8 hours ago
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I go into live-action remakes with an air of spite and the lowest expectations, and I typically walk out feeling like those emotions are justified. Cue the unimaginative plot, vapid characters and uninspired cinematography, and that is the bulk of these money-making ploys. But the How to Train Your Dragon remake from DreamWorks, in theaters now, admittedly left me awestruck.
I went to see the live-action remake of this beloved 2010 film over the weekend and was anxious about whether it would maintain the whimsy, humor and charm of the animated original. I'm still reeling from how lifeless Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch was, especially since the original is my all-time favorite animated movie. Just about every other Disney remake has also left me unimpressed. Would How to Train Your Dragon, another favorite animated film of mine, also be a remake I'd wish never happened?
I'm pleased, and quite surprised, to report that this adaptation was spectacular.
My biggest issue with live-action films is that typically don't carry over the quirkiness and imagination of the animated counterparts, which are unrestricted by the bounds of reality. Worlds and characters can be as eccentric and inventive as the mind allows, while gags can be delightfully exaggerated. Live-action movies, on the other hand, tend to upend that whimsy by flattening themes and personas into a real-world setting. Characters become rigid, regurgitated jokes fall flat and lackluster computer-generated imagery makes the story feel even less plausible.
But the How to Train Your Dragon remake somehow makes a fictional world full of dragons feel even more tangible, thanks to stellar CGI, sweeping landscapes and a euphoric soundtrack once again composed by the legendary John Powell. The actors maintain the key mannerisms of their animated counterparts, from Hiccup's timid empathy to Astrid's resolute boldness and Stoick's formidable determination.
This was all undoubtedly aided by the return of director Dean DeBlois, who artfully preserved character quips and mannerisms along with the sentimentality of the storyline from start to finish. Instead of feeling like a rushed retelling, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon takes its time with world-building and scene-setting, allowing viewers to feel immersed in the beautiful, mythical landscape and as closely connected to the multi-dimensional characters as the original film.
The live-action remake preserves character attributes from the animated film.
Universal PicturesPerhaps most critically, this remake holds firmly to the original movie's plot, without making it feel like a hollow duplication devoid of soul and action. Rather, the dazzling sequences, from Hiccup's epic first ride aboard Toothless the dragon (goosebumps) to the high-stakes battles, bring this story to life in ways no other live-action remake has.
This film not only lives up to the brilliance and wonder of the animated rendition but at times even rivals its thrill, thanks to the recharged score (the addition of bagpipes is a welcome one) and breathtaking cinematography. The remarkable detail on the dragons, from their colorful scales to Toothless's vivid green eyes, and the gripping flight sequences seamlessly bridge the gap between real-world and fantasy, making the whole endeavor delightfully believable and immersive.
There's still reason to be wary of live-action remakes. No matter how good they are, they still come off as an undisguised tactic by studios to rake in dollars on titles they know you love. And yet I still make the effort to see every single one, despite my trepidation that yet another childhood classic is likely to be massacred by a drab retelling no one asked for. But How to Train Your Dragon has tempered my live-action skepticism and left me spellbound. It demonstrates what no other remake has before: That you really can pump life into a real-world retelling and maintain the wonder of the original. I hope other studios are taking notes.
