How to Train Your Dragon 2
Director: Dean Deblois
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Randy Thom
When their dragons are threatened by a mysterious entity known only as Drago, a young warrior named Hiccup must rise to unite the broken pieces of his family and protect his clan from a malevolent force that threatens to destroy them all.
One of the major themes that the film focuses on is leadership. In the beginning, it is established that Hiccup’s father, Stoik, wants his son to take up the mantle of leadership in their village and become the clan’s chief. Although this title is meant to be taken as an honor, Hiccup initially sees it as a burden and he struggles with understanding what being a leader truly means. While Hiccup’s father defines being a true leader as one who chooses the path of war in times of crisis, his mother, Valka, shares Hiccup’s belief that a true leader is one who is the voice of patience and reason. Ultimately, Hiccup learns that the essence of being a chief is in knowing when to be the voice of reason and when to fight for the things that you love. It was not exclusively one or the other, but a combination of both which allowed Hiccup to become the leader that his people needed.
Love is also a powerful theme that is woven intimately throughout the story. While Valka and Hiccup share a common love for dragons which is illustrated in their willingness to accept them as friends rather than savage monsters, the love shared between Hiccup and his father, while just as strong, is more understated. Both of Hiccup’s parents share the same desire. They both want to protect the things they love most. Although their love for Hiccup is expressed in uniquely different ways, it is that same love that compels each of them to make extraordinary sacrifices in order to protect both the dragons and their son from the impending danger that seeks to destroy them all.
The love shared between Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, is also incredibly strong. When they are soaring through the skies together, there is an undeniable trust shared between them when Hiccup leaves his friend’s back to fly alone. Even when he is in situations where he is facing imminent danger, he knows instinctively that Toothless will always be there to protect him. That trust that is established early in the film is foreshadowing for the relationship shown between these two characters as the story plays out. It was Hiccup’s love for Toothless that allowed him to break the shackles of control that made Toothless a prisoner at the mercy of a malevolent enemy. It is that same love which allowed the friendship between Toothless and Hiccup to be restored. Likewise, it was Toothless’s love for his human friend that saved Hiccup from meeting imminent death at the hands of an equally deadly foe.
I am very rarely impressed by sequels, especially in animated films, but How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a film that not only equals its predecessor but surpasses it. The animation is stunning, the casting is exceptional, and the film combines humor, adventure and even a little bit of romance to create a truly heartfelt and powerful story. If you enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon, this is a film that I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Dean Deblois
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Randy Thom
When their dragons are threatened by a mysterious entity known only as Drago, a young warrior named Hiccup must rise to unite the broken pieces of his family and protect his clan from a malevolent force that threatens to destroy them all.
One of the major themes that the film focuses on is leadership. In the beginning, it is established that Hiccup’s father, Stoik, wants his son to take up the mantle of leadership in their village and become the clan’s chief. Although this title is meant to be taken as an honor, Hiccup initially sees it as a burden and he struggles with understanding what being a leader truly means. While Hiccup’s father defines being a true leader as one who chooses the path of war in times of crisis, his mother, Valka, shares Hiccup’s belief that a true leader is one who is the voice of patience and reason. Ultimately, Hiccup learns that the essence of being a chief is in knowing when to be the voice of reason and when to fight for the things that you love. It was not exclusively one or the other, but a combination of both which allowed Hiccup to become the leader that his people needed.
Love is also a powerful theme that is woven intimately throughout the story. While Valka and Hiccup share a common love for dragons which is illustrated in their willingness to accept them as friends rather than savage monsters, the love shared between Hiccup and his father, while just as strong, is more understated. Both of Hiccup’s parents share the same desire. They both want to protect the things they love most. Although their love for Hiccup is expressed in uniquely different ways, it is that same love that compels each of them to make extraordinary sacrifices in order to protect both the dragons and their son from the impending danger that seeks to destroy them all.
The love shared between Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, is also incredibly strong. When they are soaring through the skies together, there is an undeniable trust shared between them when Hiccup leaves his friend’s back to fly alone. Even when he is in situations where he is facing imminent danger, he knows instinctively that Toothless will always be there to protect him. That trust that is established early in the film is foreshadowing for the relationship shown between these two characters as the story plays out. It was Hiccup’s love for Toothless that allowed him to break the shackles of control that made Toothless a prisoner at the mercy of a malevolent enemy. It is that same love which allowed the friendship between Toothless and Hiccup to be restored. Likewise, it was Toothless’s love for his human friend that saved Hiccup from meeting imminent death at the hands of an equally deadly foe.
I am very rarely impressed by sequels, especially in animated films, but How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a film that not only equals its predecessor but surpasses it. The animation is stunning, the casting is exceptional, and the film combines humor, adventure and even a little bit of romance to create a truly heartfelt and powerful story. If you enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon, this is a film that I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.