How to Train Your Dragon - Movie Review

Last night I watched How to Train Your Dragon with a couple of my sisters.  They had seen it before but, it was my first time.  I must confess that I had already added the soundtrack to my music library many months ago and have enjoyed the music very much since then.  The movie was good if only for that reason!

Overall though, I thought it was all well done.  The movie had humor, good themes, and a very intriguing story.  The setting is neat and different than most movies while still retaining some of the familiar elements often found in movies; such as a main character who needs to find his place while struggling with a parent who won't listen.  There were also good supporting characters who helped keep the story funny through their different reactions to the events taking place.  I love how later on when they come around to helping Hiccup, the dragons they ride are uncannily like them.  It makes for quite a entertaining scene.

Hiccup and Toothless

Hiccups compassion and courage is shown during his encounters with the mysterious and dangerous "night fury."  These qualities are some that others think are lacking in Hiccup, yet he is all the while proving them to himself and learning how to prove them to others.  As this happens he also begins to stand up for who he truly is in his own way.  He gains respect from those he trains with in a rather odd way but this does not erase the tension between Hiccup and his dad, Stoick the Vast, which resurfaces when his dad returns.  Stoick is still expecting Hiccup to fit in with his personal definition of normal and is wanting Hiccup to be exactly what he wants and not accepting his different personality.  Eventually, Astrid, a girl in training, begins to realize that there is more to Hiccup than meets the eye and is curious to find out what it is.  They do not get along very well until Hiccup lets her in on the secrets he has kept from the others.  A ride on Toothless also helps her see things his way.

Hiccup and Astrid

They are on good terms after that, but Hiccup is still faced with the problem of telling the rest of the village what he has discovered about the dragons.  It takes real courage for him to do what he feels is right regardless of all the expectations placed on him as the son of the village leader.  He does take the plunge which, in my opinion, is his first open sign of real courage, but things do not end happily for him and the "mess" he finds himself in is much larger than when he kept secrets.  Toward the end of the story, his friends from training rally around him in order to put things to rights and save the tribe.  Hiccup's father witnesses his bravery and is also recognizes the truth in what Hiccup said.

Hiccup Showing the Others his Skill

So, this is a short review, and I feel that I have been rambling, but I thought it was a good movie and worth seeing again sometime.  I cannot really get into this review right now, but I hope y'all have enjoyed!


~ A Song of Joy