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<big><big>How To Train Your Dragon 2</big></big>
I don't hit the cinema that often these days. When I do, it is normally to see something that Baal666 has already reviewed. Baal666 doesn't get paid for his reviews, and nor do they affect his job in any way. So he is able to give an unbiased and down-to-earth style that you just don't get anywhere else. So in that spirit, I will share with you my review of How To Train Your Dragon 2
Before the movie :
I was genuinely looking forward to this. I usually tend to avoid Dreamworks animations because most of them tend to be rushed out. Get one big name, and copy the premise of something Disney may be working on or have done, and you've got a Dreamworks movie. But every now and then, they do hit on something good. Need I bring up Shrek or Madagascar? I watched How To Train Your Dragon in full just one day before, and it got me excited for this sequel.
Movie Plot :
Five years after the events of the first movie, the citizens of the Viking village of Burke are no longer Dragon Hunters, but Dragon Riders. Hiccup is fed up with his Father, Stoik the Vast, trying to teach him about his duties as heir to the throne. He is much more interested in his latest hobby; discovering new lands. On one expedition, he discovers a small village destroyed by ice. The survivors are Dragon Hunters who blame Hiccup's people for the attack. It is through this that Hiccup learns that there are other Dragon Riders, and a dragon that can breath ice. The Hunters also vow to steal all of the dragons in Burke and give them to their boss, Drago Bludvist.
When Stoik learns that Drago Bludvist is still alive, he prepares the people for war. But Hiccup insists that he can reason with Bludvist to stop the war from happening at all. He attempts to find Bludvist first, but there is another Dragon Rider who has taken an interest in the negotiations.
My impressions:
+ Some of the minor characters that were supposed to be important to the trilogy actually have a proper role in this film.
+ Great imagination on display throughout the film.
+ Toothless provides comic relief in the background when serious conversations are taking place.
+ Beautiful images and attention to detail. The music was also really good.
- Predictable Plot Points - There are several plot "twists" which you will see from a mile off. The overall story would have worked much better without them.
- Over Done With Emotional Crap - Dreamworks tries to pull on your heart strings with this one. And they just keep pulling and pulling. How is it possible for a movie to seem needy?
- Prequel Ruiner - A new character tells a story that unravels a mystery in the first movie that really did not need to be solved. As a result, this 2 minute story renders a lot of the first film pointless.
- Familiar Second Act - Have you seen the Pokemon movies? If you have, then you may get bored before this film reaches a conclusion.
To conclude, it is a good movie, but should have been better. One of the risks of doing a sequel to an animation, especially after a 5 year gap, is that it may not be as good as the first. But it was clear that Dreamworks wanted something big and emotional. To be honest, this was overdone. It is a nice film, but it is not a good transition between movies 1 and 3.
<big><big>5/10</big></big>
I don't hit the cinema that often these days. When I do, it is normally to see something that Baal666 has already reviewed. Baal666 doesn't get paid for his reviews, and nor do they affect his job in any way. So he is able to give an unbiased and down-to-earth style that you just don't get anywhere else. So in that spirit, I will share with you my review of How To Train Your Dragon 2
Before the movie :
I was genuinely looking forward to this. I usually tend to avoid Dreamworks animations because most of them tend to be rushed out. Get one big name, and copy the premise of something Disney may be working on or have done, and you've got a Dreamworks movie. But every now and then, they do hit on something good. Need I bring up Shrek or Madagascar? I watched How To Train Your Dragon in full just one day before, and it got me excited for this sequel.
Movie Plot :
Five years after the events of the first movie, the citizens of the Viking village of Burke are no longer Dragon Hunters, but Dragon Riders. Hiccup is fed up with his Father, Stoik the Vast, trying to teach him about his duties as heir to the throne. He is much more interested in his latest hobby; discovering new lands. On one expedition, he discovers a small village destroyed by ice. The survivors are Dragon Hunters who blame Hiccup's people for the attack. It is through this that Hiccup learns that there are other Dragon Riders, and a dragon that can breath ice. The Hunters also vow to steal all of the dragons in Burke and give them to their boss, Drago Bludvist.
When Stoik learns that Drago Bludvist is still alive, he prepares the people for war. But Hiccup insists that he can reason with Bludvist to stop the war from happening at all. He attempts to find Bludvist first, but there is another Dragon Rider who has taken an interest in the negotiations.
My impressions:
+ Some of the minor characters that were supposed to be important to the trilogy actually have a proper role in this film.
+ Great imagination on display throughout the film.
+ Toothless provides comic relief in the background when serious conversations are taking place.
+ Beautiful images and attention to detail. The music was also really good.
- Predictable Plot Points - There are several plot "twists" which you will see from a mile off. The overall story would have worked much better without them.
- Over Done With Emotional Crap - Dreamworks tries to pull on your heart strings with this one. And they just keep pulling and pulling. How is it possible for a movie to seem needy?
- Prequel Ruiner - A new character tells a story that unravels a mystery in the first movie that really did not need to be solved. As a result, this 2 minute story renders a lot of the first film pointless.
- Familiar Second Act - Have you seen the Pokemon movies? If you have, then you may get bored before this film reaches a conclusion.
To conclude, it is a good movie, but should have been better. One of the risks of doing a sequel to an animation, especially after a 5 year gap, is that it may not be as good as the first. But it was clear that Dreamworks wanted something big and emotional. To be honest, this was overdone. It is a nice film, but it is not a good transition between movies 1 and 3.
<big><big>5/10</big></big>
