How to Make a Sequel!!! Second Dragon Film Tops The Original in Every Way!!!!
By: Brandon Porter
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Hiccup and Toothless: Dragon. Viking. Friends for Life!!!
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Story
5 years
ago, Dragons had been a serious issue for the Vikings of the Island of Berk.
However, things changed a young misfit Viking named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel)
befriended a young Night Fury dragon named Toothless. The two formed a bond
that not only defined them both and brought their two worlds together. Since
then, Hiccup has grown into a promising young Viking and the Island of Berk has
welcomed the dragons as part of their home. But soon, a maniacal dragon master
comes to Berk looking to claim all the dragons as his own. Faced with a
tremendous task to protect their home, Toothless, Hiccup, and their friends
team up to face the impending threat and get help from an unlikely ally. A
dragon tamer named Valka, who is a skilled dragon expert and shockingly…Hiccup’s long lost mother.
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Hiccup connects with his long lost mother Valka.
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Analysis
When your making a sequel to a film that was as critically
acclaimed as the first How To Train Your
Dragon was, there is no denying that pressure is at its highest. How To
Train Your Dragon 2 came in with high expectations and it met those
expectations beautifully. How To Train Your Dragon 2 garnered a terrific 93%
certified fresh rating via rotten tomatoes among audiences and critics. Peter
Debruge of Variety praised the film and its ambitions: "The pressures to
make a giant four-quadrant monstrosity must be enormous, and yet, like his
unflappable hero Hiccup, How to Train Your Dragon 2 writer-director Dean
DeBlois has prevailed, serving up DreamWorks Animation’s strongest sequel yet —
one that breathes fresh fire into the franchise, instead of merely rehashing
the original. Braver than Brave, more fun than Frozen, and more emotionally
satisfying than so many of its live-action counterparts, Dragon delivers. And
good thing, too, since DWA desperately needs another toon to cross the
half-billion-dollar threshold." In another review, Bill Goodykoontz of The
Arizona Republic awarded the film four out of five stars, saying "It
seemed as if there was nowhere new to go after the first film, but this is a
richer story that dares to go darker and is thus more rewarding." Even though
it didn’t’ secure number one at the box office, How to Train Your Dragon 2
still did financially well garnering the #2 spot with $49 million and a
worldwide total of $75,551,322 million. With a more than successful second run,
the sky is the limit, no pun intended, for the riders of Berk to reach the
animated blockbuster prosimsed land.
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Toothless and Hiccup bravely take on the mighty Alpha
male!!!
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Review
Regrettably,
I admittedly was late to get on the “How to Train Your Dragon” bus. I had only
heard what others had said but I never got around to seeing the film. When I
finally did see it, I could see why everyone loved it so much. Though it wasn’t
the greatest animated film ever, it still was a good movie and I enjoyed it
very much. After seeing the sequel, I can happily say that this second
installment is better in every aspect. I loved this movie and everything about
it. The film established the already familiar world and expanded it
beautifully. The animation is truly stunning. With striking detail on each
character including the dragons captured in terrific fashion. This is truly an
eye candy treat of a film. The characters all have seen changes in this sequel
as well. Hiccup changed tremendously in this film and is displayed as a built,
tall, and mature young Viking. It’s hard to believe he was the scrawny and lanky
kid in the first film. Others have their share of physical and emotional growth
as they progress from childhood to adulthood. Voice acting was solid as well.
All the veterans like Gerald Butler, Jay Barachel, America Feerea, and others
don’t miss a beat in their second go around. The new characters like Valka,
voiced by Academy award winner Cate Blanchett was a welcome edition. Blanchett
gives a terrific voice performance and really made Valka instantly likable and
full of life and substance. Dijimon Hounsou is equally good as Drago Bludvist.
He owns the role as the film’s terrific villain. Action was one of the big
plusses of this film. Though the action was good in the first movie, this film
turned it up a notch for the second go around. Thrilling and engaging sequences
mixed with the stellar animation made for some pretty awesome set pieces. However,
the thing that sets this film apart from its predecessor is its emotional
impact. The film is much more emotionally evoking that the first film. I saw
the first movie and connected with these characters. In the second one, I found
I was more vulnerable to anything that happened to them. Scenes in the film
tugged at my heartstrings big time and really helped me become invested in the
gripping storytelling. That’s how I know this film was something that was
heartfelt and engaging. Overall, I applaud the folks at DreamWorks for put its
best foot forward with How to Train Your Dragon 2. The film built on what made
the first movie so special and created a sequel that was more engaging, more
exciting, and more fun. Here’s to more memorable adventures in Berk down the
road.
Rating and Final Thoughts
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Tops the first film in every way. Beautiful Animation and
rich storytelling brimming with Exciting Action and hard hitting emotion make
this one of the best animated films I’ve seen since Wreck-it Ralph.
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After a second adventure, rest assure Toothless and Hiccup
will be back for more adventures soon enough.
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