Foreground: perfection. Background: LOL humour. And then there's the music...

Rating: 10/10 (21 June 2014)

From the humble underdog story of 2010; which surprised thousands with its heartfelt story, lovable main characters, a dragon everyone's wants to pet and ride and of course, a dramatic leg-losing ending that sooo subtly made it such a emotional ride, a tear crunched its way through my eyelids; comes another ride which welcomingly advances the the world of the Dragonriders.
Five years after the first film, Hiccup and his adorable but lethal Night Fury have explored the vast lands beyond Berk. He finds a crazy dragon lady, a war brooding...and he wants to escape a chieftain's job. This perfect duo was sure able to capture the admiration and undivided attention of the audience; they well animated love and utter connection shown both in heart-felt and humorous fashion. Don't let the mesmerizing good looks of Hiccup fool you: He is still a wise-cracking and geeky guy hiding behind a rather fortunately well formulated puberty.
The animation's handy characterisation of this trait is well done; and a worthy example of the amazing art begin the design of this film: You see Hiccup's ingenious inventions he wears on his armour: A set of handy gliders, a pouch for pencils, another paper dispenser for mapping, a compass on his arms, a multi-function blade handle which sheaths a fire-lit blade and a trigger on it for wizzle-back gas (excuse the dragon naming).
The side characters, expectedly got less focus, but the film makers illustrated the pure love between Stoick and the grossly spoiled-in-the-trailer Valka (yep, Hiccup's mother) so well, they could well have a movie made just for those two. But of course, some good things never blossom. Which brings to the movie's emotion storm: GET READY FOR A EMOTIONAL RIDE. The humour of the twins, Fishlegs and Snotnout also gets a mention: The jokes out of them were not in-your-face; desperate to get a chuckle of you, but they work so well.
Watch for the background: While the humans talk, the dragons play for your laughs; and watch for Toothless' cat-screech moment.
This movie is also one of those few movies that can hold the 3D banner high, and be damn proud of it! A dragon movie screams 'pretty flying scenes' and this film takes full advantage of this: A solo-gliding start, a catch-up session with mum (fishing for food by the way), a few awe-striking battle scenes and of course the dragon racing. Now the music...
DON'T LEAVE JUST YET. I am sickened by how movie-lovers can ignore the musical talent that is John Powell, who wrote a 90 minute long roller-coaster of a score for this. I urge you all to appreciate the frantic writing of the music behind the pretty picture and remind yourselves how music elevates the film to another level. I ask of you 5 minutes of your time: Stay back for the credits to enjoy just a snippet of the Oscar-worthy music.
All in all: Get your arses into Imax and dust off a pair of 3D glasses, and enjoy this piece of Divine Masterpiece, and wait another 3 years for one final shot with HTTYD 3.