Film: How to Train Your Dragon
Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison
Producer/Writer/Director: Dean DeBlois
Rating: * * *
Runtime: 125 min

After two sequels and T.V. shows, Universal/Dreamworks falls back on one of their finest animated films “How to Train Your Dragon” which managed to capture critical acclaim and box office success, in order to relive the same glory. Writer/director Dean DeBlois returns to follow the same template, providing a suitable live-action effort that is likely to lure young, newer audiences.

Vikings living on the island of Berk train for war against aggressive dragons. Imposing leader Stoick (Gerard Butler) wants his son Hiccup (Mason Thames) to join a dragon-killing squad, but Hiccup, being an inventor, doesn’t have the heart for it. When he meets up with an injured fallen dragon, Night Fury, Hiccup befriends the creature, calls him “Toothless,” and uses his artisan skills to help the beast get off the ground. As their friendship burgeons, Hiccup gets to ride with his new friend. Unfortunately, Stoick leads the people of Berk into battle, and Hiccup and Toothless have to race against time to prevent a needless calamity.

The location of the island of Berk looks similar to what was shown in the animated film. Vikings, now ‘live’, also live the hard life in difficult conditions with frequent Dragon attacks, as shown in the original. The CGI makeover of the Dragons is quite resplendent. They look powerful and the fire-breathing ones, quite ferocious. As in the original Hiccup questions his reality, struggling with the responsibility of being a dragon hunter, and being forced to live up to his father’s expectations. The growing relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is quite poignant.