How to Train Your Dragon 2

Rating: 6/10 (29 January 2015)

The first film was really good fun, seeing the sequel was a natural thing for me to do, I mainly wanted to see also if it was the sort of film that deserved an Oscar nomination (just like the first did), against other films like Big Hero 6. Basically it has been five years since dragons and Vikings on the island of Berk were united by the influence of Hiccup (This Is the End's Jay Baruchel) and his dragon friend Toothless, the villagers now live among the dragons and use them for everyday life. The island's new favourite sport is dragon racing, challenging against Astrid (America Ferrera), Snotlout (Jonah Hill) and the rest of the gang the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, exploring new worlds and charting unmapped territories, and one of these adventures leads them to a secret ice cave, home to hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider. Hiccup and Toothless find themselves caught in the middle of what will become a battle to keep peace between the dragons and the humans, and what it makes it more complicated is that the Dragon Rider reveals herself to be Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup's mother who was thought to be dead after being taken by a dragon, in fact she stayed with them, learning more about their skills and abilities, and staying away to protect her son and husband Stoick (Gerard Butler). The battle really takes flight when insane conquerer Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou) wants rule of all the dragons, using the gigantic Alpha dragon called a "Bewilderbeast", which hypnotically controls the smaller dragons, including at one point Toothless who controlled killed Stoick, the baby dragons cannot be controlled, Drago wants to use dragons to destroy the kingdom and take over. With the help of Valka who knows everything about the ways of the dragons, and his friends, Hiccup goes into battle against the villain, defeating him with him and the Bewilderbeast going into the ocean, and in the end Hiccup becomes the new king of Berk and peace returns to the island, dragons and humans are once again united and work together to protect the kingdom. Also starring Craig Ferguson as Gobber, Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Fishlegs, T.J. Miller as Tuffnut, Kristen Wiig as Ruffnut and Kit Harington as Eret. Young dragon-whisperer Hiccup and the other characters are still likable, Toothless is still lovably cute, I'm not sure if the story is as good as previously, but it is pleasant and easy to follow, and the special effects do make for exciting and terrific scenes, a watchable family animated comedy adventure. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Feature Film and Children's Award, BAFTA Kids Vote - Feature Film, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film. Good!