It doesn't get much better than this

Rating: 10/10 (10 April 2012)

Dreamworks Animation astounds yet again. Unfortunately for me, the title was a turn off for more than a year after it was released. I thought it was going to be something more suited to the kiddies, with little to engage the adults. I could NOT have been more wrong.
This is hands down, no ifs ands or buts about it, can ya gimme hallelujah my FAVORITE animated feature film of all time. It was magnificently designed, the characters were wonderful, but Toothless was a beautiful and sublime revelation. He was a pretty significant departure from the book's description of him, but just wonderful to look at. The subtle scales, the detail of the irises, his expressions, the bunching muscles as he launched into flight, the moment he and Hiccup first connected... ahhhh, such heady, wonderful stuff.
The dragons were all wonderful (especially the big baddie at the end). Just incredible. The detail in the human clothing and hair...I could go on and on and on. Eek. This review is giving me withdrawals for the film. I must go watch it again. Anyway, carrying on...
The setting was also extraordinary. The sky, the towering rock formations, the trees...and the fire? Wow wow wow wow. But what REALLY affected me was the WATER. I've been waiting for an animation studio to get the water right for decades, and Dreamworks did. I felt I could walk up to my screen and get splashed. They nailed the color of the sea in all her moods. The waves, the crests, it was just amazing. Hold on to your seat when Hiccup and Toothless go for their first major spin. You may want a sling for your jaw, or it might fall off.
Wonderful acting all around. Craig Ferguson gets a special mention for being so lively. Jay Baruchel? Never heard of him, and didn't have high hopes for his acting style when the movie first started, but he knocked my socks off within about 2 minutes, and kept on knocking. Gerard Butler was good right from the gate, and the actors playing Hiccup's peers all did a fine job as well.
Some issues I had? Slightly wooden human character movements, and the difference in accent between kids and adults was a bit of a head-scratcher. The storyline was of course predictable, but I don't consider that much of an issue. Perhaps the fact that I was able to stop watching it on HBO 3 times a day after only a few months? Hmm. Nope. Not an issue. I still love it, I bought the DVD the same day I saw it for the first time, and I'm going to go watch it again when I'm finished ranting about it.
Another legendary animated film. Toothless has knocked Smaug (from the '77 full-length animated take on the Hobbit) from his pedestal, and I think he even knocked the Balrog from Peter Jackson's LOTR/FOTR from his, and THAT, my friends, is a mean feat. Both of those other beasts still (and always will) take my breath away, but Toothless is more than just a beast. He has ascended to that rare place where you also love him.
I was mesmerized from the first second to the last. My minor quibbles with the film did not detract from my joy of it. 10/10 stars, 2 enthusiastic thumbs up, and when you're ready to watch it, let me know. I may just shove you over to make space on the couch so I can watch it with you. No salt on the popcorn, please.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the film!