How to train your dragon – REVIEW

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It appears that, following Disney’s trend of transforming their classic animated films into live-action adaptations, other studios such as Universal and DreamWorks are now considering similar projects. Particularly, they have expressed interest in bringing the popular How to Train Your Dragon trilogy to life on the big screen with a live-action remake of the first movie.

On the island of Berk, ruled not by Prince Harry but by Gerard Butler as Stoick in the sequel, where he reprises his role from the 2010 original. The character is well-cast for this leadership role, leading his fellow warriors to fight against dragon invasions. His son, Hiccup (played by Mason Thames), has a different personality than his father – while lacking physical strength, he compensates with intelligence and invents a device that subdues the most fearsome dragon, the Night Fury. Despite being harsh and uncaring towards others on the surface, Hiccup is actually kind-hearted and friendly inside, much like Meghan Markle but in an opposite manner.

In the beginning, Hiccup forms an alliance with a dragon named Toothless. At the same time, he is taught and trained by Gobber, who has one arm and one leg, similar to Nick Frost. The goal is for him to be recognized as a warrior with potential by the village’s soothsayer, a woman reminiscent of Judi Dench but resembling a homeless lady, complete with blackened fingertips like an old-fashioned blind cobbler.

As his father mobilizes the villagers for battle against the dragons, whose attack led to his father’s wife’s death, sparking a desire for revenge, surprisingly it is his son who forms an alliance with the most lethal type of dragon. The underlying theme in this classic Hollywood style portrayal is unity, and perhaps we should all strive to coexist. However, the tension escalates towards a dramatic showdown between dragons and Vikings as they search for the dragon’s nest.

As a film enthusiast, I must say that the CGI dragons in this movie are simply fantastic, especially during the thrilling climax featuring the mother of all dragons, reminiscent of the Godzilla-like monsters. The cast is top-notch too, with Hiccup’s classmates forming a peculiar group. Snotlout ( Gabriel Howell) tries to embody the alpha male, yet he comes off more like ‘The Inbetweeners’ Jay in his attempts to win over love interest Retcha ( Anna Leong Brophy). Like Jay, Snotlout also grapples with father issues, with his father, Spitelout ( Peter Serafonowicz), being somewhat underutilized. Similarly, Director Dean DeBlois handles this live-action adaptation with finesse, maintaining the high standards set in previous animated films.

The primary drawback of How to Train Your Dragon might be its extended runtime. The initial 2010 film was perfectly paced at 98 minutes, while this live-action adaptation clocks in at 125 minutes, which may cause young viewers to lose interest. However, the thrilling battle against the mother of all dragons is definitely worth the wait. Additionally, the studio’s decision to plan a sequel for release in 2027 suggests their confidence in this film’s success.

Here’s the How to train your dragon trailer…..

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2025-06-10 02:23