How to Train Your Dragon (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]
How to Train Your Dragon (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]
Get ready for fire-breathing adventure on an epic scale in Dreamworks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon. Hiccup is a young Viking who defies convention when he befriends one of his deadliest foes — a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless. But humans and dragons are supposed to be mortal enemies, not buddies, and this unlikely pair must overcome many obstacles and one ultimate challenge - to save both their worlds. So sit back and let your imagination take flight in a captivating and exhilarating thrill-ride that’s a heart-warming – and heart-pounding - “must-see for the whole family!” (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood).
Set sail for an all-new dragon adventure in DreamWorks Animation’s Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon! Hiccup and the Viking gang are back to battle Gobber’s arch enemy – the mysterious Boneknapper dragon - who few believe even exists. Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, they devise a plan to find the cagey creature… but will they be able to tame him?A winning mixture of adventure, slapstick comedy, and friendship, How to Train Your Dragon rivals Kung Fu Panda as the most engaging and satisfying film DreamWorks Animation has produced. Hiccup (voice by Jay Baruchel) is a failure as a Viking: skinny, inquisitive, and inventive, he asks questions and tries out unsuccessful contraptions when he’s supposed to be fighting the dragons that attack his village. His father, chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), has pretty much given up on his teenage son and apprenticed him to blacksmith Gobber (Craig Ferguson). Worse, Hiccup knows the village loser hasn’t a chance of impressing Astrid (America Ferrera), the girl of his dreams and a formidable dragon fighter in her own right. When one of Hiccup’s inventions actually works, he hasn’t the heart to kill the young dragon he’s brought down. He names it Toothless and befriends it, although he’s been taught to fear and loathe dragons. Codirectors and cowriters Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, who made Disney’s delightful Lilo and Stitch, provide plenty of action, including vertiginous flying sequences, but they balance the pyrotechnics with moments of genuine warmth that make the viewer root for Hiccup’s success. Many DreamWorks films get laughs from sitcom one-liners and topical pop culture references; as the humor in Dragon comes from the characters’ personalities, it feels less timely and more timeless. Toothless chases the spot of sunlight reflected off Hiccup’s hammer like a giant cat with a laser pointer; Hiccup uses his newly found knowledge (and an icky smoked eel) to defeat two small dragons–and impress the other kids. How to Train Your Dragon will be just as enjoyable 10 or 20 years from now as it is today. (Rated PG: suitable for ages 8 and older, violence, some intense action and scary dragons) –Charles Solomon
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Terrific action movie for families and older kids
All year long I’ve waited for a movie that would be fun to watch, exciting, suitable for families, and have a sense of decency about it. The wait is over. “How to Train Your Dragon” is solid entertainment that doesn’t try to preach to, gross out, or insult the intelligence of the audience.
The story involves a young Viking, named Hiccup, who’s…well…different. For whatever reason, he’s not into a hack-and-slash approach to defending his village from the marauding dragons that for seven generations have shown up to grab livestock and burn everything in sight. He’s not exactly a super-macho dude, being scrawny of limb but with plenty of intellectual muscle, which he demonstrates by creating clever devices and being sensitive to his surroundings.
Combine raiding dragons with an outcast inventor and you get an unexpected encounter between Hiccup and a dreaded “Night Fury” dragon, and after this reptilian meet-cute we get a bonding that Anne McCaffrey would approve of.
In the meantime, Hiccup has to keep his new friend a secret from his fellow Vikings, who have an ingrained impulse to destroy every dragon on sight. Well, who can blame them? Life is tough in the Viking world, and losing your home and livestock to airborne flamethrowers would make you a little belligerent. But as Hiccup learns, there’s more to the story–a lot more.
The film has a truly gripping climactic battle that I won’t spoil by giving too much detail, but is clearly inspired by a famous science fiction movie from 1977. Well, original it may not be, but it’s terrific, if a little too intense for very young children (a toddler behind me in the theater was howling in terror).
Overall, a real pleasure to watch. Well-paced, extremely well-animated, and just long enough. Give this a try–you won’t be sorry.
3 Stars fresh in ways, but formulaic
1. Nothing like Americans to retroactively cram their values down the throats of alien cultures. Like I’m so sure the Viking women are gonna be donning battle gear and launching out on dragon-slaying expeditions right along with the men.
2. Ultimately just another predictable “our enemies aren’t so bad if we’d just take the trouble to understand them” flick. Hard to believe this stuff gets made during what is, after all, wartime. I wonder how vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan feel about this trend.
5 Stars Diary of a Wimpy Dragonslayer
My twelve-year old son and I found this movie unexpectedly excellent! It is funny, clever, heroic and full of heart. I loved the beautiful musical score. See if you can spot the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland about half-way though the movie.
5 Stars Completely enjoyable
Fun, adventure, great visuals, touching without being sappy, hard lessons without being preachy, and laughs that leave you chuckling at the memory every time you think about them. Is it Gone with the Wind? Of course not. But it is pure joy.
4 Stars Laugh out loud funny!
I was a bit reluctant to take my 9 & 6 year old to see this: there are some cool looking dragons out there, but these guys didn’t make the list. Okay, important lesson learned - kids scare easy. These dragons were just perfect - not to scary for the little ones. And the dry sense of humor threaded throughout this show was great! I actually took the kids twice (once a the dollar theater.)
The reason I gave it 4 stars is that my 9 year old did cry during the show - there is some violence and injury… so it isn’t a cartoon for every kid.
Filed under: Blue Ray Movie Reviews