Honestly… going into “HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON”, I didn’t expect to feel the same way I did back in 2010, but this film brought it all back and I mean ALL back. Well, I should say, Director Dean DeBlois, Writers Cressida Cowell & William Davies have brought it back here in this great animated film done in live-action remake. I mean you know the story, and if you don’t, a brief summary follows. But, you probably know the original one as it is the story of a friendship between a timid young Viking and a mysterious dragon. And not much has changed story-wide, or at least if it is, very little is to be spotted. And that’s what makes this wonderful live-action version so excellent, because it retains what made the original so charming and popular, while also standing on it’s own as possibly one of the best live action remakes we’ve ever had the pleasure to view.

For those who don’t know yet, ‘HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON’ is the story of Hiccup, the unpopular son of the Viking chieftain Stoick from he Viking village of Berk, which is home to dragon slayers only. Hiccup not only finds himself unable, but essientially also doesn’t want to slay dragons. Nevertheless, he submits himself to the ritual of dragon-slaying lessons in order to finally be accepted into the community and, above all, by his father. Hiccup has a little secret, though, and that’s Toothless, a Night Fury. Night Furies are the most feared dragons, but this one becomes friends with Hiccup.

The film is set what we can assume is the early medieval times. The village of Berk, inhabited by Vikings and a few other tribes, is constantly attacked by dragons. These dragons cause destruction and take away livestock. Hiccup (Mason Thames), the son of the village chieftain Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), wants to fight the dragons just like other warriors in his village. However, he’s deemed not suitable to do this and is instead asked to intern with Gobber (Nick Frost), the village blacksmith. The experience helps Hiccup to learn other facets of life and start to understand and create different machines. He invents and makes his very own ‘bolas launcher’, something completely created by his own mind & knowledge he has obtained from this internship, and he takes it out when the dragons attack one night. He also takes daytime jouneys on his own away from the village, and realizes one day that he is able to spot a Night Fury. It’s a dragon no one has ever seen and is considered to be the most dangerous of all. Hiccup launches a well, sort of attack in the way of mostly trying to trap the Night Fury, and ends up shooting it down. He cautiously informs his father and villagers about it but they don’t take him all too seriously. The next day, he goes back to the outskirts of the villlage to kinda tell himself he didn’t imagine all this and this is all real. He realizes that he is right and that he indeed attacked the creature, but again, not wanting to be a dragon slayer, instead of killing him, he sets the Night Fury free and furthermore names him Toothless. The dragon also doesn’t kill him but escapes. Toothless is now able to fly but only if Hiccup will ride him in another invention made of his own, a dragon-riding saddle. Meanwhile, Stoick and the rest of the warriors have ventured into the sea to find the nest of the dragons. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

With up-and-comer Mason Thames, they’ve found a really good Hicks, who bears a striking physical resemblance to his animated alter ego. Thames has a great sense of timing and finds subtle perfect nuances between comedy and drama. And his interactions with a non-existent dragon are simply flawless. The same can be said for newcomer Nico Parker’s performance as Astrid, as we see a little crush form over time of the film between the two of them, which was just sweetness personified.

The impressive images of many of the flying shots with Hiccup and Toothless are particularly breathtaking here. Virtually all of the dragons inserted with CGI are impressive in their realism. The visual effects and live-action footage are flawless, and both seem to be from the same world, the same place. Even the actual lead character, Nightshade Toothless, gains an unexpectedly realistic presence in realistic texture and movement – ​​and in cuteness factor. John Powell’s music is exemplary. Bill Pope’s cinematography is breathtaking. The locales of Ireland are well captured by the lensman. The VFX is top-class and the team especially did a great job with the dragon. It looks cute yet has the ability to terrify in its own sweet way of more tensenees vs. scary. The action is without any gore, but done to where you understand it, but it’s not mean, as say a machine gun battle form of violence. Lindsay Pugh’s costumes and Dominic Watkins’ production design are appropriate for the era depicted. Wyatt Smith’s editing is satisfactory, despite it being nearly 20 minutes longer than the 2010 animated film.

“How to Train Your Dragon” hasn’t refocused, really updated, or even expanded in any way here over the animated version. But it is still very much so it’s own film. Real images are fundamentally more appealing, even more so when a fantasy world becomes an almost visual, tangible reality. The images of the Viking village of Berk, or the Great Hall of the Council. The rocky landscapes and forests are impressive. Populated by real people of all kinds (again, great casting), and realistic dragons. It’s a beautiful and vibrant world, mystical yet inviting. DeBlois has increased the running time from the original 98 minutes to 125 titillating, pefectly done minutes. But the new “How to Train Your Dragon” justifies itself in every way possible. This isn’t just a children’s film, this is a film for all ages and I myself, was completely and thoroughly enthralled with it throughout the entire film. I lost myself in this world and I loved it.

This remake went far beyond my expectations. The casting was spot on all the way down the line from the entire young group of Dragon Slayers: Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Fishlegs (Julian Denison), Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn), to Flatula (Kate Kennedy) & Snorti (Marcus Onilude), all the way down and again, to the main cast who are just impecable. Too many to mention all, but they ALL mattered and added to the film. The performances as well, all felt genuine and convincing. Especially Hiccup and Astrid. I found myself reconnecting with them like it was the first time all over again. This film isn’t just a copy of its animated family-it’s a heartfelt experience that stands on its own and was nothing short of breathtaking. “How to Train Your Dragon” for me personally, completely exceeded my expectations – and then some. From the very first scene, I was drawn into its world, and I didn’t want to leave.

What else can you ask for in a film except to escape for a short time. I think audiences will do just that this weekend and more.

Grade: A+

“HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON” IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025

Review Screening: Monday June 9, 2025 ~ Courtesey of Universal Pictures & Dreamworks

Fun HTTYD T-shirt given to us by Universal/Dreamworks Thank you!!