This film is a PG, was released on February 1st 2019, and this review will contain some spoilers, but will be highlighted.
Introduction
I love the How To Train Your Dragon films. It's one of the franchises that I have seen grow and develop throughout its lifetime since 2010. The first film is one of the best animated films of the decade and one of my favourite animated films in general, definitely the best film from Dreamworks. I wasn't as mad about the second film but I still really enjoyed it, it was a great sequel for sure. The best thing about this franchise is that it has always struck the perfect balance between story, spectacle and emotion. This is especially good as you don't see much of this in modern animation, especially in the mainstream. But, we now have our third and probably last chapter in this trilogy.
Thoughts Going In
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. I love the first film and really like the second one as I said, so what could this bring? The thing I was most concerned about was whether this would sign off the franchise in an unsatisfying way. But, I was keen that it'd still have the amazing visuals. So, I had mixed expectations.
The Story
Hiccup has almost fulfilled his dream of a peaceful union between humans and dragons. However, the people around him begin to suggest that the village is becoming too crowded for both species alongside each other. Hiccup then remembers tales of a 'Hidden World' where dragons live in peace, and thinks about setting out to find it. But, a new dragon hunter, this one specifically out to catch Night Furies, is desperate to catch Toothless. And while all this goes down, Toothless meets a female 'Light Fury' who he begins to become close with. So, what will happen as all the narratives intertwine?
What I Liked
The thing I absolutely loved about this film was the ending. I'll dive into spoiler territory later but all you need to know is this. It was such a satisfying and emotionally resonant ending that it almost felt perfect. We're talking on the same level as Toy Story 3, and that's saying something. That's all I'll say now, spoiler talk will come later.
This film represents the absolute peak of computer animation. The visuals in this film are even better than that of a Pixar film. The Hidden World is such a wondrous setting and the mix of colours and shapes makes it absolutely beautiful to look at. Even small details like the dragon scales, the textures of clothes and hair, and natural elements like grass, sand and water are all so realistic that it almost looked like live-action, or the CGI you'd expect from a live-action film. This is a real reward because when you look back on the original How To Train Your Dragon, the animation is great, but it does look a little bit weak nowadays. It's wonderful to see how this franchise has developed not just story and character-wise, but from an animation standpoint.
The story was also really good. More specifically, the storytelling with Toothless. He's just a dragon, he can't talk like many other Dreamworks sidekicks, so how is it possible to tell a story about him and his new relationship with a female dragon? Well, it's possible and successful. The team have really understood how to tell a visual story, Toothless has such expressive eyes and such a distinctive character that it felt really nice to see his story get told unlike many other animals / creatures in films. This wasn't a huge aspect, but definitely a stand-out among the minor ones.
What I Didn't Like
My biggest issue with this film series is that the jokes have always seemed to be the weakest part. Here, not only is it unfunny, but it can be cringeworthy at certain points. Some of the supporting cast deliver really irritating lines and it really bothered me. There's a whole sub-plot regarding Hiccup and Astrid getting married but everyone makes fun of Hiccup for being a bit of a screw up and not good enough. It wasn't funny to begin with and there are many sequences dedicated to it which made it worse. There are also some jokes that sound funny on paper but aren't executed so well. One sequence you may be familiar with from the trailers is when Toothless does some kind of mating dance to attract the female dragon. Some parts of it were funny but I feel like the joke was a bit too elongated and it lost its charm fairly quickly. So, the humour isn't really a strong point for the franchise and it isn't improved upon here. This may not seem like a huge issue but I like to have a laugh when I watch an animated film.
My only other issue was that the titular Hidden World felt like it wasn't explored to its huge potential. Sure, it is the driving force of the film, but we didn't see much of it. There was only one big scene in which we see it and all the dragons inside it, but that's it. I feel like we could've and should've spent more time there, especially considering how stunning it was. That said, this sequence is one of the best parts of the film.
Conclusion
Well, I'm really happy. There is another animated trilogy in which there isn't a bad installment. I can't believe I'm saying that. How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World may not feature much of the titular setting nor does it fix upon the flaws of its predecessors in the comedic department, but it has some of the best computer animation of the decade, some amazing visual storytelling, as well as being an overall satisfying conclusion to a great series. I am so glad I was able to watch this franchise develop and grow as I grew up. It is the best animated trilogy next to Toy Story (until June that is) and is some of Dreamworks' best work in ages. So, all I can say is that I'm really, truly pleased. BUT, there is another certain animated sequel coming out this year that I'm hearing is as good as its predecessors, so this may not be hold the title of the best animated film of the year for long, we've only got a week or two to see.....
I'm going to give How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World an 8/10
Spoiler Talk
I don't usually do spoiler talk but I felt like I had no choice this time as my main argument for this film being great centres around some spoiler-tastic things. So, what are they?
The ending in which Hiccup and Toothless had to part ways was really moving. Because I've been on board with this franchise since the beginning, I've been on every step of the way so I feel as connected to these two characters as they are to each other. It felt like the most appropriate ending for this franchise as Toothless has found himself a mate and Hiccup is of course getting married to Astrid. So, the two of them going back to their respective people as the leaders was very satisfying.
But, the cherry on top was the final sequence. Hiccup as an adult with his children going back to find Toothless was another very heartfelt moment. When Toothless didn't recognise Hiccup for a brief moment, I felt very sad. But, once he realises its him and Hiccup places the hands of his children onto Toothless' nose, it was another touching moment as it mirrors the iconic scene in the original, and suggests Hiccup passing the torch to a new generation in which unity with dragons will hopefully be achieved. As if that wasn't enough, we're signed off with some terrific flying sequences that only amplify my love for this film and this franchise. So, the ending did exactly what I wanted in the best possible way.
No comments:
Post a Comment