HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
US, 2014, 102 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchette, America Ferrara, Djimon Hounsou, Jonah Hill, Craig Ferguson, Kristin Wiig, Christopher Mintz- Plasse.
Directed by Dean De Blois.
How to Training your Dragon was a very entertaining animated film of 2010. It had colour, it had verve, it had interesting characters and plenty of action, Dragon flights included. It was set in the Viking island of Berk, ruled by Stoick the Vast, voiced by Gerard Butler, and focused on his young, less than bulky, less than Vast, son, Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel. It is time for an entertaining sequel.
There was a lightness in humour about the first film, retained for the second, but in the context which is somewhat darker, somewhat grimmer.
Stoick is still there, wanting his son to take over as Chief, but Hiccup is reluctant, comparing himself to his father and finding himself wanting. Nevertheless, he and his faithful dragon, Toothless, so prominent in the first film, take joy flights and hang-gliding escapades, discovering a far country of rock and glacial ice. They also discover Dragon Hunters who have to deliver to an overall ruler, Drago, voiced by Djimon Hounsou. Stoick tells Hiccup the story of Drago and his attempts at Viking dominance. Clearly, battlelines will be drawn, especially when it is discovered the Drago has a whole host of captive dragons.
But the big surprise is that Hiccup discovers his mother, Valka, voiced by Cate Blanchett. She has been missing for over 20 years, thought dead – and her return brings great joy, and happy reminiscences, for Stoick, and a whole new dimension of family for Hiccup.
Hiccup has a plan to defeat Drago but believes in peaceful negotiations rather than battles. Perhaps it is inevitable that battles ensue in a confrontation with Drago with some heroism for both Hiccup and Toothless (who has been captured, used by Drago, with Hiccup having to do some kind of psychological hypnotic therapy to return Toothless’s consciousness to normal).
The film opens with the young people of Berk involved in rather Quidditch-type dragon races through the air – and finishes with them after the adventure.
Lots of interesting characters, especially Hiccup’s girlfriend, Astrid, voiced by America Ferrara, and the various friends who sound like Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse?, Kristin Wiig.
No objections to further Berk adventures and more dragon-training!
1. The appeal of the first film? A continuation of the story? Satisfying sequel? Place, characters, Dragons, action, comedy?
2. The visuals, the layouts, the delineation of characters, costumes, the Dragons? Action sequences? The musical score?
3. The initial race, the visuals, the action, its verve, the Dragons, the Vikings racing them, catching the sheep? Introduction to the characters again? Stoick and his kingdom, is advises, the children? The background of the Vikings, the culture, the Dragons?
4. Hiccup and Astrid, the past, their friendship, her strength of mind, Hiccup listening to her, each with their dragon? The ride, finding new lands, the peaks and the ice? Compiling the map?
5. Hiccup, his bond with Toothless, their raids, the freefall, gliding through the air and exhilaration?
6. Meeting the Dragon Hunters, their nets shot into the year? Toothless, being caught, the head of the Hunters, the confrontation, the story, the expectations from Drago, Dragons to be delivered the next day? Hiccup and toothless, Toothless’ escape?
7. Hiccup trying to tell his father about the Dragon Hunters, his father wanting him to consent to be the Chief? Stoick and the people coming with their petitions? Stoick and his story about Drago, his visit in the past, sinister, his threats?
8. Hiccup and his quest, meeting his mother, the revelation, the absence of 20 years, the reasons? The bond and love? Her helping him? Encouragement? Her return, talking with Stoick, the memories, the dance and the song, the tenderness?
9. Hiccup and his peace quest, planning to be captured, unarmed, with Astrid, the young Vikings arriving and spoiling the plan?
10. Stoick, his forces, the battles, the confrontation with Drago, Hiccup’s mother, the Dragons being taken? The cave with all the new Dragons? Alpha and his standing guard?
11. Stoick’s death, the solemnity of the Viking funeral?
12. Seeming defeat, Hiccup and Astrid, finding the baby Dragons and the group riding them?
13. The siege, Alpha, destruction of Offer, Drago and his confidence, the attacks, the manoeuvres? Drago with Toothless, Hiccup and his focusing on Toothless’s consciousness? Together, the ice, the flights, the Dragons falling on people, the heat?
14. Hiccup becoming Chief, saying that he was not to be his father, in his own right, support of his mother, support of Astrid, his friends, the adviser? The conversion of the dragon hunter and his support?
15. The races resuming, and the explanation of Berk as a very happy Viking kingdom?
