"How to Train Your Dragon" Talkback (Spoilers)

Finally had the opportunity to check out the film in 3D this evening. Probably my favorite Dreamworks movie ever. Shrek was definitely something special, but I think I enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon even more. The writing was superb, as were the graphics.
 
Harry Potter takes place within the 90s (or whatever ambiguous time period the movies have them in) with the majority of the plot taking place within a school, so they at least possess an appropriate reasoning why they go for the standard "high schoolism". I haven't seen How to Train Your Dragon yet, so I can't comment whether I think it's fitting for them to act like a pack of "mallrats" (which I may not even have a problem with considering Kung Fu Panda has the main character speaking highly anachronic for someone living in Ancient China - and I though that film was wonderful), but the former has a justified excuse, no matter how much that genre has been played out. Compare it to ancient Viking setting where typical teenage catchphrases aren't the first thing to pop into your head.
 
They're mall rats not in a sense that they spew catchphrases and whatnot, but they're mall rats in related to/in a sense of being a viking and kicking dragon ass.
 
I suddenly got the urge to see this and asked a few friends if they wanted to come along, and by the end of the movie none of us could stop gibbering about how adorable and fun it was. I wish I could hug this film, or at least Toothless.

I'm so glad it's doing so well. I'm probably going to round up different friends -- and probably the ones who went the first time -- and see it at least one more time. :3
 
Just saw it. LOVED IT.

I'm not too concerned with the originality (or lack there of) of the story largely because it was well acted and had a lot of heart. What has me squeeing like the fangirl I am was the flying.

THE FLYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :zim:

Soooo awesome.
 
I'm sorry, but Maxie has absurdly high expectations for an American animated film. The dialogue of "How to Train your Dragon" isn't Shakespeare, but it does its job very well, and is natural for a comic fantasy adventure film about vikings and dragons. Did he really expect dead-on realism? C'mon...
 
Also keep in mind that by the use of "mall rats" I was quoting the review. The review also, oddly enough, compared the movie to Harry Potter, which as I said plays HEAVILY on teen stereotypes, making the review rather hypocritical.

"How to Train Your Dragon" does play off teen stereotypes a bit for the other characters in Dragon Training, but at no point does it get to the point of annoyingly overexaggerated, as most "teen" stereotypes are often portrayed in cartoons. It's merely enough to give a little personality to the side-characters. Most Disney movies shove their sidekicks down your throat, so I'll take the "Dragon" teens anyday. :P

Besides, movies that get a 97% on the Tomatometer do so for a reason.
 
And even then, the "mall rats" easily mellowed out towards Hiccup.

If anything, I think this was a different approach to the "Action Girl" stereotype, as Astrid actually was pretty average and not a "Mary Sue Skill" of sorts.



Unless it's Pixar expect it to be ripped apart. :P
 
More Toothless is welcome.

Also, I really did want a sequel. I wonder if he's used to the whole "prosthetic leg" thing.
 
Yes, because Maxie was being highly flattering and complimentary to Ratatouille in pointing out what he saw as "rat patootie" in it, and Kung Fu Panda was just absolutely shredded by Alex Weitzman and by me, not to mention our terribly savage and obviously biased reviews of CGI fare like Tinker Bell, Appleseed: Ex Machina, and Vexille, to pick a few. I'd point out more, but it seems to me that stuff like Delgo or Battle for Terra or Monsters vs. Aliens deserved the negative reviews that they got.

Besides, I think the two of you disagree only in matters of degree on a larger sense. You point out:


So it's a plot you've seen before with a few twists. I also think that good movies place Chekhov's Guns without making them obvious (who honestly saw how "No capes!" was going to come back in The Incredibles?). It sounds to me like you're saying those Chekhov's Guns in HtTYD are easily seen. Maxie points out:

So, it seems to me that both of you agree about how the movie is executed. The difference is that you aren't bothered by them but he is. Can't really say that this is much more than a difference of opinion or differing standards.

It is left as an exercise to the reader to look at the paragraphs where Maxie has nice things to say about HtTYD and compare them to Ookamikun's positive comments in his review.
 
I saw it today and it was AWESOME!!! X3 The flight scenes were amazing. :D and the dragons were awesome. >w< I really want to see it again but I have to wait for the dvd release. :sweat:
 
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