How to Train Your Dragon

If I were in my boyhood, I would undoubtedly be thrilled by the dragon spectacle, because the creators have catered to the child audience to the utmost. For an adult, the film does not have a significant impact; it uses motifs that have appeared in a number of past films and is at times overdone and childish, such as when the dragon learns to play with dolls and resembles a cute little rabbit from fairy tales for the youngest children. Also, the logic of the plot, especially in the second half, somewhat lags. However, the action scenes - and there are plenty of them - are breathtaking, the dragons are lively, and there is no shortage of jokes, which certainly do not fall flat throughout the entire runtime. Furthermore, the film can surprise at times, for example, when the hero does not come out of the decisive encounter undamaged. Of course, there are the typical love and parental motifs, and friendship in various forms. Those who have children between the ages of 5-12 should see it with them - it is an ideal choice. Overall impression: 65%. (2010-04-30)

Even though I was sitting in that movie theatre surrounded by little kids (or their parents), I enjoyed it and didn't find it weird at all that the average age was around 12 because this film is for everyone and you just need to relax a bit and enjoy it. The big plus is that it didn't stop entertaining me even when I had a headache, and you know how it is with attention when something hurts... :-) Funny, the kawai dragon (which has the intelligence, the behavior of a cat and a dog and looks like a frog) and dispensed with the sappy speeches in honor for friendship, understanding, and I don't know what all. Just no pathos and that, when it's not in a US movie, is just awesome... X-D 4+ for sure and without hesitation. (2010-04-30)

This is an animated movie that simply somehow engraves itself into your memory. Lately, I have the feeling that there are quite a few high-quality animated films being made. "How to Train Your Dragon" completely astonishes with some scenes, both in terms of the plot and visually. It's also nice that the second installment is definitely worth watching as well. (2015-03-13)

I am usually repelled by cute animation films with kids and supernatural animals in the main roles, but this one was great. The story has no surprises, but the animation is captivating and the dialogues are like out of a good sitcom. I laughed more often than with most comedies. I’m giving it 9/10 and wonder what happened with Wall-E, Up and Ratatouille… (2010-05-31)

A wonderful story about a special friendship that also has considerable resonance. Of course, it can be seen as a simple narrative where "the son, against his father's expectations, takes a path other than the predetermined one and actually opens everyone's eyes in the end." How to Train Your Dragon offers much more than that. It is, in fact, about a precipitous change in deeply ingrained thinking and beliefs. Here the means to achieve it is an extraordinary interspecies relationship that until now has been considered fundamentally unacceptable. I'm not afraid to say that this is truly one of the best animated films I've seen yet. And the cool thing about it is that it works for all ages. There's something for everyone that grabs them by the heart. (2019-02-24)