Film opinion: DreamWorks produces brilliantly faithful ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ live-action remake
The general discourse surrounding this recent flurry of live-action remakes seems to always fall on either side of ‘This is exactly the same as the original; why did they even bother making it?’ or ‘The story has been completely changed; they’ve ruined it.’
This seems pessimistic all around.
But, as Film News Blitz’s Heidi Hardman-Welsh explains, DreamWorks has stuck the landing with its live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
What’s the deal with live-action remakes?
Live-action remakes of beloved animated classics have faced criticism in recent years, with a general sense of hesitation and disappointment with each new announcement from Disney in particular, as the House of Mouse continues to recycle old material instead of creating something new.
Some remakes have been well-received, such as The Jungle Book (2016), which scored an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, while others have flopped, like the recent Pinocchio (2022) starring Tom Hanks, which received the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score for a Disney live-action film ever at just 27%.
But, for the most part, live-action remakes do good business at the box office.
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The Jungle Book (2016) grossed over $950 million worldwide, and the 2019 remake of The Lion King was a $1.6 billion movie.
So, it’s no wonder then that DreamWorks has decided to try and cash in on the live-action remake craze with How to Train Your Dragon.
DreamWorks had a lot of audience expectations to live up to in doing this; given their massive hits like the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda series, their first live-action remake had to be good.
With remakes on the rise, fans eagerly awaited how they might reinterpret their iconic characters while still capturing the charm that made the originals so beloved.
Choosing How to Train Your Dragon (2010) as their debut live-action project was a smart move.
The original
The original animated film follows Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (voiced by Jay Baruchel), the shy son of Viking leader Stoick the Vast (voiced by Gerard Butler).
In the village on the island of Berk, where dragon-fighting is a way of life, Hiccup struggles to meet his father's expectations.
To prove himself as a true Viking, he must kill a dragon.
However, after downing the most feared dragon on the island during a night raid, with one of his own inventions, Hiccup realises he cannot bring himself to harm it.
Instead, he befriends the injured dragon, naming it Toothless, and together they form an unlikely bond that could change the village forever.
Canadian filmmaker Dean DeBlois swore off live-action remakes; he had little interest in Hollywood’s appetite for remaking animated classics.
However, when the opportunity to bring How to Train Your Dragon to life in live-action arose, he embraced it.
As the co-director of the first film and the principal director of the second and third, DeBlois’ passion for the original is evident in this new project.
The successes
Every moment of this live-action remake looks incredible, from a perfect ‘test drive’ of Toothless and high-stakes training scenes to the epic final battle with the King of all Dragons.
This movie is fun and filled with nostalgia that hits you like a blast from a Snafflefang.
It’s emotional, gripping, and the kind of remake that leaves you smiling as you exit the cinema.
The main issue that people may have with this remake is that it is nearly a frame-by-frame recreation of the original animated movie.
However, given the strength of the source material, it is no surprise that the creators chose not to deviate from it.
The dragons were beautifully brought to life with stunning visual effects, making each one unique and captivating.
The attention to detail in their design and creation shows a deep respect for the original.
The chemistry between Hiccup and Toothless is palpable, making their journey all the more compelling and perfectly encapsulating the themes of adventure and friendship.
Additionally, the score by John Powell expertly complements the visuals, enhancing emotional beats and adding to the grandeur of action sequences.
Casting positives and negatives
For the most part, the casting was very well executed.
Mason Thames as Hiccup is the best resemblance I have seen in live-action in a long time; from his natural awkwardness to his resilience and fervour, the young actor played the beloved character excellently.
Moreover, the decision to cast Butler to reprise his role as Stoick the Vast, whom he voiced in the original animation, worked spectacularly, and he seamlessly fell back into the franchise.
With the comedic addition of Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch, it was a well-thought-out cast all around.
However, I felt that at times the characters of the other Viking youths fell a little flat, particularly the twins—Ruffnut, played by Bronwyn James, and Tuffnut, played by Harry Trevaldwyn.
Their personalities leapt off the screen in the original animation, whereas in this remake, the siblings seem as if they’ve just met each other for the first time.
On the flipside, Nico Parker as Astrid was a scene-stealing revelation.
Limitations of live-action adaptation
It must also be noted that, being a live-action remake, there are more limitations in terms of framing, creativity, and colour compared to animation.
In the live-action, there is less dynamic motion, with many shots fixed to a static camera angle that struggles to capture the physical action of this world.
While the CGI for the dragons is some of the best I have witnessed in many years, especially that of Toothless, it could be argued that there was a lack of colour.
In the original 2010 movie, cinematographer Roger Deakins served as an influential visual consultant, which is reflected in its rustic scenes of the village, eye-catching hues in the sky, and the warm glow from fires.
This richness was not present in the recreation; while it still looked fantastic and felt very real, the ability to capture the beauty of this world was sometimes lost. But it is difficult to improve upon such a classic.
The verdict
Overall, the film is an incredible tribute that captures the essence of what made How to Train Your Dragon a beloved classic in the first place.
This adaptation is ideal for those wishing to relive the nostalgia of their childhood, as well as for new generations of viewers who may have missed out on the movie years ago.
While it can be argued that this adaptation wasn't necessary, given its strong resemblance to the already great original, it is still worth watching.
For me, it was what I hoped for and more: expect fun, expect action, and expect to cry like you did 15 years ago.
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