38
Metascore
29 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsChicago TribuneMichael PhillipsEragon is a bit cheesy, but I rather liked it. It's sincere cheese... The special effects -- which include glowing-eyed heroes and villains, and flights over the mythical land of Alagaesia depicted in "dragon vision" -- are refreshing in their slightly out-of-date air.
- 63USA TodayClaudia PuigUSA TodayClaudia PuigIt's a pleasant enough fantastical adventure, but it does feel naggingly derivative.
- 58Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam ArnoldSeattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam ArnoldThe holiday movie season's only epic fantasy adventure, certainly gets no points for originality. It's such a clone of "The Lord of the Rings," it probably could lose a plagiarism suit. There's also a heavy dash of "Harry Potter." All bases are covered.
- 50PremiereLaine EwenPremiereLaine EwenYou're most likely find that Eragon is less a gem and more cubic zirconia -- nice to look at but not as preeeecioussss as its recent fantasy bretheren.
- 50Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternWall Street JournalJoe MorgensternThe star of this fantasy adventure for young audiences is a charmer from the moment she is hatched (from a huge blue egg that starts to rock like a Mexican jumping bean). Her name is Saphira, she speaks with the voice of Rachel Weisz, and it doesn't matter that she's too young to breathe fire -- at first -- or that she waddles a bit on the ground, because she lives and breathes the joy of flight, which is exactly what was missing from most of Harry Potter's solos on a broom.
- 40VarietyJustin ChangVarietyJustin ChangAppropriating all the external trappings of big-budget fantasy but none of the requisite soul, this leaden epic never soars like the CG-rendered fire-breather at the core of its derivative mythology.
- 40The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisIf some of the characters won't be returning for the sequel, no matter. In all likelihood, neither will the audience.
- 40Washington PostStephen HunterWashington PostStephen HunterThough I don't think giving it a cuddly human personality and the vocals of Rachel Weisz helps much, the thing itself, part dog, part fish, part weasel, part dinosaur, is a terrific illusion, and the technical team manages to really sell the idea of flight. Too bad the acting is so lame, the story so derivative and the thing so long.
- 30L.A. WeeklyL.A. WeeklyIn a time of darkness, under the evil reign of John Malkovich -- who sits upon a throne in a different sound stage from the rest of the cast -- a hero shall rise. But lo, there will be little rejoicing, for this dragon rider (newcomer Edward Speleers) is but a nancy boy, about as imposing as Lance Bass, and somehow in possession of the only soap and clean clothes in all the land.
- 20Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovDear George Lucas: What gives with this Eragon jazz? I mean, gee whiz, did you seriously think that we wouldn't recognize you, the Great Man, as the guiding, um, FORCE behind this dull retelling of "Star Wars"?