Viewed twice in March 2010
For months I had seen the awful previews from Dreamworks' legendary terrible advertising department and wondered if I would go see this film. I was pretty sure it was just a cutesy, slapstick kids' movie, with maybe one or two cool things thrown in, because it seemed from the previews that this movie was full of stuff like that. But then I remembered how I had discounted Madagascar and Flushed Away because of terrible previews, and then I had seen them when they came out on DVD and kicked myself for not seeing them sooner. I decided to just bite the bullet and go see this film. What I saw shocked me and was one of the most pleasant surprises of my entire life, when it comes to movies which I did not expect to be great and turn out to be the best movie I've seen in a long time.
Anyone remember Up from last summer, how great it was? Or the majesty of Star Trek and how wonderful it was? This movie is the best one I've seen since those two. It also is the most incredible 3-D movie I have ever seen, and I'll wind up comparing other movies to it. (I think it's more fun and better than Avatar, even!) The 3-D effects are stunning and jaw-droppingly beautiful--from smooth and scaly dragon skin, to mists of waves, to puffy clouds, to rough and scarred skin on a Viking's face, to the soft bounciness of fur and hair. The massive amount of detail put into this film is simply amazing. Flying scenes are exhilarating, and it almost couldn't be any more exciting. The creativity of Dreamworks' filmmaking department shines in this original film, full of morals and lighthearted optimism. The story is not complex, nor is it particularly wonderful--it's completely a character-driven movie. Yes, the story is interesting and entertaining, but it's really all about falling in love with the characters--the spindly gangly awkward Hiccup, the silly cat-like loyal Toothless, the tough beautiful humble Astrid, the seasoned disabled veteran Vikings, and the other Viking teenagers...All of these characters remind me of people I know or animals I've known, and thus they are instantly familiar and welcoming to me. (Even if I don't know any Vikings who kill dragons...)
NEGATIVES:
>>I don't remember any profanity, only one remotely-sex-related joke, and one or two jokes about something unfortunate happening with someones "undies." I don't remember any alcohol or drug-related things, and religion is not really a factor (even though the Viking gods are mentioned once or twice).
>>Violence is here, but it's in all of its cartoony glory. Characters (including dragons) fall from great heights, hit each other, fistfight, blow stuff up, throw things, snatch up animals, or run from apparent doom. A few Viking teenagers get into up-close-and-personal fighting with dragons, and the dragons themselves go through some pretty intense sparring. There's no blood or gore, and there are two rather uncomfortable injuries sustained by two different characters.
All in all, I LOVE THIS MOVIE and I recommend it to anyone, whether you're a little kid, grandparent, adult, mom or dad, or college-kid who is still young at heart. This film is uplifting, positive, entertaining, funny, epic, and sticks with you long after you've seen it. The 3-D is phenomenal and the world of the Vikings and dragons pulls you in completely. I've already seen it twice and I'd have no problem seeing it again! :)
I give this movie 6 out of 6 stars.
So that everyone (including myself) may benefit from it, please feel free to leave your own personal opinion of this film.
Plugged In Reviews
Internet Movie Database
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