How to Train Your Dragon

This is the classic story of a misfit boy who cannot live up to the expectations of his father and who has to redeem himself by capturing and killing a dragon. When he finally does capture a dragon, he realises that the two of them actually have a great deal in common and they become friends, much to the chagrin of his father. This film will leave you at the edge of your seat, make you throw up your lunch if you see it in IMAX 3D because the flight sequences would do Miyazaki proud, and will leave you feeling good at the end. The animation is gorgeous, the character designs are perfection, and the jokes are both cute and laugh aloud funny. Your kids will love the "boy and his dog"-like interactions between Hiccup and Toothless and adults will enjoy the subtle jokes that, thankfully, do not reference pop culture (except for the fat kid being into dragons like a DnD dungeon master-- but I'd hardly say that such a thing is "popular"). You will definitely want to purchase this film as many viewings are sure to be requested by your friends and your kid's and their friends. All around great cinema!

"How to train your Dragon" is a rare breed of formulaic film that shows that any movie with a familiar story can be told in a variety of different ways to make it so refreshing, that it is surprisingly special, and this animated film does this with sophisticated craftsmanship on display and has a whole different portrayal of dragons. The dragons in this film are treated as if they are deadly animals that live on our planet. One dragon in particular is the rarest and most feared of them all: A night fury named "Toothless." The character that named the night fury is an adolescent named "Hiccup" (Jay Baruchel), and he is the consummate underdog; ambitious wannabe, complete nerd, and as weak as a mouse. He has learned that dragons are not what we think they are; they are misunderstood creatures. Also, what everyone didn't know is that the dragons are dangerously possessed slaves to one evil dragon that is so big, it hugely outsizes all other dragon breeds, and is two times smaller than the Titanic: The Red Death. There is so much more to be said about it than just that. The animation is dazzling with striking detail and artistic design, it even has a sense of charm to it too. The filmmakers responsible for the direction and writing is Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. They came up with some exceptional concepts that makes the execution of the storytelling flow with a sense of wonder; it has all been done with eye-catching detail, slick timing, subtle gestures, one gripping plot twist, there is even something deep to be found within some of the imagery, and there are some moments of comedy that are sharply executed. This special kind of storytelling displayed by a beautifully effective screenplay makes this an intelligent family film that certainly does not pander (in other words: it doesn't talk down to kids in the audience). Did I mention that the third act has an exciting and compelling final climax? It really does. The sound effects for the film amps up the movie's ability to grab my attention; The vocalizations for the dragons are the best creature sounds I have ever heard since "Jurassic Park." There are also some sound effects for the slapstick that made me laugh, thanks to the well-utilized tone. John Powell (composer) has created a huge dynamic score that plays a major role for the entire movie; during the dramatic scenes, the music is bombastic, lively, and epic with the thunderous percussion, the energetic strings along with the woodwinds, the grand brass, and the bold choir. During the more gentle scenes, the music sounds beautiful and affecting with the uplifting strings, a soft choir, a harp, and even a piano. The entire voice cast did a brilliant job with their dynamic voice performances, especially Jay Baruchel who voices Hiccup the main protagonist; his voice delivery offers a lot of layers to his character; What makes Hiccup so likable, is that he wants to get to know the dragons and learn about them, and he has a lot of knowledge and strategy. Not to mention that when he made a prosthetic tail to fix Toothless, he is like a professional animal doctor. Gerard Butler was great as Hiccup's tough father named Stoick the Vast. Yes, he does sound tough with his booming gravelly voice, but he can also sound jolly and fatherly. Craig Ferguson has enthusiasm and fitting energy for Gobber the Belch. America Ferrera sounds convincing as this no-nonsense love interest called "Astrid Hofferson." The script that the cast is reading is absolutely impressive; the dialogue contains some lines that are deep, some are seriously strong, and sometimes there is no dialogue to create an engaging atmosphere. In conclusion: The striking technical prowess that provides a sense of wonder and the rollicking entertainment value makes a gorgeous family film that is one of the best animated features from Dreamworks. I was astonished, I was pleased, and I was satisfied. Highly Recommended!

This movie is absoultely beautiful. From it's gorgeous animation, epic music score, great written plot & characters. Just everything about this movie and the trilogy brings a tear to my eye. It is deffinitly better than what most animated movies are becoming. We need more movies like this. Give it a watch! And trust me... I know what Im talking about. I have a PhD in animated movies. lol.