MOVIE: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

by benmweilertNo Comments
How to Train Your Dragon 2Year: 2014Rating: PGLength: 102 minutes / 1.70 hours Sequels can be a tough transition for a franchise. There's always a struggle of keeping the magic of the first movie, but exploring the world in new directions. Lean too far in one direction, and the sequel feels stale; too far in the other direction and there's nothing to connect it to the original. The best sequels are the ones that use the fact that the first movie dealt with the "origin story" and now they can use a confident main character to advance the franchise. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) is a better sequel than most, but it raises more questions. While How to Train Your Dragon (2010) was a coming-of-age story, its sequel also carries a similar plot structure. Instead of figuring out who he is, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) needs to build enough confidence in who he is to take over being chief from his...
Read More

MOVIE: How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World (2019)

by benmweilertNo Comments
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Year: 2019 Rating: PG Length: 104 minutes / 1.73 hours I haven’t always been a fan of DreamWorks movies, but the How to Train Your Dragon series is, in my opinion, perhaps the best they’ve ever created. Of course, I’m probably a little biased because each entry in the series came at a time in my life where I was reaching a milestone. How to Train Your Dragon (2010) came out as I was settling into my life as an independent adult. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) followed me from dating into marriage. Now, the final chapter in the series, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) is on the cusp of my transition into parenthood. Consequently, I had high expectations for the end of this trilogy. I wanted it to go out with a grand finale like Toy Story 3 (2010) did (before they even decided to make Toy Story 4 (2019), that is). Unfortunately, I did not find this to be the case....
Read More