Review

Derived from the first novel by Christopher Paolini, Peter Buchanan (Jurassic Park III) attempts to fashion a screenplay that derives from Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."

Special-effects-supervisor-turned-director Stefen Fangmeier utilizes location photography in Hungary and Slovakia to evoke a bit of the mindscapes fashioned by Peter Jackson in New Zealand. The genre of sword, sorcery and dragons is well known to fantasy enthusiasts and gamers alike, and it must take a lot these days to inject new energy into tired formula. At times, Eragon manages to achieve a fresh look, especially with some of the medium and long range shots of the flying dragon, Saphira. Newcomer Edward Speleers plays Eragon, a farm lad who finds a dragon egg that hatches and becomes the gargantuan dragon who uses telepathy to communicate with him. He soon realizes, with the help of veteran dragon rider Brom (Jeremy Irons), that he has been chosen to find the rebel fighters known as the Varden, meant to crush the forces of evil represented by bad King Galbatorix (John Malkovich) and his right-hand henchman, Durza (Robert Carlyle). This he manages to do, but not enough time is allowed between the first flight of the dragon and rider and the final battle sequence to develop plot, primary and secondary character development and that epic feel peculiar to the fantasy film and exemplified in The Lord of the Rings.

Irons manages to turn in a respectable performance, while other major characters suffer from a lack of acting chops. Even Malkovich, who is usually riveting, seems like he is sleepwalking through his meager screen-time, while Carlyle summons a somewhat frenzied and frightening visage as a black magician. There are some good ideas here, but at 102 minutes, it all seems like a rushed and underdone affair. The cliffhanger promises that the sequel might be more exciting. Here’s hoping.

 -- Max Brinck