Eragon

[Corki]

Last night, when I was watching Borat in the cinema, I saw the trailer for Eragon, which will be the next fantasy film to hit the big screen.

 

I had never heard of this fantasy series before, but I think I shall have a read of the book before I see the film in the cinema.

 

I heard a lot of murmurings about Eragon being "similar to The Lord of the Rings". Do you think LotR will have done much damage to any fantasy book series that makes the transistion from page to screen?

 

I will admit I have never seen all the LotR films, but I think Eragon looks good, and it is unfair to tarnish it already with the fact that it is similar to LotR, just because it was the first series to really hit the screens.

 

Trailers and information on the film can be found here: http://www.eragonmovie.com/

[Lanthirrhos]

You know... i heard that too... So I asked my brother who has read the series and while he likes it, he says it is nothing compared to LotR(which is his favorite so he might be a little biased...).

[Kristine]

I've read it too, and no, its nothing like LoTR other than they have the same Genre.

 

Eragon is very much High Dragon Fantasy - meaning that Dragons are not villianized, they are utilized, revered and respected. There are Dragon Riders that are the heroes, men that try to use the Dragon Riders as their tools for evil, and so on. I don't see any plot similarity with LotR... So don't worry about that.

 

The book(s) are actually very well done and well written - especially when you consider that the author was a 16 year old kid when he wrote it, and published it when he was 19 under self publishment.

[Lanthirrhos]

They're a lot easier to follow than LotR too... :P

[Kristine]

That's very true! But then again, it seems like the writer is very linear minded, very much into sequence of events and following one path.

[Lanthirrhos]

:shock: No fun! Ever read the Silmarillion? now that is fun! so many paths-backtracks-skipahead-runincircles-giveeveryone4names----- :D

 

I love that book...

[Taymist]

Certainly doesn't sound anything like LotR. I'll give this one a shot with an open mind I think, I've loved dragons since I first read Anne McCaffrey as a kid.

[Corki]

I will definitely see it with an open mind. When I went and looked for more information, I was surprised, if not shocked, to find out the author was 16 when he wrote the books!

 

Unfortunately, I feel that the LotR films could be a hinderance on any future fantasy series made into films for several reasons. Because LotR was such a success, non-fantasy lovers will probably expect everything to be similar, when as Kris stated, this is High Dragon Fantasy. People will expect the high action of LotR, though Eragon does look like it will provide that.

[goldeneyes05]

well ive read both series's and i must say eragon is a lot simpler to understand though it is very intriguing i cant wait to see the movie though like most movies based on books they'll prolly ruin it with their editing and changing of the plot but i think it will be a good one. and corki i think you will enjoy the books they are quite the page turners i got through both even though i had to read around work and such in about 4 days

[Katiora]

*bounces off the wall* I'm sooooo ready for the movie!! hehehe Although I have to say it is NOTHING like lotr... not even a little bit to me... *shifty eyes* *shrugs* but that's just me :P

[Corki]

I think people are missing my point...what I am trying to say is this: when people see a fantasy film, like Eragon, they will compare it to LotR, even if it is so different, since LotR was such a success, and that is what they perceive a fantasy film to be like.

[Lanthirrhos]

That's true... but then we can all say that they have no imagination and a closed mind... atleast when it comes to fantasy movies...

[Kristine]

Now, I don't think that's directly true. I think that LotR opened the mind to the correct way to DO a fantasy film, but I don't think Narnia came under direct comparison to LotR. The people that they are targeting for the fantasy films do know the difference.

[Lanthirrhos]

I agree that the people targeted did know the difference... But When i first saw Narnia, i did get a wiff of LotR there... :? I dunno... it was just a spontanious thought...

[Taymist]

I think there might have been less chance of a comparison there though, because Narnia stands on its own two feet... its almost as famous in its own right as LotR and has been done so many times before as TV series and films. People know of it and know what its about so there's no need for a direct comparison. On the other hand, I've never even heard of this new one. So people will hear "fantasy" and almost expect another LotR.

Unfair on the new film but almost unavoidable from the mass public. I'm sure fantasy readers will be able to distinguish the difference.

[Corki]

That was how I meant to say it! Thanks Tay!

[Mystica]

Well, I don't know Narnia really. All I have seen of Narnia so far is the fairy tail of the three kids going to a different country through some closet in a maor where they defeat some bad person with the aid of a lion or some such.

Apparently there are 3 movies that all make up Narnia?

Those stories are probably known here as individual fairy tails and I personally don't necessarily line up fairy tails with fantasy, though they are very close. There's not really a defined line, but Fairy Tail for me is more defined as a child's novel, there were fantasy also targets adults in my view.

 

Under that Harry Potter is no fairy tail but a fantasy story. I know, the line is very thick and probably personal, but that's it for me.

 

Eagon dragon series has been out here as a book series, but I haven't read it. For some reason I've never been drawn to it. Probably also linked to my reluctance to read fantasy in Dutch. Other than that it always seemed a series without ending to me, but that can just be because of the way they are presented in my bookshop.

 

LOTR has risen above all fantasy books, really. Therefore it cannot be compared to others and vice versa. However, it is true that the movies have also forced the movie standards for fantasy feature films. Which is a good thing in my opinion, as too many great stories in the past have been brutalised when poored into a movie, giving the whole fantasy world an amateuristic appear.

 

Many compare WOT to LOTR too, which I get angry about, as I see no need to compare the two. WOT doesn't need to be compared to LOTR to gain credibility, it's plenty strong on it's own. And to compare anything to LOTR is just sacrilige.

 

If Eagon dragons come out in a movie I'll most certainly go watch them and even though I enjoy other fantasy movies, I do hope they will make use of the current technologies and keep the fantasy quality on the level LOTR has set out.

I don't want to see cardboard dragons shooting fire from some pipe next to their head :P

[Corki]

Having seen the trailers for the Eragon movie, the quality of the filming does look like it is up to LotR standard.

[Mystica]

ok, now you're just being mean, Corki. Making me drool all over the place!! And I have to wait longer than anyone as they will probably show the movie way later than in any other country.

 

*whacks the MG over da' head with the fluffy pillow*

 

It's not nice to make banders drool!! *nods*

 

I want that movie out!

NOW!

 

*pouts and drinks vietnamese brew*

[Corki]

Just keep watching the trailers again and again!

 

*passes towel*

 

Don't make the place messy now!

[Vorkia]

The thing with LotR is that it set the standard with Fantasy novels and now with movies. The book has been around for so long that many people have had the opportunity to read them that spans generations.

 

As far as it setting the standard for fantasy movies, I think they will always be compared to LotR. Most people know that each fantasy novel has its own take on things and will be done differently depending on interpertation, however what they will fail to realise is that not every producer will be willing to pay as much for the making of a movie as they were with LotR. Since it was such a sucessful book, they banked on the idea that it will be an instant sucess and knew they would get their money back from teh production.-- Look at the HP movies, the first one had good graphics, but the further along they get in the series, the more money they are willing to invest in the production and special effects.

 

The graphics from what I can see with Eragon seems to be comprabable, however let us not be fooled by the trailer, the purpose of them are to show the best scenes in a movie to peak peoples interst. Personally I think it has the potential to be a sucess...at least here in the US.

 

Fantasy and hero movies are making a major come back, which is a reflection on what people are wanting. I think the mood of the country on the political scope of things is forcing people in wanting a life with a happy ending and where there is a difinitive line between the good guys and the bad guys and knowing that, producers are willing to chance spending more money on the production of movies that portray just that in anticipating a large return at the box office. But I digress...

 

So yeah, I think it will be compared with LotR because it once again set the standard, but I also think it will live up to the expectations of moviegoers.

[Angyl]

I had been thinking about nuying this book for my son. Guess I'd better hop to it now, since I'm pretty sure as soon as he hears about the movie he'll want to see it.

[Daetirion]

I have certain ... issues to do with this series

 

whilst yes they are quite good, i dont believe they would ever have been published if he didnt have certain publishing links

 

plus certain things are just a little too similar to Wheel of Time (obviously no where near as complex, good etc.) - these generally revolve around the main bad guy being a shade (now who else has that...) who happens to have muscle back up in the form of twisted goatmen (Urgals... or Trollocs?).

 

Whilst i know that in an increasingly crowded genre, parrallels are almost certainly availible, it stills seems to me like Eddings crossed with Jordan, with a bit of Mccaffery - and then watered down a heck of a lot....

 

needless to say i will buy the next book (yes im a sucker for a narrative tale), but there are better emerging writers out there. Saying that, his is being made into a film, which has gotta be good publicity for the genre, right?

 

The mad musings of Daetirion end now

[Auld Manriva]

There are only so many story lines available to writers of high fantasy. Inevitably comparisons will be drawn to Lord of the rings by any writer who attempts this genre. Christopher Paolini did a very nice job as a writer who hasn't lived and experienced the emotions and realities of adulthood. An admirable feat for one so young. His parents being academics gave him a step up to being published.But it's becoming easier to self publish these days and with his story written in the fashion it was, it begged for adaptation. Required it actually. LotR at its core is a story of friendship. That is what makes it so very unique. Eragon is fantasy/adventure/coming of age story. A far cry from LotR. Paolini has said dozens of times himself he was influenced by other fantasy writers, not surprizingly.

 

Will viewers of the movies made from Eragon and the two followups expect too much from the film makers? Probably, but I think it will match up favorably from a technical standpoint but the story hasnt a prayer. But again, it is a different animal altogether even being fantasy.

[Mystica]

Actually, Vorkia, LOTR was not perceived as an instant movie success by the financers. Peter Jackson had first approached hollywood with the movie and originally was presenting it as a 2 movie series. However, the studio there didn't want to pay for 2 movies. Peter, knowing there was no way he could make LOTR in one book and do it justice, had 1 week to find other financers before he would loose the rights to the books to make them into films. He then proceeded by approaching New Zealand studio (don't know the studio's names, I'd have to check Jackson's interview which is at home) who asked him why he would break up a trio-book? They told him to make it a trilogy in honour and in following the bookline.

 

Just want to point out that LOTR was not perceived automatically as a cash cow by the financers, it just (as always) depended on finding those financers with the right kind of view on the matter. Peter came really close to not being able to make the movies, because of the denial of hollywood to accept the need for minimum 2 movies.

 

If he had conceeded into making LOTR 1 movie, it would have failed miserably, never being nominated for an award, much less win the 12 awards it did and with that being the first ever fantasy type movie to win the award. It also prompted (but this is hearsay, I don't know if it's true) the board of the award to ban fantasy type movies as being elligable from getting awards in the future. Which, if true, is a total outrage and people should protest to that fiercely. If a movie is up to par, it should be given the same recognition as all others. Stupid censorship crap.

 

Ok, need chocolate now, I'm all fired up lol

 

*shares some chocies with V while asking if she had a chance to read her pm on the proboard yet :)*