragon (the movie) is maybe one of the worst ive seen. They didn't show anything about training with swords or magic. And,like starwars,they tried waaaay too hard on graphics hoping it will compensate for butchering done to the plot,Except starwars wasnt quite as...overdone.
Basically... the plot was underdone and CGI overdone.
Posted by: Cassidy | December 15, 2006 11:41 PM
You are breaking my daughter's heart. *sigh* We're going anyway, but I want them to make it better before we do. Can you arrange that?
Posted by: shari | December 16, 2006 01:43 AM
*sigh*
I was going to see the movies and THEN read the books. Now maybe I'll just read the books.
Posted by: Sarah | December 16, 2006 10:01 PM
sigh. And now they won't even let Peter Jackson show us Smaug. Bastards. I'm quitting the movies altogether.
Posted by: Kelly | December 17, 2006 12:12 AM
"It's the Chronic. What?
(C)les of Narnia. It's the Chronic. What? (C)les of Narnia."
Oh, I just can't help myself. It starts almost instantly, the Narnia rapping.
I was never into reading "Eragon," but my friend, you have convinced me to give it a go. As soon as I finish "Wicked," I'm there. (I'm reading! again. Weeeee!)
Posted by: kerri anne | December 17, 2006 07:07 PM
I saw the movie this weekend. I was wishing they has emphasised stuff like honor and nobility and elves. I am going to read the book, because I want to see what I missed.
Posted by: kelly | December 18, 2006 10:07 AM