Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis:
The original “How to Train Your Dragon” is one of my favorite DreamWorks animation films. I had high hopes for this remake, which follows the same template as the original. The story takes place on the island of Berk, a remote location established with the intention of hunting dragons. Hiccup, the awkward but driven son of the chief, longs to fit in and kill his first dragon. After he injures the most elusive (and valuable) species, he finds himself at a crossroads. Hiccup forges an unexpected friendship with this dragon, leading him to question everything he’s learned about them. Hiccup and Toothless embark on a journey to bridge the gap between dragons and vikings once and for all.
Positives:
It brings me great pleasure to say that “How to Train Your Dragon” soars! It more than lives up to the legacy of the original. I’d argue it’s the best live action remake to date. I am so pleased with this film, bringing back the feelings of awe and wonder the original conveyed. It beautifully renders the world of Berk for a big screen adaption, transporting audiences to the land of vikings and dragons. The set design and costumes are top notch. They have a nice blend of campy cartoonish nature while fitting the look of a live action film. On top of that, the film features some of the best CGI I’ve seen in quite some time. The transition from animation to live action is excellent! Each of the signature dragons are rendered wonderfully. We feel like we are present with the students as they battle the beasts in training. The Red Death’s appearance at the end of the film is also impressive, bringing the appropriate scale and intimidation to the final battle. But Toothless is the standout as expected! The detail in his design is flawless, combining the black scaley skin layers with his bright green eyes. Seeing him fly through the air with Hiccup and zoom next to the steep cliffs brought back so many emotions.
Outside of the technical aspects, John Powell’s classic score is again an impressive aspect of the story. I’m happy they didn’t change the music much because that was a huge reason the original film conveyed so much emotion. The background music is a character in its own, whether it be an exciting rush as Hiccup rides Toothless for the first time or the sense of wonder Astrid experiences as she sees the beauty of Toothless in the air. The film adds more context to the story, extending the runtime by nearly thirty minutes. Surprisingly, this time is spent expanding on the world of Berk and the human interactions. Some of the side characters get more development, adding to their involvement within the story. But Stoic and Hiccup’s father-son dynamic got a lot of attention here. I was surprised to see that the live action film actually enhances their relationship, allowing audiences to feel their expressions and emotions in a more thoughtful way. Thanks to the performances of Gerard Butler, Mason Thames, and Nico Parker, the heart and spirit of these characters is maintained!
But my absolute favorite aspect of the film is how relationship focused it is. The story is designed to be character centric in a world full of spectacle and wonder. Hiccup is a wonderfully complex character whose awkward presence in the village makes way for a great character arc. He slowly learns confidence as his relationship with Toothless develops. Their initial skepticism about one another blossoms into a heartfelt connection filled with trust. The famous sequence of Hiccup touching Toothless for the first time elicited a huge grin across my face. What his tribe perceives as weakness slowly turns into a new way of looking at the world. His ability to connect with the dragons through patience and care makes way for a more prosperous future. This also reflects in Hiccup’s relationship with his father. I love how their initial clashing of ideals turns into mutual respect. As Stoic sees his son’s strengths in unexpected ways, this paves the way for more unity within Berk and a future where dragons and vikings can live without conflict. Astrid and Hiccup also have good rapport, where her initial competitiveness with Hiccup turns into one of playful banter and mutual respect. There are no shortcuts or forced character dynamics. Each person earns their place in the story and manages to have a great character arc by the end. Credit to director Dean DeBlois for maintaining the humanity from the original film and keeping these excellent characters at the forefront!
Negatives:
For better or worse, the film follows the template of the original quite closely. Some may perceive this as a lazy excuse to make more money while others will appreciate the faithfulness to the source material. Observing how many of Disney’s live action remakes have sparked controversy due to the changes they add, I see this as a strength for the film. I can understand why some may feel this is an unnecessary remake due to the many similarities. Personally, I believe this is a good move because it won’t upset fans of the original. There are no major shifts in character motivations or themes within the story. The design of Toothless (while excellent) is difficult to match the expressive nature he had in the original film. Naturally, the CGI doesn’t allow him to be as expressive as the cartoon. But I understand this change because he would have stuck out as too wonky in a live action movie. While Mason Thames gives a good performance here, he doesn’t come across as genuinely dorky as Jay Baruchel did in the original. The sound mixing also feels muddled at times. There are a few scenes where the action going on in the background overpowers the dialogue between characters. This wasn’t an issue in the animated film so hopefully this is cleaned up in the upcoming sequel.
Conclusion:
I absolutely loved “How to Train Your Dragon”! It is a faithful and heartfelt retelling of the classic story, setting itself up to inspire a new generation of children to discover the world of Berk. The outstanding special effects combined with the neat costume design really makes audiences feel like a part of the film. A rich story infused with the spectacular score elevates the emotions we all felt watching the original film. This is a perfect balance of respecting the source material while feeling relevant in another medium. The flying sequences are breathtaking, transporting audiences to Hiccup’s perspective as he rides Toothless for the first time. But the excellent character development is the strongest element of the story. I cannot recommend the film enough and encourage audiences to bring the whole family to rediscover the magic of Berk. Get ready to fall in love with Toothless all over again!
