How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

On the island of Berk, Vikings and dragons have always been mortal enemies. However, when the son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), Hiccup (Mason Thames), breaks centuries of tradition and befriends a supposedly dangerous Night Fury dragon, Toothless, their unusual friendship alters the balance between the two tribes irreversibly.

The majority of live-action remakes of animated films have a negative reputation due to their deviation from and source material, the poor CGI, and the visual jarring between the two forms. The same cannot be said about this outing of writer-director Dean DeBlois, which remains extraordinarily loyal to the first film of 2010 in every way. The story is a near-scene-for-scene copy of the popular animated material. And it re-invents its world with a startling verisimilitude and filmic beauty, with a smooth fusion of human characters and fantasy creatures.

The movie starts with graphically breathtaking action as the Vikings fight the dragons. Then, it provides an exciting ride throughout, bringing to life characters and moments that left audiences gobsmacked the first time. It tells of a clumsy Hiccup, who tries to measure up to his Viking heritage and kill dragons. Rather, he sympathises with them and acknowledges their self-defence mechanism. Although such a premise sets the stage for an unlikely alliance between people and dragons, the story is not short on action, with the two camps going against each other at the nest of dragons, where the monstrous Queen Dragon must be fed.

As a reverent and faithful redux, the new movie is, nevertheless, at times, lacking the irreverence of the narrative of the original. Sometimes the humour has been exchanged with emotion. There are also some bits which are shallow and forced, such as Stoick trying to father-son talk with Hiccup after a mission to find the nest of the dragons. The scene where Toothless is not actually toothless was one of the most enjoyable parts of the original, which does not have the same effect in this one.

Cinematographer Bill Pope provides the story with an interesting appearance, as foggy cliffs, rocky shores, grassy hills, and grey ocean are shown. The story does not lose such major thrills as the flight of Hiccup and Toothless over the gorges and the Vikings vs dragons fight. The production design and the character design, including creature design, are stunningly well translated.

Mason Thames is brilliant as the clumsy, gangly Hiccup, and Gerard Butler reprises his voice role with charm, and the supporting cast is excellent, as well. Nico Parker is solid as the courageous young captain Astrid, and she rocks the action sequences with style. Completing the cast are Nick Frost as Gobber, Julian Dennison as the nervous Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as the boisterous Snotlout, and Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn as twin brothers Ruffnut and Tuffnut.

It is an enjoyable ride, immersive, with charm and cinematic spectacle and thrills, which makes it worth watching, whether one is new to the world of Vikings versus Dragons or a returning fan of the popular franchise.