From animation to live-action, our JP gives his take on “How to Train Your Dragon.”
How to Train Your Dragon
Universal Pictures
- Directed by Dean DeBlois
- Screenplay by Dean DeBlois
- Based on How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
- Produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Dean DeBlois
- Starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, Gerard Butler
Studio Synopsis:
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise. On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, 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.
J.P.’s Take:
In the realm of modern fairy tales, “How to Train Your Dragon” is undoubtedly one of the most adored stories of this era. It’s a narrative that resonates with real-life human experiences all wrapped up in an old-world atmosphere featuring characters and situations we can easily identify with. While the animated movie released in 2010 garnered a significant following, I’m puzzled as to why DreamWorks thought it was necessary to produce a live-action version.
As I remember how goofy, yet, enlightened the animated feature was, the live-action style somehow works in its favor. It aims to make the narrative more engaging and ensure that audiences walk away with a sense of empathy, along with some laughs and thrills.
A significant factor in the effectiveness of the live action “How to Train Your Dragon” is that writer / director Dean Deblois (who is the director and writer for the animated versions and making this his live action debut) stays faithful to author Cressida Cowell’s novel as the foundation for the story. The animated film brings to life characters that mirror those in the books in both appearance and behavior. If you are observant, you’ll find that they all possess their own distinct and quirky personality traits.
Keep in mind that crafting a captivating story requires time to develop, and “How to Train Your Dragon” does begin a bit slowly. But if you’re patient, it will ultimately reward you with a touching and adventurous yarn. Dive deep enough into the animated feature, and you’ll find yourself loving the living characters just like the cartoonish ones.
Honestly, I wasn’t keen on giving this outing a shot since I was already invested in the original. Usually, when you reinvent the wheel, you get something lopsided and created to exploit a gimmick. Yet, as I’m watching, it’s the attention to the lore and visuals that keeps this particular example afloat.
In my opinion, the second half of this film is what saved it for me. Each of the characters expressed their true personalities, with some reluctance to shift mindsets as they all came together like a well-oiled machine. Once they’ve all collected their thoughts and reflected on the lessons they’ve learned, they learned to work in conjunction with one another, and their camaraderie felt genuine.
As for the visuals, we meet with some of the most ferocious dragons as you’d find in movies like “The Lord of the Rings” series. They were striking in detail and a thrill to watch in IMAX, especially in the battle scene towards the end with the titan dragon they call Bewilderbeast. It reminded me of many grand scenes in the remake of “Clash of the Titans.”
The film stars Mason Thames (as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III), Nico Parker (Astrid Hofferson), Gabriel Howell (Snotlout Jorgenson), Julian Dennison (Fishlegs Ingerman), Bronwyn James (Ruffnut Thorston), Harry Trevaldwyn (Tuffnut Thorston), Peter Serafinowicz (Spitelout Jorgenson), and Nick Frost (Gobber the Belch), with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films.
I’ve mentioned this a few times before, but not many remakes or reboots strike my fancy. Yet, the live-action remake “How to Train Your Dragon” didn’t deviate too far off course while giving viewers a fresh perspective on a box office and cult hit. This time, I was a willing participant, and I chuckled, oohed and ahh-ed the whole way through. The crowd even gave it a roaring ovation.
Official Site: How to Train Your Dragon