How to Train Your
Dragon 2, like all good sequels, raises the stakes. Everything is bigger
and bolder: the scope of the world, the themes and, of course, the dragons.
It’s a darker instalment than the original, but it is all the better for it.
When we return to Berk, five years after the events of the
first movie, we find Hiccup skirting his duties as the chief’s son and out
exploring the world with his best pal, and dragon, Toothless. Hiccup admits
he doesn't know who he is yet and shies away from the responsibilities of
being the next chief. He’s an explorer, a dragon master, and is more interested
in discovering the world than staying in Berk and protecting the clan.
We are reintroduced to the colourful
characters of Berk and their beloved dragons through a dragon race: a vibrant
and energetic opening scene that is a welcome return to the wit and charm of the first film's thrilling flight sequences.
But not all is well in the world of Vikings and their pet
dragons. There are dragon catchers about: capturing dragons for the
dastardly Drago Bludvist, who’s intent on building an unstoppable dragon army.
Up until this point, only the mysterious dragon rider—who rivals Hiccup’s
control over the species—has managed to foil his plans. But as Drago sets his sights on
Berk and their dragons, Hiccup must accept his responsibilities as the chief's son and protect
the clan.
How to Train Your
Dragon 2 is a bolder, more mature film than the original, with themes comparable to a Young Adult novel rather than a children’s book. Questions of
identity, growing up, facing responsibilities and finding your place in the
world are at the heart of this story, which is central to many Young Adult
novels.
That’s not to say that this can’t be enjoyed by younger
cinema goers, but rather that it can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages—like
all great animated films. Children will revel and delight in the broad spectrum
of colours and dragons and ooh and ahh at the soaring flight sequences. And
older viewers will enjoy the more complex storyline that includes some
unexpected, and dark, twists and turns.
Whilst the film is darker, elements of humour are retained
from the first film; I particularly enjoyed Berk’s version of a crazy cat lady
with her numerous, clingy dragons. And the voice cast including Jay Baruchel,
Gerard Butler,
America Ferrera
and Kristen Wiig
continue to delight in their roles, with Cate Blanchett as a wonderful
addition.
The film's visuals are simply spectacular: the quality
of animation, textures and effects are outstanding with Stoick’s beard as a standout. The set pieces are more impressive this time around, particularly the
semi-transparent ice cave which houses the swirling and swarming colourful
dragons. But the real star of the show, as in the original, is Toothless: a
catlike black dragon that is so adorable and lovingly rendered that every
cinemagoer is bound to want a Toothless of their own.
I thoroughly enjoyed How
To Train Your Dragon 2 and look forward to seeing it again, this time in
3D.
It was a lovely to look at movie, but what made it even better was by how emotional it could get without being afraid of over-stepping their boundaries. And thankfully, they never did. Nice review Astrid.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan! I really liked that they took a darker, more emotional turn with this film. It's a brave move for 3D animation, which can often be seen as a "children-only" medium, which is certainly not the case. It's great to see filmmakers make the most of the medium and appeal to a broader age group.
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