Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie
Live action 'How to Train Your Dragon' lives up to the original movie
Show Caption
Hide Caption
'How to Train Your Dragon' takes flight in live action: Watch
Mason Thames stars as the Viking boy Hiccup, who instead of slaying dragons befriends one in the live-action remake of "How to Train Your Dragon."
The making of a live-action redo of a classic animated movie should embrace the same sort of good sense as being a doctor: Do no harm. And while you're at it, don't ruin anyone's childhood.
On all counts, the new 'How to Train Your Dragon' (★★★½ out of four; rated PG; in theaters June 13) manages to be a rousing success. For the past 15 years, the first spectacular adaptation of the Cressida Cowell book has thrilled audiences as the most emotionally stirring cartoon not made by Pixar. Original writer/director Dean DeBlois returns for a revamped 'Dragon' that feels like a different experience but is just as good as the original, with moments of wonder and awe featuring characters fleshed out in new ways – literally and figuratively.
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and smartly, the new take sticks mostly to the first film's script. On the island of Berk, Hiccup (Mason Thames) is an awkward but likable kid who's not the most rough-and-tough Viking of all time, much to the chagrin of his gruff dad Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role). Stoick and the adults fight and slay dragons, and pass on this generational aggression to their youngsters.
During a dragon raid, Hiccup winds up wounding a Night Fury, an ultra-rare and little-known species, and tracks him down. But instead of killing the creature, who's got big eyes and is adorable even when somewhat dangerous, the inventive Hiccup befriends and names him Toothless, fixes his injured tail so he can fly, and they bond airborne-style as ride-or-die besties.
The animated Hiccup and Toothless were cool enough swooping through the air. But now, watching Thames soar atop a computer-generated dragon is like the exhilaration of a theme-park flight simulator matched with the adrenaline rush of 'Top Gun,' all while landing squarely in the feels. The various dragons really pop as digital creations given new dimension, including the ginormous monster that acts as a final boss requiring an epic human/beast team-up to defeat.
The live-action interactions between characters also hit differently, especially for teens and tweens, though 'Dragon' is still very much an all-ages family movie. With human actors, there's more of a high-school movie vibe as Hiccup becomes more accepted among the young Vikings, and the relationship between Thames' Hiccup and his frenemy/crush Astrid (Nico Parker) is built out a little more here. The two actors have a natural chemistry that animated characters just can't replicate.
Astrid doesn't think much of Hiccup in the beginning, yet he grows on her – and the audience – the more he gains needed confidence and even a smidge of swagger. (Or as much as one can boast wearing their mom's breastplate as a helmet.)
Rather than repeat Jay Baruchel's enjoyably nerdy Hiccup from the 2010 'Dragon,' Thames plays our hero as a teen still figuring a lot of things out but inherently knowing he needs to be true to himself. It leads to some enjoyable and a few really heated exchanges between empathetic Hiccup and his stubborn dad. Butler has done a lot of action movies since his early 'Dragon' days, but he brings the needed gravitas to make this not just a boy-and-his-dragon tale but a strong father-and-son journey as well.
'How to Train Your Dragon' is a lesson for anybody tackling a remake. It doesn't try to half do something old and something new, like 'Snow White,' and makes the case for being actually necessary, unlike 'Lilo & Stitch.' As it was back in the day, Toothless is a joy to watch and the movie's best special effect but he's also a symbol of growth: as watchable and lovable as ever, yet with a slightly more mature sheen.
Fortunately, the new 'How to Train Your Dragon' does no harm. Instead, it lets loose a heartwarming, meaty adventure perfect for a new generation of young film fan but doesn't forget to entertain the older movie kids, either.
How to watch 'How to Train Your Dragon'
"How to Train Your Dragon," the live-action remake of the 2010 animated adventure, is directed by Dean DeBlois and stars Mason Thames and Gerard Butler. The movie is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for sequences of intense action, and peril."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Zebra in Tennessee captured after more than a week on the run: Watch video
Zebra in Tennessee captured after more than a week on the run: Watch video Show Caption Hide Caption Viral zebra hitches a ride to safety after escape Social media users have been following Ed the zebra's escapades for over a week. The celebrity animal has finally been rescued. Ed, the runaway zebra in Tennessee, who became the talk of the town, or rather the country, and sparked a barrage of memes has been caught after being on the loose for more than a week. The striped equid, nicknamed 'Ed' by the social media users tracking his escapades," was finally captured in a field in Christiana, about 45 miles south of Nashville, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook, adding "Ed was airlifted and flown by helicopter back to a waiting animal trailer." News Channel 5 reported the zebra was hit with a tranquilizer dart and strapped in before it was airlifted via helicopter to be returned to captivity and seen by a veterinarian. Video footage from the rescue operation shows the zebra, wrapped in net with just his head poking out, soaring through the air, as he is carried by the helicopter. Video shows zebra being airlifted after capture Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency were involved in the operation, the sheriff's office said, and deputies were on standby for the safety of nearby residents. We've got every viral moment covered: Sign up for USA TODAY's Everyone's Talking newsletter. How did the pet zebra escape? And when? The exact details surrounding the pet zebra's escape, including when, where and how the ordeal began, are not immediately clear. The pet zebra belonged to a couple who told law enforcement they "obtained the zebra Friday night, which escaped the following day." How long had Ed been on the loose? 'Ed' had been on the run since May 31, just a day after it arrived at its new home in Christiana. In the days since its escape, the zebra was spotted wandering around various neighborhoods and even "wreaked havoc" on a parkway near Interstate 24 in the city of Murfreesboro, so much so "deputies had to close the interstate because the zebra was running through traffic on both sides of the highway," Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Lt. Kenneth Barrett had said. Ed then "escaped into a wooded area and disappeared" until he was spotted again on June 5. Law enforcement officials had been tracking the zebra's whereabouts with a drone. Is it legal to own a zebra in Tennessee? As surprising as it may sounds, it is legal to own a zebra as a pet in Tennessee, according to The Tennessean. Zebras are classified as Class III animals that do not require any special permits. Other unusual animals that can be legally owned in the state include ferrets and chinchillas, llamas, alpacas, giraffes, bison, antelopes and marsupials like kangaroos. Contributing: Amaris Encinas, Natalie Neysa Alund and Hadley Hitson, USA TODAY / Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
BET Awards 2025: Where to watch, host, performers, nominations
BET Awards 2025: Where to watch, host, performers, nominations Show Caption Hide Caption Dapper Dan is 'deeply concerned' about Black culture. Here's why. Fashion icon Dapper Dan chats with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa at the Apollo Theater spring benefit about the Met Gala and the theater's future. The BET Awards, also known as "Culture's Biggest Night," will bring the most prestigious Black artists and entertainers in one room tonight. The show is expected to have big moments, performances, and a nostalgic reunion. Here's what we know about the BET Awards 2025: How to watch the BET Awards The 2025 "BET Awards" will premiere live on Monday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET. According to a spokesperson, the show will air on several channels, including BET, MTV, MTV2, NAN, Pop, Logo, CMT, and Paramount Network. The Red Carpet pre-show with hosts Terrence J and Pretty Vee begins at 6 p.m. ET. Who is hosting the awards show? Comedian and movie star Kevin Hart is the host for the 2025 BET Awards. In the teaser, Hart said he plans to take the show "to a new level." Confirmed Performers Teyana Taylor GloRilla Leon Thomas Playboi Carti Lil Wayne 106 & Park' reunion: Here's what we know about the 25th anniversary at the 2025 BET Awards Who has the most nominations? Rap emcee Kendrick Lamar has a whopping 10 nominations, including for "Album of the Year" for his latest album "GNX." Doechii, nominated six times, is a contender in the same category for her mixtape "Alligator Bites Never Heal." The rapper is also up for "Video of the Year" and "Viewer's Choice Award" for her hit song, "Denial is a River." Drake is also nominated for six awards, gaining nods for "Best Male R&B/Pop Artist" and "Best Male Hip Hop Artist." Future and Glorilla were also nominated for the same number of awards. Kendrick Lamar: 10 GloRilla: 6 Future: 6 Drake: 6 Doechii: 6 Who are the 'Ultimate Icon Award' recipients? BET's "Ultimate Icon Award" acknowledges industry powerhouses for "their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact," per a press release. This year's recipients include: Jamie Foxx Mariah Carey Snoop Dogg Kirk Franklin Will there be a '106 & Park' reunion? The former hosts of the early 2000s television staple will return to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary at the 2025 BET Awards, according to a May 6 press release. The reunion will feature performances from hip-hop and R&B acts whose music videos kept viewers dancing in their living rooms after school. Among them are Mr. 106 & Park himself, Bow Wow, T.I., B2K, Amerie, Jim Jones, Keyshia Cole, and Mya. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Elle
2 hours ago
- Elle
Zoe Saldaña's Go-To Party Menu Is Surprisingly Simple
It's difficult to upstage Zoe Saldaña these days. The in-demand actress and ELLE Women in Hollywood honoree recently won her first Academy Award, nabbing the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her triple-threat performance in the musical-drama Emilia Pérez. She's starring in Pixar's highly anticipated animated film, Elio, and the third installment of the Avatar series, which will finally hit theaters this December. But when I meet Saldaña on the banks of Lake Como in Italy to get a sneak peek of her new Grey Goose campaign, the landscape is trying its hardest to steal the show. 'Look at this set,' Saldaña exclaims from video village, the surrounding mountain range and cloud-streaked cerulean sky mirrored in the rippling waters behind her. Although Saldaña's husband is Italian and originally from Lake Garda, this is her first visit to Lake Como. ('Even Italians adore Como,' she says.) She's stationed here for a few days as the Grey Goose team takes over the Grand Hotel Victoria, transforming the property, including the dreamy lakeside beach club, into the fictional Grey Goose Hôtel for a series of new shorts she is starring in. Tapping into the brand's French ethos, the campaign is intended to encourage people to live in the moment and savor life's small pleasures. Saldaña even revealed the recipe for her favorite cocktail, playfully named the Le Zoé Spritz—a refreshing blend of vodka, rosé, sparkling water, strawberry juice, fresh lemon juice, and a few fun garnishes. 'Creatively putting a cocktail together, and enjoying that cocktail, is an experience that allows me to be more present,' Saldaña says, adding that summer is an ideal time for a spritz. As for what she'd serve alongside it? 'I am very much a fan of antipasti—cheese and salamis, like a charcuterie.' If it sounds like a party, well, Saldaña has a lot to celebrate these days. Below, shared more of her hosting tips, what audiences can expect from the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, and how women in Hollywood are inspiring her to ask, 'What if I'm just getting started?' I'm starting to. I'm trying really, really hard. It's difficult when you are part of a business where everything is always happening. It's [a lot of] hurry up and wait. So you're constantly being compelled to be in the then and not really in the now. Then, when you become a parent, you're always planning for the future. I have to say that my children are such present beings, and they are really inspiring my husband and I, and even my folks, to be more present. That means sometimes dropping everything and just sitting down and enjoying a beautiful view, no matter where you are—enjoying company and a nice beverage. I'm taking great pleasure in allowing myself to steal moments like that. A little bit of both. I feel like it very much runs parallel with my life in terms of how I continue to evolve, and challenge myself, and grow. So, in that sense, it's been very real. I've been very present with it. And it is surreal. I am from Jackson Heights, Queens. Though I've always been exceptionally loved by an amazing family who've done everything for us, I'm just like, 'How do I get from there to here?' Sometimes it is surreal. I didn't expect it, but I've been witnessing it with so many women that I truly admire—the longevity, the empowerment, [how] women are taking back [control] over their youth, how we get to say when we're done. I'm 46, so to be able to still work and [ignore the timeline] that everybody has put on me as a woman—like, Oh, now you're 46, you have three kids, you can't do this, and you can't do that. I've taken inspiration from women like Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis. Nicole Kidman, I admire her. Demi Moore is one of my giants, how she has managed to defy the gravities that were always set for her. 'You're too pretty.' 'You're [a] popcorn [actress].' 'You're too sexy.' Every trope, she just broke, broke, broke, broke, broke. My giants continue to inspire me—that, at this age, with everything that I've done in my life, I can still say, 'Well, what if I'm just getting started?' That's beautiful, and I would love to be a part [of that] legacy of women. More like that. I'm getting things together as people are walking in, but the day before, I will go to the store and buy a lot of items. That way people can assemble their favorite cocktails. I love that. I have to say, my husband and I have mastered the pizza party. You make the best dough. You buy the best cheese, and you make the sauce from scratch, and you put everything out there, and you make it like a rotating station where people make their pizza. We really take pleasure in putting that all together. Oh my God, that's the only thing we know how to do. I grew up in a household of immigrant parents and elders, and I married an immigrant. So when we plan to have family and friends over, there's always a question: Are we going to do Italian, or is it going to be Dominican? Because it can't be both. My husband believes that it can be both. I'm like, 'We can't.' Everything has to be cohesive. Don't be putting some rice and beans with the cioppino. You can't do that. Also because [the food you serve] dictates the kind of cocktails you're going to arrange. I can't have a mojito with a carbonara. I just can't do it. But if we're doing carne asada with some guacamole, and some beans and rice, then okay, bring in your mojito. Lately in my life—outside of [some of] my commitments with these big, big amazing movies that I've been a part of—my journey as a human being and making art, it is about the reconciliation of grief. I did [the TV series] From Scratch because of it. I'm always trying to interpret, through different lens, what grief can mean and how it can impact the lives of people, and also celebrate how they manage loss. Avatar put me and Sam Worthington in a position to imagine the unimaginable by being Jake and Neytiri [who lose their son in Avatar: The Way of Water]. I think even Jim [director James Cameron] wasn't ready to see that, and he knew that was part of their journey because of the saga around this world he's creating, and the threats around this world. That deep, unimaginable sense of loss was probably something that these characters needed to experience. And I'm proud of him for doing it. I would've done it differently [laughs], because I'm a parent. But it just makes this world of Avatar a lot more meaningful. So Fire and Ash is definitely a continuation, but a process for the Sullys, and it's just so beautiful. Out of the five-episode saga, it is the exact middle for them. I do believe that Fire and Ash is going to be the biggest turning point in this journey for these two individuals and this world. Yes. Because also, in the making of the third one, we lost [Avatar producer] Jon Landau. Experiencing loss, it's just hard. Now more than ever, Avatar [has become] a much more meaningful [series], a story for all of us. So, we're very proud of it. I feel like every time I talk to Jim about it—because Jim was such a wonderful person throughout the whole campaign of Emilia Pérez, whether they were good moments or challenging moments, he was always calling me. Sigourney [Weaver, who plays Kiri in Avatar] did the same, and Sam [Worthington] did the same. For me to be a part of an amazing family of people since my 20s, I think, Oh my God, I love them, and I'll do anything for them. I can't wait for Fire and Ash [and] to share it with the world, because it almost killed me. Shooting that scene at the end of The Way of Water was so difficult, but shooting Neytiri and Jake forcing themselves to get up and move on, and be there for their surviving children, was the hardest thing. It teaches you a lot about what it must be like as a parent, as a guardian. How do you also stay together, and how do you let love win once again after experiencing that kind of loss? It's the most complex thing. We're born, and I feel like the biggest growth in life is just learning how to die. Every living organism meets their demise, and I feel like a lot of our lives has to be spent accepting it. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
