History Film / Eragon

* HeroicSacrifice[=/=]TakingTheBullet[=/=]ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Brom ends up being impaled by a spear sent by Durza that was meant for Eragon and dies from the wounds.]]

** Dragons always had the "leather wings" descriptor somewhere near them in the books. In the film, for some nameless, incomprehensible reason, Saphira has ''feathered wings''.
** The Urgals in the Book are described as tall, large, grey-skinned {{Horned Humanoid}}s. In the movie, they are pretty much ugly human barbarians with tattoos.

* InTheHood: When he infiltrates Gil'ead, Eragon uses a hooded cloak to disguise himself. The same goes for [[spoiler:Murtaugh.]]

Currently there are no plans for sequels due to poor critical and commercial responses, although several petitions to remake the film have since been created. Perhaps the only thing notable about this movie is that it is the last Hollywood film released on [[UsefulNotes/{{VCR}} VHS]], albeit a very scarce printing at that.

** Angela bears little ressemblance to her book counterpart, being portrayed as a mystic fortuneteller rather than an eccentric GeniusDitz herbalist.

** Galbatorix is described as having (a full head of) dark hair in the books. Here he's played by Creator/JohnMalkovich, who's balding and otherwise light-haired.

** Galbatorix is described as having (a full head of) dark hair in the books. Here he's plated by Creator/JohnMalkovich, who's light-haired and largely bald.

* AdaptationalHeroism: In the books, Sloan told voluntarily the Ra'zac about Eragon out of spite and knowing they would probably kill or kidnap him. His version from the film is still a jerkass towards him, but only tells the Ra'zac about the stone after being horrifically tortured.

* AdaptationalHeroism: In the books, Sloan told voluntarily the Ra'zac about Eragon out of spite and knowing they would probably kill or kidnap him. His version from the film is still a jerkass towards him, but only tells the Ra'zac about the stone after being horryfically tortured.

* AdaptationOriginConnection: In the film, Durza "summons" the Ra'zac from pits in his lair. In the books, Durza and them never interact with each other and are completely unrelated in terms of character.

* AdaptationalBadass: In the book, [[spoiler: Eragon only kills Durza with a distraction from Arya and Saphira giving him the opening to stab Durza's heart]]. Here, it's pretty much all him.

* AdaptationalVillainy: The Empire. Though they're the villains in the books as well, they're much more blatantly evil in the film. For example, in the first book, the worst thing the Empire did to Carvahall was raise their taxes and it's otherwise a peaceful and prosperous village. Here, Carvahall looks like an utterly wretched place to live, with the Empire's guards [[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou keeping tabs on everyone]], bullying people and even trying to beat up Brom merely for speaking about the old Riders; they also conscript people into the army as soon as they come of age (which is why Roran leaves Carvahall in the film, to avoid being forced to fight).
* AdaptationalWimp:

** Played straight with the Ra'zac. They lack the strong exoskeletons and poisonous breath of their book counterparts, do not use [[PoisonedWeapons Seithr]] [[HollywoodAcid oil-coated]] weapons and both are taken down in a short fight with Eragon and Brom.

* AgeLift: Eragon is said to be fifteen, "a year from manhood" in the books' setting, at the start of the first book, but is seventeen in the movie, following the same logic with eighteen as the year of majority.

** The Ra'zac are ''very'' different to their book counterparts. In the book they are described as tall, cloaked, pale and skeletal vulture-like creatures. In the film they look like ninja mummies with a maggot problem.
** Dragons always had the "leather wings" descriptor somewhere near them in the books. Why does Saphira have ''feathered wings''?
** The Urgals in the Book are described as tall, large, grey-skinned {{Horned Humanoid}}s. In the movie, they are pretty much Tolkien-esque Orcs with tattoos, and have no horns.
** In the book, Eragon and Arya are described as brown-haired and dark-haired, respectively. In the movie, both of them are blond and red-headed.

** The characters that are dwarves or elves in the book all look completely human. Even the Urgals look like human barbarians.

* LargeHam: Galbatorix, of the ColdHam variety.

** Also Creator/RobertCarlyle as Durza. Every line is delivered with a carefree demeanor, as if he knew it was all bad but had fun anyway.

* MythologyGag: The map of Alagaesia in Galbatorix's throne room is the exact same one included in the books.

* SoulJar: In the film, the life of a dragon is tied to the life of its Rider; if a Rider dies, so does his dragon. This is why Saphira goes to such lengths to protect Eragon.

* AndThisIsFor: Eragon, [[spoiler:after impaling Durza in the heart,]] shouts "That's for Brom."

* ChekhovsGunman: The shadowy bowman at Daret is [[spoiler:Murtaugh.]]

* DeathByAdaptation: The Ra'zac. In the book, they survive their encounter with Eragon and Brom, [[spoiler:personally killing the latter and dying in the third book.]] Here, they are killed halfway through when Eragon hangs one and Brom stabs the other with Zar'roc.

* EarlyBirdCameo: This film was the first time Galbatorix had ever physically appeared in the ''entire franchise''. [[spoiler:The same goes for his dragon]].

* HeroicSacrifice[=/=]TakingTheBullet[=/=]ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Brom ends up being impaled by a spear sent by Durza that was meant for Eragon and dies from the wounds]].
* HeroKiller: Durza. He poisons Arya, [[spoiler:kills Brom,]] and creates a dragon made of smoke that deals grievous injuries to Saphira, which cause a DisneyDeath.

** The Ra'zac are ''very'' different to their book counterparts. In the book they are described as tall, cloaked, pale and skeletal vulture-like creatures. In the film they look like ninjas with a maggot problem.

** The Urgals in the Book are described as tall, large, grey-skinned {{Horned Humanoid}}s. In the movie, they are pretty much Tolkien-esque Orcs with tattoos, and have no horn.
** In the book, Eragon and Arya are described as brown-haired and dark-haired, respectively. In the movie, both of them are blond.

* IronicEcho: Durza mentioned that he expected more when he first encounters Eragon. [[spoiler:Eragon shot that phrase back at Durza shortly after impaling him midair in the heart]].

* OhCrap: When Sloan learns that Eragon got the "stone" (actually a Dragon Egg) in the Spine, he's shocked and hurriedly gives back the stone to Eragon, denies its sale, and states he shouldn't have brought it here. It's not clear why he does so in the film, though the book explains that his wife died in the Spine, and he's hated anything associated with it ever since.
* OrcusOnHisThrone: It says a lot about Galbatorix that his appearance in this film is actually an addition to his appearances in the books.
* OurElvesAreBetter: Averted. Galbatorix mentions elves outside his empire, but it's not clear whether or not Arya is even supposed to be an elf in the movie.

* TheStoolPigeon: Like in the book, Sloan the butcher ends up squealing to the Ra'zac about Eragon's possession of the egg. Unlike the book, however, the reason he did so was heavily implied to be under the Lacerated Larry type (ie, he was tortured into giving the information).

* YouHaveFailedMe / YouAreInCommandNow: Durza kills an Urgal commander who let Eragon get away, then congratulates the Urgal next to him on his promotion. The new commander doesn't look pleased.

* AdvertisedExtra: Even though he's shown in many promotions and on the poster and the DVD cover, Galbatorix has very little screen time. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that he is the [[GreaterScopeVillain ultimate evil]] while Durza is in the role of the [[BigBad main antagonist]].

* AdaptationalWimp: Zig-zagged with Murtaugh. The film downplays his skill with the sword, but gives him much more prowess with the bow and arrow, turning him into TheArcher.

* BigDamnHeroes: Murtaugh does this twice during the film, once at Gil'ead and once at the entrance to Farthen Dur. Eragon returns the favor during the FinalBattle

* EarlyBirdCameo: This film was the first time Galbatorix had ever physically appeared in the ''entire franchise''. [[spoiler: The same goes for his dragon]].

** The Urgals in the Book are described as tall, large, grey-skinned {{Horned Humanoid}}s. In the movie, they are pretty much Tolkien-esque Orcs with white and red skin, and have no horn.

* CaptainObvious: Pretty much every sentence Saphira utters.

* TheStoolPigeon: Like in the book, Sloan the butcher ends up squealing to the Razac about Eragon's possession of the egg. Unlike the book, however, the reason he did so was heavily implied to be under the Lacerated Larry type (ie, he was tortured into giving the information).

* AdvertisedExtra: Even though he's shown in many promotions and on the poster and the DVD cover, Galbatorix has very little screen time. Justified in that he is the [[GreaterScopeVillain ultimate evil]] while Durza is in the role of the [[BigBad main antagonist]].

* DeathByAdaptation: The Ra'zac. In the book, they survive their encounter with Eragon and Brom's with them, [[spoiler:personally killing the latter and dying in the third book.]] Here, they are killed halfway through when Eragon hangs one and Brom stabs the other with Zar'roc.

* AnimalEyeSpy: Eragon gains the ability to see the world with Saphira's eyes after becoming a Rider.
* BadassGrandpa: Age has not dulled Brom's skill in the slightest.

* DeathByAdaptation: The Ra'zac. They are killed halfway through when Eragon hangs one and Brom stabs the other with Zar'roc.
* EarlyBirdCameo: This film was the first time Galbatorix had ever physically appeared in the ''entire franchise''. [[spoiler: The same goes for his dragon]]

* GreaterScopeVillain: Galbatorix, to Durza's BigBad