Posted by: achibalaviolin Uncategorized
I watched How to Train Your Dragon fifteen years ago, and loved it
I watched How to Train Your Dragon again, and loved it just as much. The live-action remake scored a 10/10 for me. Any remake will face the challenge of living up to the original’s impact. Recently, especially for live-action remakes, this challenge has been further complicated by the modern trend of requiring multiple (typically three) parallel plot threads; redefining character imagery through mismatches in casting; and overdramatizing dialogues and accents to put on the air of a more elevated culture. In reality, these modifications are detrimental to the story, and often leave a sour taste in the viewer who craves the freshness and authenticity of the original work of art. I believe that a viewer’s life circumstances heavily impact the way they receive and respond to art. Fifteen years ago, my classmates and I were at a high school state level science and engineering competition. After a grueling two days of test-taking with the apprehension of going home empty-handed, we chose to blow off some steam by going to the movies, no expectations for the silly movie about Vikings and dragons. Nobody expected to walk out of that theater quietly beaming with a smile and optimism. And that’s what best-in-class art does – you are left without words, just in meditative awe and appreciation of how beautiful life can be. I can proudly say that I was filled with the same reaction upon leaving the theater fifteen years later – whispering to myself “… that was a good movie”. Building off one of the most successful animated film’s in recent history, one expects that How to Train Your Dragon’s live action would flop. Keeping this in mind, the directors wisely chose not to touch anything. They instead focused on two critical success factors – nostalgia and cinematographic brilliance. I was sold in the first act itself – the screenplay was nearly identical to the original. One may criticize Astrid’s casting choice; I personally felt that Stoik the Vast could have been even vaster, as he was in the original. Beyond that – this underdog story succeeds with balance – the right amount of predictability and suspense; wit and emotion; epic battles and innocent dynamics. But halfway through the movie sealed the deal for me, modern cinematography peaked as our protagonists finally take flight. And what more is there to say about Toothless, the overpowered gentle giant cat, who stole hearts by his third scene just as he had stole mine fifteen years ago.
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