"I wouldn’t kill him, because he looked as frightened as I was. I looked at him, and I saw myself.”
My first viewing of How to Train Your Dragon was at my local Regal movie theater in 2010. I remember liking the movie more then, so maybe it’s more of a theater experience instead of a home TV experience like this one was. The animations and visuals are impressive, but the storyline is lacking in substance and originality. It comes across as formulaic, though it's served as an inspiration for many adventure movies to follow.
The characters, including the protagonist Hiccup, have their complex moments, but mostly lack depth and development. I found the character Astrid to be an especially unlikable love interest. Toothless is of course the best character of them all. My cat Roxie was making herself known during the movie, and I couldn’t help but smile at their similarities. The dialogue was charming but cheesy.
The pacing is uneven at times, with some scenes dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed, making it difficult for me to stay engaged, especially during the more action-oriented scenes. Nevertheless, this movie is a fun watch, and is deservedly beloved by many. My initial rating is 7/10.
Characters: 7.5
Acting: 7
Storyline: 7
Entertainment Value: 7.5
Immediate Rating: 7
Total Score: 36/50
