How to Train your Dragon

[blamebrampton]

One of the few upsides of Evil Mag TM is that I am back reviewing in print rather than just for web formats. Which is why tonight I watched How To Train Your Dragon (DVD release). I know that at least one of my flistees loved this in its cinema release, and I have to agree, it's wholly charming!

The animation is vibrant and refreshing, the characterisation consists of actual characters rather than entirely stock, the hero is a natural philosopher rather than a classic Viking -- it was all the things I tend to adore. But what made me burst out with laughter is that it slips in a Norse gravegoods misinterpretation joke! Someone on that writing crew is at least friends with a costume historian, and this amateur one appreciates the wink!

Thoroughly recommend this for everyone with small people, or with an adult academic interest in the postmodernist approach to storytelling through technology exemplified by Dreamworks (feel free to use that excuse next time someone raises an eyebrow when you buy a ticket to a kids film without a kid in tow, I have a Very Dull lecture that goes with it if you need more.)

Comments

[deerang2002.livejournal.com]

Ah, I absolutely loved the movie as well! The wry jokes, the characterization of the young Vikings...the portrayal of the whole race of Vikings, in general, was just awesome! And Toothless was so cute...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I loved the fact that even with all the Viking Stereotypes, there were so many points of difference among the characters, and that they could change and learn.

And yes, Toothless was very cute indeed!