How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Last night, I finished watching “How to Train Your Dragon” on Peacock, which was released theatrically in June but on Peacock earlier this month. Critics and audiences are praising this movie, but I didn’t know if this would be good seeing how it is a remake of one of my favorite DreamWorks Animation movies. How is this compared to the Disney live-action remakes?

Leo Brady started his review by saying, “Pushing back against Hollywood’s reliance on sequels and remakes has become a tedious task, especially when the summer slate of 2025 is dominated by them.” In just a few weeks, there was the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” remake, and now came “How to Train Your Dragon.” While there’s always the possibility for a new interpretation to justify its release, even one of the better animated-to-live-action adaptations, like this, has difficulty to make a good reason for itself. In the end, “How to Train Your Dragon” tries to be good – and manages only a little bit.

Director Dean DeBlois returns to make the live-action version, which makes sense seeing how he directed the amazing 2010 original. The story begins on the rocky cliffs of Berk, a Viking Island where dragons are considered dangerous enemies. Our narrator and protagonist is Hiccup (Mason Thames), the tall, misunderstood son of Stoick (Gerard Butler reprising the role), the island’s grand chieftain. Hiccup is nothing like his father – until one of his eccentric inventions helps him trap Toothless, a rare and fearsome Night Fury. Their bond becomes the film’s emotional piece, even as the villagers see dragon-friendship as a betrayal.

What works here are the dragons, particularly the special effects, which give some really exciting moments. Brady noted, “The approach recalls Jurassic Park in its awe and scale; seeing these creatures soar on a giant screen is worth the ticket. Butler brings a grounded intensity to Stoick, and the flight sequences are truly spectacular. There’s a kinetic energy that many remakes lack, and to DeBlois’s credit, the screenplay remains largely faithful to the original. The familiar jokes and story beats suggest a “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” mindset.”

However, that is the problem. The film’s biggest weakness is the repetition. This remake gives little new for those who know and love the animated version. Brady admitted, “That said, my son had the time of his life. He was on the edge of his seat—frightened one moment, laughing the next. The bond between Hiccup and Toothless remains undeniably charming, like a classic boy-and-his-dog tale—only the dog has wings and blazing breath.”

Supporting cast like Nico Parker (Astrid) and Nick Frost (the ever-reliable Gobber) add a bit of depth, and the sets and score do a fine job bringing Berk to life, even if, as Brady said, “the film’s color palette is more muted than its animated predecessor.”

Yes, “How to Train Your Dragon” is a little entertaining and far from a waste of time. However, it never surpasses the original – or even equals it. The animated film remains superior in color, heart, and humor. The live-action version is perfectly serviceable. Maybe that’s the best we can hope for. After all, it’s hard to teach a dragon new tricks.

This is nice to see a live-action version, and it does look good, but it is another one of those examples of some films are better in animation and not live-action. I don’t think it will hurt to see this, as it is nowhere near as bad as the live-action Disney remakes, but still, I hope DreamWorks doesn’t decide to make more live-action remakes to their films, even though it is already confirmed that they are remaking the second film. If you want to watch it on Peacock, go ahead, but it won’t be as good as the original, I promise you that.

Thank you for joining in on this review. Stay tuned this Friday for the finale of “Halloween Month 2025.”

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Tonight I went and saw “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” which came out a week and a half ago. How is this compared to the other two? Let’s find out:

At first this may come shocking, but I feel for this season, this has got to be the best animated movie. “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is great to look at, an emotional film about friendship and a really believable love story. This is the third film in a franchise that kids love for its high energy and so many cute, scary, flying creatures. Even though it has a nice charm of modern animation, it also has storytelling methods that goes back to Nordic myth. There are dangerous warlords, a king wanting marriage, hidden worlds of great creatures and love dances by the shore.

The protagonist Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel, is now a little older and still in charge of the Vikings who have become renowned dragon riders, in a solitary island called Berk. His dream is to have humans and dragons living in the same world. However, there is a villain that comes along that is a vicious dragon hunter named Grimmel, voiced by F. Murray Abraham, who wants to kidnap Hiccup’s dragon friend and leader of the pack, Toothless. If you remember, Toothless is a rare dragon called a Night Fury. Grimmel has killed every other Night Fury and with Toothless killed, he will have completed his mission. However, after rescuing captured dragons from a hunters’ ship, Toothless falls in love with a Light Fury. Now Hiccup has to help Toothless learn how to be romantic with the Light Fury. Not only do we have romance with the dragons, but somewhere else. Hiccup starts getting talks of marriage, and he thinks if Astrid, voiced by America Ferrera, might be ready to marry him and be the Viking king and queen everyone wants. However, they can’t think about weddings with Grimmel shows up, threatening all of Berk and eyeing Toothless. Hiccup takes a stand and says they need to leave and find a hidden world of dragons his father, the late Stoick (Gerard Butler) told him when he was a child (A.J. Kane). If they can find it, both dragons and Vikings might finally live peacefully.

Alci Rengifo said in her review, “Animated films tend to veer from the hastily slapped together to works of true artistry. What has made the “How to Train Your Dragon” series notable and a lot of fun is how it merges innocent fun with cinematic craft.” Based on a novel series by Cressida Cowell, the first movie released in 2010 surprisingly was huge, introducing Hiccup as a younger teen, first meeting Toothless and not wanting to be a dragon slayer. This sequel changes the franchise into a relatable coming-of-age story. Like the first two movies being directed by Dean DeBlois, he also is the writer. DeBlois makes sure everything is just as engaging, but with more adult topics. He opens with a loud and hilarious attack on a ship with caged dragons, as Hiccup, Astrid and their friends like Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig) and Tuffnut (Justin Rupple) start a huge fight with some, usual mistakes. Visually we get great, nice new dragons including a herd of new dragons introduced to Berk, including some dangerous cute goblins that scare Gobber, voiced by Craig Ferguson. Rengifo said, “This is a movie of small and large delights, from immense beasts who roar and stomp to tiny ones you might find floating in a soup pot.” The characters we have really loved from this trilogy are back, including Snotlout (Jonah Hill), with his huge ego and disturbing crush on Hiccup’s mother Valka (Cate Blanchett). Rengifo said, “There are gorgeous vistas as the dragon riders cross the sky and Nordic charm as big warriors with horned helmets clink glasses and pound steel. Returning as visual consultant is master cinematographer Roger Deakins, who helps give scenes a look akin to classic paintings about the Middle Ages. The actual hidden dragon world is a luminous wonder, part “Avatar” and part “Excalibur.””

However, as a story, “The Hidden World” gives audiences more than just amazing visuals. The main story is the romance between Toothless and the Light Fury. Rengifo noted, “DeBlois introduces this material beautifully, with moments of endearing comedy and romantic flourishes that are more elegant than anything in “The Notebook.”” We see that dragons have mating dances, and it is sincere, uplifting hilarity when Toothless tries his best by a lake in front of a confused Light Fury. She’s not an easy one and is animated with a nice combination of toughness and friendliness. There is a nice message in “The Hidden World” about love between equals, and similarly Light Fury isn’t a damsel in distress, as isn’t Astrid, who is written as a real lover for Hiccup, not just as the usual, animated heroine who needs to be saved. A nice lesson by the end is that the warrior women have to save the doubting men. Rengifo said, “But there is indeed glorious, mythical romance in this movie, with scenes between Toothless and Light Fury that are enrapturing as they fly through storm clouds, bond in mist and shyly get closer to each other.” Everything comes together into a huge story about friendship by the end, and the undeniable changes that come with age. There is a part by a rocky shore near the end that audiences might cry at, if not get teary-eyed.

As with so many fantasies, along with the romance there is great action. Rengifo noted, ““The Hidden World” has sequences of almost operatic, Wagnerian breadth as Hiccup faces off with Grimmel amid flames and crashing ships, then while riding dragons high in the sky. Grimmel is that classic, Nordic warlord terror from countless Viking tales, fashioned here for one of the year’s best family entertainments. The music by John Powell gives it all life with orchestral majesty.”

I agree with Rengifo when she said, “It’s rare to find a good film that caters to the more developed, artistic sensibilities of adult viewers and the simple pleasure kids seek at the movies.” “The Hidden World” has both with so much humor and heart.

My brother didn’t think this was the best of the three because he felt this followed a predictable plot, the villain being alright and at least wrapping everything up by the end. I, however, thought this is the best of the trilogy. If you loved the first two, you should not miss your chance to see this film in theaters. Go out and see it because it is an absolute must.

Thank you on joining in on this review today; check in Friday when I continue “Conan Month.”

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Well the wait is over folks. It’s time for my thoughts on “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” which came out last month. It’s easy to take for granted the amazing wonders behind an animated feature. However, it’s useful to see how this sequel looks magical. Dragons breathe both fire and ice that looks minty. The flight in this movie doesn’t look simulated. Even when watching in 2-D, the cliff dives and cloud-surfing feels like you’re driving on the road and your car takes a dive downward on the hill, and your stomach jumps, making it feel all the more real. Then there is music to your ears when you hear the voices of Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett. I cannot tell you how their voices were recorded because I have no knowledge of that. But when you see Stoick the Vast and his wife dance, Wesley Morris described in his review of the film, “her touch and tremulous singing transform the gravitational properties of his boulder of a body.” She makes Butler necessary.

Morris described the film as “a romance — visually, parentally, ecologically.” The movie definitely has emotional, humorous, exciting sweep that you want from a summer movie. The first one, which was based off of Cressida Cowell’s children’s series, came out four years ago. That would give digital animation process to excel, which is seen in this movie. “How to Train Your Dragon’s” swordplay lessons of taming and tolerance are here with stiffness. Morris stated in his review, “The motion was navigable but it lacked the trademark richness and eloquence that is Pixar’s stock in trade. The colors were bright, but they weren’t veering on the three-dimensional.” Dean DeBlois, the director and writer of this sequel, wrote a strong enough story for a great cartoon for the family. This sequel, where DeBlois is also at the helm, looks spectacular. Morris described that “The human motion is almost more graceful than the dragons’, and the dragons could dance for Alvin Ailey.” The half-movements, the walking and shrugging and throwing up of arms looks like the film wasn’t animated.

The protagonist is still Hiccup (which I have to say is a weird name to give your child), who after told the warlike hungry savages of his village to coexist with dragons, now is faced with the possibility to be promoted to leader. His father, Stoick, wants his son to one day take his place as chief. All of a sudden, a caped, dreadlock hunter named Drago (no, not Ivan Drago. That was “Rocky IV”), voiced by Djimon Hounson, is kidnapping dragons and using them to wage war to, you guessed it, take over the world. Hiccup, his dragon, Toothless, and his friends (America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig) first meet up with a man named Eret (Kit Harington), who is working for Drago to capture dragons. Then Hiccup bumps into Valka, voiced by Blanchett, who Morris describes as “a socially maladroit woman with Glenn Close’s bone structure and Dian Fossey’s ponytail.” She has a magnificent dragon at the centerpiece of a giant tusked creature from the appropriately named bewilderbeast species. No doubt about it, Valka’s talent would be very impressive and useful for Drago.

Morris stated in his review, “You think Godzilla is impressive (and this latest incarnation of Godzilla is impressive), but then you see one or two of these bewilderbeasts and you wonder why reptiles from Aliens remain the benchmark for scary or classically awesome.” To look at an old National Geographic would remind you that a lot is there in the animal kingdom to scare people. For example if we look at Toothless, he’s got the eyes and fur of a panther and a salamander’s length and smoothness. A lot of these creatures look like they belong in “Star Wars” or “Avatar,” but the filmmakers of this sequel enjoy in scale. There’s big, and then there are the animals in this movie. Some of them cause danger.

Drago gets his war, some of the characters die (I won’t say who), dragons get mind-controlled by an all-powerful dragon, and the thematic ideas of control and bend, of alpha-ness, bring in the darkness that DeBois doesn’t stretch on. One dragon that gets mind-controlled does horrible things that will make kids hate him for it. Morris counters this by saying, “it’s the sort of bad news that provides a springboard for the resilience that makes these sorts of stories go.” This in a way is similar to “Star Wars.” Like everyone else, I didn’t like when Luke got his hand chopped off by Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back.” However, children seem to understand that loss is also a part of romance.

My final verdict is that if you loved the first one and you haven’t seen this one yet, go out and see it, because it won’t be in theaters for very long. If you want, see it in 3D. I didn’t see it in 3D, but I imagine the 3D in this movie is probably far better than the first one. When putting both the first and second one together, I prefer the sequel because five years have passed and the characters grow and become more likeable as well. I do hear that they are making a third one, which I will be very excited to see when that comes out.

Stay tuned next week to find out what I will review to close July out.

How to Train Your Dragon

Last week my brother and I went out at night to see “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” I thought that I will review both of them this week. Before I get to the latest one, I bet all of you are wondering what I thought of the first one, released in 2010, right? Well, here’s what I thought:

Some movies seem like they were meant to inspire video games. The only thing missing are the controllers and the scoring system. If you watch “How to Train Your Dragon,” you will think that it was a game that was meant to inspire a movie. The reason why is because a lot of time is given towards aerial battles between tamed dragons and evil ones, and not much to character or story development. However, it looks good; it’s bright and has high energy. Ebert said in his review of this film, “Kids above the easily scared age will probably like the movie the younger they are.”

Here is another action animated movie with an incredible young hero, based on a series of popular kids’ books. You probably will recall the heroes in this genre being teenagers. Usually, the kid is 10, saying that he is stronger, wiser and braver than the older folks, and is really fast at learning when time comes to discover or mastering a new form of fighting. We are born to know how to control dragons and spaceships, but we forget that when we grow.

Our main character is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, voiced by Jay Baruchel, a young Viking who lives in Berk, a village on the mountainside that is around heights and penthouses where aggressive dragons live. Hiccup lets the audience know that his village is old, but the houses are new. You will probably find this alarming. His father, Stoick, voiced by the great Gerard Butler, is the leader and the dragon master Cobber, voiced by the best late-night talk-show host ever, Craig Ferguson; the villages have been fighting dragons since ancient times. It looks like an unfair battle; the dragons are huge and breathe fire, and the Vikings, while having a lot of muscle, only have clubs, swords and spears. You would think that they would be smarter than dragons, but how would you know that just by listening to them.

Butler looks like he is doing the exact same character he did in “300,” as Ebert described, “beefed up by many a hearty Viking feast.” He joins Ferguson and the other Scottish actors speaking English with a strong Scottish accent, since anyone who knows a bit of Viking history knows that English was used among the Vikings. By looking at them, Vikings look like they had a testosterone outbreak causing hair to come out really fast. You could even use their nose hairs to knit up a nice sock, but then again, why would you want to do that? Ebert said in his review, “Oh, how I tried not to, but as I watched these brawlers saddled up on great flying lizards, I kept thinking, "Asterix meets Avatar."”

Now the basic story is that Hiccup is told that he needs to stay inside during a dragon attack. However, he grabs a cannon, fires away at the dragons and apparently shoots one down. By going into the forest to find the dragon he shot down, and finds a dragon around his age, chained up. He frees it, they become friends, and he finds out that dragons can be nice. With his new dragon friend Toothless, he comes back to Berk, and the good dragons team up with the Vikings against the bad dragons, who, as Ebert puts it, “are snarly holdouts and grotesquely ugly.”

One of the evil dragons is covered all over with huge warlike knobs, has six eyes, three on either side, looking like a Buick, as Ebert described. One part of the movie is where a Viking hammers on the eyeball with a club. Not a good thing to look at. The battle ends as all battles must, with the bad guys together and our young hero saving the day. The flight battle sequences are put together like a World War I scuffle, with swoops, climbs, and barely missed impacts with rocky peaks and other dragons. Ebert stated in his review, “For my taste, these went on way too long, but then I must teach myself that I do not have a 6-year-old's taste.”

In the end, if you haven’t seen this movie, check it out. I didn’t get to see it in the theaters, but I hear that the 3D in this movie was magnificent, even so much to surpassing “Avatar’s” 3D. Then again, I guess you would have to look at it from the perspective of a mostly computer-generated movie to a complete computer-generated animated movie. Still, this movie is great to watch with the whole family. How is the second one? Check in this Friday when I review it.