How to Train your Dragon (2025)

Just like the original, but in live action.

The viking village of Berk suffers from constant attacks from dragons, and the chief's un-viking-like teenage son Hiccup (played by Mason Thames) in trying to please his dad ends up changing the relationship between two races. Right off the bat yes, this story is almost exactly the same as the original animated version: a well written heart warming fantasy adventure with good action sequences mixed in with funny segments. The awesome soundtrack makes a return here as well!

While some of the human cast doesn't quite match their animated counterparts in looks, they certainly do fit their roles nicely. Highly recommended if you haven't seen the original. And even if you have you'll still probably enjoy this like we did, which is great because if they want to continue the live action route there's certainly a lot of material already out there they can revisit. :) 

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Sometimes, it's about letting go.

With Toothless' improved standing from the last movie, Berk is now bursting with dragons especially since Hiccup and company keep rescuing those trapped by the dragon trappers (of whom there seem to be no end) and send "the" Nightfury killer in retaliation.

Everyone is pairing up.

More importantly though, is that both Hiccup and Toothless are gaining more responsibility and independence, and that what's best for one might not make the other very happy. While this is still a happy and funny tale with lots of bloodless action that lets all the dragons and dragon riders shine, it is also one of melancholy.

While I would definitely watch this well produced flick again, is it better than the first two films? Mmm, no but it's still very good. I give it four disguised sheep out of five. Certainly a series worth watching though, even if it's just the movies!

Dragons: Defenders of Berk / Race to the Edge

More Hiccup and Toothless!

Taking place between the first and second "How to train your Dragon" movies, this series follows Hiccup and company as they discover new dragons, make new friends and battle new enemies. As expected, the CGI quality is not movie standard but drastically improves with each new season with the final one being pretty damn good and sets up for the second movie really well.

The extra characters have decent development too!

I also like that there is an underlying plot behind the problem of the day scenario and towards the end sees the Hiccup fighting in pretty much full scale war. While there are deaths it is a kids show so all of it is bloodless and off screen. Of course, the main attraction are the characters and any extra time with their funny antics and watching them grow is quite entertaining. Definitely one I'd recommend for fans of the show.

Dragons: Riders of Berk

It wasn't till recently that I stumbled across the TV series of How to Train your Dragon entitled Dragons: Riders of Berk. As to be expected, the quality of the textures is definitely not a match for the movie counterparts but the animation, expressions, voice acting and most surprisingly - the story lines are! Extra bonus for having Mark Hamill lend his talents for some episodes!

Also known as Dragons: Defenders of Berk

Taking place right after the first movie the series examines the difficulties faced by the Vikings of Berk by befriending dragons in compact, 25 minute episodes. Yes, most of these are still designed with kids in mind but for me and my wife we still find it very entertaining. Besides - anything with more Hiccup, Toothless and the gang is almost an automatic thumbs up! In fact the only negative I can think of with the first season is the lack lustre "opening".

I was also surprised to find at least five different How to Train your Dragon games floating out there... Alas, the only one I tried entitled "Wild Skies" has something wrong with the texturing in that all organics are very... blue? Lol. Still, for those who are How to train your Dragon fans (*pokes Ravanel*), the TV series might be worth a look. ^_^

How to train your Dragon 2

Much less training than the first movie, guess they're improving! :P

Five years have passed since Hiccup's last adventure and the gang are all a little bit older now. The explorer in him has taken over though, and on his quest to map the world he's run into some new adversaries. Much like the first movie I think this one is fantastic. The art is a little cartoony but having various and cute dragons who behave like a mixture of dog and cat is fun to watch. The humans of the tale also strike a chord making the entire movie engaging.

There are cute bits, lots of action bits, plenty of funny bits, some sad bits and generally has something for everyone I would think. Just not so much training of dragons but I guess they needed to keep the title. I definitely recommend this to everyone, and give it four and a half fish out of five but also recommend you watch the first movie... first, because it sets the scene very nicely, and is in its own right a great movie. Would I watch this again? Yes!

Also, if you are a fan of this series you should take a look at their short stories too (which chronologically happen in between the two movies):

• Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon - a mix of 3D and 2D cartoony stuff, funny but not movie quality.
• Book of Dragons - lots of reused 3D and mostly 2D cartoons. Again pretty funny but mainly aimed at child fans I think.
• Gift of the Night Fury - all 3D and fantastic, my favorite of this lot which I consider movie quality. Highly recommended!
• Dawn of the Dragon Racers - all 3D but I feel they skimped on the texturing a little. Still pretty good though.