Fly, Toothless! Take me to where my dreams come true!
Oh Dreamworks. Here you've provided yet another family orientated, feel good film. Not that I blame you or anything. I mean, there isn't much wiggle room in the world of family animations, is there? Introduce Underdog > Small Conflict > Montage > Fall From Grace > Major Conflict > Underdog's Rise to Heroism > Feel Good Ending. If you're good at something, why break the money maker? Then again, can you do something to make it somewhat unique?
Hiccup [Jay Baruchel] is the oddball son of a village's leader, Stoick [Gerard Butler]. Said village is populated by Viking warriors plagued by dragons. Unfortunately for Stoick, however, his son is 'wrong': he can't kill dragons. He's also a tiny, skinny buggah who invents things instead of bashing shyte in a mindless violence. Oh noes. Apparently, Hiccup has a penchant for destroying the town and causing general chaos, thus making him avoided by... well, everyone. There's even a part where Stoick gives the warriors a choice: go with him to try and take out the dragon nesting area or stay back and watch Hiccup. As expected, everyone suits up to battle dragons.
I'm actually confused by this. Are you meaning to tell me that being by the kid is so horrid that everyone is willing to be slaughtered by flying, fire breathing lizards rather than take care of a kid? Fuck that. I understand the comical connotations involved with what occurred, but come on. Death over mild annoyance, at best? Bullshit. Also, there was barely any of this so called destruction shown to us up to this point, much less for the rest of the flick. The audience is just told that Hiccup is loaded with destructive fail. With me hearing that, but seeing something else, that whole plot concept sat uneasy with me during this adventure.
Good afternoon! My friend and I were hoping that you would have a spare moment
to talk with us about our Lord, Jesus Christ...
As the boy and the dragon learn to trust and accept each other, it was interesting to see how calm and tame the dragons could be. There's even a type of catnip for the beasts. What was also intriguing was that whatever Hiccup learned about Toothless could be used with every other type of dragon, just like how all dogs love their bellies rubbed or to be scratched behind the ears. There's a final conflict that's fairly epic involving a bloody huge dragon, concluding in something that's rarely seen in movies of this type: the protagonist loses his damn leg. I did not see that coming.
'How To Train You Dragon' is a loose adaptation of a 2003 children's novel, but stands alone on its own merits. It was fun, engaging, humorous, and the 3D was fantastic. Although it doesn't meet my usual ratings from an amazing flick, it comes pretty damn close. I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend seeing it in 3D with some friends, but during matinee times only because 3D is fucking expensive as balls.
Still doesn't come close to WALL•E, though...
RATING:
rock hard. live harder. o_O
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