Remember how Eustace was grabbing up was many golden artifacts as he could? He had greedy thoughts as he put on the golden brace. 100 posts!

Maybe because Eustace was trying to keep the treasure and Ed and Caspian weren't.

As far as I can figure, Eustace's greed had to have some role in his dragoning. As for how much, well, I'm still trying to figure that out. I don't quite understand what Michael Apted was thinking with this aspect of the plot.

Something to consider is that Eustace's heart attitude, up until this point, had been a lot worse than Caspian's & Edmund's attitude. I think that the only explanation for this supposed plot hole is that Eustace's greed worsened the enchantment. I think Caspian & Edmund were still impacted by the enchantment when they were at Deathwater, but they didn't turn into a dragon because they weren't thinking dragonish thoughts like Eustace was.

If I remember correctly, Eustace did make several comments as he was gathering the treasure to himself that reflected his greed. My explanation is that the character-driven enchantment was still there, it just wasn't emphasized.

I think what is supposed to be conveyed here is that part of the dragon treasure's enchantment is to make people want it. Thus, the person falls for the temptation and begins to think dragonish thoughts. Edmund and Caspian very nearly fell for it, but they had been tempted already and resisted it this time. ("Treasure?" "Trouble.") Eustace completely fell for the temptation.

I think what is supposed to be conveyed here is that part of the dragon treasure's enchantment is to make people want it. Thus, the person falls for the temptation and begins to think dragonish thoughts. Edmund and Caspian very nearly fell for it, but they had been tempted already and resisted it this time. ("Treasure?" "Trouble.") Eustace completely fell for the temptation.

I think this is right. Falling for the temptation and disturbing the treasure with an intent of taking it wrongly was what turned one into a dragon. I don't think it included taking the sword for a selfless purpose.

I think the whole "dragon's treasure is enchanted" plotline was weak. They should have just said the mist is what tempted Eustace. That would have made the mist scarier. We never even find out what would happened to them if they did give into the mist's temptation. Showing the mist transforming Eustace into a dragon would have clearly showed it was his sin that did it, not just some silly curse on the dragon's treasure.

well, for one thing, the dragon's gold is enchanted. for another thing, Eustace need to learn the biggest lesson of any of them. Eustace is thinking bad thoughts about everything and everyone, and the dragoning is just a visual to show his rotten side. but Aslan transforms him and he is changed. and I love how Reepicheep is Eustace's mentor. he helps encourage him and I just love that!
Eustace's dragoning and undragoning was, to me, wonderfully done.

I agree that the dragon treasure plot isn't very strong. I've read the book, so I knew from the start that Eustace was having greedy thoughts while grabbing the treasure. But if I hadn't read the book, I would've thought it was just the treasure itself that enchanted people and not any other reason (except a bit of temptation).

I don't think showing Eustace turning into a dragon would've emphasized this any better, but showing his first reactions (and misery at realizing what a brat he is) might've. Lady Galadriel has a great point that the treasure starts dragonish thoughts, but if they had showed more of what the deal with the tempting is, this scene would've worked better for me (although I overall thought it suceeded).

And also, Caspian and Edmund weren't greedily grabbing it, or maybe the mist wasn't trying to tempt them like it had Eustace. Or the treasure doesn't have the same impact the goldwater pool did on them. Or I have no idea because there's too many options...

I think what is supposed to be conveyed here is that part of the dragon treasure's enchantment is to make people want it....Eustace completely fell for the temptation.

I agree with this too. It was his greedy thoughts. But I still don't like that the green mist was even there anyway. Selfishness was one of Eustace's main sins in the book and so that was probably why Caspian and Edmund were more immune to the enchanted treasure than he was, but then Edmund seemed pretty greedy under the influence of gold at Death/Goldwater....
Doesn't make a lot of sense....

I think they meant to have Eustace dragoned because of his "dragonish thought" but they carelessly threw in the "everyone knows not to touch dragon's gold line" (probably for a laugh.) They should have cut out the line or rewrote it so that this wouldn't be a plot hole.

I think that Eustace's having selfish thoughts must have still contributed in some way to his dragoning, otherwise, Edmund and Caspian might have turned into dragons as well.

I think Eustace stuffing his pockets with gold is what did him in. Caspian and Edmund didn't do that.

...they had been tempted already and resisted it this time. ("Treasure?" "Trouble.")

I liked that line because it conveyed character growth. Edmund and Caspian had a shock with the gold statue at Deathwater and learned their lesson on greed (Edmund throwing the golden shell aside before leaving the enchanted river/ Caspian giving Edmund a sword). It was one of the few ways that the film actually did a good job of creating continuity and even growth in their characters.

They could have done an even better job had they made it clearer that Eustace was turned into a dragon because of his greed. If he'd said something like, "Gold?! I won't tell the others. And there is no tax. I could actually have a decent time here" and be morphing into a dragon as he's saying it.

Another question: How come Edmund and Caspian did not turn into dragons?

On a lighter note, why didn't Caspian in Prince Caspian turn into a werewolf after he was bitten by one in "Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance"?

But yeah---it doesn't make sense the Caspian and Edmund didn't turn into dragons. They both got pretty greedy in the cave.

The greed in his heart and his lust for the treasure....made the dragoning of Eustace a reality. He wanted something out of this "trip" and he got it.

From what I understand, what Caspian said was true. Anyone tempted to take a dragon's treasure will be turned into a dragon. And when Eustace saw the treasure, the green mist appeared so that he can be tempted to take the treasure.. turning him into a dragon. However, when Caspian and Edmund see the treasure, they do not yet know that it is a dragon's treasure. They do realize that after the whole "Goldwater" scene that going after treasure is a bad idea, so they are not tempted to take it. SO they are not turned to dragons. Hence Edmund saying "treasure".. and Caspian "trouble". And also Edmund saying "what could have happened to Eustace?" with Caspian replying "in here.. anything".

It is only after the dragon (Eustace) attacks that they realize that it was because of the treasure that Eustace turned into a dragon. Caspian put two and two together when they saw the treasure and then suddently Eustace is a dragon.