The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

How to Train Your Dragon: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III & Toothless…

January 16, 2011

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…

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

5 Comments - Click Here to Read the Comments or to Add Another

Comments

  1. Ann says

    January 16, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    I loved this movie too. Animation has come a long way.
    Ann

    Reply
  2. Tracey says

    January 16, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    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.

    Reply
  3. Sheila says

    January 17, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    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!

    Reply
  4. karen says

    January 18, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    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!!!

    Reply
  5. Danna - cozy mystery list says

    January 18, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    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!)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please don't tell us about Cozy Mystery authors or books you don't enjoy.

Please use a nickname or your first name and last initial (unless you are an author and want your full name to appear).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search the Site

Subscribe to Blog Post Email Alerts

  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Free & Cheap Kindle Mystery Books
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook

Recent Posts

  • March 6 to March 19, 2023
  • Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries
  • Cozy Mystery News: Hallmark Aurora Teagarden Continuing
  • April 2023 Mystery Book New Releases
  • Scottish Television Mystery Series: Taggart

Recent Comments

  • Danna - cozy mystery list on Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries
  • Danna - cozy mystery list on Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries
  • Debra Sewell on Great Narrators of Mystery Books on Tape… Pt. 2
  • MJ on Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries
  • Lesley on Ellie Alexander: Sloan Krause Mysteries

Cozy Mystery List Home | Affiliate Disclosure | Cozy Mystery Blog Home  | Cozy Mystery Blog Sitemap | Privacy Policy  | Contact Me   | About |

Copyright © 2006-2023, Cozy-Mystery.Com, All rights reserved.
A Guide to Cozy Mystery Books, Movies, and TV


MENU
  • Cozy Mystery Blog Home
  • Cozy Mystery Site
  • Soon to be Released Mysteries
  • Cozies by Themes
  • New Mystery Releases
  • New Mystery Series
  • Cozy Mystery Recommendations
  • Most Popular and Recommended Cozy Mystery Series
  • Free & Cheap Kindle Mystery Books
  • Holiday Mystery Book Lists
  • What Is a Cozy?
  • TV and Movies
  • Author Interviews
  • Cozy-Mystery.com on Facebook