A worthy sequel, slightly darker than the original. But still brilliant

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2014)

When I first saw the original How To Train Your Dragon, I was impressed. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of animated movies at the best of times and even now I wasn't sure if the second one would be as good as the first one. I saw this new one as a preview in England, I'm so glad I did.
The first one focused on a young viking called Hiccup trying to change the attitudes of his tribe, who at the time was attacking dragons instead of living with them in peace side by side. He managed to succeed, but it came at a price by losing part of his leg. The 3D animation effects where amazing (but not over the top) and the story behind the first movie was great.
Now the second movie takes place five years after the first one. There has been a lot of changes, Hiccup has to step up to take over as chief of his tribe and he is afraid to take that responsibility on. So he and his dragon Toothless,explore other lands and discovers a land full of new dragons and their is a mysterious person who looks after and protects them.
Now How To train Your Dragon 2, has a few "back" stories which you need to be aware of. For one, the mysterious person who looks after and protects the dragons also happens to be Hiccup's mother, who went missing twenty years ago.
Secondly, the bad guy in this one called Drago is a major enemy of Hiccup's father Stoick and with good reason, which if you watch the movie you will find out why.
I did however say that this movie is slightly darker than the original and sadly due to a terrible twist of fate, the choice for hiccup taking over as chief of his tribe (wither he's ready for the responsibility or not) is made for him. Again if you see the movie you will find out why. The price for him becoming chief comes at a much bigger price than losing his leg in the first film. He loses something else (or should I say, without giving too much away) someone close to him.
How To Train Your Dragon 2, is a massive improvement to the first one. Because it has better 3D animation effects (which again are not over the top) and the story in this one is not just for kids and teenagers. It's also geared towards adults as well. Both 3D Animated effects and story go well together in the correct proportions, the director Dean DeBlois got it absolutely right and has done Cressida Cowell books a lot of justice.
If you go and see a movie this year, make sure this one is on your list. As Hiccup says in the trailer when he is flying "This is amazing", well he should have been saying that this movie, not his flying. IT IS AMAZING and it's well worth seeing which is the reason why I've rated it and it's predecessor as highly as I have.
Don't just take my word for it, if you see any film this year, Make sure you add this one to your list. Brilliant.