Eragon (film)

Infobox Film
name = Eragon


image_size = 200px
caption =
director = Stefen Fangmeier
producer = John Davis
Adam Goodman
Gil Netter
writer = Christopher Paolini
(novel)
Peter Buchman
(screenplay)

narrator =
starring = Ed Speleers
Jeremy Irons
Sienna Guillory
Robert Carlyle
Djimon Hounsou
Garrett Hedlund
Joss Stone
with Rachel Weisz
and John Malkovich
music = Patrick Doyle
cinematography = Hugh Johnson
editing = Roger Barton
Masahiro Hirakubo
Chris Lebenzon
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = December 15, 2006 (USA and UK)
runtime = 103 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget = $100 million (estimated)
gross = $247,894,671 (worldwide)
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.eragonmovie.com/
amg_id = 1:325766
imdb_id = 0449010

"Eragon" is a 2006 live-action/CGI fantasy-adventure film based on the novel of the same name by author Christopher Paolini. The cast includes Edward Speleers in the title role, Jeremy Irons, Garrett Hedlund, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou, Joss Stone, and the voice of Rachel Weisz as Saphira the dragon.

The film was directed by Stefen Fangmeier, a first-time director, who had previously worked as a visual effects director on "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "". The screenplay was written by Peter Buchman, who is best known for "Jurassic Park III". Principal photography took place at the Mafilm Fót Studios in Hungary, starting on August 1, 2005. Special visual effects and animation were by Weta Digital and Industrial Light & Magic.

"Eragon" was released worldwide between December 13 and December 15, 2006 by 20th Century Fox. It was the 10th worst reviewed film of 2006 on Rotten Tomatoes,Cite web|url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/features/rtawards/movie_2006.php?r=10&mid=1159341&type=m|title=8th Annual Golden Tomatoes Awards|accessdate=2007-11-06 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] and the 31st highest grossing film of 2006 in the US. [Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2006&p=.htm|title=2006 Yearly Box Office Results|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=Box Office Mojo] A DVD and Blu-ray of the film was released March 20, 2007.

ynopsis

Eragon is a teenage farm boy who lives in a small village named Carvahall in the fictional and magical world of Alagaësia that contains dragons and other such creatures. While hunting, he finds a dragon egg that is the size of a small cat. From the egg hatches a blue dragon named Saphira. Eragon decides to keep Saphira a secret, but a pair of magical creatures are sent by the King of Alagaesia, Galbatorix, to find Eragon and the dragon. He flees home to find his uncle dead and so sets out on a journey to avenge his Uncle. Accompanied by a wise storyteller named Brom, Eragon and Saphira take up the legacy of legendary Dragon Riders. He learns magic, swordfighting, and dragon-riding to fulfill the legend of the dragon riders and his destiny.

Cast

*Edward Speleers as Eragon
*Jeremy Irons as Brom
*Sienna Guillory as Arya
*Robert Carlyle as Durza
*John Malkovich as Galbatorix
*Garrett Hedlund as Murtagh
*Rachel Weisz as the voice of Saphira
*Alun Armstrong as Garrow
*Chris Egan as Roran
*Djimon Hounsou as Ajihad
*Caroline Chikezie as Nasuada
*Joss Stone as Angela
*Steven Spiers as Sloan
*Gary Lewis as Hrothgar

Production

Pre-production

Plans to create a movie based on Christopher Paolini's best-selling novel were first announced in February, 2004. 20th Century Fox purchased the rights to "Eragon". Screenwriter Peter Buchman, whose credits included "Jurassic Park III", wrote the screenplay. Buchman, a fan of fantasy and science fiction literature and films, says he was "blown away" by the author’s precociousness, his mastery of plot lines and characters, and his ability to create several completely imaginary worlds.Fact|date=June 2007

It was Buchman's script that drew the attention of Stefen Fangmeier. "I found it to be an exciting read," said the director. "With the book’s fantastical aspects, people would look at me in terms of the visual effects requirements. However, my first reaction to the material was that it was a great story that had an emotional arc."Fact|date=June 2007

Casting

Edward Speleers was selected for the title role after a worldwide casting search. "Ed came in [to the casting session] , and we just looked at each other and said, "That’s" Eragon, that’s the guy from the book," said director Stefen Fangmeier: “I got a strong sense of Ed’s sparkle, of his life. It’s the kind of thing where you just know he’s destined to become a movie star. Speleers won the role as he was trying to learn his lines for a school production of "Hamlet". Others considered for the role included Alex Pettyfer but since production took place in the Czech Republic and Pettyfer is afraid of flying, he declined the role. [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/18/movies/18stor.html?_r=1&ex=1153368000&en=00794b0b1eb222d2&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin|title=He Was a Teenage Spy, Surrounded by Treacherous Adults|publisher="The New York Times"|accessdate=2007-05-01|date=2006-07-20]

On July 15, 2005, in an official press release from 20th Century Fox, it was confirmed that Speleers had signed on to the project. Over the following months, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Chris Egan and Djimon Hounsou were all confirmed as joining the "Eragon" cast. Paolini, author of the original novel, had expressed his wishes to be featured in a cameo role in the film - specifically, as a warrior who is beheaded in the battle of Farthen Dûr. However, he was unable because of his European book tour. [Cite web|url=http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/4743|title=More Eragon Stills!|date = 2006-08-15|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher="CanMag"]

Jeremy Irons, who welcomed the opportunity to reintroduce himself to younger audiences, took on the role despite the fact that Dungeons and Dragons (a previous fantasy film he had acted in) had flopped, and he said that he thought that Eragon "had been better managed" than that film. [cite web |url=http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Film-Review/eragon-jeremy-irons-interview |title=Eragon - Jeremy Irons interview |accessdate=2008-07-28 |last=Carnivale |first=Rob |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=IndieLondon ]

Filming

In August, 2005, Fox began filming Eragon at various locations throughout Hungary and Slovakia, including:
*Budapest, Hungary
*Ság-hegy, Hungary
*Celldömölk, Hungary
*High Tatras, Slovakia

Filming ended a month later in September, beginning the film's post-production state, with Industrial Light and Magic creating the film's CGI.

In other media

oundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Eragon (Music from the motion picture)
Type = soundtrack
Longtype =
Artist = Patrick Doyle


Cover size =
Caption =
Released = 2006-12-12
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Language =
Label = RCA Victor
Director =
Producer = Patrick Doyle, Maggie Rodford
Reviews =
Compiler =
Chronology =
Last album =
This album =
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Eragon soundtrack
Type = soundtrack
Single 1 = Keep Holding On
Single 1 date = 2006-11-17 The score for the movie was composed by Patrick Doyle who also did the score of 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Avril Lavigne also recorded the theme song for the film, entitled "Keep Holding On," which was featured in the credits and on the soundtrack. [Cite web|url=http://www.avrillavigne.com/node/238|title="Keep Holding On" now playing at radio!|date = 2006-11-20|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=Avril Lavigne] The track was released as a single (and later as track 12 on "The Best Damn Thing") and reached 17 on Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in America. [Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=485926&model.vnuAlbumId=628482
title=Artist Chart History - Avril Lavigne|accessdate=2007-11-06
publisher=Billboard]

Track listing

#"Eragon"
#"Roran Leaves"
#"Saphira's First Flight"
#"Ra'zac"
#"Burning Farm"
#"Fortune Teller"
#"If You Were Flying"
#"Brom's Story"
#"Durza"
#"Passing The Flame"
#"Battle For Varden"
#"Together"
#"Saphira Returns"
#"Legend Of Eragon"
#"Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne
#"Once In Every Lifetime" by Jem

Video game

The video game based on the motion picture was developed by Stormfront Studios and Amaze Entertainment and was released in November 2006.

Reception

The film received predominantly negative reviews, garnering a 16% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes: [Cite web
url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/eragon/|title=Eragon|accessdate=2007-11-06 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] the 10th worst of 2006. The Seattle Times described the film as "technically accomplished but fairly lifeless and at times a bit silly". [Cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003476247_eragon15.html|last =Macdonald|first =Moira|title=Even preteens aren't slayed by familiar tale|date = 2006-12-14 |accessdate=2007-11-06 |publisher=The Seattle Times] The Hollywood Reporter said the world of "Eragon" was "without much texture or depth." [Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=8550|last =Honeycutt|first =Kirk|title=Eragon|date = 2006-12-14|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter] The story was labelled "derivative" by The Washington Post,Cite web
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1111248&categories=Movies&nm=1|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|title=Eragon|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=The Washington Post] and "generic" by the "Las Vegas Weekly".Cite web
url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/content/fileadmin/oldsite/2006/12/14/screen1.html|last=Bell|first=Josh|title=Lord of the Wings|date =2006-12-14|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher="Las Vegas Weekly"]
Newsday stressed this point further, asserting that only "nine-year-olds with no knowledge whatsoever of any of the six Star Wars movies" would find the film original. [Cite web
url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ny-eterag5014666dec15,0,228990.story?coll=ny-moviereview-headlines|last=Seymour|first=Gene|title=Eragon
date = 2006-12-15 |accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=Newsday] The acting was called "lame" by the "Washington Post," plus "stilted" and "lifeless" by the Orlando Weekly. [Cite web|url=http://www.orlandoweekly.com/film/review.asp?rid=12096|last=Ferguson|first=Jason|title=Eragon|date = 2006-12-14|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=Orlando Weekly] The dialogue was also criticized: MSNBC labelled it "silly"; [Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16192526/|last=Germain|first=David|title='Eragon' is a 'Star Wars' wannabe|date = 2006-12-13|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=MSNBC] the "Las Vegas Weekly" called it "wooden."

Positive reviews described the film as "fun" [ [http://www.crazedfanboy.com/npcr06/moviereviewpcr351.shtml This Week's Movie Review Nolan's Pop Culture Review #351 ] ] and "the stuff boys' fantasies are made of." [ [http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=12634&s=Reviews Urban Cinefile ERAGON ] ] The CGI work was called "imaginative" and Saphira was called a "magnificent creation." [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/295961_eragon15q.html All that's missing are the hobbits ] ] Christopher Paolini stated he enjoyed the film, particularly praising the performances of Jeremy Irons and Edward Speleers. [ [http://media.shurtugal.com/movieviewer.php?type=rev&id=119486 Shur'tugal.com Movie Viewer ] ]

Box office

"Eragon" grossed approximately $75 million in the US and $173.9 million elsewhere, totalling $249 million worldwide. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=eragon.htm Eragon (2006) ] ] Films need to gross roughly twice their production and distribution costs to break even: [ [http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=21 Observations on film art and FILM ART : What Won the Weekend? or How to Understand Box-Office Figures ] ] "Eragon," which had a production budget of $100 million and distribution costs of an estimated $30 million, [ [http://www.omgili.com/preview/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qb2Jsby5jb20vZm9ydW1zL3Nob3d0aHJlYWQucGhwP3RocmVhZGlkPTEwNjQ3OQ= Temporarily Unavailable ] ] did not reach this threshold. Director Stefan Fangmeier believes that Fox were "modestly happy with the worldwide box office." [cite web | last = Jacobs | first = Evans | title = Stefan Fangmeier Creates Fantasy with Eragon | date = 2007-03-20 | url=http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/news/39/18439.php | accessdate = 2007-11-06 ] "Eragon" is the 13th highest grossing fantasy-live action film within the United States; 21st when adjusted for inflation. [Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=liveactionfantasy.htm|title=Fantasy - Live Action Movies |accessdate=2007-10-31
publisher=Box Office Mojo] It is the highest grossing film with a dragon at its focal point, [Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=dragon.htm|title=Dragon- Focal Point of Movie Movies|accessdate=2007-10-31|publisher=Box Office Mojo] and the second highest grossing film of the sword and sorcery subgenre. [Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=swordandsorcery.htm|title=Sword and Sorcery Movies|accessdate=2007-10-31|publisher=Box Office Mojo] Adjusted for inflation it falls to eighth place behind such films as "Willow", "Dragonheart", "The Dark Crystal" and "Conan the Barbarian". [Cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/about/adjuster.htm|title=Adjusting for Movie Ticket Price Inflation|accessdate=2007-10-31|publisher=Box Office Mojo]

"Eragon" was in release for 17 weeks in the US, opening on December 15, 2006 and closing on April 8, 2007. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=eragon.htm Eragon (2006) ] ] It opened in 3020 theaters, earning $8.7 million on opening day and $23.2 million across opening weekend, ranked 2nd behind The Pursuit of Happyness. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=50&p=.htm Weekend Box Office Results for December 15–17, 2006 ] ] Eragon's second weekend US box office dropped by almost 70%, possibly due to the opening of Night at the Museum, another family film from 20th Century Fox, [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=51&p=.htm Weekend Box Office Results for December 22–24, 2006 ] ] the 41st biggest second weekend drop since this statistic was kept. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/drops.htm?page=1&p=.htm Biggest Second Weekend Drops at the Box Office ] ] Eragon’s $75 million total US gross was the 31st highest for 2006. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2006&p=.htm 2006 Yearly Box Office Results ] ]

The film earned $150 million in its opening weekend across 76 overseas markets, making it the #1 film worldwide. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i16891de0eed2dafe81a7b3b2da45259f 'Eragon' soars atop o'seas b.o ] ] This was attributed to the sheer scope of Eragon's global launch as the film ranked number 1 in less than half of the overseas territories it was released in. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2220&p=.htm Around the World Roundup: 'Eragon' Claims Top Spot ] ] The foreign box office competition for the film’s opening week was “soft;” [ [http://www.imdb.com/news/sb/2006-12-27 Movie & TV News @ IMDb.com - Studio Briefing - 27 December 2006 ] ] had Eragon been released one year earlier, it would have been placed fourth. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117956327.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 'Eragon' brings box office heat abroad - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety ] ] Eragon’s UK opening was “a disappointment,” [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2220&p=.htm Around the World Roundup: 'Eragon' Claims Top Spot ] ] in Australia it was “solid if unimpressive,” [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2220&p=.htm Around the World Roundup: 'Eragon' Claims Top Spot ] ] but its most impressive market was France, [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2236&p=.htm Around the World Roundup: 'Night' Reigns for Third Weekend ] ] where the film earned more than $21 million. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=eragon.htm Eragon (2006) - International Box Office Results ] ] The film’s $249 million total worldwide gross was the 16th highest for 2006. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2006&p=.htm 2006 Yearly Box Office Results ] ] Eragon grossed $86,995,160 on DVD from 3/20/2007-5/13/2007 . [ [http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/ERAGN.php ] ]

Nominations

*Saturn Awards (2007):*Nominated: Best Fantasy Film:*Nominated: Best Performance by a Younger Actor - Edward Speleers
*CDG Award (Costume Designers Guild) (2007):*Nominated: Excellence in Costume Design for Film (Fantasy) - Kym Barrett

DVD

"Eragon" was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the USA on March 20, 2007. It debuted at number 1 on the national DVD sales charts and at number 3 on the DVD rental charts. [Cite web|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=10454|last =Arnold|first =Thomas K.|title='Eragon' Breathes Fire on Competition|date = 2007-03-29 |accessdate=2007-11-06 |publisher=Home Media Magazine] It grossed more than US$35.2 million in rentals. [Cite web|url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/eragon/numbers.php|title=Eragon Box Office & Rental Numbers|accessdate=2007-11-06|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] It was released on DVD in Europe on April 16, 2007 and in Australia on April 18, 2007. The film’s $249 million total worldwide gross was the 16th highest for 2006. [40] Eragon grossed $86,995,160 on DVD from 3/20/2007-5/13/2007 . [41]

On April 30, 2007, Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy, of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame, released a humorous and mocking commentary for Eragon as part of their RiffTrax service.

References

External links

* [http://www.eragondvd.com/ Official website]
*imdb title|id=0449010|title=Eragon
*mojo title|id=eragon|title=Eragon
*rotten-tomatoes|id=eragon|title=Eragon
*metacritic film|id=eragon?q=eragon|title=Eragon