A soaring animated film that is breathtaking to behold.

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2010)

How To Train Your Dragon shows a positive change in Dreamworks Animation. Though the studio has pumped out numerous popular animated films over the years, they've often lacked a maturity and prowess in their story-telling. While their latest offering certainly dazzles in its spectacular animation, there is a well-told story at the heart of it all, one that is often funny and sometimes quite moving.
Hiccup is a viking who lives in a village that is constantly being attacked by dragons. His father, the leader of the village, is disappointed that his son is puny and lacks the will to slay dragons that is commonly found in their people. Hiccup is desperate to prove himself to his father and finally gets his chance when he manages to bring down a dragon. However, when he is unable to kill the subdued beast, Hiccup sets out on his own journey to change the way his village looks at dragons.
Unfortunately the movie then succumbs to the overused plot-line of trying to bring understanding to something that is misunderstood. Hiccup learns that the dragons aren't really bloodthirsty killers and we are drawn into a series of predictable events in which he must prove to his father and his people that the dragons aren't dangerous, just misunderstood.
The movie is able to overcome this shortcoming with its amusing, dramatically rich script and likable characters. Hiccup is charming in his own bumbling way and though he seems weak and cowardly, there is a lot of courage packed into his frail body. He stands up just as valiantly for the dragons as his people do in trying to slay them.
During a stunning battle at the film's climax, Hiccup proves himself as a viking warrior and encourages his people to accept the dragons for what they really are. In doing so he is able to meet the expectations of both his father and his people while also winning a battle that he himself chose to fight. He doesn't come out of it all unscathed, which strengthens the point the film is trying to make. It's a positive message everyone can take something from, no matter their age, presented in a film that is breathtaking to witness.