How to Train Your Dragon

by Dean Deblois (Director)

DVD, 2014

Call number

Family, DVD 67

Collections

DVD, DVD/Family

Series

How to Train Your Dragon (Dreamworks) (1)

Publication

DreamWorks (2010), Edition: No enhanced packaging

Description

Hiccup is a Viking teenager who aspires to hunt dragons, but doesn't exactly fit in with his tribe's longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. His world gets turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.

User reviews

LibraryThing member HilarySI624

In Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon, Hiccup – widely regarded as the most inept dragonfighter in the Viking village of Berk – makes unlikely friends with a dragon and dares to go against convention in order to save his friends and family. The script of the film and the performances of the

voice actors were engaging, but the animation was spectacular. While the movie was originally released as a 3D movie, the two dimensional DVD animation remains remarkably detailed. At times, the movement of the characters and the texture of materials such as fur or leather seemed almost natural. However, the dragons in general and Toothless in particular were the most riveting part of the movie. Toothless’ movement and personality in particular were catlike, making a creature which should be terrifying as a result of its speed and hunting ability seem much more familiar and approachable to the human characters and the human audience. This movie should be considered for public libraries with an entertainment movie collection and grade school libraries that also purchase items for teacher use.

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LibraryThing member karafrib

With main characters by the name of Hiccup and Toothless, it is hard to go wrong with How to Train Your Dragon. In a Viking society where killing dragons is a way of life, young Hiccup has trouble fitting in…which is especially bad news when you consider that his father is the leader of the

Vikings. Determined to prove himself, Hiccup uses one of his invention to try to capture the elusive Night Fury dragon, which the Vikings fear above all others. However, upon discovering that he truly did capture the beast, he finds himself unable to kill and sets it free. He soon realizes that the dragon is injured, and what follows is the development of a tender and memorable friendship. But just as Hiccup is befriending Toothless, his father decides it is time for him to learn to slay dragons. Hiccup discovers a way to excel with dragons, but it is not by killing them—it’s by taming them! The intrepid Astrid discovers his secret, and soon the two have banded together in an attempt to save not only the dragons, but their fellow Vikings.
How to Train Your Dragon is a delightful movie full of high-flying adventure. Hiccup is a funny, loveable outcast, and Toothless is as adorable as a dragon could possibly be. While the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is the shining feature of the whole movie, the other characters and the relationships amongst them are also strong and add depth, warmth, and humor to the story. The animation itself is colorful, with cartoon characters that are expressive and just plain fun to watch. Recommended for grades 4 and up.

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LibraryThing member frood42

This computer animated film adaptation of the book by Cressida Cowell tells the story of Hiccup, a disastrous failure of a Viking who can't defeat a dragon, embarrasses his father (a hearty Viking named Stoick), and fails to catch the attention of the girl of his dreams, Astrid. However, when

Hiccup encounters and eventually befriends Toothless, a wounded Night Fury (which is, of course, the most dangerous dragon alive), life begins to change for Hiccup and the other Vikings on his island. Though rather different from the book, the adaptation is exceptionally well done and very entertaining. The film is full of visual and verbal humor that works on levels so younger and older viewers will be entertained, though perhaps for different reasons. The plot is exciting and moves along quickly, and the film nicely conveys a range of emotional responses, for instance, the scenes when Hiccup first approaches Toothless are quite suspenseful and mildly frightening. The dragons are cute, and humorously cat-like in their behavior, and the animation and the epic, soaring soundtrack wonderfully convey the excitement of flying with dragons in the scenes with Hiccup and Toothless. How To Train Your Dragon is an entertaining story with nice messages about cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution, being proud of yourself for who you are, and family relationships. The movie does have some frightening scenes and violence, and is appropriate for children over the age of seven.

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LibraryThing member comfypants

A young viking who's not good at fighting lives in a village frequently raided by dragons.

Don't be fooled by the bad marketing and horrible title (like I was). This is a sincere adventure story, entertaining from beginning to end. There are no pop-culture references. There is no crude humor. The

voice actors (while they might not have been the best choices) were clearly chosen for their voices, not box office draw. It almost seems like DreamWorks is coming to their senses and trying to do what Pixar does - tell a good story with strong characters. But, the thing is, this isn't really "a DreamWorks Film" - because, come on, that doesn't even mean anything; they're just a f***ing movie studio. What this movie secretly is is the long-awaited (or would have been long-awaited in a perfect world) second film from the writing/directing team that made Lilo & Stitch.

Concept: B
Story: B
Characters: B
Dialog: C
Pacing: A
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: C
Acting: C
Music: C

Enjoyment: B

GPA: 2.7/4

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LibraryThing member unclebob53703

Great original story, beautiful animation.

LibraryThing member ComposingComposer

I liked this book more than I anticipated I would. The movie was still undeniably better than the book, but the book was still fun. It was a cute, silly middle grade book. I liked Hiccup and Toothless, even though their characters (especially Toothless') are a lot different from the movie. The

slightly different purposes for the dragons was interesting to see too, and the fact that dragons can understand the humans (but only obey them if they are yelling) but the humans (except Hiccup) can't understand the dragons, and speaking in the dragon language is illegal. I know that the movie was based on the book, so in most cases like this, the book would be better, but I thought the movie had more depth to the characters, and to the plot.

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LibraryThing member Eurekas

Really cute. Good for ages 5+.

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