“Eragon” Rated PG for for fantasy violence, intense battle sequences and some frightening images. 103 minutes Crossroads 20, Park Place 16, Mission Valley

I wish I had stuck to my guns and avoided all other reviews before seeing “Eragon.” If you’re going to go see it you might want to stop reading this now. No, not really! But I was mightily distracted by what I had read. Basically, reviewers are fussing about plot similarities between “Eragon” and both “Star Wars” and “The Lord of the Rings.” As I watched, I found myself searching for parallels. Then, thankfully, a dragon came along and I lost myself in the magic of this new story. Eragon (Edward Speleers) is a 17-year-old farm boy from the kingdom of Alagaesia who finds a dragon egg, thinking it’s a beautiful stone. In his land Dragon Riders once roamed the skies and kept the peace like magnificent flying cowboys. But then a Dragon Rider, Galbatorix (John Malcovich), was driven mad by the death of his own dragon and led a rebellion that overthrew the previous king and killed all the dragons. With the help of Durza (Robert Carlyle), an evil sort of wizard called a Shade, Galbatorix now rules Alagaesia. He overtaxes the people of his kingdom and forces their sons into military service. The Dragon Riders have nearly been forgotten.

Eragon is surprised and fascinated when his egg hatches. He manages to keep the baby dragon hidden and goes to question a man he has overheard spinning tails about the Dragon Riders. The man turns out to be Brom (Jeremy Irons), a former Dragon Rider who helps Eragon learn about his dragon, Saphira (Rachel Weiss).

Soon the three head out to meet up with rebel forces who aim to overthrow the evil king. Along the way Eragon begins to come to terms with his destiny as the only hope for the Dragon Riders and the people of Alagaesia. The story behind the book behind the film is almost as interesting as the plot itself. Christopher Paolini began writing “Eragon” when he was 15. His family self-published the book when he was 19, but it was then republished by Knopf in 2003 and has become a best-seller (currently Amazon’s No. 47).

Unfortunately there are some aspects of “Eragon” that look hastily thrown together. The teaming of Jeremy Irons and newcomer Speleers is uneven. The script is cliched and lacking in places. Irons is doomed with some weak dialogue and Speleers has moments of horrible timing. On the other hand, the dragon is enchanting. The mix of computer generated imagery and live action is seamless. Weiss’ voice works perfectly as a dragon that communicates telepathically with its rider. The animated dragon eyes reflect the voice perfectly. I left the theater believing in dragons — and wanting one!

As far as the plot having been “stolen,” perhaps some aspects are familiar. But then there were stories about quests and ordinary boys having hidden gifts long before there was a “Star Wars.” It may not be the masterpiece that fans of the book had hoped for, but given a chance, “Eragon” will carry you away.