Eragon (2006)

Eragon is a 2006 fantasy-adventure film loosely 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, Alun Armstrong, 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 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. 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, and the 31st highest grossing film of 2006 in the US. A DVD and Blu-ray of the film was released March 20, 2007.

Eragon (Edward Speelers) is a 17-year-old farm boy who lives in the small village of Carvahall in the fictional country of Alagaësia. Alagaësia contains dragons and other fictional creatures. While hunting, he finds a small dragon egg from which hatches a blue dragon named Saphira (voice of Rachel Weisz). Eragon decides to keep Saphira a secret, but a pair of magical creatures, the Ra'zac, are sent by Galbatorix (John Malkovich), the despotic King, to find Eragon and the dragon. This causes Eragon to flee his home but when he returns he finds his uncle Garrow (Alun Armstrong) has been killed by the Ra'zac and so sets out on a journey to avenge him. Accompanied by a sage storyteller named Brom (Jeremy Irons), Eragon, and Saphira take up the legacy of legendary Dragon Riders. He learns magic, swordfighting, and dragon-riding to fulfil his destiny: to overthrow the Empire and its king.