Eragon *** (2006, Ed Speleers, Sienna Guillory, Jeremy Irons, Robert Carlyle, John Malkovich, Garrett Hedlund, Alun Armstrong, Gary Lewis, Djimon Hounsou, Chris Egan) – Classic Movie Review 2968

Beating 180,000 applicants, the 18-year-old Ed Speleers left Eastbourne College in June 2006 before completing his A-levels to take the title role of Erago in this robust and entertaining 2006 big-screen version of the popular novel by Christopher Paolini. It is so far the only film directed by Stefen Fangmeier, best known for visual effects work on Terminator 2 (1991) and Jurassic Park (1993), and as the second unit director on Galaxy Quest (1999).

Speleers plays orphan farm boy Eragon who finds a dragon’s egg in his homeland of Alagaesia, leading him on a predestined journey as the one who can defend his home against evil King Galbatorix (John Malkovich). When the dragon Saphira (voice of Rachel Weisz) is born, Eragon meets his mentor Brom (Jeremy Irons) and becomes the dragon rider, fighting the evil sorcerer Durza (Robert Carlyle) and taking on the army of Galbatorix.

It’s a costly, handsome, pleasing, underrated young adults movie that paid the price of under-performing at the box office. The film was advertised as The First Chapter in the Inheritance Trilogy but plans to adapt the other books in the series were dropped. On $100million budget, it took $75million at the US box office.

Fangmeier keeps it bright, feisty and fast moving, the young star is feisty and likeable too, and the star character actors provide the reliable turns we know and expect of them. The production designs (by Wolf Kroeger) and CGI (visual effects by Industrial Light & Magic) are impeccably done.

The book’s fans criticised the decision to cut crucial characters and plot lines, with more than 50 differences between the movie and book plots. Peter Buchman received sole screenplay credit, though Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Jesse Wigutow were also involved.

Murtagh’s (Garrett Hedlund) name is mentioned only once, while Nasuada’s (Caroline Chikezie) and King Hrothgar’s (Gary Lewis) names are never spoken.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2968

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