Eragon and Bag of Bones: True Crimes

Eragon

I just bought and read the last book of Eragon, Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. A little bit late, but considering the time and money needed to read the book, I think I bought it in quite the right time.  I’m in maternity leave and my husband was generous enough to allow me to buy Inheritance.
The thing is, I read the third book, Brisingr, years ago (or it feels like years ago) and I already forgot some of the stories and the characters. So, I decided to read the whole pack once more, from Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and at last Inheritance plus I rented a DVD of the film, Eragon.

Started from approximately 10 days ago, I finished reading the books yesterday and watching the movie this morning. I thought it would be good, but I was totally wrong. It was a disastrous movie.

First, the images of various characters were off. Arya was supposed to be raven-haired lady with slim sword, bow and quiver, and Saphira’s egg on her lap.  How did it translate to a blond girl with low cut dress and no weapon at all, carrying Saphira’s egg on her back? She was mysterious, calm, and charming because of her smooth physical feature, strength, and silences. Unlike weak frightened teenager who tried to be charming with words as they described. Then there was Garrow with his all friendly attitude while he was actually both warmhearted and curt.  No Katrina in the movie. Roran’s main reason for marching through Alagaesia didn’t even being mentioned. It would be hard to make the reasons needed for Roran’s actions in the next movies without the existence of Katrina. Who did they forget again? Let’s see…Solembum the Werecat. The movie maker must be careful for Solembum was the one keeping secrets of Eragon’s success or failure in confronting Galbatorix. At last, Saphira has membranes not fur. She is a dragon for God sake, not a bird.

Second, I know the words ‘based on’ doesn’t have the same meaning with ‘exactly the same’, but I thought, at least the story would be similar, but noooo…big NO there. The plot in the movie is just twisted as hell.

Third, there was no magic at all. I mean, the feeling was just disappeared into thin air since the first time Arya opened her mouth. Unlike what happened in Fellowship of the Ring when Arwen appeared.  THAT was magical.

So, there’s no point of making the second, third, or fourth movie of Eragon.

Bag of Bones

Several years after his wife's death, novelist Mike Noonan still suffers writer's block. A dream inspires him to return to the couple's summer retreat in western Maine, a lakeside house called Sara Laughs. Shortly after arriving, Noonan is caught in the middle of a custody battle involving the daughter of an attractive young widow and the child's enormously wealthy grandfather. He also discovers that Sara Laughs is haunted and that his late wife, Joanna, still has something to tell him. (http://www.stephenking.com/library/novel/bag_of_bones.html)

You have to feel the chill when King described the cry of invisible child in the hall of Sara Laughs or Michael Noonan's dream about his wife being under the bed and asking for her vacuum cleaner, the green lady in the forest, the knockings in the basement, letters on the fridge, Bunter’s bell, and so on and so forth.

But, Brosnan’s performance was good…

Long opinion made short: Some of King’s ideas are best left to imagination. Don’t waste your time with the miniseries….go read the book.

Cheers,
Nidya