How To Train Your Dragon (Live Action) Review – Is it a Success?
In the dark ages we live in, filled with factory produced remake after remake, I approached the How to Train Your Dragon live action film with mixed feelings. On one hand, I was unbelievably excited. I have loved this movie my entire life and being able to relive the adventure on the big screen once more would be miraculous. On the other hand, seeing as how pathetically studios have botched Snow White, The Lion King, Pinocchio, etc. I became increasingly nervous the longer I awaited this movie’s arrival.
Out of every animated classic to receive a live action adaptation, How To Train Your Dragon is far and away my favorite. Very few animated movies have impacted me the way it has. The typical criticisms of remakes ran through my head as I watched the trailer for the first time. Is this going to be a shot for shot remake devoid of all life and character? Will they fundamentally misunderstand the original story, trying to put a deplorable modern twist on it? Will it justify its own existence at all?
Live action remakes are such a difficult aspect of film to approach, and I really struggled on how I was going to view this one. Even at their absolute best, could any live action remake improve on its animated predecessor? Rather than trying to compare every little detail to the animated movie, I decided to approach this one differently. Prior to seeing it, I made a list of 3 scenes. These 3 scenes are the fundamental core of How To Train Your Dragon, and to swing and miss on any one of them would leave a sour taste in my mouth.
The Scenes Are:
I told myself walking into the theater that if this version of How to Train Your Dragon could get these three scenes right, it would be a success. To execute these scenes correctly would recapture the spirit of the original, and I’m very grateful to say this film did just that.
Forbidden Friendship
This was my favorite scene in the entire movie. The best decision the filmmakers made in this process was bringing back John Powell for the score. The original How to Train Your Dragon has the best soundtrack in animation history, and if they had changed the music at all I would have found it hard to enjoy this movie. Luckily, John Powell returns, keeping the musical themes the same and making some minor changes to fit the new adaptation. This scene is Powell’s work at its best. With no dialogue, we see Hiccup and Toothless interact for the first time as friends.
The music is soft, subtle, yet so moving. As the scene progresses with the characters drawing in the sand, the music builds and builds until it silences, followed by a chorus of soft voices. Hiccup reaches out his arm and for the first time, Toothless pushes his head forward and touches him. It’s an astonishing moment, and one the live action film recaptures from the animated one as perfectly as they could have. (Go listen to the track “A Really Forbidden Friendship” and I’d be shocked if you didn’t agree with me even if you haven’t seen the movie yet.)
Test Drive
Hiccup and Toothless’s first flight is nothing short of spectacular. They soar through the sky and we as the audience feel as if we are right there with them. When Hiccup falls and the mood suddenly shifts, the audience can feel the intensity. And when they prevail and fly around the cliffs like a leaf in the wind, it’s a moment that can’t help but leave a smile on your face. Powell captures the epic scope of this scene so well, and I felt like a kid again watching it.
Romantic Flight
This scene had me the most nervous. One minor criticism I had of the new How to Train Your Dragon is that Hiccup and Astrid’s relationship didn’t feel nearly as organic as in the original. Leading up to this scene I was bracing myself for disappointment. Luckily, the breathtaking visuals of their flight across Berk left me completely in awe, and it helped me connect to the characters more than I had previously.
When they break through the clouds and into the night sky, I was completely speechless. Not to sound like a broken record, but the soundtrack takes this scene from good to great. Rather than sticking with the same musical theme as used earlier in the film, Powell opts for a single violin, and by stripping the scope of the orchestra, we’re able to focus simply on the visual. It’s a moment executed to perfection.
A lot of people have said this film is a copy and paste job, and to be honest they aren’t wrong. But something about it feels different than The Lion King. I’m not sure if it’s simply how much more I like the original story but seeing this film in the theater I was right back in my living room as a 10-year-old. The live action How to Train Your Dragon was beautiful, and it’s one of very few remakes I’m glad exists.
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An excellent review, Aidan, with a good combination of technical details, storytelling, and emotion. A good story is a good story, and you analyzied it well!