When a beloved franchise is relaunch or rebooted, fans are no doubt going to be skeptical. Probably one of the most beloved DreamWorks franchises How To Train Your Dragon boasts three movies, Netflix series and merchandising for fans of all ages. So when the live action version of the movie was announced, and clips being shared with side by side shots of scenes that almost looked identical, it was hard to see just where this version of the movie would go.
Let’s be honest here, the last decade or more of live action remakes from Disney has made fans skeptical in general. Sure, there are one or two gems in the mix, but each recreation of the animated films seems to be just another updated animation technology and often feel like money grabs. So when How to Train Your Dragon unseated the live action Lilo and Stitch over the weekend – it might make you wonder, what makes it so different?
Not going into the debates about the changes in the Lilo and Stitch remake, How to Train Your Dragon just did one thing infinitely better – it kept the heart of the franchise the same. Yes, there are some changes in how a couple of the characters look, but the story is the same. No updating or changing stories to change the narrative. There isn’t any major plot changes. Really, if you have seen the original animated movie you know what’s going to happen – but here’s the thing – it still works.
How to Train Your Dragon just tells the story that fans want to see, and does it on a more epic scale. It brings Toothless to life in a beautiful 3D rendering. There’s no uncanny valley or half animated creatures or characters that make the movie feel off, and it seems that that every bit of the budget went into the film and the care of the story.
All of the issue that fans went into the theater expecting to have with the movie being just another remake – are quickly becoming the reason that fans are falling in love with the movie and franchise again. How to Train Your Dragon brings the story of unlikely friendship, of acceptance and change to the screen and now this version does it with some of the most stunning graphics we’ve seen so far.
How to Train Your Dragon is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
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About How To Train Your Dragon
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragontrilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).
How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world.
Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.