Thursday, June 12, 2014

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (A)

Bottom Line: Daring to soar where most sequels only dream, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 is that rare beast that comes dangerously close to besting its magnificent predecessor.  And in some respects, it actually does…  The art of motion picture animation has advanced over the past few years – so we’ve got a cleaner, crisper tale on our hands this time out – easy to watch, pleasing to the eye.  The story of an impending dragon army corralled by the evil Drago is thrilling – with wonderful yet familiar themes of friendship, family and duty all at play.  We’re also introduced to a few new inhabitants that all fit in nicely within the established wonderland of K9-like dragons and their Viking counterparts.  The character design involved it breathtakingly brilliant!  This follow up is an expertly written, colorfully created and stoically stupendous blast – a marvelous treat for the eyes, ears and heart.  Action and suspense thrive at every turn and its comedic beats, blossoming from the situations at hand, are never forced. Our heroes have grown both in body and mind and the bond with their neighborly dragons has never been stronger – in that respect, an argument could be made that the whimsical element of discovery is missing.  Best to avoid the shallow troll that rides the wings of that belief…  This is a movie with heart and soul to spare – an excitingly high-flying, family adventure that my family fell in love with…  Now yours can too!
 
Starring the voices of: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Cristopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harrington, Cate Blanchett and Djimon Hounsou
Directed by: Dean DeBlois (HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, LILO & STITCH and MULAN)
Running time: 105 minutes
Studio description: DreamWorks Animation returns to the world of dragons and Vikings in this sequel to their successful 2010 outing How to Train Your Dragon. The original film followed the exploits of a Viking chief's son, who must capture a dragon in order to mark his passage into manhood and prove his worthiness to the tribe.

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