How To Train Your Dragon Review

 

        I feel that this movie is the one to close out my look at animation. Although I dedicated the entire month of June to animation, don’t think I’m not going to be talking about them. With all that, How to Train Your Dragon is probably one of Dreamworks’ best animated film. It’s the only film that I know of to have an almost perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. And belongs in a line of acclaimed animated films of the 2010s. One last thing is that the film is very loosely based on the book of the same name by Cressida Cowell, you know how I feel about movies based on books. 

1. Hiccup

        We start the film by having the protagonist Hiccup gives us the rundown on the village Berk. An island comprised of Vikings who train to fight dragons. As the creatures come and take their sheep and food away. His father Stoick is the leader of the village and doesn’t see his son as warrior material. As we see the vikings fight the dragons, Hiccup spots an elusive dragon called Night Fury and manages to down it. 

        From there, the teen is told by his dad to train with the other teens to fight the dragons. In his spare time, Hiccup goes and finds the downed one and manage to see that the two are alike. This prompts Hiccup to study more of the dragon and to research on the other documented creatures. It’s one thing where the young man is an opposite to the other teens. Since he actively finds methods to stop a dragon without resorting to killing it. 

        Yes, he is awkward which is the opposite of the brawny and brutish nature as the others. The whole film really advocates that there is another way to dealing with a problem instead of violence. When the other warriors in training see that the dragons are harmless, they inevitably help our protagonist beating the bigger dragon.

        I feel that the moments between him and his Dad are too short. The obvious thing that is going on is that Stoick’s brutish ways go beyond reasoning since it’s implied that his wife was perhaps killed. I haven’t seen the sequels and I don’t know if that thread is ever picked up. Now, these two dueling things is the core of the movie, being empathetic and physical. Stoick even tells him to not be himself. Which as it turns out, Hiccup does be himself as he helps the village in the long run.

2. Toothless

        The dragon steals the show. It’s like a mixture between a dog and a cat. I think it’s the eyes that have that cat-esque thing going for it. In fact, the animators based Toothless' design on the black panther. I like how as the film progresses; Toothless is apprehensive with Hiccup. Eventually, the creature realizes that the teen is helping him by applying a prosthetic in its tail.  

        For as much as the Vikings have a book detailing every dragon they know, there are only warnings to anyone going near a Night Fury dragon. As I mentioned earlier, we see Hiccup going to Night Fury and getting it to be comfortable around him. More so that it makes him realize that dragons can be controlled and that there are other methods to tame the deadly creatures. 

        The moment when Hiccup is riding the dragon is the best. What make it work visually is that directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois brought in legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins. To make the film have a live action feel to it. When they’re flying especially when Hiccup and Astrid are flying among the clouds, you see that its something that looks life like. It’s probably the first time where I’ve read that the animators brought in a renown cinematographer to be in an animated film. 

3. Overall

        The film was a resounding success when it came out. It grossed nearly a billion dollars. And started a trilogy of films that are equally enjoyable and nearly made a billion dollars individually. There is also tv shows that continues the stories of Hiccup and the young warriors. This film is great, what do you want me to say?

        How to Train Your Dragon gets a four out of five.