Eragon

Tonight, I went to the movie Eragon. I've not read the book, but thought it looked to be OK based on the commercials. It is maybe geared for a slightly younger audience (as long as they like a little blood and violence). The effects are alright, but I noticed something early on about the plot.

At this point, I will reveal a lot of spoilers, so stop reading if you don't want to know.

Eragon is Star Wars.
Please see the following plot summary that applies to both movies:

• The knights rule peacefully until one betrays them and ends up wiping them all out.
• A princess steals something that belongs to the head bad guy.
• The thing ends up in the hands of a small town farm boy.
• The farm boy meets up with a mysterious stranger with a noble past.
• The farm boy realizes he might have a destiny.
• The bad guys (technically the ruling empire) kill the farm boy's uncle.
• The farm is burned down.
• The farm boy and the mysterious old, oh let's say knight/wizard, go on the run.
• The knight/wizard helps the farm boy learn to tap into his magical powers.
  
• They are looking to meet up with the rebels.
• They take a detour to save the princess from the bad guys' stronghold.
• The older knight/wizard is fatally wounded and dies during this.
• They are helped by a scoundrel with a shady past, but ultimately a good heart.
• The farm boy, princess, and scoundrel meet up with the rebels.
• The rebels and bad guys fight.
• The farm boy plays the critical role that wins them the fight. This involves fancy flying and trusting in yourself.
  

The evil king lives on for the next movie, and I will cringe if we find out he is the farm boy's real father. Sorry, I suppose I should have also included a Star Wars spoiler warning for you as well.

It wasn't a terrible movie (not nearly as good as when it was Star Wars, of course), but the pacing was bad. Everything happened so fast that you never really cared about any of them, and never felt that it was even remotely believable (for a movie about dragons and magic, that is).