Best Dragon film ever

Rating: 9/10 (1 August 2016)

One of the most joyous animated films i have ever seen with a goose bump inducing soundtrack from John Powell that elevates the film to classic status. With a hopeful message of getting to know and understand your enemy to discover they may not be as monstrous as you suspect this is a wonderful story. Upon first viewing this i was reluctant to watch due to Dragon movies generally being poor and this being a "kids" film, I was also put off by the unusual design of the Dragon's which looked silly to my eye but the story got me hooked especially when Hiccup voiced wonderfully by Jay Baruchel finds the wounded Toothless. These scenes of initial fear that gradually turn to mutual trust and bonding are wonderful and the heart of the film. I was worried the plot was going to have Astrid America Ferrera report Hiccup to his father Stoick Gerard Butler but instead Astrid joins Hiccup in his adventure and the film is all the better for it. We never get bogged down in forced romances. The real romance is a bromance between Hiccup and Toothless. The soaring flying scenes with John Powell's driving score raise hairs on back of neck particularly in the training flight and more beautifully in the romantic flight with Astrid. Every film needs a villain and this is perhaps HTTYD's weakest point. The final battle is visually spectacular as Hiccup proves himself to his father and takes on a giant Dragon losing a limb in the process but i think it felt just a little rushed and needed further set up but this is just nitpicking.