Synopsis: The son of a Viking chief must capture a dragon as initiation into the tribe but he has other plans.
Release Date: March 26, 2010 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Children and Family, Comedy
Film Review
Production
How to Train Your Dragon from DreamWorks Animation is a phenomenal animated film that makes you want to buy another ticket to experience it again the minute it ends. Hiccup is a Viking teen who lacks the Viking strength and grit that his father, the leader of the tribe, believes makes a true Viking. The Vikings have been fighting Dragons since the beginning of their time and all Hiccup wants is to be regarded as a true Viking Dragon Slayer, or so he thinks.
When faced with his first opportunity to slay a dragon a twist of fate occurs and before long he finds himself a new best friend in the most feared of all dragons. The adventure in How to Train Your Dragon picks up from this point and weaves its way into an incredible tale of friendship and bravery. As Hiccup learns, to be the bravest of all does not always mean doing what others perceive to be brave but by taking a chance and changing the world you live within.
Animation
The detail of the animation is incredible in How to Train Your Dragon. The DreamWorks animators even added fine arm hair on characters – that should tell you just how great the rest of the accents are everywhere. When the ships set sail on the ocean it is not a flat one-dimensional body of water but a rippling sea with current, foam, and the delicate movements the wind makes upon its surface.
When it comes to the Dragons, you just have to say “wow.” Flying through the sky as the sun sets in the distance and the cascade of colors fill the screen it is amazing. The animation brings this fantasy to life in dimensions rarely seen and only further appreciated in the 3D format. Yes, it is worth the extra money to see the How to Train Your Dragon in 3D for I cannot imagine seeing it any other way.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Dean DeBois
- Screenwriters: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders
- Cast: Gerard Butler (voice of Stoick), Jay Baruchel (voice of Hiccup), America Ferrera (voice of Astrid), Craig Ferguson (voice of Gobber), Jonah Hill (voice of Snotlout), Kristen Wiig (voice of Ruffnut)
- Editor(s): David Teller
- Cinematographer: John Powell
- Country Of Origin: USA
