Showing posts with label How To Train Your Dragon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How To Train Your Dragon. Show all posts
50 Movies in 50 Days – Movies, Movies, Movies
Day 5 (10/26)
My theatrical fun for the week was done with Anonymous. But that doesn’t mean I’m done this week, OH NO!
First up, I was perusing the selections on HBO GO and came across a documentary I had missed that I really wanted to check out, Dirty Driving; Thundercars of Indiana. For those of you who know me, you know I love documentaries on every subject imaginable. And in my past I’ve seen a number of short track races…this was fascinating and quick. Just under 70 minutes of bumper to bumper action (both on and off the track) in a town that loves racing. It’s set up to go off HBO GO on 10/31 but hopefully it will take another run, or you can find it elsewhere.
Followed that up with another HBO GO title, one I haven’t seen in awhile and it helped me get in the mood for Halloween, the original The Amityville Horror. The overbearing music, the creepy happenings and James Brolin’s wild facial hair are the stars in this creepy film. I still remember reading the book as a kid and being creeped out for days! The movie holds up ok, but I can definitely recommend it.
Day 6 (10/27)
Time to check out a classic, Caddyshack. I love to revisit this film at least once a year, and with a lull in titles (Since Fox didn’t want to show In Time) I was game.
Day 7 (10/28)
Two titles for the day…first up was a chance to revisit the boys. You know the boys who had RE-premiered a day earlier on MTV. Beavis and Butthead Do America. Hard to believe that the film is 15 years old, but most of the jokes are just as inane and funny as they were then! Some fall a little flat, but to spend some time with the Great Cornholio in search of their TV and scoring….well was pretty fun!
Second up one that surpised me (tried to watch Your Highness on BluRay rental from Blockbuster – but Universal Blu – Ray rental disc never work right in my PS3….so moved on instead to Legendary. You know the movie about wrestling and coping with John Cena from the WWE. Oh, you don’t know? Well this was a bit better than one could hope for as the talented Patricia Clarkson starred with Danny Glover and Cena in this one. Sure its formula, but it was solid for the most part.
Day 8 (10/29)
An outdoor viewing took place of How To Train Your Dragon – as part of a Halloween party. Great outdoor viewing with good friends…despite being REALLY COLD I enjoyed sitting with my daughter and watching – though she quickly headed for the fire!
Then we had to leave (they had Frailty up next – one of my FAVORITE scares…but my daughter is 7 and it was approaching 9PM…couldn’t do it). But my wife showed an interest in a scary movie – dug up Carriers which wasn’t as scary as one might hope for, but a decent little horror flick for the end of a long day.
Day 9 (10/30)
It’s a Sunday – God rested, and so did I! No movies, a little football, a little trick or treat, some light reading but no movies….but I started Day 10 (Halloween) with a movie at MIDNIGHT CT – more on that next time.
Summary – Through Day 9 (11 Movies Viewed - Puss in Boots, The Double, Monte Carlo, Anonymous, Dirty Driving: Thundercars of Indiana, The Amityville Horror, Caddyshack, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Legendary, How To Train Your Dragon, Carriers)
Dragons…EVERYWHERE!!!
How to Train Your Dragon rode into theaters in 2010 and surprised me. It delivered a fun, quick-witted adventure for kids and adults alike while exploding from the screen visually. I was a bit
skeptical when they announced the sequel. Could they maintain what they had? Or would this feel like another cash in of some quick dollars? Alas – this dragon is still breathing fire and flying as fast and high as ever.
Here, the dragons are like a dog would be. Lovable, loyal and fun to look at throughout, you want them to succeed and that is how we relate to them, as a family pet. Hiccup and Astrid have grown, and we are still intrigued by the relationship and cheering for the growth.
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How to Train Your Dragon rode into theaters in 2010 and surprised me. It delivered a fun, quick-witted adventure for kids and adults alike while exploding from the screen visually. I was a bit
For this film, dragons have now begun to be accepted. They are pets and friends. They are an integral part of life. Hiccup is still around and he’s grown! His Night Fury, Toothless, and him are still friends and they are exploring the areas that there are no maps for. On one of those journeys they find that they are not alone. There are those who wish to create a dragon army and control the world. And there are Dragon Rider’s that are trying to save the dragons from this fate. But there is more than meets the eye to the mysterious Dragon Rider.
Dragons do exist and are friends to the humans around. Now can Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Astrid (America Ferrera)and the mysterious Dragon Rider join forces to try and help the dragons not only survive, but prosper for generations to come. But are they too late?
Story, it’s all about story. Sure visuals in this latest installment are spot on. Even having seen it in 3D the bright colors and visually stunning landscapes pop from the screen. (3D is notorious for its dark feel and muted colors.) But this all doesn’t work without a story that makes you believe in the dragons themselves.
Here, the dragons are like a dog would be. Lovable, loyal and fun to look at throughout, you want them to succeed and that is how we relate to them, as a family pet. Hiccup and Astrid have grown, and we are still intrigued by the relationship and cheering for the growth.
Instead of the typical tone of animated films where characters never grow, these characters have gotten older and yet we still relate to them and want them to succeed. It’s due to the filmmakers and the story they have presented that we still love dragons.
B+
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Dreamworks Animation / 20thCentury Fox Pictures
Director: Dean DeBlois
Voice Cast: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
Rating: PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor.
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes