8. How to Train Your Dragon 2
When I first saw this film I thought it was better than the first one. After rewatching it, I still think it is. There’s something very strange about the feel of this film to me. It was to the point where I found it extremely hard to place on this list at first.
Everything about this film is phenomenal and very well-done. It looks amazing, the music’s great, the characters are great, the acting is great, the story is very well told and the emotions are all there.
However, I did find myself struggling with some of these films in that I didn’t know how to compartmentalize the feelings I had with regards to “Film I like to watch” versus “Film that’s really good”. There is a difference. As I explained earlier, a film as well put together and masterfully crafted as The Prince of Egypt might honestly be several rungs above where it is were I just judging it based on flawless execution. However, I couldn't in good conscience, place it higher due to how much personal enjoyment I got from watching it.
I’ve landed on deciding that it’s fine so long as you take how good a film is into consideration while also acknowledging what it is you personally like and don’t like about it. It seems the most fair to me.
That said, I don’t actually have too much that I dislike about this film. I suppose on rewatch I noticed the villain was a lot less prominent than I remember but I guess his personality was so commanding it felt like he was a part of it longer than I initially guessed. There is also the matter of how inconclusive his fate is at the end. The Alpha Dragon he commands just dives into the water to leave with him still on it. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be taken as his death or as him getting away.
Either way, everything else was great. Burke thrives on being a land of dragons now. Everything’s changed thanks to Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), who is like 20 now. His dad and him still get into a bit of a tizzy here and there but it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Stoick (Gerard Butler) is just very stubborn but I do appreciate how he admits to his faults later. Especially when Hiccup discovers his mom.
Yeah, the new wrinkle in this film is that Hiccup’s mom Valka (Cate Blanchett) is discovered to have been alive this whole time. When dragons attacked the village she was carried off by them and she stayed away despite surviving because she figured they’d be better off without her. She was convinced that the hardened village with that hardened man were set in their ways and were never going to change. Then here comes her son and everything she’s ever wanted came to pass while she was gone, thanks to him. It’s still hard to wrap my head around. I can't imagine what she felt. Could you imagine?
Stoick’s love for her hasn’t disappeared in all that time though. They sing and dance together in a wonderful song that I just had to look up after seeing the film. Of course, this takes place right before disaster strikes.
One complaint I guess I have is that I don’t fully understand the plan Astrid (America Ferrera), Hiccup’s girlfriend, had when she took all the other side characters with her to see the main villain Drago (Djimon Hounsou). She just straight up tells him everything about the village and who Hiccup is and stuff. It felt very strange. I guess she was trying to intimidate him but it ended up leading to the battle happening.
Granted, that was likely going to happen anyway which just leads me to believe it happened so that they could have something to do. I dunno.
It’s not a huge deal or anything.
What's funny about this movie is how great the battle that sees to the death of a major character is compared to the final battle and how it's so much better. It’s weird how the climax, while good, isn’t as good as the entire thing that led into it. They went a little too hard there at the climax of the middle of the film. Still, it all works.
Drago is the first proper villain this series has had aside from the really big dragon from the first film. It's hard to really quantify that and compare but this hulking piece of man meat and his eternally memorable scream (Good Lord, it's so intimidating) really bolted off the screen for me. This isn't usually the type of character you would consider having swagger but I think he does. So much better than whats-his-nuts from film three.
The intensity with which his screen presence quantifies is to be commended and it's incredible how well the film sells you on it because of what transpires in the film. I love a sequel that expands upon the original and decides to take a risk at being darker where it can.
This film oozes maturity and a heavy amount of emotion. I’m still not over the death that happens in this film, honestly. Not entirely. It narratively fits but man… I see why so many films are reluctant to kill characters off. That shit hurts and the “what ifs” just start flowing into your mind like nobody’s business, don’t they?
Excellent film. Very well crafted piece of actual art. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise because in my opinion this film is the beacon of what How to Train Your Dragon is as a series and what it means. What Hiccup says at the end of the film with regards to how Burke IS the place where they’ve gained the loyalty of dragons and how they’re GOING to merge their worlds to make sure that, bit by bit, the entire world becomes a better place is inspiring as hell.
The message of this film is the message of the franchise and it stands as heavy inspiration towards fighting for peace regardless of how far off and fanciful it may feel.
It really would be a shame if a third one came out and stomped all over that idea wouldn’t it?
Yeah, it would.
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3 weeks, 2 days ago
21 Apr 2025 22:45 CEST
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