Opening Statements: I have to admit, when I first heard of Dreamwork's "How to Train Your Dragon", I wasn't expecting too much. I saw the movie with my little brother and sister, who were both big fans of the book. From what they told me, the book is rather silly and quirky, so I expected Dreamworks to take this movie in the direction of some of their pop-culture filled fun fests, such as "Shrek" or "Monsters vs. Aliens." This could be further from the truth. "How to Train Your Dragon" is an amazing cinematic treasure, and undoubtedly my favorite movie of the year thus far.
The Good: Where to start? This movie is filled to the brim with good things. From the gorgeous animation to the stunning and loveable characters to the enchanting flying scenes that give you the closest simulation to flying on the back of an animal most people will ever know. The main Dragon, "Toothless", is rendered so believably and installed with such life, that it is almost hard to believe that a creature such as this does not exist in real life. The final battle, in particular, stood out for me. I'm a large fan of action movies, so I have seen a lot of epic final fights. However, the battle in this animated family movie, in my personal opinion is the greatest I've ever seen. Some particular images from the battle will stay with me forever. To anyone who thinks This isn't me kind of movie or I don't want to watch a kids film, I highly recommend you reconsider. This movie goes above and beyond any family film I have ever seen, into a realm that everyone can enjoy. The movie will be coming to DVD soon, but if a local theater is showing a second run, I strongly suggest you swallow your pride and purchase a ticket. You won't be disappointed.
The Bad: I don't have a lot of bad to say about this movie, but I did have a few minor problems; most within the last thirty seconds of the movie. I don't want to spoil anything, but at the end of the movie the main character endures a major change that is not only shocking for a family-friendly movie, but just cinema in general. This left a major impact on me and I felt the movie should have ended just there. However, it lingers on for a minute or two more, creating a very generic and "kiddy" ending. It wasn't bad enough to take away the amazingness that was the bulk of the movie, but it dampened my overall experience.
Closing Statements: Overall, this movie was far, far better than anyone expected it to be. It was not just good, but amazing and magical. It is one of those films that leave you saying "I love movies." Rather than using animation as an excuse to be silly and childish, it using animation to craft amazing scenes that could not be done otherwise. Forget about how "manly" or "adult" you are, and give this movie a chance. You'll be glad you did.
***** out of *****
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