'How To Train Your Dragon' (2025) Review: An Honest Recreation That Brings Back Everything We Love About The Original

Hype Malaysia

2 days ago

Let's face it, we all have that special show or film that we can't help but watch on loop when we're down or there's nothing else better to binge on. One such film that manages to find itself at such a coveted spot is none other than the hit 2010 animated film 'How To Train Your Dragon'. For those who weren't able to catch the film in its first go-around, it was a pivotal release that captivated a generation thanks to its beautiful score, visuals, and message and is still widely loved to this day.
However, if you missed your chance to catch it in theatres the first time, then good news: it's back, this time with a fresh, live-action coat of paint. Directed by Dean DeBlois and with music by John Powell, this film is here to once again unleash some draconic mischief for both the uninitiated and the nostalgic.
The story takes place, once again, in Berk, an isolated island far off the world, filled with the hardiest of Vikings imaginable. They are a resilient bunch, and they have to be, as they have been locked in a vicious war against the dragons for generations. Despite their hardened lifestyle, an inquisitive boy who'd rather ask questions first before fighting emerges – enter Hiccup (played by Mason Thames). He is a scrawny kid who wants nothing more than to be recognised by his father and tribe chieftain, Stoick the Vast (played by Gerard Butler).
However, his life begins to change when he befriends Toothless, a Night Fury dragon. Torn between two worlds, Hiccup struggles to keep his friendship a secret as he simultaneously discovers that the very foundation of Viking society is wrong.
But let's be honest: if you've watched the original, then you'd know this story by heart. And why is that? It's because this film is an honest-to-God, beat-for-beat remake of the 2010 original, barring a few differences. One of the key differences between this film compared to the original is that it features an additional 27 minutes to its runtime, expanding on the story a bit, though it does lose a joke or two.
There's hardly any change to the original, and why should there be? We can all agree that the original was practically perfect and that messing with it might just enrage the fanbase (something that has been happening way too often as of late). This is a fact that director Dean DeBlois knew well, as he is also one of the co-directors for the original animated film. However, there have been a lot of added details that make the world feel more alive compared to the original. Let's discuss them.
First things first, have you ever noticed that, in the animated trilogy, we only see Hiccup's parents? He's hardly the only child in the clan, so what gives? Well, in the remake, we actually see some of the other parents, namely Snotlout's (played by Gabriel Howell) dad. This adds some needed depth and perhaps justifies why Snotlout was always an in-your-face character in the original; sure, we see his father in the original as well, but he has actual dialogue and interaction with his very own flesh and blood, which is a nice touch.
Furthermore, have you ever wondered why Astrid (played by Nico Parker) had this animosity towards Hiccup in the original film? Sure, our protagonist was bullied by his classmates, but Astrid loathed Hiccup even before the dragon training, something that only worsened until she met Toothless. The remake answers that too by giving her a backstory where she comes from nothing and that she had to fight for recognition, unlike Hiccup, who can mess up and get away with it because he's the son of the chieftain.
In its entirety, 'How To Train Your Dragon' (2025) is an amazing recreation that was only possible through its amazing cast. Right off the bat, Mason Thames does an amazing job of recreating the immature nature of the original Hiccup and his slow but steady transformation into a Viking we'd follow to the ends of the Earth. Nico Parker brings a more grounded reinterpretation of Astrid; though it doesn't stray much from the original, she manages to find away to deviate from simply being a love interest without staining the original.
Then there is Butler's Stoick the Vast. You know you're a damn good actor when they have to pull you from the original voice acting cast to the live-action remake. He is an intimidating beast who honours his animated counterpart by going toe-to-toe with dragons in an epic fistfight. Not only that, his acting prowess really shines during the more emotional beats of the story, showing us that there's more to that wall of muscle and beard.
But that's not even half of it yet. We were fully immersed thanks to the excellent blending of CGI that makes everything feel natural and real. Partially shot in Northern Ireland, we could feel that each area is alive with every overhead and long shot shown to us. From the practical to the computer-generated sets, there is not a scene that feels out of place, especially when you add in the dragons and the human cast to the mix, doubly so when it comes to the fight scenes. A major gripe we have with the original was the final fight; it was supposed to be an epic confrontation between Hiccup and Toothless against the Alpha Dragon. Rather than a daring battle in the sky, all we got was the protagonists zipping amongst the clouds, taking potshots whenever they could. In the remake, however, the fight scenes are more visceral and intense, and the fact that we get to see most of it adds to the intensity.
However, it is not entirely perfect. Despite the animation teams' best efforts, Toothless is a tad goofy, but this is largely due to natural design rather than something that is lost in translation. Though he blends nicely with the human cast, you do notice how jarring it could be when you place him side by side with the rest of the dragons. As for the story, we noticed a few key changes that actually hurt the film.
One thing that was sorely missing was Hiccup's epiphany, where our protagonist discovers that dragons are fundamentally different from what they initially assumed. Not only that, in that same scene, he discovers that dragons are not fireproof on the inside. It is a small change, yes, but we cannot deny the snowball-like implications this has at the end of the original film. There are a few gags that we are missing as well, such as Hiccup fainting after freeing Toothless, Hiccup being bound to Toothless for a night following a day of training, and much more. But these are tiny nitpicks, and barring the previously mentioned one, not much of the story is changed. But since almost everything is the same, does it really warrant a live-action remake? That's something only you can decide.
Overall, 'How To Train Your Dragon' (2025) plunges us back into the world of Berk in a stunning live-action recreation that is as true to the original as it can be. Though it is a beat-for-beat retelling of the original, it adds a lot of details that further expands the world and its characters in a way that can satisfy both lovers of the classic as well as emerging fans.
'How To Train Your Dragon' will land in theatres on 12th June, 2025.
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