How To Train Your Dragon 2

How To Train Your Dragon 2, the latest movie from writer/director Dean DeBlois just clearly indicated to me why I don't see animated movies. The 12 year old boy that lives within doesn't get moved by animated movies and fell asleep as this movie unspooled. Now because all the things I love about movies don't apply here such as acting, sets, cinematography and so forth, I can only give this movie two buckets of Killer Korn (but your kids will LOVE it).












The most important thing about an animated film in today's world isn't the animation, since that's pretty much all computer driven. No, the most important thing is the story. So, with that being said let me start with the first Dragon film. Now just to be clear, I didn't see the first Dragon film in theaters, but nonetheless I thought it was adorable. It was funny, charming, and engrossing with an edge. In the first movie you never meet Hiccup's mother, Hiccup voiced by the actor Jay Baruchel. He's a young forward thinking viking who's father Stoick, voiced by Gerard Butler who is the leader of the village is stuck in his ways when it comes to dragons. THEY ALL MUST DIE! That is until the dragons prove themselves worthy in battle and save the humans.

Dragon 2 shows Hiccup's village now fully incorporating the dragons in everyday life and loving everything about them. They even have dragon races, complete with sheep (looks kinda like a Quidditch match from a Potter movie if you ask me). The main character Hiccup and his dragon Toothless are out exploring the world due to a conversation father and son had earlier in the day. It's too much pressure on the skinny boys shoulders, so he runs, well flies, you know what I mean. I won't drop any spoilers here but I will say that Hiccup and Toothless run into a dragon nest that's run by a mammoth Alpha dragon and a human, who seems to be the caretaker. That human happens to be Valka, voiced by Cate Blanchett and she is Hiccup's mother.

There is a battle that ensues and it's epic. Even for an animated movie it was impressive. I won't give out any key plot points, just know that Dragon 3 is already underway. The music to Dragon 2 by John Powell was nicely done. It was lively most of the time as it tried to keep up with the images on the screen, and poignant at just the right moments (particularly during the family reunion). If you are a fan of animated movies and you enjoyed the first Dragon then How to Train Your Dragon 2 (still one of the worst movie titles ever in my opinion) will not disappoint. I'll see you at the theater.

MarkEricEntertainment