Latest news with #Toothless
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘How To Train Your Dragon' Review: A Spectacular Adaptation That Leaves Disney's Live-Action Efforts In The Dust
How To Train Your Dragon I wasn't sure what to expect when I headed with my kids to the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon. The previews looked good, and the reviews certainly were, for the most part. But I'd been burned so many times before thanks to Disney's countless shoddy efforts at reimagining their classic animated films into live-action (or CGI). Thankfully, this wasn't a Disney film. How To Train Your Dragon in live-action was absolutely spectacular. Better still, it was a genuinely faithful retelling of the same story, as faithful to the original animated movie as you could hope for; a lovingly retold story that hits all the same emotional beats and flys away with some of the best action I've seen all year. Scenes of Hiccup (Mason Thames) flying with his dragon buddy Toothless are simply astonishing. I am rarely moved by action sequences like this, especially when they involve CGI, but these scenes gave me the feels in a big way. These are genuinely breathtaking moments. I've certainly never seen dragon-riding that looks this good. None of the awkward perching that we saw in Game Of Thrones, however good that show's special effects were. It's rare for a film to inspire a sense of awe in me these days, but this one did in spades. Awe and wonder and yes, nostalgia, too. Hiccup and Astrid Much has been made online of the diversifying of the cast, with a lot of focus placed on Astrid, played this time around by Nico Parker – who is not blond. But Parker did a terrific job in the role (though I often felt like I was watching a young Thandiwe Newton, Nico's mother). And the movie does an interesting thing with its diversity that I really appreciated. In a scene in Stoick the Vast's hall, the viking chieftain gives a speech about hunting down the dragons and finding their nest in which he mentions that warriors from all over the world have gathered on the Isle of Berk to slay dragons. Instead of just making the Berk tribe inexplicably multiracial, this little bit of world-building gives an explanation to the (slightly) more diverse casting. It's a nice touch, and one that creators of fantasy films and TV shows should take note of. Speaking of Stoick, I don't think I've ever enjoyed a Gerard Butler performance more. He absolutely inhabits the role, bringing the animated character to life in live-action in a big, blustery way, while also capturing the awkward sentimentality of the hulking warrior. The entire cast is perfect. Thames was a great choice for Hiccup, capturing the original character's mannerisms and voice perfectly, though perhaps – as my daughter noted – with a little less squeakiness. This version of Hiccup is more plucky, less cynical, and it works, especially thanks to a slightly more emotionally vulnerable Stoick. The two play off one another perfectly. Nick Frost's performance as Gobber, the wise and limb-challenged blacksmith, was as charming as you'd expect. And the supporting cast of kids all did a great job creating a zany band of misfits who at first scorn, then embrace, our hero. Changing the twins to look nothing like one another actually leads to one of the best jokes in the film. It's small changes like this that don't fundamentally alter the story that I enjoy in a remake. Stoick the Vast Whether you've seen the original or not, this is a tremendously fun movie that honors the original without trying to drastically change the story or its message. It's a delight for the senses. The gorgeous score is even more powerful somehow, as Hiccup and Toothless skirt across the sea, narrowly dodging cliff sides and rocky outcrops, before soaring up into the sky, the music hitting its glorious crescendo as the camera flies higher, gives us sweeping vistas of craggy mountaintops against the setting sun. Meanwhile, the emotional reconciliation between father and son make this the perfect family film for Father's Day weekend. The few complaints I have are small ones. At times the sound could use better mixing. Dialogue is lost in some of the more action-packed sequences. Darker-lit scenes can feel a bit muddy at times. Most of this takes place in the opening minutes, however, and the film finds its feet (and audio and lighting balance) after that. Funny, heartfelt, a sight to behold, and faithful to the source material, How To Train Your Dragon is everything I hoped it would be. And everything we've been hoping Disney would do with its live-action remakes but has fumbled time and time again. Somehow, DreamWorks managed to knock it out of the park on its first try. No wonder audiences are responding with a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics may call the film too similar to the original, but that's exactly what these ought to be. There is no need to tread new ground. Sometimes it's the small changes that can make the biggest impact. I can't wait to watch it again when my 4K Blu-Ray arrives. My only regret is that we don't have an IMAX anywhere close because this film deserves the biggest, best screen (and sound system) you can find. Just don't bother sticking around for the post-credits scene. Have you seen How To Train Your Dragon? What did you think? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
When Is 'How To Train Your Dragon' Coming To Streaming?
How To Train Your Dragon Universal Pictures How to Train Your Dragon soared into theaters on Friday, June 13. The film is a live-action remake of the beloved 2010 animated film that kicked off the franchise. If you're waiting to watch it at home, here's what to know about when How to Train Your Dragon will likely start streaming. Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three animated How to Train Your Dragon films, is once again behind the reins for the 2025 live-action remake. Also returning is Gerard Butler, who played Viking chief Stoick the Vast in each of the animated installments. The remake also stars Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz and Murray McArthur. 'On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future,' the official synopsis reads. 'Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.' In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Butler explained how his approach to his character differed this time around compared to the animated films. 'When I watch myself, there's moments where I go, 'That's very like how I did it before,' then there's moments where you just go completely different," he said. "What I did want to do was be fresh, coming in there and starting as a new story and suddenly I'm embodying that all day long — I didn't get to do that when I was just doing the voice. I wore my pajamas every day.' Ready to watch How to Train Your Dragon again or waiting for its streaming debut? Here's how long fans will likely have to wait to see the movie on Peacock and digital streaming. How To Train Your Dragon Courtesy of Universal Pictures How To Train Your Dragon premiered exclusively in theaters on Friday, June 13. Currently, the only way to watch How To Train Your Dragon is in movie theaters. Check your local cinemas for specific showtimes. How To Train Your Dragon Courtesy of Universal Pictures How to Train Your Dragon is distributed by Universal Pictures, so the film is set to land on Peacock in the future. Fans can expect the movie to arrive on the streaming platform about three to four months after its theatrical debut – likely in September or October 2025. In comparison, Wicked began streaming on Peacock on Friday, March 21, 2025, almost four months after its November 2024 debut. Twisters also had a lengthy theater-to-Peacock release timeline at nearly four months. Similarly, The Fall Guy followed a comparable schedule, arriving on the streaming platform just under four months after its theatrical debut. How To Train Your Dragon Courtesy of Universal Pictures The great news is that you won't have to wait for How to Train Your Dragon to arrive on Peacock to watch the live-action movie at home. How to Train Your Dragon will be available for purchase or rental on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home sooner (typically about 45 to 65 days after its theatrical premiere). That means viewers could be watching How to Train Your Dragon from the comfort of their home as early as Monday, July 28, 2025. Stay tuned to learn exactly when How to Train Your Dragon will premiere on Peacock and digital platforms. Watch the official trailer below.
Los Angeles Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
How Toothless evolved for the new ‘How to Train Your Dragon': ‘We wanted him to feel like a big pet'
Whether soaring through the sky or sharing a playful moment with his human bestie Hiccup, Toothless, the dark-hued dragon with a friendly face and an injured tail, disarms you with his endearing nature. It's no surprise that he's become the emblem of the 'How to Train Your Dragon' animated movies, the first of which arrived in 2010. (There have since been two sequels, three separate TV series and five shorts.) A fan favorite among Gen-Z viewers, Toothless now returns to the big screen in a new hyper-realist iteration for the live-action remake, now in theaters. And in an unprecedented move, Dean DeBlois, who directed all three 'Dragon' animated films — as well as 2002's original 'Lilo & Stitch,' along with Chris Sanders — was asked to helm the live-action reimagining. It was his priority to preserve Toothless' essence. 'He is our most recognizable dragon within the entire assortment,' DeBlois says on the phone. 'And he has a lot of sentience and personality that comes through. And so much of it is expressed in this face that's quite Stitch-like with the big eyes, the ear plates and the broad mouth.' In fact, the entire live-action endeavor hinged on whether Toothless could be properly translated as a photorealistic dragon among human actors and physical sets, while retaining the charm of the animated movies. According to Christian Manz, the new film's visual effects supervisor, when Peter Cramer, president of Universal Pictures, initially considered the project back in 2022, he wasn't convinced Toothless would work. His touchstone for a fantastical creature that successfully achieved believability was the Hippogriff, a winged four-legged creature seen in 2004's 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.' To test the viability of a new Toothless, DreamWorks enlisted British visual effects and computer animation outfit Framestore to spend three months trying to create a 'realistic' version of Toothless. Framestore has had some popular successes to its name: Paddington Bear in the film series, Dobby from the 'Harry Potter' universe and Groot and Rocket Raccoon from the Marvel movies. 'We always knew that we weren't aiming for a real dragon, as in a 'Game of Thrones' dragon,' says Manz, via video call from the U.K. Toothless' design, particularly his facial features, presented a challenge for Manz and the team at Framestore. If they made his eyes or his mouth too small or if they tried to drastically reshape his head with more naturalism in mind, he quickly lost his personality. 'His big, expressive face with eyes that are larger than any animal in the animal kingdom, including the blue whale, had to remain because, without them, we felt like we were going to be delivering a lesser version of Toothless,' says DeBlois. A stage show based on the first film called 'How to Train Your Dragon: Live Spectacular,' which toured Australia and New Zealand in 2012, radically changed the design — to a mixed response. 'Toothless was too creature-like and it just wasn't as appealing and as charming,' says Simon Otto, head of character animation for all three animated movies, via Zoom. While they may be too subtle for an untrained viewer to notice, certain design changes have been made that differentiate the live-action Toothless from his animated counterpart. 'He's now bigger, his head's smaller, his eyes are actually smaller,' says Manz. The nuanced reshaping of his head and his body was intentional: an effort to make him blend into a photorealistic world. 'The interesting thing is that when people see the live-action movie, they say, 'Oh, it's Toothless, like he stepped out of the animated movie,'' says DeBlois. 'But in truth, if you put them side by side, you'll see quite a few differences.' The texture of Toothless' body needed to be more intricate for the live-action version, so he would feel more convincingly integrated within the environments. 'In the animation, he's quite smooth,' says Manz. 'We tried very snake-like skin, but it just made him look very unfriendly. You wouldn't want to put your hand on his forehead.' Both on-screen versions of Toothless were crafted using essentially the same digital technique: computer animation. The difference here is that the one meant to share space with a flesh-and-blood world, with distinct aesthetic concerns. Even if seeking realism in creatures that only exist in our imagination might seem counterintuitive, the goal is to make them feel palpable within their made-up realm. 'One of the things I don't like about live-action remakes is they seem to try to want to replace the animated source, and I find myself very protective of it,' says DeBlois with refreshing candor. 'We tried to create a version that lives alongside it. It follows the beats of that original story, but brings new depths and expanded mythology and more immersive action moments and flying. But it's never trying to replace the animated movie because I'm very proud of that film.' Toothless as we now know him originated expressly for the screen. The Toothless in Cressida Cowell's originating book series is tiny and green (a design that can be seen in the first animated movie in the form of a minuscule dragon known as Terrible Terror). But when DeBlois and Sanders came aboard, 15 months before the 2010 release, replacing the previous directors, their first major change was to make Toothless a dragon that could be ridden. It was the screensaver of a black panther that first inspired the look of Toothless in the animated films. Otto, one of the designers who knows Toothless best (he drew the original back in 2008), recalls his real-world animal references. 'He is a mix between a bird of prey, like a peregrine falcon, with extremely streamlined shapes — of course a feline but also a Mexican salamander called an axolotl,' Otto says. Sanders' design for Disney superstar Stitch, namely his large almond-shaped eyes, ears and pronounced mouth, also influenced the design. 'There's a little bit of a design influence from Stitch in Toothless' face that makes them feel like they're distant cousins,' says DeBlois. He believes that making Toothless more closely resemble a mammal, rather than a reptile, and giving him pet-like qualities were the keys for him becoming so memorable. '[We] spent a lot of time on YouTube looking at videos of dogs and cats doing funny things,' he says. 'And we would try to incorporate a lot of that behavior into Toothless with the hopes that when people watched the movie, they would say, 'That's just like my cat' or 'My dog does that.' We wanted him to feel like a big pet. Ferocious and dangerous at first, but then a big cuddly cat after.' On the set of the live-action movie, Toothless and the other dragons existed as large puppets with simple functions, operated by a team of master puppeteers led by Tom Wilton, a performer who had worked on the 'War Horse' stage play. Using puppets was meant to provide the actors, especially Mason Thames, who plays Hiccup, a real-world scene partner. The Toothless foam puppet had an articulated jaw and articulated ear plates that allowed for a subtle, interactive performance. 'There's a performance that Dean can direct and that Mason and the other actors could act against, so that the interaction is utterly believable,' says Manz. '[The puppets] are obviously removed from the frame in the end, but it just means you believe that connection.' As for the impressive flight sequences, in which Hiccup rides Toothless, the production created an animatronic dragon placed on a giant gimbal that moved on six different axes to simulate the physics of flying. 'If the dragon was diving or ascending or banking and rolling, Mason would be thrown around in the saddle, like a jockey on a racehorse,' says DeBlois. 'And it married him to the animal in a way that felt really authentic.' For all his success in the animated realm, DeBlois has never directed a live-action film until now. 'I do commend Universal for taking a risk on me knowing that I had not made a live-action film, but also recognizing that I knew where the heart and the wonder was, and I was determined to bring it to the screen,' he says. Otto, the designer who trained Toothless before anybody else, candidly says he would have 'peed his pants' if he knew the drawings he did back in 2008 would spawn a franchise and a theme-park attraction (a re-creation of the films' Isle of Berk opened at Universal Studios Florida earlier this year). 'The most critical choice they made for the live-action was making sure the audience falls in love with Toothless,' he adds. 'And that you understand that if you have a creature like that as your friend, you wouldn't give up on it.'
Mint
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Theatrical releases this week: Ballerina, Sitaare Zameen Par, Kuberaa- check out release dates, cast, plot and more
The weekend is here, which means a brand-new week and a fresh lineup of entertainment are just around the corner for you. Whether you're planning a visit to the theatres this weekend or in the days to come, here's an exciting slate of films that is ready to keep your eyes glued to the big screen. From Aamir Khan's much-anticipated Sitaare Zameen Par to Ana de Armas' action-packed John Wick spin-off Ballerina, a variety of releases will hit cinemas between June 14 and June 20. Plot: Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and Chapter 4 (2023), Ballerina follows the story of Eve Macarro, a ballerina who begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. She takes on killers as she seeks revenge for her father's death. Cast: Ana de Armas, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Anjelica Huston, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves. Release date in India: 13 June Plot: The live-action remake of the 2010 animated film with the same name, How to Train Your Dragon tells the story of a Viking boy, Hiccup who befriends a dragon named Toothless, however, when an ancient threat against humans and nature surfaces, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key towards restoring peace. Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, Gerard Butler Genre: Fantasy adventure film Release date in India: 13 June Plot: In a love triangle set against the backdrop of New York City, Materialists follows the story a girl who thrives as a matchmaker. However, it's her own personal life that she struggles with as she is torn between her perfect match and her imperfect ex. Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, Release date in India: 13 June Plot: Said to be a remake of the Spanish film Campeones, the film is based on the story of a basketball coach who serves community service by training Neurodivergent adults after a DUI case. Cast: Amir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishnan Varma, Vedant Sharmaa, Naman Misra, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Ashish Pendse, Samvit Desai, Simran Mangeshkar, Aayush Bhansali Release date in India: 20 June Plot: A beggar experiences a drastic transformation, delving into themes of greed, ambition, and the moral conflicts that challenge everyone, setting them on a path toward redemption. Cast: Nagarjuna, Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, Dalip Tahil Language: Telugu, Tamil, Hindi Release date in India: 20 June
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Gerard Butler Says Live-Action ‘How To Train Your Dragon' Was Destiny
Gerard Butler didn't see a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon coming, but it feels like it was always meant to be. "When I was voicing the original movies, I didn't imagine making a live-action version, but I was wondering what it must be like to be in this world and be Stoick," the Scottish actor confirms as we chat in the SLS Beverly Hills hotel. "It never crossed my mind once in all those 15 years of a live-action film. Nobody ever mentioned it to me, and I never thought about it, so it came out of the blue." "Part of me was like, 'That could be awesome,' and another part of me was like, 'Well, hold on.' On the first day of visiting Belfast, where we filmed the movie, I saw a lot of the artwork on Toothless and the other dragons, as well as some of the digital effects, and then toured the sets. I was thrilled that I had the opportunity to be a part of it." Just like the original film that kicked off a franchise, How to Train Your Dragon takes place on the Viking isle of Berk, where an ancient threat endangers both the human occupants and dragons alike. However, an unlikely friendship between Hiccup, the son of Butler's Viking leader, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, proves to be the key to both species creating a new future together. How to Train Your Dragon is now showing exclusively in theaters. However, as writer-director Dean DeBlois revealed, Butler almost didn't return to the role he made his own due to scheduling conflicts. However, serendipitously, luck was on his side. "It was good luck for them," he laughs. "No, it was a stroke of luck. I was in the middle of making another movie; we had just had a meeting and said, 'Okay, I think we have to push this and do some more work on the script.' I got a text from Dean two hours later saying, 'We tried you again. You're not available. I just want you to know I wanted you to do this so much, and I'm heartbroken.' I said, 'Wait. When is this?' So, the other movie was pushed back, and I could fit this in the middle. It was destiny that the timing worked out, and everything unfolded as it did. I can't imagine me not having done Stoick." "It reminds me of a line in the movie with the Trial of Flame, when Hiccup takes the knife, and I say, 'I would have taken the hammer.' I think that's what I would have been like watching another actor in the role." In addition to reuniting Butler and DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon also reunites the actor with his Chasing Mavericks cinematographer, Bill Pope. Being in the hands of people he trusts and has a rapport with made him feel safe. "Bill is amazing. We were working with Curtis Hanson, and he was ill at the time, so he had to leave the movie. Therefore, at times, it was Bill and I directing the movie, so I got to know Bill a lot better than your normal cinematographer," he recalls. "Also, especially with Dean, being able to go and play and know I'm backed up by an incredible visionary who's so specific is great. When he would talk to you, it was amazing to listen to. I felt so relaxed. What I feel I brought to Stoik was the understanding that, despite everything I knew about him, I could almost forget it once I put on his costume and entered a whole new world where I could play in the sandbox. Therefore, I could be a lot freer and give the character a lot more levels and colors." While the experience of making How to Train Your Dragon was a pleasure, Stoik's Viking costume was less of a walk in the park. It is impressive to look at, but it wasn't fun to wear. "The costume was 90 pounds, and you felt every pound of that being put on because it was seven layers," Butler explains. "Things had to be wrapped, clipped, and pulled, and the first time I put it on, it took three hours. Once it was on, it wouldn't come off, so that helped me climb into Stoik. I watched the movie the other night, and I've never had this before, but I went. 'That's me.' It was such a metamorphosis. The costume was incredible, with its beard, makeup, and even what I was able to do because of it; I felt like I had truly transformed. The world-building that was there was immense." "On set, there was a different challenge for me than for everybody else. It was Belfast, and it was winter, so everybody was freezing. I was boiling. I don't think I was cold once throughout the whole movie, and I was soaking wet the whole time because I had so many layers on. It was often raining, so the ground was also extremely muddy. In the movie, you don't see that; it's always fresh grass and lush forests; however, when you were walking the set, the mud was sometimes six or eight inches deep. It was pretty messy." Going around the world to promote the movie has brought Butler, also known for other popular franchise kick-starters such as Olympus has Fallen, Den of Thieves, and Greenland, face-to-face again with fans who have formed deep connections with the world of Berk. The film's status was something he hadn't quite realized previously. "I knew people enjoyed the original, and it resonated, but I think I'm hearing it more now," he muses. "We went to CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and when Universal showed their slate of what was upcoming, but it also went right back, and you saw things like Back to the Future and Jaws, we kind of thought, 'Oh, my God, that's us now.' In 20 years, I think they'll be showing How to Train Your Dragon up there. It feels like we made our E.T." Speaking of E.T., How to Train Your Dragon also has the honor of being immortalized at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The Isle of Berk is one of the worlds at the groundbreaking new theme park, Epic Universe and Butler attended the opening event with DeBlois and some of the new film's cast. "The park is amazing," he enthuses. "I think they did a fantastic job, and it was very surreal to go, 'We made this movie, and now it's a theme park. It felt a lot hotter than it would in Berk because it was boiling, but it also felt good to walk in my shorts and not have to dress in that six-foot-wide costume. It's incredible. The imagination and the artistry are super fun. I think kids are going to love it." Encouraging fans to see How to Train Your Dragon in theaters, Butler believes that's the only way to truly appreciate the fantastical flight of fancy. For some, it's where they'll fall in love with cinema, reminding the actor of an experience he had as a child that changed everything. "The adventure movie that I saw and would have loved to have starred in was Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Some movies move you, and others feel like they impact your life, and I felt that movie did that," the actor reveals. "By the way, it's why I'm here doing what I do, and it's especially why I do movies like this because, for me, the idea of stepping into a fantastical story that would grab me in such a powerful way and partly feeling like I was living or performing in it is incredible. That's why, when you make a movie like this, even though it's fantastical, you do your best to ground it and make it as believable as possible. I love that about fantasy films. How to Train Your Dragon is a great example of that."
