Eragon, the FLOP of the year

[Bishka]

This was one of the more anticipated movies of this year, but it was a COMPLETE flop. It didn't even follow the storyline, and there was not even a story. It was like the director was trying to run a marathon, you couldn't even get into the story if you HADN'T read the books.

So, if you don't like wasting money, DO NOT see this movie.


Note: I'm usually a person who loves all movies, irregardless of what the critics and other people say. I've never flatout sad a movie sucked and you shouldn't see it (well, except for Cable Guy).

 

[jacquie4000]

Thanks for the imput...my son wanted to see this.

 

[Booko]

This was one of the more anticipated movies of this year, but it was a COMPLETE flop. It didn't even follow the storyline, and there was not even a story. It was like the director was trying to run a marathon, you couldn't even get into the story if you HADN'T read the books.

Uh, I just saw it yesterady, and thought it was enjoyable?

It was a bit thin in places, but then, compared to many of the things I watch (Pi, anyone?) that isn't knocking it. Looked at as a popcorn movie, it was fun enough. Dragonriders of Pern it ain't, but I wasn't expecting that either.

Of course, I haven't read the book either. The friend I saw it with has read the book, and didn't seem to be too upset by plot divergences, but then, I think it's been a while since she's seen it.

I don't usually pay much attention to movie critics either. More often then not, when they knock a movie, it seems to be that the movie doesn't fit into any neat genre slot, or it's just a genre the reviewer doesn't "get" so why do I care what they think?

 

[Bishka]

Personally, this doesn't follow the book at all, the was no plot, it was ridiculous.

The acting was pretty bad too, in my opinion. I was very excited to see it, because the book was excellent. The director killed the movie.

 

[Booko]

Thanks for the imput...my son wanted to see this.

How old is he? He may enjoy it all the same.

This may be a case of people who read the book don't like it when a movie departs from it. My niece, a bigtime Harry Potter fan, didn't like the 3rd movie because of that. My family, which doesn't actually read the books, though it was the best of the first three. Go figure.

And on other movies, esp. comic-based ones, you often find the hugest fans knocking it the most, because they have such high expectations, while everyone else thinks the movies are great fun.

My biggest critique of Eragon is that the characterization needed more depth.

The rebellion's king seems to be mere window dressing and doesn't really have much of a role in this film. That may come out in a sequel -- dunno. There could be more background on the princess, but without reading the book I don't know how well that might've translated on film.

For kids, I don't think the need for depth in characterization would be an impediment to enjoying the film.

Oh, and a trivial objection: Sorry, I don't think the female lead was all that good a love interest. I thought the Varden (sp?) king's daughter was quite a babe, though.

 

[Booko]

Personally, this doesn't follow the book at all, the was no plot, it was ridiculous.

Now you're gonna make me have to read the book.

The acting was pretty bad too, in my opinion. I was very excited to see it, because the book was excellent. The director killed the movie.

Many times a movie is killed on the cutting room floor. I did have the impression that some things were missing that should've been there. When you consider the run time is under 120 minutes, what excuse is there?

I didn't think the acting was that bad. Any specific characters? Like I said, the female lead could've been better. I liked Jeremy Irons, but then, I usually do.

Sheesh, can you imagine what Eragon would've been like if they'd let Peter Jackson and his crew have a shot at it??? (I'm still inordinately peeved at New Line for pulling him off The Hobbit.)

What I really want to see is the SciFi Channel do a miniseries about Pern. Talk about dragon stories -- everything else is kidstuff and fairy tales by comparison.

 

[Bishka]

Sheesh, can you imagine what Eragon would've been like if they'd let Peter Jackson and his crew have a shot at it??? (I'm still inordinately peeved at New Line for pulling him off The Hobbit.)

It would have been just as good as LOTR.

I told my husband that Peter Jackson should have done it. There characters would have had depth, the acting would have been better and it wouldn't have been rushed.

I understand about the Hobbit...GRAGH. Why'd they pull him off?

 

[nutshell]

I'm still inordinately peeved at New Line for pulling him off The Hobbit.)

Jackson is still on the Hobbit. MGM holds the rights over New Line and will use their lion-like weight to make New Line settle its dispute with Jackson.

 

[nutshell]

As far as Eragon being a FLOP or not....the mighty boxofficemojo.com will tell us Monday morning.

 

[Bishka]

As far as Eragon being a FLOP or not....the mighty boxofficemojo.com will tell us Monday morning.

Of course it'll make a lot of money, everybody wants to see it, it's just horrible, that's all!

 

[cardero]

I have to go see this movie tomorrow but I am not looking foward to it. I have a friend who works on the NYS Thruway and he enjoys seeing all these movies when they comes out but his wife cannot go with him because her back problems do not allow her to sit longer than the duration of most movies so I enjoy going with him because I enjoy his company. Last time I checked Rotten Tomatoes, it was up to 15% (out of 100) so I have already concluded that this will be a waste of money but not a waste of time. Sometimes the average movie goer has to make sacrifices, this one is mine and I should be good for the year.

 

[Random]

I like Dragon movies cos' I'm a fan of D&D type genres, but you'd think someone in Hollywood would have thought that if they were going to do a Dragon-movie then there is a wealth of fantasy literature out there to draw good ideas from: I've always wondered why they don't do a cinematic version of the DragonLance saga, for instance. It would be very cool if they did, and would make a damn sight better film than the one Becky seen, I'm certain.

 

[Bishka]

I like Dragon movies cos' I'm a fan of D&D type genres, but you'd think someone in Hollywood would have thought that if they were going to do a Dragon-movie then there is a wealth of fantasy literature out there to draw good ideas from: I've always wondered why they don't do a cinematic version of the DragonLance saga, for instance. It would be very cool if they did, and would make a damn sight better film than the one Becky seen, I'm certain.

Anything would be better then Eragon. The author is now one of my favorite, because of the easy-style of writing and the imgination put into the book, not to forget the way the story flows, it's amazing.

The movie looks like it was cut up in a million pieces and someone went eeny-meeny-minnie-moe, and that's how they chose to put it together.

 

[nutshell]

I like Dragon movies cos' I'm a fan of D&D type genres, but you'd think someone in Hollywood would have thought that if they were going to do a Dragon-movie then there is a wealth of fantasy literature out there to draw good ideas from: I've always wondered why they don't do a cinematic version of the DragonLance saga, for instance. It would be very cool if they did, and would make a damn sight better film than the one Becky seen, I'm certain.

I'm sorry, but I re-read DragonLance recently I thought it was just a game in print. I could almost hear the dice rolling as Raistlin cast a level 8 spell.

 

[cardero]

I have to go see this movie tomorrow but I am not looking foward to it. I have a friend who works on the NYS Thruway and he enjoys seeing all these movies when they come out but his wife cannot go with him because her back problems do not allow her to sit longer than the duration of most movies so I enjoy going with him because I enjoy his company. Last time I checked Rotten Tomatoes, it was up to 15% (out of 100) so I have already concluded that this will be a waste of money but not a waste of time. Sometimes the average movie goer has to make sacrifices, this one is mine and I should be good for the year.

Mrscardero and I arrived at 3:45pm for a 4:15pm showing. I had informed my friend about the showtime and what time to meet us but this friend always had a bad habit of showing up late. I told Rizza that we should hold off buying tickets until our friend showed, just in case he forgot about the meeting. I also informed her that if he didn’t show up at 4:15 that we would be leaving and would leave a voice message on his cell phone that we waited but went home when he didn’t show. Rizza agreed. We waited in the lobby and looked out the window for his black Pontiac Aztek to show. At 4:13pm I grabbed mrscardero and we walked briskly to the car. We got in the car and she started it up, I looked at her with cool eyes and told her to "floor it". She put the vehicle in reverse and then cried out S***!!! When I asked her what was wrong, I could see Jamal’s Aztek pulling up next to our vehicle. Rizza and I sighed and exited the vehicle. Jamal got out of his car and asked if we just got here and both of us looked at each other and just said that we were waiting in the car for him. When I told him we had better get in there that the movie started at 4:15 he made the excuse that he thought I told him it started at 4:30. Needless to say we missed most of the previews and just sat down in our seats when the beginning credits rolled. After watching the movie it wasn’t as bad as the critic’s panned it but it wasn’t as good either.

 

[Tiberius]

The plot is identical to Star Wars. Young farm boy discovers he has a secret power after his uncle is killed by the evil empire, and he heads off on a journey to a rebel base. On the way, they stop to rescue a princess, but during the rescue, the old wizard who has been guiding the farm boy is killed by the embodiment of evil.

Star Wars did it 30 bloody years ago, and Star Wars did it better as well.

 

[nutshell]

The plot is identical to Star Wars. Young farm boy discovers he has a secret power after his uncle is killed by the evil empire, and he heads off on a journey to a rebel base. On the way, they stop to rescue a princess, but during the rescue, the old wizard who has been guiding the farm boy is killed by the embodiment of evil.

Star Wars did it 30 bloody years ago, and Star Wars did it better as well.

The hero quest has been around a long time - even before Star Wars.

 

[Tiberius]

true, but the plot of Star Wars and Eragon has too many similarities. Even other hero quests have differneces. Lord of the Rings is a quest story, but it is nothing like Star Wars, even though they share common elements: the hero finding some secret, the old wizard dying, the battle at the end...

Eragon, however, is just plagarism.

 

[nutshell]

true, but the plot of Star Wars and Eragon has too many similarities. Even other hero quests have differneces. Lord of the Rings is a quest story, but it is nothing like Star Wars, even though they share common elements: the hero finding some secret, the old wizard dying, the battle at the end...

Eragon, however, is just plagarism.

True. I admit, I thought "Star Wars!" more than once while reading the book. I'm just waiting for the evil king to be revealed as Lukes..erm...Eragon's father.

 

[cardero]

true, but the plot of Star Wars and Eragon has too many similarities. Even other hero quests have differneces. Lord of the Rings is a quest story, but it is nothing like Star Wars, even though they share common elements: the hero finding some secret, the old wizard dying, the battle at the end...

Eragon, however, is just plagarism.

The Uncle dying, the Jeremy Irons Obi-wan Kenobi character, did Hollywood think we wouldn’t notice, what do they take us for? Oh yeah, $8.50.