Imaginative and Inspiring

Rating: 9/10 (21 July 2018)

Overall this film is fun and refreshing animated adventure that can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. While this movie is moving and entertaining, it isn't perfect.
Negatives

The animation quality. This film looks like it was made in the early days of CG animation, which sounds passable until you realize that it was made in the same year as Toy Story 3. Spending more of the budget on animation could've added a lot more to the scenes that focused on the beauty of the landscapes and could've made the characters look more realistic.
The supporting teenage characters. Because they barely got any screen time, their few lines were cliche and stereotypical, and their switch to Hiccup's way of thinking at the end seemed sudden and unsupported. This also seemed like a waist of some excellent actors like Jonah Hill and Kristen Wiig.

Positives

The pacing for the relationship between Toothless and Hiccup. This was excellent, and it allowed the audience to grow to love these two characters as they built a friendship with each other. It was believable and moving.
The score; Especially Forbidden Friendship, Test Drive, and Romantic Flight. These were so original and imaginative, and kept the audience engaged and emotionally attached to the story.
The voice acting for Hiccup. Although it gets some criticism, I personally think Jay Baruchi's voice fits Hiccup's character perfectly, and portrays an awkward boy who becomes both more confident and equally as terrified when he befriends Toothless.

Overall, this movie isn't perfect. But it's one of the few non-Disney animated movies that takes you on an emotional journey. The characters- especially Toothless, Hiccup, and Astrid- are lovable and gain the sympathy of the audience with their exellent development. The climax is action packed but relied heavily on the characters' relationships with each other, and the emotional moment at the end was heart wrenching. All-in-all this film is fun and entertaining while also being refreshingly emotional, with a great story, exciting action, and lovable characters.