How to train your dragon 2 (3D)
English (U) ****
Director: Dean DeBlois
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerrard Butler, Kit Harrington

Having a mammoth-size creature as a pet can go awry, and for years the intimidated village of Berk, even with its fearsome-slash-whimsical vikings, stayed away from dragons. But with the help of the village chief’s son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), this fear was overcome and dragons and citizens began to live in harmony. That was what happened in the prequel to How to train your dragon 2.

For those who have watched How to Train Your Dragon (2010), there is an instant love for Toothless, Hiccup’s beloved pet dragon. He is arguably the most endearing character recent animation has produced, besides of course the minions in Despicable Me.

In this movie, Toothless is back with every shred of his lovableness. While there are a lot of other dragons in this story, this “night fury” gets enough screen time and has a running story line of his own in the movie’s grand plot. 

But it’s not all fantasy and dragons. There’s enough of human touch for a viewer to be able to relate to Hiccup, or even his friends and family. A father’s stature can become quite pressurising for a conventionally less-impressive son. And when opposing ideals come in to the picture, taking decisions for the protection of an entire village of vikings and dragons can be quite challenging. 

Going against the current can often be arduous, especially when your pitch is to talk it out with an approaching war-craving, dragon-trapping enemy. But would putting words out instead of warriors to defend yourself be wise?

Besides perhaps disappointing cynic with whiffs of the irrefutable power of love and will, this movie would hit all the right buttons. The movie’s graphics have embodied the magic of the dragons down to the very last detail. From the texture of its hides to swift movements, dragons of all sizes and colours seem like they could just fly off the screen. With panoramic shots of the sky-surfing dragons and riders, the cinematography may just be good enough to unleash the adrenaline junkie in you. 

You may be unlikely to have to make a decision that holds the fate of an entire village, leaving aside the fact that it has vikings and mythical dragons. But in being free of having to make such overbearing decision lies a little bit of comfort. Suddenly, troubles like too little money and too many wants is insignificant. But it would be prudent to spend some on How to Train Your Dragon 2. You can count on Toothless and his dragon band to make up for any unlikely disappointments.