Eragon Case

​"When a book is turned into a movie, readers flock to the theater in hope of seeing their favorite book transform from paper and ink to color and flesh. Eragon was supposed to be a hit among the millions of loyal fans but that was too much to ask for apparently. Eragon flopped in the theater and fell so short compared to the book that producers refuse to adapt another book. Many factors played a part in this unfortunate demise. While the budget was generous, the actors and script were completely botched and used to make it seem like the characters were more juvenile then they actually were. Most of the budget was spent on the dragons and not on the minor roles or setting. Unfortunately, this is true for many novel adaptations. So much so that most fans have given up seeing a book portrayed correctly in any theater by any director. It was incredibly hard to make such an epic novel like Eragon into a movie and there be no mess ups. Yet if the directors and producers had even bothered to read the novel, the harsh criticism would not come as a shock to them" (Gwin). Although the similarities are there, Eragon loses the coming of age aspect as well as the development of the characters when portrayed as a movie.

"Eragon is essentially a coming of age novel. In this dragon's tale, you see a young boy grow greatly throughout the story as he overcomes the many obstacles thrown in his path. You see him grow and you attempt to grow with him" (Catsoulis). If someone who has never read this tale, they would see an unattached character going through the motions of the tale, but not getting anywhere. Movie goers do not have any reason to fear for the life of Eragon, other than the kingdom wins and the dragons die. Even then, the way Saphira is portrayed, the main dragon and reason for this journey, why would you want the dragons to rule. She is shown as immature and completely spoiled in this movie. These are not the types of attachments you should form with the viewers of any movie. People should not be totally indifferent to the lives of certain characters. Also, most people have no idea why certain characters are so emotionally unattached to the world around them. They all do not have horrible back-stories full of pain and suffering. In the novel, the major characters past reflect their current attitudes and outlooks. If all characters do not care what happens, why should the viewers? No one wants depressed and sad characters through a two hour movie?

You are not able to form any type of emotional attachment with the characters when viewing the movie. Eragon as well as many minor characters grow in scenes that you cannot see when watching the movie. The struggles of the characters shape who they are and you view them in greater importance and details in the novel as opposed to the movie. When you watch a movie similar to Eragon or even read a novel close to it, you should be able to follow the plot line almost perfectly. There are many factors interfering with this development. Setting up for the movie plot in Eragon was simple, but when it came to actually filming the movie, the plot was rushed and almost nonexistent. The producers and directors approached this film without any real idea what they were doing. The modernization of this film takes away so much in relation to the plot. You miss out on key details that are covered in the novel, such as the back-stories of some of the major and minor characters. Why do they not trust certain people or why does one kingdom hate the other. Knowledge that the audience should at least have some type of idea exists is taken from the movie in an attempt to hurry an already failing plot. This type of "minor knowledge" is needed in the grand scheme of any storyline. Readers want to see emotion in a story as well as growth and struggles. They are not given any type of knowledge to form assumptions and to judge the major characters. How are you going to be able to sit on the edge of your seat in the movie cheering for the main character to be victorious in battle is they are not shown wanting the same outcome in the long run? The movie butchers the major emotions you are used to seeing in all epic movies.

If the plot was hurried and rushed, the character development was cut out completely. Take Saphira, the whole reason this journey even has to take place. Saphira is a honest, trust-worthy, and almost painfully loyal to the people. She is not shown the same in the novel when compared to the movie. She lacks the attachment to even Eragon in this story. Whereas in the novel she would almost walk through hellfire to save Eragon, she constantly berates him in the movie for his mistakes. She grows with Eragon, starting when they first met when she was an egg. She has to grow with Eragon throughout this journey, but is shown as a high and mighty dragon who knows what she's doing and can do it without the help of anyone else or anything else. She is cold and careless to the more minor character of this novel as well. She