HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (English/U)Genre: Animation
Release Date: 18 March 2010 (3D), 25 March 2010 (normal, 2D)
Distributor: DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures
Running Time: 98 minutes
Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Producers: Bonnie Arnold, Doug Davison, Roy Lee, Michael Connolly, Tim Johnson
Writers: Adam F Goldberg, Peter Tolan, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders; Cressida Cowell (story)
Casts: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Plot: The film is set in a mythical world of Vikings and dragons. The story centers around a viking teenager named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. The teen’s smarts and offbeat sense of humor is disliked by his tribe and its chief, Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). However, when Hiccup is included in Dragon Training with the other viking teens, he sees his chance to prove he has what it takes to be a fighter. After he entangles a dragon with a bolas-shooting cannon, Hiccup releases and ends up befriending the dragon, who he dubs Toothless. This relationship flips his world upside down as he strives to convince his tribe that they don't need to be dragon-slayers but he ends up making the tribe angry and they lead an attack on the dragons home.
THE VERDICT
This is a breathtaking, an exciting movie that really makes it all magical yet enchanting. The movie feels like a Pixar because it has every ingredients blended in well that gives a delicious milk-shake experience that you know only Pixar can do that. Fortunately, this is not a Pixar production anyway. From the scale of anomaly, it seems that the people in DreamWorks has created something different, a state of art family movie that clearly makes some senses and it involved a lot of emotions.
The story takes you to the time when the Vikings were roaring the northern sea. The Vikings lived in prosper on a beautiful island of Berk in Scotland but with only one exception - looting dragons. The dragons destroyed their village and stole their stocks away. It becomes apparent that Vikings'the rite of passage for every Viking is to go out and kill a dragon - definitely an occupational hazard. Then comes Hiccup, a young man that has big dream of slaying a dragon inside his small heart. Despite his determination to kill a dragon, he found himself befriended a dragon which he dubbed as Toothless. He lived a double live - training as a dragon slayer and training his new pet dragon. Their relationship bloomed until a larger secret was unveiled on why these dragons stealing the stocks for.
First of all, this is not merely a kid stuffs. Even adults can really enjoyed it. The similar pattern can be seen in any Pixar movies. A champagne-toss for the studio DreamWorks because contrary to their previous no-brainer animations like Monster vs Aliens or Shrek, this one is in fact the best they have ever come out. It does not really rely so much on trying to make fun or humor, instead it gives audience a proper set up of story and highly entertaining adventure. A strong plot and clearly defined story line made the huge advantages here, which you can't find from other animations.
Despite the numerous indifferences between the movie and the children book; for example, the dragons in the book can talk and Hiccup's Toothless is in fact small. It was rather a smart move for the studio to not to loyal to the book itself because of much potential development to be hindered. Nonverbal communication among the dragons served a very much intriguing idea that leads to the creation of an effective facial expression and body gesture, thus, making the creatures adorable and more meaningful. It was a rare chance to see dragons with purely defined personalities.
The movie instead of talking so much about dragon hunting, the centre story is indeed how to train a dragon. I can't help but to draw a line of parallel between Avatar and this animation. Both deals about the relationship between human and a beast - that constantly evolved into a very exciting man-rider experience. Yes, I have to say it was as spectacular as Avatar in the sense of providing the high flying dragon rides that really makes people goes WOW!! The cinematographic and special effects are truly authentic and life-like. Indeed, I have to say that once again, that this 3D is even better than Avatar.
There is a reason why Jay Baruchel is a star to watched for. His voice casting make Hiccup a truly underdog that will goes all over the edge and a totally awesome great lead character. Offbeat with his sense of humor, not over the top, and has a natural persona. The casting is none other than perfect. Stoick, the leader of the tribe and father of Hiccup was voiced by the growling Gerard Butler but it was perfect. America Ferrera of Ugly Betty voiced Astrid, the love interest of Hiccup in amazingly awesome.
I found not so much flaws for this movie and indeed, this is a must watched movie that goes along with adventure, comedy and compassion so well. The best movie of the year, so far!!
THE RATING:
Story - 4.0 stars
Casts - 4.5 stars
Cinematography - 4.5 stars
Effects - 4.5 stars
OVERALL - 4.5 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 17.2