Considering the success films like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings have had over the past ten years, any Hollywood director would be out of their minds if they didn’t snatch up every screenplay based on any successful fantasy novel they could. With that being said, it was only a matter of time until Christopher Paolini’s Eragon was translated to the big screen. The only question was how well it would be adapted to the big screen.

Thankfully for fans of the novels, Eragon, while not being in the same league as the Harry Potter Series or Lord of the Rings, it’s a competent and enjoyable fantasy adventure that may remind many of the sleeper hit, Dragonheart.

Directed by Stefen Fangmeier [Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dream Catcher] Eragon combines an endearing story with a cast of vibrant young actors such as Ed Speleers [who makes his big screen debut in Eragon] and Sienna Guillory [Resident Evil Apocalypse, Helen of Troy] with talented veteran names like Jeremy Irons [Dungeons & Dragons, Kingdom of Heaven] and Djimon Hounsou [Gladiator, Blood Diamond] that light up the screen and create enough atmosphere to make up for some noticeable holes in the story.

Speaking of which, the script fails to provide enough background information for the movie-goer to get a firm grasp of the characters involved and really never takes the time to explain anything in great lengths [something that The Lord of the Rings did almost perfectly].

However, the performances of Irons and Guillory go to great lengths to provide drama and importance to a story that unfolds almost too quickly. At times, it almost feels like the characters have been thrust into situations and battles that haven’t been explained enough, making the viewer wonder why the battle is so important in the first place.

Despite this, the film’s star, Speleers and his dragon, Saphira, voiced by Rachel Weis [Constantine, The Mummy] form a charismatic and entertaining bond that manages to make up for some of the loose ends in the film and in the process make it an enjoyable fantasy adventure for all ages. Younger viewers will find themselves wanting to own their very own pet dragon, while older viewers will wonder how Irons managed to make himself into such an impressive hero after years of roles as the villain with the equally villainous voice, making it equally as memorable as it is satisfying.

It may not have the production values of some of the epic fantasy films that have appeared in theaters over the past decade, but if given a chance, Eragon can prove to be an entertaining film for both fans of the novel and newcomers alike.

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