The third film in the franchise, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, will give you dragon love! Dean Dubois who has co-directed and co-wrote the screenplay of the first Dragon, wrote and directed Dragon 2, and returns to write and direct the final How to Train Your Dragon film. The movies are of course based on the book series by Cressida Cowell. You can watch this film having not seen the others, but there are certain plot points and characters that enrich viewers who have seen all of the movies. I missed seeing the first Dragon in theaters, mistake, but did see the second movie. I tried to read the first book, but found the animated film to be a stronger story. The best part of these films is that there is actual character development and the passage of time. There were television series, Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, and Race to the Edge with a total of eight seasons. In 2013, I saw the How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular, I loved it! There is a land devoted to the movie at Motiongate Theme Park Dubai. Now you can meet and greet Toothless at Universal Studios theme parks.
The opening of the film is foggy, on a ship of the Dragon Hunters, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is in black dragon scale armor. This is an invention that Hiccup has invented after Dragon 2. Hiccup’s weapon is the Inferno, a flaming sword, that appeared in the Dragons: Race to the Edge episode “Tone Death”, and Dragon 2. Hiccup had lost his leg in Dragon 1 and replaced it with a peg leg that helps him ride Toothless. Hiccup’s dragon is a Nightfury, who is the last of his kind, cat-like eyes and gestures, and he can blast lightning. His tail was damaged in the first Dragon so Hiccup invented a kite that he works with to help Toothless fly. He is joined by his fellow Dragon Riders and friends; brash Snoutlout (Jonah Hill), brave Astrid (America Ferrera), bickering twins, Tuffnut (Justin Rupple replacing controversial T.J. Miller), and Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig), and lastly bulky Fishlegs (Christopher Minz-Plasse). They attempt to free the caged dragons. Astrid is of course Hiccup’s fierce warrior companion, support, and romantic interest. Snoutlout is not only boisterous, but seems to be interested in Valka, Hiccup’s mother(?). The dragon rescue is watched over by Valka (Cate Blanchett) who was discovered in Dragon 2.
Hiccup’s other invention is his glider wings that lets him fly like a dragon. The glider suit appeared in the Race to the Edge episode, "The Next Big Sting" (2015), and modified in this movie. The action is a fun introduction to the characters and their mission to save all of the dragons. The Dragon Riders return to their island home of Burk, but left behind is the camouflaged dragon with blue eyes. They return to Burk which is now a thriving island with colorful Tinkertoy-like structures and dragons. Hiccup has established a haven for dragons and Vikings as the new chief taking over from his father. At Burk also is trusted advisor, Gobber (Craig Ferguson), and Eret (Kit Harington), a former rival turned ally who appeared in Dragon 2. Gobber is interested in Hiccup to marry Astrid and Tuffnut advises him about romance. This is strange since Fishlegs was Hiccup’s close friend, but he seems to only care for his baby gronckle, a dragon that seems to be a round mouth, teeth, and wings. The massive dragon with antlers that was rescued from the Dragon Hunters also looks after the gronkle. Gobber notes to Hiccup that there is always a greater danger out there.
The new danger comes in the form of Grimmel (F. Murray Abraham) who can take down any dragon and revels in his fame as Dragon Hunter. I could not recognize Abraham’s voice, his Grimmel is absolutely ruthless, patient, and ten steps ahead of the others. Grimmel has dragons, Deathgrippers, that look part-rhinoceros, has a scorpion sting tail, and breathe acid! They have collars that inject poison to control them, Hiccup is never able to break the collars and let the dragons free. Hiccup thinks back to his father, Stoick (Gerald Butler) who tells Hiccup (AJ Kane) when he was younger about the Hidden World, the homeland of the dragons at the edge of the world. Toothless discovers what Astrid dubs the Lightfury, a dragon with pearlescent wings and blue eyes. They meet in a secluded forest like Hiccup's first meeting with Toothless. Of course, Toothless and the Lightfury parallel Hiccup and Astrid. Grimmel invades Hiccup’s home so Hiccup has the entire village travel to the Hidden World. They find a new island, New Burk?, which is more secluded and spacious. The later flirtation between Toothless and the Lightfury is charming, one of my favorite dragon scenes of any movie, and hilarious when he is coached by Hiccup. The Hidden World itself is more beautiful than anything seen on Avatar’s Pandora. The ending is a poignant conclusion to Hiccup’s story. It looks like the adventures will continue with the video game, Dragons: Dawn of New Riders out now.
Four Dragons out of Five!
#HowtoTrainYourDragon, #DeanDeBlois, #JayBaruchel, #AmericaFerrera
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