Eragon Parent Guide
Parent Movie Review
If teenagers feel a little maligned in the media, Eragon might be just the ticket to set things straight. Based on the novel by Christopher Paolini, a teen himself when he authored the book, the story introduces a young farm boy from Alagaesia.
Abandoned by his mother, Eragon (Edward Speleers) lives on a small plot of land with his Uncle Garrow (Alun Armstrong) and cousin Roran (Christopher Egan). Early one morning, he goes out to hunt, but instead of coming home with game for dinner, he stumbles upon a strange, blue stone. Hiding it in his pack, he carries it back to the barn and conceals it, never suspecting the change of events that will follow.
Before his time, the land where Eragon lives flourished in peace and prosperity, protected and served by a group of guardians who rode magnificent dragons. Then pride crept into the ranks and ultimately that arrogance led to internal warfare. Almost all of the warriors and their dragons died in the civil strife, allowing one man to appoint himself king.
Ruling from a dark castle set on a rocky hilltop, King Galbaltorix (John Malkovich) subjects his people to frequent abuse from his soldiers. And when the prophecy of a dragon rider destined to arise and free the people from his tyrannical rule begins to circulate, he becomes even more savage. Turning to the dark, magical powers of his sorcerer, Durza (Robert Carlyle), he sends his henchmen to hunt down and slaughter any rebels in the kingdom.
Yet despite the ruthless conditions under which the inhabitants live, Eragon hesitates when he learns of his fate as the chosen liberator. His mission becomes clear only after he hears the legend from an aged villager known as Brom (Jeremy Irons). However, before he can loose the people from the king’s iron grip, he has to bridle his own impetuousness and fears. He also must hone his fighting and riding skills, and bond with his dragon Saphira (voiced by Rachel Weisz)
In the style of The Lord of the Rings, this movie dodges sexual depictions and profanities but pushes the limit of violence in a PG Movie. Repeated portrayals of death and injury inflicted by medieval weapons are side by side with magical incantations and dark sorcery. Sword fighting, stabbings and scenes of torture may be too intense for young viewers.
However, this fantasy tale is more than just a classic epic of good verses evil. For teens that think youth and obscurity are an impediment, Eragon is a reminder that fulfilling your destiny isn’t dependent on having all the answers. Sometimes you just have to grab the saddle by the horn and hang on.
Starring Edward Speleers, Jeremy Irons. Running time: 104 minutes. Theatrical release December 14, 2006. Updated July 17, 2017
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Eragon
Rating & Content Info
Why is Eragon rated PG? Eragon is rated PG by the MPAA for fantasy violence, intense battle sequences and some frightening images.
Aimed at teens, this fantasy tale steers clear of language concerns, sexual content and drug/alcohol use. However, the script includes a bounty of sword fighting, stabbings and hand-to-hand struggles. Men are impaled, shot in the head, tortured, crushed by falling rocks and burned by dragon fire. The king’s sorcerer also employs torture and black magic to hunt down the rebels.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Eragon Parents' Guide
Brom says, “Death is nothing to celebrate.” Why does he still value life despite the warfare that has consumed the country?
Although we never know why Eragon is abandoned by his mother, how does her disappearance affect the boy? What kind of compassion does it engender in him? How does it shape his self-image?
What does Murtagh (Garrett Hedlund) mean when he says he did not choose his father? What impact do parents’ choices or actions, whether good or bad, have on their child’s future? How can a person overcome his or her family history and establish his or her own identity?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Eragon movie is March 20, 2007. Here are some details…
If you thought the dragon in this movie was big, just wait until you see the size of the bonus materials on the Two-Disc Special Edition of Eragon. Disc 1 offers the movie and an audio commentary by director Stefen Fangmeier—and is all you will get if you opt for the single disc DVD release of Eragon, being sold in either wide or full screen presentations.
But if you go for the double disc alternative, you will find a fan’s fantasyland of extras designed like a map of the magical world of Alagaësia. Visit Carvahall and you’ll find featurettes about the Inheritance Trilogy to which the novel Eragon belongs, The Storyteller’s Scroll (focusing on turning the novel into a screenplay), Realizing Alagaësia (a look at storyboards, locations, scouting and character design), The Destined Roles (casting the actors), From Carvahall to Farthen Dur (behind-the-scenes footage during film production), Hatching The Dragon (the CGI process of creating the dragons), Just The Beginning (a peak at what’s next in the series) and the Random House Digital Novel where you can enjoy the first two chapters of Eldest, the second novel from the Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini. Go to Daret and you can peruse the character profiles of The Inhabitants Alagaësia, or Gil’ead where you can watch seven extended / deleted scenes (with optional commentary by director Stefen Fangmeier). In Urubaen you can meet author Christopher Paolini during an interview, in Farthen-Dur you can learn The Secrets of Alagaësia‘s visual effects, and at The Spine you can see The Vision of Eragon (Arya’s Ambush Original Animatic Sequence, with optional commentary by director Stefen Fangmeier) plus some conceptual art. Teirm provides a pronunciation guide as well as some original and lost storyboards, the Hadarac Desert features Saphira’s Animation Guide (with commentary by director Stefen Fangmeier), and the Beor Mountains will let you Become the Dragon Rider (with a video game test drive). Of course, you also get the promotional trailers. The movie’s audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), with subtitles in English and Spanish.
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Younger audiences might better appreciate another boy who discovers he has an important life mission to accomplish in the animated film The Sword and the Stone. Older viewers can watch similar epic adventures of good vs. evil in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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