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

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

I shall recommend that the Old Woman buy it for SG! I'm sure she'll welcome the opportunity to watch something other than 'Hairy bloody MacLary' on constant replay next time we visit. :)

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

"an adult academic interest in the postmodernist approach to storytelling through technology exemplified by Dreamworks" - why, I say the exact same thing (minus the Dreamworks) every time I go to a kid's movie without kids in tow. ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Oh it's another one I missed and really wanted to see! In the past years (decade?) it seemed certain animated features were the best films around anyway.

[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...

[bloodbelieve.livejournal.com]

I absolutely adored this! I particularly loved the ending, if that's not too ambiguous -- I don't want to spoil for anyone who hasn't seen it -- but I thought it was such a nice message. But yes, I found it totally charming and loved it, and didn't mind paying to see it a second time with a different friend \o/

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

What's the misinterpretation joke?! :D

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

I loved that film. My housemates sat me down and made me watch it.

And I would love to have your Very Dull lecture!

[seshat1.livejournal.com]

I *adored* that film :D

I mostly wanted to see it because it was about DRAGONS but I was so pleased that it was awesome, as I dragged three friends (no kids lol) with me. Hehe.

It's on my Christmas list! (Or will be, anyway, it's currently just on my amazon wishlist lol)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_aurora_sky_/]

omg. THAT MOVIE. I went and saw it in theaters 4 times. I absolutely LOVED it. The Lion King has been THE animated movie for me literally since it came out -- nothing could compare, and nothing had moved me as much as the Lion King did... Until Hiccup and his dragon came along. <3

I honestly can't remember the last time I loved a movie that much. Like I came out of the theater and immediately wanted to buy another ticket. Everything about it was perfect and smart <3 Let's just hope Dreamworks doesn't KILL it with the sequels :\

[bonfoi.livejournal.com]

I've wanted to see the flick, in fact, it's on my list at the movie rental place. Good to have yet another endorsement for it.

[ant-queen.livejournal.com]

on a slightly related matter, I am currently training my Dragon. I've just installed Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software and currently in the process of training it to recognise my voice and speech patterns. In fact, I've just dictated this entire comment :-)

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wanted to see that! Yay for holidays, now I can!

I always get raised eyebrows because I love kids movies and go to them all the time. :) I should definitely say I'm going for a class or something. But then I also get raised eyebrows when I go to the cinema alone (which I used to do more often, but still do occasionally when no one is available to accompany me, or if I've run out of people to see Harry Potter with - because I always see HP at least 10 times). :)