Since 1996 |
  
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
|
Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
| Subscribe
About Us Features News Album
Reviews
|
Eragon Stars: Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Garrett Hedlund, Joss Stone and John Malkovich Director:Stefen Fangmeier Scriptwriter: Peter Buchman from the novel by Christopher Paolini Music: Patrick Doyle 20th Century Fox Rating: PG Running Length: 105 minutes Lord of the Rings fans now have something to fill the void. Several years ago, Christopher Paolini started a series of fantasy-action books on dragon riders. The first, "Eragon" has now been made into a film and this leaves it wide open for a continuation. Newcomer Ed Speleers won the part of Eragon in a competition as fierce as the Harry Potter ones. Every story has to have a villain, and here we have John Malkovich as the evil king and Robert Carlyle as his red-haired wizard-henchman. Of course, there is a flying, fire-breathing dragon, Jeremy Irons as the mentor, Sienna Guillory as a future love interest and Orc extras from other lands. Basically, the story has Eragon living with his uncle because his mother just plain left him there (I'm guessing this will be explained in a future film). He finds something "blue" that resembles a large jelly bean and takes it home, only to have it hatch into a small dragon with wings. At the same time, a dragon brand burns into his palm and you just know that people are going to find and chase him. This happens frequently. Jeremy Irons finds Eragon and tries to teach him fighting skills, while at the same time, the evil wizard has Sienna and is trying to make her talk. Early on, you learn that a dragon rider can live without their dragon, but a dragon can't live without its rider. Soon, everyone ends up defending the Vardens (the good people) and there is one heck of a fight. Special effects are fine here and this little dragon that resembles the little monster in television's "Surface" series, grows into one blue-skinned, fine-looking female dragon. The flying battle scenes are like a dogfight but without the Tomcats. I wasn't familiar with this story line, but you can follow everything OK, though there is a similarity to "The Rings" or even "Dragonheart" of several years ago. That one had Dennis Quaid as the reluctant dragon owner and Sean Connery as the voice of the dragon. Here, Rachel Weicz is Saphira, the female dragon. Eragon's mythology fits well and really makes you want to continue into another film, which I'm sure is around the bend. Acting is fine and when did Jeremy Irons do a bad role? He is the mentor here and always is the center of his scenes, when the dragon isn't there, of course. Ed Speleers is OK as "Eragon," but a few more screen roles wouldn't hurt to bolster maturity. It's Robert Carlyle, with fiery red hair, that makes a creepy villain. He has black fingernails that any Goth would envy. Copyright 2006 Marie Asner Submitted 12/14/06 
|
|
|
|
