The rise of 3-D industry has profited the movie makers and that's why it is the new trend of cinema. With the promises of better movie experiences, tickets are charged higher for a piece of a big sunglasses that only Sir Elton John usually don in usual basis. So currently the new movies are released in 2-D and 3-D format. What used to be 2 layered slightly nauseating 3-D in Jaws 10 years ago, 3-D nowadays are a ticket for a good ride.
Even with the promise of the excitement of 3-D, I choose to watch How to Train Your Dragon in 2-D due to my unfamiliarity with the material. I'm not sure whether my good money will be used for good so I opt for 2-D. After two hours of cinema, I can gladly conclude that How to Train Your Dragon is a family movie with a mix of adventure, bildungsromans, and values that is perfect for a escape of Viking taste. Although the unusual lavish beard might get in the way, this movie is a sure pick for any movie lovers.
WARNING: SPOILERS ALERT!!!
So, the story began with the introduction of a viking settlement, a beautiful seaside village with one problem, dragon kept infesting their goat and terrorizing their village. Then, we met Hiccup, a puny teenagers with all the hormones and no muscle to fulfill his greatest dream of all... (kinda like all the American Idol contestants' testament) to prove that he can kill the dragon and get..of course the gorgeous babe of the village, Asterid. And if the dream wasn't to much, he was actually the child of the strongest warrior of the land, Stoick, voiced by the delicious remind-me-of 300 epic hunky voice of Gerald Butler. So we can tell that there's a lot on Hiccup's shoulder and so far nothing is going in his direction. Until, he secretly shot the most dangerous dragon ever, Night Fury.
So the story goes on to show us how Hiccup had realized that the villagers were wrong about the dragon and they are actually gentle mistaken creatures due to their size and fire breath. So in the hours we are treat of how Hiccup grew to be a strong-willed young man to take a nerve and change the whole villagers' mindset and also solve the issue between the dragon and vikings settlement.
What works about the story is not only the story is greatly choreograph, the effects of the animation works great. Take the moment when Hiccup finally successfully to fly Toothless again and they soaring the sky and wind. If I was watching with 3-D, I bet the experience should be more amazing. The other thing about this movie is it is nice to see an historic epic, regardless of live action or animation forms are equalizing both gender. Not to make any sexist statement but it is nice to see there's woman alongside the guys fighting the dragon rather than cowering under the hole holding their babies.
The most exciting moment for me is got the be the last fighting sequence when Toothless and Hiccup were fighting the obese-I-can't-believe-it-can-fly queen dragon. The fight was tense with the added thunder and altitude and we can feel the tension of the vikings down on Earth, especially, Stoick, ridden with the concern of not knowing of what is happening up there mixed with guilty that he brought up the problem in the first place. The conclusion of course, good always prevail but the fact that this is a family movie does not hinder the loss of the good side too. They won of course but it cost Hiccup's leg to kill the ultimate evil. Nice to see that sometimes winner does not take all...
All in all, if I want to remember a Dreamwork animation features, I will choose this over Shrek. Maybe Shrek grossed the bucks but it was this one that make me crave for dragons, vikings and a hunky Scottish accent guy for always.
Overall score:
Story:3.5/5
Casting:4/5
Cinematography:4.5/5
Script:4/5
Direction:4/5
Overall: 20/25
No comments:
Post a Comment