Director Dean DeBlois recently completed adapting DreamWorks’ renowned film “How to Train Your Dragon” into a live action film. DeBlois was a co-director for the animated version of the film that was released in 2010. Fans were captivated by the bond between the main character, Hiccup, and his dragon, Toothless, in the original movie. The success of the movie was immediate, resulting in two other animated movies, completing the full animated trilogy. The live action film by DeBlois began filming early in 2024 and was released on June 13 of this year.
The tale follows Hiccup (Mason Thames) as he challenges the views of his fellow vikings. Living on the Isle of Berk, every viking is expected to join the war against dragons. At first, Hiccup wants to impress his father (Gerard Butler) by killing a dragon. His father also being the island’s chief, Hiccup feels a responsibility to impress him and the rest of the vikings on the island. Hiccup uses one of his own inventions during the opening battle scene, hoping to shoot down a dragon and impress his father. He becomes ecstatic when he successfully shoots down the infamous Night Fury. However, after discovering the Night Fury, later known as Toothless, Hiccup begins to question the war between the vikings and dragons.
While Hiccup is dealing with this internal struggle, he is simultaneously competing against other teenagers on the island to earn the honor of killing a dragon. Those also in the competition include Astrid (Nico Parker), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), and twins Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn). They are mentored and supervised by Gobber (Nick Frost), who gives them limited advice when dealing with in-person encounters with dragons. While Hiccup is initially at the bottom of the group in terms of capabilities, his time with Toothless allows him to gain knowledge about dragons.
Throughout the movie, Hiccup is conflicted between his own morals and the island’s expectations. Themes such as friendship, family, and defying traditions are all incorporated during the duration of the movie. These messages are highly valuable for a younger audience because they can teach lessons and foster empathy among viewers.
While watching the movie, I was constantly impressed by the similarities with the original. Unlike other live action films, DeBlois ensured that “How to Train Your Dragon” did not stray far from the original. The live action movie only had some minor changes that differentiated it from the animated movie, such as the casting for Astrid, the slower pace, and the building of more complex relationships. While there was some controversy surrounding some of these decisions, I do not think that it took away from the joy of the movie. In fact, I believe that the live action movie was able to enhance the message through building more complex relationships.
A decision I was particularly excited to see was DeBlois seeking out composer John Powell for the movie. Powell is a film music composer who composed the music for the animated trilogy. His score received an abundance of recognition, resulting in it being nominated for an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA). His contribution to the live action film was another factor that elevated the live action.
“How to Train Your Dragon” is a must watch for everyone, no matter the age. The plot is amusing and enlightening, reminding the audience to embrace curiosity and challenge certain flawed expectations. DreamWorks announced that “How to Train Your Dragon 2” is scheduled to release in June 2027. DeBlois and other main actors are expected to return to their roles during filming.
