Last year, my daughter recommended a movie that I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to watch. This year I FINALLY watched it.
I just finished watching the 2010 DreamWorks Animation movie How to Train Your Dragon, and my daughter was right! This movie IS a joyous, colorful, and whimsical ride. (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois directed this beautiful, fun movie, and joined Will Davies in writing the screenplay. To them, I say thank you!)
The movie is based on the children’s books by Cressida Cowell, an Oxford English Literature major. While I haven’t read any of the nine books in her How to Train Your Dragon book series, I can tell you this: If they had been available when my children were young, they would have been a staple in our home! They truly look like a whole lot of fun for children, and let’s face it, reading should be a whole lot of fun!
Getting back to the movie… The premise is a “coming of age” story, where becoming a Viking means slaying your first dragon. Unfortunately for our hero (Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III), his dad (Stoick the Vast) happens to be the chief of the village, which in Viking terms mean his dad is TOUGH!
Hiccup just doesn’t fit into the Viking mentality… He is sensitive and inquisitive, by no means TOUGH! When given the opportunity to complete the dragon-slaying task, Hiccup has a difficult time wrestling with the dilemma of letting his father down or not being true to his beliefs.
As I don’t want to spoil the movie by saying too much, I won’t go into the movie’s details. What I will say is that I join my daughter in recommending this PG movie. There aren’t hidden “adult innuendos” (at least I didn’t pick up on any!) and the movie doesn’t need them to keep the adults entertained… It is that good! I will say that there are some “scarey” dragon scenes, which would be the reason the movie is PG and not G.
PS>>> I loved that Toothless (a Night Fury dragon) wasn’t a brightly colored, comical dragon. I also loved watching Toothless move>>> I wondered if the artists used a dog as their point of reference…
Ann says
I loved this movie too. Animation has come a long way.
Ann
Tracey says
The best thing about teaching fourth grade is you get to keep reading great children’s literature for life. My kids love this series. I used to hate movies based on books — the movie can never measure up — but I find my kids will read incredibly long, difficult novels if they fall in love with the movie. Inkheart and Earagon, and Percy Jackson are great reads too.
Sheila says
I went to see this movie with my nieces and nephew, a treat for them and, it turned out, a treat for me too! I loved the movie, maybe more than they did. Toothless is a wonderful character and brilliantly drawn and was also my favourite. Cosy mysteries are my favourite read (of course) but I also have a secret love of children’s stories, so having nephews and nieces is very useful to help me keep up!
karen says
I’m so glad to see that I’m not the only grown-up who enjoys movies made for kids (or are they?). I find there is no better way to “keep in touch” with the grandkids than to be able to talk with them about their favorite movies! I always request one of these movies for Mother’s Day, birthday, etc., and now the grandkids ask to borrow MY movies. Of course, the “How to Train Your Dragon” books are already on my shelf waiting for the little ones to come to Nana’s house so we can snuggle in the big wingback chair and read about their new friends!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I think that How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best movies I saw from 2010. It took me a while to finally watch it, and am I ever glad I did!
(How neat for all of you with little ones with whom you can share the love of reading!)