How to train your giant fire-breathing cat

 

I went to see "How to train your dragon" yesterday.

Oh, where to begin the review? Well, I guess by describing something I call the "Howl syndrome". The Howl Syndrome is something I use to designate movie that differ greatly from the (good) source material but still give out a good movie. Like "Howl's moving castle". Miyazaki's film was very different then Wynne Jone's novel. Yeah, I fangirl both.

"How to train your dragon" also falls under that category. 

The original books follow the adventures of Hiccup, the world's nerdiest viking, as he goes off in a group "you're becoming a man" hunt to capture and train themselves dragons. Most of the viking youth train their dragons like one would break a horse. Hiccup, due to his small stature, cannot break his dragon, so he has to refer to the "How to train your dragon" guidebook's "you are desperate" pages that involve talking to a dragon and treating like an equal. So, in the book, everyone gets to ride dragons. Hiccup is just the only one to realize that dragons have a functional cerebral cortex. Toothless, in the books, is pretty aggressive, unrespectful and is also a very common dragon. And the main villain is a dying, desperate sea snake.

The movie also follows the adventures of the world's nerdiest viking Hiccup.



However, the movie is a bit less original then the books. it follows the classic "Romeo and Juliet Bromance" tale of a boy and his *insert animal here*. Dragons attack village for food. Vikings defend village and hate dragons. Dragons hate viking. Boy who is different and uncool discovers dragons are actually kind creatures who seem to be very catlike. Boy is discovered by girl and takes her on a non-sexual carpet ride. Father of the boy and other vikings turn on boy because he loves dragons and do something stupid. Boy save everyone. Yay, we all get dragons! Oh, and Toothless is now a rare dragon with a really special power.

So, the movie pretty much does all the clichés, but it does them well. You're loving it, every step of the way. The movie awakens that little kid inside you that always wanted a fantasy pet, kinda like Dragonheart did, but without Sean Connery being pimp and with actual good acting. The animation is breathtaking. The character expressions are AMAZING. And seeing dragons behave like cats is adorkable. 

I also appreciated the movie villain and what happens to Hiccup in the end. 



So, all and all, "How to train your dragon" is a good movie. Fans of the book, like me, might be puzzled by the fact that the characters seem to be there in name only and that the story is all different. But, if like when you watched "Howl's moving castle", you forget the source material and just enjoy the movie, you're on for a fun ride.

Oh, the music is amazing too.

I actually liked this more then Alice. Bravo dreamworks, you win this round.

-Isa