John says:Dreamworks may generally seem to be a Pixar ripoff - they produce popular animated films yet always manage to focus more on box office returns than basic storytelling. Well for once, they seem to have done it!
How To Train Your Dragon (bad title, but we'll get to the con's in a bit) is easily one of the best animated movies of the year and is possibly Dreamworks' finest contribution to the movie year. The story follows Hiccup, son of a Viking dragon warrior who wants to live up to his father's image, but ultimately befriends the creatures they are trying to destroy. What follows is a great story along the lines of E.T. - a story that is both satisfying and full of heart.
The animation is some of the most impressive I've ever seen, with flying sequences that easily rival last year's Avatar. The original score by John Powell (of Shrek-fame) is beautiful, and the story effortlessly draws the audience in. By the time we reach the climax, there is such an investment in the characters that it is genuinely edge-of-your-seat situation.
That is not to say that Dragon is without flaws. Aside from the overly-long and misleading title, the story is riddled with a tad too many jokes that often fall flat. The voice talents, mainly that of the lead- Hiccup, seem miscast and do not necessarily fit with the character's appearance. I also question the ending. Not giving anything away, but the final outcome of the humans and dragons seems a bit too 'man conquering nature' versus a more appropriate 'every species is equal' approach.
Nonetheless, How To Train Your Dragon is a fast-paced, moving, charming film that puts Dreamworks on the map and provides serious competition against Toy Story 3 for Best Animated Film at the upcoming Oscars.
Maureen says:
Everyone knows that Pixar always wins Best Animated Film... and they will again this year with third-time's-the-charm Toy Story 3. But if Pixar hadn't released Toy Story, How To Train Your Dragon would be an excellent choice for the Oscar. A predictable, often-used story with a silly title - but How To Train Your Dragon is clever, entertaining, and inspirational the whole way through.
Things I especially enjoyed about the film: The animation, Gerard Butler, the witty dialogue... but surprisingly, one of the biggest wins for the movie is the score. A gem of a soundtrack that I could honestly listen to for days on end. Beautifully orchestrated and written, the score perfectly fits the film and enhances it, honestly making the film about twice as good as it would be otherwise. John Powell received a very much deserved nomination for his work this year. He likely won't win this time around, but if he continues to compose in a similar vein, Oscar gold lies in his future.
Aside from the score, I found myself engrossed in the story the entire way through, despite the ridiculous names and - let's be honest - premise in general. What kept me involved were clever jokes, dry humor, and really excellent character development. The climax was nail-biting and exciting, and was supplemented with a wealth of stunning animated visuals.
I found the overall story to be extremely predictable and the ending cliche, but what more can you really ask for from a children's film? Also, many of the voice actors (including Jay Baruchel in the lead as Hiccup) seemed a bit out of place in their roles. Though I didn't find it necessarily distracting, as the actors themselves did well in their roles, their voices didn't make the film any better for me. The exception was Gerard Butler, whom I found commanding and humorous in his role as Hiccup's father, Stoick.
Today, it's difficult not to compare any animated film with Pixar, and for good reason - they have set the standard, and they have set it high. How To Train Your Dragon is a not quite as clever or adult as Pixar, but who is, really? I would highly recommend this film for anyone and everyone!
(Awards potential: Best Animated Feature, Best Sound Editing, Best Original Score)
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