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rachandben
Reviews
Eragon (2006)
Not a bad movie, but a poor adaptation
If you like adventure movies, this is a good one. I think it is compelling how Eragon goes from being a regular young man and is transformed into a dragon rider who battles evil not just for himself but for the rest of his country. I like quest movies and fantasy movies and I also liked this movie. His relationship with Brom and with his dragon Saphira is the heart of the story.
If you are a big fan of the book Eragon, then this movie may bother you because of the changes that they make. I understand that because I remember feeling that way about the Harry Potter movies. At first, I can only focus on what was left out but then realize why they did what they did and get past it. There are a lot of things that are different from the book and it is not just omissions. How the farm gets destroyed is totally different (although I suspect they wanted to try to get away from the Star Wars similarity of Luke coming home to find Uncle Owen and Aunt Veru etc) I am not sure if they are going to make Eldest but if they do they will have to do some backpedaling because they show flirting with Eragon and Arya which did not happen in the book. It made it seem like they were both interested in each other but we know that cannot be (from Arya's side). They left out the twins so I am not sure how the beginning of Eldest will unfold.
I thought the acting was good. Brom, Eragon, Durza, (and Saphira) were great. (not crazy about John Malkovich as Gallbatorix--but again, in the book we never hear conversations between Gallbatorix and Durza so who knows what he was like). Visually, the movie it is very appealing to watch. The score was a little overpowering to me.
If you haven't read the book, SEE THIS MOVIE. Then go read the book. Seeing the movie made me want to reread the book, and I am.
If you are a fan of the book, just be aware that there are changes but apparently Christopher Paolini was in on those changes so they must not have bothered him too much.
People are attacking this movie as a book adaptation, not on the merits of the movie alone.
Lorna Doone (1990)
Bad, bad, cheap and cheesy!
I have 2 words for you. Sean Bean. He is the only worthwhile presence in this film. But even so, don't see this movie. Even though he is good as the main villain, you don't want to waste your time.
I didn't care about the characters (except the little boy) and in fact, I didn't really care if the star crossed lovers ended up together or died. The movie did not make me care or BELIEVE that these people cared about each other at all. I have read a lot of "classic" novels after seeing the movies and this movie made me not even want to read the book. The story seems so boring. But I may go ahead and read it to try to redeem the story in my head.
Stay away from Lorna Doone. The actress who played Lorna was also in Sense and Sensibility and she was much better in that. Watch Sharpe, Horatio Hornblower, A & E has great movies of novels like Pride and Prejudice. Or miniseries like the Forsyte Saga. Check them out, don't bother with Lorna Doone.
The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)
Cheestastic guilty pleasure!
Be prepared when you are watching this movie, that you need to check your expectations at the door. As other reviews have said, this movie is full of "borrowed" story lines but it is still a classic. If you don't care about the characters, the movie won't matter to you. At first I found it to be so full of clichés and cheesiness that I couldn't believe I was watching it. Then I realized I had been drawn in and had to see where the characters ended up. Have to admit, big crush on Mickey Muldoon. His storyline with Princess Jessica to me was the heart of the movie. I wasn't as interested in the Jack and Kathleen storyline because I did not find Jack all that appealing. My apologies to Randy Quaid, he wasn't all that charming or anything, I am not sure why Kathleen fell in love with him. Roger Daltrey was laughable and Whoopi Goldberg seemed out of place as an American Grand Banshee. As an American enamored with Irish culture, I did not enjoy the American presence in the film. So as goofy as this movie was, I couldn't turn it off and it stuck with me. Just don't have super high expectations!