Today I'm reviewing a movie that's not a Best Picture nominee, but is nominated in the Best Animated Feature Film category and Best Original Score. Why? Because I loved this movie. It's got a little bit of everything in animated form. But of course it's from the people at DreamWorks. It's fun, entertaining, delightful, sweet, a bit stirring and has a villain. And yes there is that all important message; of acceptance of differences and understanding. The good animated movies always have a message.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is supposed to kill a dragon to prove his manhood. Instead, he ends up becoming friends with a lovable dragon he names Toothless and he becomes the best dragon "tamer" around. Hiccups's father turns on him when he tries to defend all of the dragons.
It's well written and has a nice premise. The voices of the characters are known actors, but they aren't so recognizable that they take away from the story. The best thing about this film is the delightful relationship that develops between Hiccup and Toothless. It's a classic boy and his dog relationship, only this time with a dragon.
The animation is interesting and enhances the story, based on the book by Cressida Cowell of the same name. The score is stirring and Vikingish, as you would expect from a film about Vikings in any form. The dragons are diverse, fun and some are even cute. In the end everyone comes together. Although this is supposed to be a movie for kids, adults who like animation will have a great time with it too and will enjoy the quirky characters. It almost made me want a dragon of my own. I just don't have the space for one!
Rating - 4 stars
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is supposed to kill a dragon to prove his manhood. Instead, he ends up becoming friends with a lovable dragon he names Toothless and he becomes the best dragon "tamer" around. Hiccups's father turns on him when he tries to defend all of the dragons.
It's well written and has a nice premise. The voices of the characters are known actors, but they aren't so recognizable that they take away from the story. The best thing about this film is the delightful relationship that develops between Hiccup and Toothless. It's a classic boy and his dog relationship, only this time with a dragon.
The animation is interesting and enhances the story, based on the book by Cressida Cowell of the same name. The score is stirring and Vikingish, as you would expect from a film about Vikings in any form. The dragons are diverse, fun and some are even cute. In the end everyone comes together. Although this is supposed to be a movie for kids, adults who like animation will have a great time with it too and will enjoy the quirky characters. It almost made me want a dragon of my own. I just don't have the space for one!
Rating - 4 stars
