Hey friends! It's time for a new blog! So I was able to see the new How to Train Your Dragon movie three weeks before it comes out nationwide. It was pretty exciting. I'm not going to lie, I'm a huge fan of this franchise and I'm not ashamed to say it. This is high quality stuff right here. I mean come on, have you seen Toothless? He's adorable! How can you not love that face? Anywho I'm going to review this film but don't worry there will be no spoilers because who wants the movie to be ruined before they've had a chance to see it? Not this kid! So without further ado... LET'S GET STARTED.
PLOT:
This is the third film in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. It continues the story of Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his trusty dragon, Toothless. Everything seems to be going smoothly on the island of Berk. Vikings and dragons alike are living in harmony. Hiccup leads a group of riders including his trusty friends; Astrid (America Ferrera), Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), Snotlout (Jonah Hill), and the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut (Kristen Wiig and Justin Rupple). They go on nightly scouts to find any captured dragons and bring them safely to Berk where they can live out their days.
There's an armada that is capturing dragons to use as an army so they can pillage and control others. They are assisted by Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) who is determined to kill any and all Night Fury's. This is not good because it just so happens that Toothless is a Night Fury. On one of Hiccup's raids they save all the dragons but unintentionally leave behind a dragon. This dragon is a night fury. Toothless is not the last of his kind which had been believed for years.
This discovery leads Hiccup to believe that a mythical place called the Hidden World actually exists, a undiscovered land that is home to thousands of dragons. He is determined to find this world before either Grimmel or the armada can find it and destroy it. With the help from his friends and Toothless, Hiccup sets out on an adventure to save the dragons of the world.
REVIEW:
So as I said before, I'm a pretty big fan of this franchise. There are just some films you just fall in love with for no particular reason and these movies fall under that category. When I heard there was going to be an early screening of this film, I knew I had to go. So of course I dragged my Dad to go see it. If that's not the definition of cool kid, I don't what is. You guys are probably so jealous of my life right now. It's okay, you will reach this level of cool someday. Long story short, I loved this movie. It had all the charm from the first two films while adding a flair of its own. It was funny, had loads of action, and a heartfelt story that made this kid tear up (don't tell my dad). The story was very interesting and kept me engaged throughout. I also laughed out loud on many occasions which is a testament to just how funny it was. I really enjoyed the story because it showed how strong Hiccup and Toothless are when they're together but it also focused on how they each have their own inner strength. They can be just as strong apart as they are together.
The animation for this film was beautiful and it really shows how far animation has improved over the years. Looking back on the first film in this franchise, you can really see a difference in the quality of the animation. This movie was really pretty to look at. It was colorful, bright, detailed and knew how to catch your eye and keep you glued to the screen.
The cast for these films are so great. You've got comedic actors such as Jay Baruchel and Kristen Wiig to more heavyweight actors like Cate Blanchett. Although we're just hearing their voices and not physically seeing them, they still really help tell the story. It's amazing how much can be emoted just through a voice. Each actor is their character. You can tell they really inhabit these characters and care about them and this shows in the movie.
This movie is just a fun flick. It's great for both kids and adults. It's a great movie to go see if you just need to escape and laugh. I know a lot of adults are a bit hesitant when it comes to animated movies because they think they're just strictly for kids but there are some really fantastic animated movies out there that many adults can enjoy. This film is definitely one of them. I like these films because it doesn't try to dumb anything down, it just tells the story. Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for and they can understand a ton. These films don't talk down to them, it just gives them a fun and engaging story to watch.
PARENT'S GUIDE:
This film is great for kids. It's fun, action-packed, has adorable dragons. You can't ask for much more. It's rated PG so it's ultimately up to you, parents, if you'd like your kids to see it but I highly recommend it. It's just a great film to go see with your family.
OVERALL RATING:
For this film I will give it a...
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World: 8/10
I really loved this film. It had everything I could want in an animated movie and it really served its purpose well.
CONCLUSION:
Well there ya have it folks... another blog done! As always thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I'd love to hear your thoughts so be sure to leave me a comment or message. Be sure to tell your friends! Until next time!