Well, well. It took a while but another major studio is now in the business of remaking animated classics. How to Train Your Dragon has meant a lot to me since I was a kid. The first film is near perfect, the second is an amazing follow up, and the third is a flawed but incredibly satisfying and deeply emotional farewell to Hiccup & Toothless. I’ve been lucky that Disney hasn’t really been going after my childhood favorites, with the exception of The Lion King, to remake but now Universal and DreamWorks has dipped into my well of favorites. What piqued my curiosity very early on in the process of this film's development was that Dean DeBlois, director of all three of the animated films, was returning to tackle the live-action film, which was certainly a surprise. That being said, I have loved almost all the casting for this film and the trailers have certainly given me the nostalgic feels... but if you've listened to any of the episodes where I've discussed this film, you'll probably know that there has been one lingering question in my head: why? Why remake one of the only films that truly spawned a new franchise of the current generation. It seemed far too son, even for the nostalgic effect to be felt to its maximum. But of course, I went in hopeful and optimistic that Dean DeBlois could recapture the magic of the animated entries. Was he able to? Find out in this review!

How to Train Your Dragon:

Written and Directed by: Dean DeBlois

Based on the book by: Cressida Cowell

Based on DreamWorks Animation's 'How To Train Your Dragon' animated film by: Will Davies and Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders

Produced by: Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois, Adam Siegel

Executive Producers: David Cain, Michael A. Connolly, Roy Lee, Chris Sanders

Music by: John Powell

Director of Photography: Bill Pope

Edited by: Wyatt Smith

Casting by: Lucy Bevan

Production Design by: Dominic Watkins

Costume Design by: Lindsay Pugh

Cast: Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, Murray McArthur

Synopsis: On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.