By ORION BAKER/ Multimedia Editor Assistant
Duke Reviews: How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
As we all know by now, live-action remakes these days often fall short of the original. This is often the case because studios either remove the key parts of the original film or twist them to tell a worse story outright—cough, “Lilo & Stitch,” cough.
Does DreamWorks’s attempt to match and raise the bar of live-action remakes work or fall flat like the rest of them?
PREFACE
Like Ballerina and the John Wick films, I haven’t watched the previous How to Train Your Dragon films. I know of some plot points and had an idea of the series before jumping in, but I jumped into this film and franchise blind.
THE REVIEW
HTTYD works better for a remake than its competitors. The viking and dragon setting and aesthetic seemed like a no-brainer, and it works well. However, just like its main competitor this summer, “Lilo & Stitch,” I don’t understand the need to remake this movie. The first HTTYD film came out in 2010, and the most recent film came out in 2019. Plus, one of the spin-offs last season ended at the end of 2023.
THE EFFECTS
The best part of this film is easily the CGI and effects. The dragons look fantastic, and the way they are animated, especially when it comes to the flight scenes, are amazing. They were beautifully done and the score accompanying them is fantastic. I also really enjoy the other effects, like the dragon’s breath, the volcanic eruption of the dragon’s den and other effects of the sort.
CASTING
The casting choices are another standout as well. I enjoyed Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, Mason Thames as Hiccup, and Nico Parker as Astrid and the other casting choices. However, I feel as though some line deliveries and castings fall short. For example, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, which was mostly okay, but the deliveries of the jokes fall short.
SET PIECES & COSTUMES
The set pieces are a mixed bag. It helps make the world feel lived in. The Dragon’s Nest is really neat, especially the red accents, but the village, on the other hand, feels boring in comparison. I did, however, like the hideaway hole where Hiccup and Toothless bonded. Overall, the island of Berk is good for what it is, but I personally wished for the world to be more fleshed out. Specifically, with the lore of dragons and the islands history.
Alongside set pieces, the costumes are alright. They look great and fit the theme, but the colors are a drag. For example, in the original animated film, Hiccup wears a brighter green shirt under his brown vest. In the remake, the green is diluted heavily into a more grey color. I get that it’s trying to seem more realistic, but it feels less distinct.
THE STORY
The story and characters are also fantastic. It flows well, which makes sense since they already have a great original movie to work off of. I do have notes, though.
Most of the movie’s story was excellent, but it has their moments here and there. Like when the main group of characters—besides Hiccup—tame their dragons, it felt rushed and to sudden. But, in the context of the story, it makes sense.
The emotional timing on certain scenes works fairly well such as the following: Hiccup and his dad’s argument, Astrid and Hiccup riding on Toothless and bonding, and especially with Toothless and Hiccup’s growing trust in one another. It works well. The same can’t be said for the comedic scenes.
Most of them work well, like Snotlout trying to pick up Astrid or Stoick’s line deliveries, which were phenomenal. But, one joke that I hated was near the end when Fishlegs’s dragon fell on him during the final battle. It felt like a spoon-fed joke for the toddlers to point and laugh at. It just smudged the vibe of the scene.
SCORING & CONCLUSION
Score: 6.5/10
If you are a fan of this series, it’ll probably fall short, but if you dive in blind, you might enjoy it. This movie, for me, was enjoyable. But it didn’t hit the highs of the original film. But as a standalone film, it’s an entertain able experience.
My next review will be a film, but it’s a big one, as I have a lot to say about it. If you have any suggestions on things you want me to review, a form is here. Thank you!
