Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Stays Faithful to the Original – Maybe Too Much
How to Train Your Dragon Review: The skies are alive once again with the magic of dragons, as Universal Pictures releases the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon”. Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the original 2010 animated film, the new version remains faithfully devoted to its source material — for better and for worse.
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Dean DeBlois Brings Animated Classic to Life in New ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Remake
Starring Mason Thames as the beloved Viking teen Hiccup, the film follows his unlikely bond with Toothless, a rare and powerful Night Fury dragon. Much like the animated version, the story of How to Train Your Dragon unfolds in the Viking village of Berk, where dragons are feared and hunted — until Hiccup’s groundbreaking friendship challenges the status quo.
The live-action format delivers a visual spectacle, particularly in its aerial sequences. One of the most exhilarating moments sees Hiccup soaring above a lush landscape, high in the clouds on Toothless’s back, wings outstretched. The cinematography brings breathtaking realism to scenes that longtime fans will instantly recognize — sometimes too closely, as some critics have noted the remake leans toward a scene-by-scene reproduction of the original, at the cost of emotional spontaneity.
While Thames gives a commendable performance, and the CGI dragon Toothless retains his iconic expressiveness, some reviewers, including Brandon Yu, have described the film as “exhilarating at times, if somewhat mechanical.” This observation points to the challenge of translating animated magic into live action without losing its heart.
Clocking in at 2 hours and 5 minutes, the PG-rated film ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ blends action, fantasy, comedy, and emotional drama, aiming to captivate both returning fans and a new generation of viewers. With sweeping visuals and a strong adherence to its original narrative, “How to Train Your Dragon” may not reinvent the franchise, but it certainly rekindles its soaring spirit.
Whether you’re revisiting Berk or discovering it for the first time, the remake offers a nostalgic flight into a world where dragons and humans dare to trust one another.
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