Film Review: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Hiccup riding on Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon

The best animated film that I have seen!

Genre: Animation
Voices: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, TJ Miller, Kristen Wiig
Director: Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois

Viggy and I have watched this animated film many times on TV and it has always left me completely happy. I was super-thrilled when Viggy downloaded How To Train Your Dragon on our PC and that too an awesome print. We watched it yet again last week. 

THE STORY

All the people from the many Viking villages have left for good unable to put up with the dragon menace. But the tenacious Vikings of Berk Island refuse to leave. They decide to fight the dragons and eke out a tough living. Young Hiccup is the village Chieftain’s son. While kids from other families train to slay dragons at a very young age, Hiccup is too timid to face the fire-breathers. 

It is quite by chance Hiccup brings down the Night Fury, one of the fiercest dragons, breaking a part of its tail wing. This heart-warming tale goes on to show how Hiccup and Night Fury, named Toothless, become the best of friends as Hiccup learns to conquer his fear and goes on to become a hero. 

MY PERCEPTION

This is the most awesome animated film that I have ever seen. Hiccup is very endearing and Toothless more so. While the fierce Vikings fight their way through life, Hiccup teaches them how to befriend dragons and make use of them to help in their lives. 

The scenes are presented beautifully – at the chief’s home; the blacksmith’s workshop; the ships at sea; the youngsters learning to fight different types of dragons; Hiccup bungling his way through the training sessions but turning up Aces every time – you name it and the scene touches your heart. 

The finale is quite nail-biting and keeps one screaming for more. 

VERDICT: I loved this one. If you like animation and stories of love and valour, then this one is definitely for you. 

*Silly
**Shaky
***Smart
****Snazzy
*****Super

Film Review: KUNG FU PANDA 2 (in 3D)

Voices: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Gary Oldman, Dustin Hoffman, Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Director: Jennifer Yuh

I was thrilled when my son Viggy told me that there were a couple of paid premiere shows for this film at Cinemax Sion. Both of us could catch the 3.45 pm show and get to see ‘His Awesomeness’ in action.

The Story: Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) is a white peacock who makes fireworks. His parents are the rulers of the kingdom and while they love their son, they don’t like the destruction his fireworks bring to everyone. Lord Shen leaves the palace when he is banished. This had been years ago. Cut to the present, Po (Jack Black) and his cohorts, the Furious Five including Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross) and Viper (Lucy Liu) act as protectors for everyone. Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) tells them that Lord Shen has returned and taken over the palace after killing Thundering Rhino (Victor Garber). Lord Shen has also created a mammoth missile that could destroy the whole of China with fireworks. Will Po be equal to facing this evil peacock? Will he and the Furious Five be able to save the country from being destroyed completely?

My Perception: The sequel to Kung Fu Panda is as good as the first one, if not better. The animation in 3D is fantastic. The one and a half hour movie kept me gripped to my seat with the action and animation competing with one another for supremacy. The scenes are so well created that the viewer is transported to medieval China with the great detailing.

The dialogues were excellent with humour woven throughout as Po is portrayed as a buffoon who loves food. But the glutton also proves himself to be a great hero yet again.

I also enjoyed the couple of emotional scenes that were absolutely moving. I don’t want to say more than this so that I don’t give away the story.

This Trailer will clue you in to what you can expect

Verdict: A must see and there is no doubt about it.

Rating: ***** Super

* Silly
** Shaky
*** Smart
**** Snazzy
***** Super