ERAGON

US, 2006, 104 minutes, Colour.
Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, John Malkovich, Garrett Hedlund, Alun Armstrong, Gary Lewis, Djimon Hounsou, Joss Stone. Voice of: Rachel Weisz.
Directed by Stefen Fangmeier.

Christopher Paolini began writing his Eragon novels at the age of fifteen and he was published before he was twenty. These stories are well researched by a young writer who knows his mythologies and the literary tradition. He cites Tolkein, Pullman and the principal writers as influences.

So, here we have a sword and sorcery saga that has a seventeen year old as its hero and is aimed at that age audience. Jeremy Irons solemnly intones the origins of the legends as the film opens. The wonderful days of Riders and their dragons have died out with feuds and deaths. Only the evil king (John Malkovich) has survived and he uses sorcerers called Shades to do his bidding to stamp out rebels and uprisings.

This does not sound too original. But, as with all mythic battles between good and evil, the dark and the light, a young hero is chosen by destiny to lead the oppressed to victory. And the hero is a farm boy hunter, Eragon (Ed Speleers) who discovers a magic egg which hatches to produce a dragon, a friendly dragon. Eragon, with the mentorship of Jeremy Irons, becomes a Rider.

As with all these stories, there are journeys, magic swords, ambushes and fights, a maiden in distress (Sienna Guillory), a potential traitor (Garrett Hedlund) and a dignified group of hidden rebels.

Special effects and computergraphics enable the arch Shade, the evil sorcerer Durza (Robert Carlyle) to cast spells and, ultimately, to have a mid-air dragon battle that is more spectacular and faster than Quidditch.

These days of mythology offer much more equal opportunity because Eragon’s dragon is female and voiced by Rachel Weisz.

Eragon is colourful, fast-paced, with all the familiar ingredients for a more modest post-Tolkein entertainment.

1. The adaptation of the popular novel? Sword and sorcery? The world of dragons? Geared for a teenage audience? Heroics?

2. The locations and settings: the mountains, the farms, the cliffs, the dark castle, the world of the Varden? The special effects, computer graphics? For the Shades? For the dragons? For the battles? The rousing musical score?

3. Brom and his narration? The good versus evil? The history of the Riders, dragons? Issues of power, the king, the dark, the Shades, the warriors, the battle? The story to be continued?

4. The character of Eragon, as an orphan, living with his Uncle Garrow? Love for him, his work, out hunting, the deer, finding the egg? Trying to barter it at the store? The storekeeper’s fear? Watching it, its hatching? The baby dragon, the relationship with Eragon? Its speaking? The story of the king, encountering Brom, listening to his stories, his insults against the king, their clashes, Brom discovering the truth about him, his advice, the setting out on the mission?

5. Arya, the pursuit at the beginning, her being captured by Durza, the Shades, the torture? The egg, her quest, her being freed, Brom’s help, his disappearance, her going with Eragon and with Murtagh? In the land of the Varden? The final battles? The final farewell?

6. Eragon and his choice, his destiny, the journey, the action, the pursuit, Brom as a mentor? Murtagh and his being saved by him? Meeting Arya? In the land of the Varden, the new clothes? His relationship with Saphira, riding, swooping? Her being able to read his thoughts, communication with her? The trek, with the Varden? Saphira proving that Eragon was genuine? The build-up to the battles, the fight in the air, the wounding of Saphira, the fall, recovery, his powers and healing her? His future?

7. Brom, the old Rider, in the marketplace, the taunts of the soldiers, the stories of the dragons, his jokes, his taking Eragon under his wing, the mentor, the mission? His fate?

8. Murtagh, sudden appearance, his help, suspicions, his being made a prisoner of the Varden, his proving himself, getting out? Eragon saving him?

9. The King Galbatorix, his history, dark, the executions, his relying on Durza, the Shades, the troops, his wanting to cling to power? His vindictiveness towards Durza?

10. Durza, his appearance, his power, his will, the capture of Arya, the clash with the dragons, his failures and going to the king, the build-up to the final battle, the fight with Eragon and his being destroyed?

11. The king’s warriors, their appearance, their power, the multitudes, Durza’s leadership, in battle, the defeat?

12. The Varden, the chief, his assistant? Suspicious of Eragon, his proving himself? The rebel community? The preparation for battle? The success?

13. The restoration of order? The further confrontation with the king? The Varden liberated? The world of Riders and dragons? Heroism?