A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 25 wins & 63 nominations total
- Hiccup
- (voice)
- Stoick
- (voice)
- Gobber
- (voice)
- Astrid
- (voice)
- Snotlout
- (voice)
- Tuffnut
- (voice)
- (as TJ Miller)
- Ruffnut
- (voice)
- Ack
- (voice)
- Starkard
- (voice)
- Spitelout
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe hesitation Toothless shows during the famous "touch" scene was actually an animation error. However, it looked so perfect that the animators chose to leave it in the film.
- GoofsThe Vikings' accent is Scottish, not Scandinavian. However, the Vikings settled large portions of Scotland, including the Inner Hebrides where the fictitious colony of Berk is shown to be located, and this is the movie's way of reminding us of this.
- Quotes
Hiccup: [about the Night Fury] I really did hit one.
Gobber: Sure.
Hiccup: He never listens!
Gobber: Well, it runs in the family.
Hiccup: And when he does, it's always with this... disappointed scowl, like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich.
[imitating]
Hiccup: "Excuse me, barmaid! I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring! I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms, extra guts and glory on the side. This here, this is a talking fish-bone!"
Gobber: Now, you're thinkin' about this all wrong. It's not so much what you *look* like, it's what's *inside* that he can't stand.
[pause]
Hiccup: [sarcastic] Thank you for summing that up.
Gobber: Look the point is, stop trying so hard to be something you're not!
Hiccup: I just wanna be one of you guys!
- Crazy creditsThe title doesn't appear on screen until the end.
- Alternate versionsThe 2019 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray printing add the 2013 Universal Pictures logo and omits the closing 2002 Paramount Pictures logo.
- SoundtracksSticks and Stones
Written by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jónsi)
Performed by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jónsi)
Produced and Mixed by Alex Somers & Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jónsi)
Courtesy of EMI Records, Ltd.
[Plays over the first part of the main-on-end credits, just after the main title]
The latest 3-D film to fly into theatres in so many weeks is also the best of its format (story wise), making Burton's overblown misfire Alice in Wonderland look even more pitiful. Dragon will no doubt enamour kids (excuse the cliché) of all ages while keeping parents not only awake but equally enthralled. This movie is sure to tug the hearts of anyone who has ever loved a pet and will undoubtedly draw tears from those who are so inclined.
The texture that can be created from today's CG technology never ceases to amaze. Consider a beautiful tracking shot of a downed dragon where the twisted wing that protrudes towards the screen is actually out of focus, as if you yourself were staring awestruck at the giant lizard that lay before you in real, tangible life. I did not have the pleasure to viewing How to Train Your Dragon in 3-D but I have heard great things and even without having paid a surcharge the film does in no way suffer as a result. The narrative, visuals, writing and voicework is ample reason to seek out Dragon and frankly is the real heart of the movie anyways.
On the Island of Berk, the Viking community that lives there does not fear a rival tribe, the weather or disease but rather a much more toothy threat: dragons. Nightly raids by the winged beasts have forged a great hatred upon the tribe and led by the aptly named Stoik the Vast (Gerard Butler) they wage war with the intent to rid themselves of dragons once and for all. This is not a feeling shared by Stoik's scrawny son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) who favours non-lethal tactics as much as he does blacksmithing. Much to Hiccup's surprise, during one of the aforementioned raids he is able to down a dragon with one of his contraptions. Intent on proving his manhood to Stoik, he seeks out to find the dragon know as a Night Fury but finds himself unable to slay his scaly foe. So begins an unlikely and forbidden friendship with the later named Toothless that follows a time-tested but absolutely rewarding arc that is as enthralling as it is touching.
Joining Butler and Baruchel, both of whom give excellent performances (with Butler recapturing some of his 300 mojo), are the likes of Craig Fergusson as the Viking blacksmith, America Ferrera as the feisty object of Hiccup's affections and a whole slice of the Apatow gang including Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Jonah Hill as other young warriors. Much like WALL-E, Toothless exhibits oodles of personality and is endlessly endearing. To achieve this level of depth is perhaps even more impressive due to the fact that he never utters a word and must emote through non-verbal means.
Along with Kung Fu Panda this movie represents the highest ilk of the Dreamworks repertoire and that is not a backhanded compliment by any means. Like Panda, there are thrilling and well choreographed action sequences to compliment the heart, and plenty of humour to keep this from becoming too much of a dramatic slog for younger theatre goers. Teenager or adult, fan or animation or not if you like truly good cinema, you will not be unsatisfied by How to Train Your Dragon.
Read all my reviews at simonsaysmovies.blogspot.com
- Simon_Says_Movies
- Apr 12, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- How to Train Your Dragon: An IMAX 3D Experience
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $165,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $217,581,231
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $43,732,319
- Mar 28, 2010
- Gross worldwide
- $494,879,471
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1