“Without fear, you cannot have courage”

It's a nice one liner noh? It simply sums what is embedded in the depths of every human being; and often times it has been just that, embedded, until that person dies or floats away into the numbness of the world.

But like in every generation, there would always be the one who will be forced to find that courage because fear has just been introduced to him. He will be forced to find that courage and thus become the stuff that becomes legends and inspires others to be part of it as well. Hence the events that happened to our young hero in the movie, Eragon.

First in the book series of The Inheritance Trilogy written by 23 year old Christopher Paolini, who started writing the first draft for the series when he was a wee bit lad of 15. He then got the offer of publishing the book nationwide when he was 17 and as they say, the rest was history.

Unfortunately like every book-turned-to-movie, Eragon might be amongst all those lost in the land of We-tried-copying-Star-Wars-but-George-Lucas-is-so-
darn-original.

Tell me if this is familiar to you....

The movie tells the tale of a young reluctant boy named Eragon who lives in the land called The Shire...er...sorry, Alagaesia, I mean, with his Uncle Garrow in a remote area of that land. But when Arya (no not the long lost sister of Legolas) stole a big blue jellybean like stone-er, egg from the evil dark lord Sauron-er, sorry, Galbatorix, Eragon finds himself thrust into a journey that is reminisce of the life of a young hobbit. Along for the ride is his dragon, Safira (digitally created by WETA, same people who did Lord of the Rings and was voiced by Rachel Weisz).

Directed by first timer- Stefen Fangmeir who is originally a special effects maestro of movies like Master and Commander, Lemony Snickets and Signs, the whole movie is still compelling just because of its credible story line. Its action packed and keeps the audience enthralled for a few hours until the end credits roll. Plus, the formula for this movie has already been tried and tested for many years through different kinds of films, of course, heading those films is the king of them all, Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.

Still...

Probably its my analytical mind and the fact that after watching it, I wanted to demand a refund, I do believe that even if Eragon; The Movie may not have the staying power of that of Star Wars or of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the movie world, its literary counterpart would always have a place for the shelves of its many readers and its future readers for the years to come. Go get the book, you'll learn a lot from it.

Nice Malijan, 24, is currently working on her 2nd Sundance Film project.

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