‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ Movie Review- a sequel done right
The sequel we’ve all been waiting for is finally here and it can be summed up in one word: spectacular
The first movie How To Train Your Dragon was released in 2010 and the 4 year wait until its sequel was almost excruciating but once I finally saw the Dreamworks animation, it was worth waiting every second.
As the movie began I was beyond pleased to hear the familiar soundtrack start playing. Like its predecessor the soundtrack of this movie has been composed by John Powell and where there is John Powell there is hope. The entire Original Soundtrack of the movie has been done so beautifully that it’s almost impossible to concentrate on the dialogues and not just close your eyes and drift into a world of dragons of your own you add a little music. whilst Powell’s beautiful masterpiece plays in the background. As I always say the music is a crucial part of a movie even more than the actual dialogues because it is the music that gives the dialogues some life, some meaning. Everything’s better when
There is a scene little way into the movie where Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and Astrid (America Ferrera) are having an argument. Now this comes as no surprise because Hiccup has many different arguments with various characters in both movies but it is the topic of the argument that shapes the story-line. And it is the way the argument is laid out that makes How To Train Your Dragon the amazing movie it is. In the argument Hiccup and Astrid have the foreground while their dragons, Astrid’s Stormfly and Hiccup’s Toothless, have the background. While our characters are having an intense discussion their dragons are busy playing like two adorable puppies (lets face it they’re more adorable than puppies) and this is what is so impressive about the movie; often what goes on in the background is more important and gives us more insight into their world.
As perfect as How To Train Your Dragon was, what it lacked was giving us more insight into the world of Vikings and Berk and Dragons, it looked slightly unfinished. With How To Train Your Dragon 2 the opposite can be said. Part 2 was more impressively done than its predecessor.
How To Train Your Dragon 2 expands its universe in many ways. You get to see more and more new kinds of dragons appear on the screen and it continues to build up the various relationships between the characters especially the parent-child relationships which is great because after all when you get right down to it family is the most important thing you have and it is a well taught lesson in every animated movie.
Another remarkable aspect of this movie is how much it dives into the whole animal/master relationship. Important lessons of always being kind and gentle towards animals are present throughout the movie as they were in its predecessor.
How To Train Your Dragon has always been, in my opinion one of the best animated movies to grace the screens. No matter how many times you see it never seems to get old. With its magical score, beautiful visual effects, cinematography, exploration of various themes this movie has been a complete accomplishment and I for one cannot wait to see what they do with the next one.