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"How to Train Your Dragon"
15 years ago
I saw this movie on the IMAX screen in 3D last night and really enjoyed it, though that was pretty much a given from the start of course since it has dragons in it. It's sad that dragon movies are so few and far between so it's nice when one finally comes out. (The Shrek movies don't count as dragon movies since while there is a dragon in them, the dragon isn't the focus of the story.)
Without spoiling anything for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, I liked the way the story progressed and I liked the characters. And like just about all the other 3D movies of late, they don't use silly 3D effects and this is a good thing. Silly effects are fine if you're making a silly movie, but they get really distracting with story-focused movies like this one. For a movie like this one, they used the 3D just the way they should: to make the virtual world seem all that more real. Instead of just looking at a picture on the wall of the theater, the 3D makes it look more like you're looking through a window into another world and that I really like. The depth effect adds so much more reality to this fun world we get to watch for 90 minutes. And the giant IMAX screen is great as well. The image fills a good portion of my peripheral vision and makes the experience more immersive. It's almost like it's all happening right in front of you. (If only it could.)
The dragons themselves are fun to watch. The character design they chose was to make them monstrous looking but with silly faces. They look like they could be dangerous in the fighting scenes, but it's also hard for kids to be afraid of them with those faces. Seemed like a good way to approach it.
And like all present day CG animated movies, all the imagery and effects were top notch. Tons of details in all the environment and all the textures. Lots of detail in all the human characters including skin, clothing and hair. Water and wave simulation on the ocean was great, too. Great look to the film overall.
I do have to subtract a few points for the overall story though. While it was very good, I have to say that I feel it is a slight step down from Dreamworks' previous CG film "Kung Fu Panda". That story was just so perfectly put together with all the elements fitting so well that it's going to be hard to top. And I think "How to Train Your Dragon" just comes up a bit short in comparison. That's not to say it's bad of course since I still liked it a lot, but I just feel it could have been a bit better overall. In particular, I feel the pacing is a bit off in places and one or two aspects of the story aren't developed sufficiently or quite the way they should have been. But hey, it's still a dragon movie, and that just can't be bad.
Obviously I highly recommend this movie. Definitely see it in 3D and make the effort to visit an IMAX theater to see it if you can. I'm going to see it a second time myself in about a week or so. Gotta enjoy it while I can since who knows how long I'll have to wait for another dragon movie.
Without spoiling anything for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, I liked the way the story progressed and I liked the characters. And like just about all the other 3D movies of late, they don't use silly 3D effects and this is a good thing. Silly effects are fine if you're making a silly movie, but they get really distracting with story-focused movies like this one. For a movie like this one, they used the 3D just the way they should: to make the virtual world seem all that more real. Instead of just looking at a picture on the wall of the theater, the 3D makes it look more like you're looking through a window into another world and that I really like. The depth effect adds so much more reality to this fun world we get to watch for 90 minutes. And the giant IMAX screen is great as well. The image fills a good portion of my peripheral vision and makes the experience more immersive. It's almost like it's all happening right in front of you. (If only it could.)
The dragons themselves are fun to watch. The character design they chose was to make them monstrous looking but with silly faces. They look like they could be dangerous in the fighting scenes, but it's also hard for kids to be afraid of them with those faces. Seemed like a good way to approach it.
And like all present day CG animated movies, all the imagery and effects were top notch. Tons of details in all the environment and all the textures. Lots of detail in all the human characters including skin, clothing and hair. Water and wave simulation on the ocean was great, too. Great look to the film overall.
I do have to subtract a few points for the overall story though. While it was very good, I have to say that I feel it is a slight step down from Dreamworks' previous CG film "Kung Fu Panda". That story was just so perfectly put together with all the elements fitting so well that it's going to be hard to top. And I think "How to Train Your Dragon" just comes up a bit short in comparison. That's not to say it's bad of course since I still liked it a lot, but I just feel it could have been a bit better overall. In particular, I feel the pacing is a bit off in places and one or two aspects of the story aren't developed sufficiently or quite the way they should have been. But hey, it's still a dragon movie, and that just can't be bad.
Obviously I highly recommend this movie. Definitely see it in 3D and make the effort to visit an IMAX theater to see it if you can. I'm going to see it a second time myself in about a week or so. Gotta enjoy it while I can since who knows how long I'll have to wait for another dragon movie.
And as you say, the setup of the movie in act 1 needed to be tightened up. Among other things, I think they spent too much time establishing that Hiccup's father was disappointed in him. Those scenes could have been handled much better and in much less screen time.
Still, I'm glad someone finally made another dragon movie.
I would have to agree with you. "Dragon" is not quite on the same level as "Panda" There was so much more depth to"Panda". They did have the advantage of several 100 years of philosphy to base it on and that is where that movie really shines. "Panda" seemed to be a more mature film where "Dragon" is geared to a more younger audience. I do not hold that against them. Afterall, that was their source material.
That being said, "Dragon" is still a wonderful movie and a joy to watch. And I will see it a few more times on the big screen. Because, that is where a movie like this NEEDS to be seen. Those flying sequences are breathtaking! };=)
Gotta go see this movie again before long. Hopefully, it will be on home video soon, too!
At least with "How to Train Your Dragon" they will probably offer the bonus material with the initial release which is good. Hopefully it won't be more than a couple of months until we can get it!
About Avatar, for me that is easy. I will not have any disposable cash for quite some time. So, it will be easy for me to get the better one. }:=)