How To Train Your Dragon
Rating:
On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup\'s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
Cast & Crew
Dean DeBlois
Director
Mason Thames
Hiccup
Nico Parker
Astrid
Gerard Butler
Stoick
Nick Frost
Gobber
Gabriel Howell
Snotlout
Julian Dennison
Fishlegs
Bronwyn James
Ruffnut
Harry Trevaldwyn
Tuffnut
Peter Serafinowicz
Spitelout
Murray McArthur
Hoark
Dean DeBlois
Writer
Bill Pope
Cinematographer
John Powell
Composer
Marc Platt
Producer
Adam Siegel
Producer
An unnecersarily great remake
We're in an era where classic animated movies are getting the live-action remake treatment. Unfortunately, it doesn't always turn out great, but fortunately, this time around, Universal finally struck gold! "How to Train Your Dragon" follows a Viking boy named Hiccup who defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, they both must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds.
Unlike other live-action remakes out there, what makes this one so great is the respect for the original animated film. Having Dean Deblois, who directed both of the original films, return for this one was a smart and safe move from the studio. And while this remake didn't offer anything new to the table in terms of story changes, I still enjoyed it! It still has the soul and heart of the original, and that's what matters! Now let's talk about the CGI here. Bringing such a classic and iconic animated dragon to live action is no doubt a challenge, but Deblois pulled through and did an amazing job at making him fit into the live-action world. He's still as cute and sweet as ever, and was beautifully animated! On that thought, I need to mention the overall aesthetics here. I had my doubts about adapting this world into live-action, but the stylized set, CGI, and costume design blended perfectly and created once again a magical world.
Furthermore, I need to praise the performances here. Mason Thames and Nico Parker were amazing in their roles as Hiccup and Astrid, and beautifully brought them to life with their performances! The one that I loved was none other than Gerard Butler, who returns as Stoick, and I think he had the best time of his life playing this role. I think this is by far his best role and can't wait to see him in the sequel. On that note, this movie has possibly the worst post-credit scene ever! Finally, I must praise John Powell's magical score! It shines and is still one of the most iconic scores in cinema. Watching this in IMAX was a joy to my eyes and ears! Overall, while this might be a 1:1 adaptation of the original, I still enjoyed my time with "How to Train Your Dragon"!