Eragon

Yesterday I watched the movie Eragon. Unfortunately, it seemed like the writers used cliff notes instead of reading the whole book. The acting was decent enough, but really what could they do with such insipid dialogue? Brevity was emphasized at the expense of characterization and culture, and this was my main complaint.

The elves and their bloody history with dragons are hardly mentioned at all. The tensions between the dwarves and the Varden are not mentioned. Ajihad has like three lines and we learn nothing about his past or his character. Eragon being illiterate was a major plot point in the book, and this was not mentioned. Eragon found Arya by dreaming of her instead of backtracing the market trails of the sethir oil used to kill his uncle. Saphira aged in ... a few minutes?

In the first part of the book it was vague as to who we were supposed to be rooting for, the Varden or King Galbatorix. Brom told Eragon he would have to choose between them and this choice was never made clear in the movie.

Eragon spends significantly more time naked in the book than in the movie. But at least in the book those scenes are plot related. In one scene Eragon wearing nothing but tight leather pants. I mean, yes, he's nice to look at, but at least TRY to give it a point. But there's none. Nasuada is also in this scene and utters her one empty line, sealing her fate as another useless character. Such a completely pointless scene. However, I should mention that, besides showing Eddy Speleers in all his shirtless glory, there is a WELL with a whole bunch of bottles and things on the side, sort of like the ingredients in my story. So that's double the reference! Kind of ...

Some of my favorite scenes in the book never made it to the film:
-Eragon picking out names for baby Saphira not realizing that she was female
-Eragon scrapes off half of his thighs the first time he rides Saphira
-Eragon trying to hide his memories faster than the twins could steal them
-Arya testing Eragon's ability to use magic
-Eragon meets Angela the fortune teller at Farthen Dur
-Eragon learns the reason why Durza wanted to become a Shade just as he kills him

Damn, I could go on and on. Honestly, the book was better (and that's not saying much, because the book was really only so-so).

Anyway, I do believe I can use Saphira as reference for my project. If not with design, then at least as an animation reference. The way she flies, lands, cocks her head, breathes fire, etc. Design-wise, it doesn't fit the project.

I agree with you, Claire, that Eragon is a bad movie. However, it is most certainly not the worst movie of all time, as it does not even come close to the level of mediocrity achieved by Troll 2:

-Eragon is actually about a boy named Eragon. Troll 2 has no trolls.
-Evil king Galbatorix wants to destroy those who resist his rule. Evil vegetarian goblins want to turn people into plants so they can eat them.
-Eragon kills Durza with a magical sword. Joshua kills the goblin queen with a double decker bologna sandwich.
-Durza can kill an Urgal by touching its head. Creedence can kill a teenage boy by drowning him in popcorn.
-Ajihad: "I am Ajihad, leader of the Varden. If you are the Rider, call your beast inside." Diana: "Your grandfather's death was very difficult for your father, for Holly, and for me his daughter." (Okay, I admit both those lines are pretty bad).