Training Dragons is Easy

It took me long enough to get around to the movie. But I managed to finally get a peek at the “How to Train Your Dragon” movie which came out last year. Yes, it's taken me this long.

Thanks to low prices of the Famiy Video store and a little bit of patience, I was able to rent it out this week. It was good enough that I watched it twice. I did return the movie. No late fee.

I don't apologize for taking this long to see the film. I wanted to see the movie when it hit the theaters. But no go. I was going to see it when it was running in the second hand theater in the Appleton area. Didn't get out there.

In a way, I wished I've seen it sooner.

It's a very good film with a strange moral premise to it. What's the moral? It comes in two parts. Number one, it shows that there is no reason to hurt or wound anyone or anything. Number two, there should be trust between two beings from different cultures.

In this case, it's a Viking boy and a dragon.

The story is told through the point of view of a Viking boy named Hiccup. Yep, that's his name. His voice, his demure, everything reminds me of a Woody Allen character. He's a nervous wreck. He's a weakling. He looks like a geek.

But he is funny. And very smart. Which helps him to weave around between bad situation. He would either run or hide. Very much in Allen's old style of mayhem.

For some reason, the Viking kids including the Hiccup and Astrid characters would talk in a modern lingo while the rest of them speak in the old Viking styled accent. It's very odd.

But it is an odd movie. With a good heart.

Much of it is centered around the blossoming friendship between the dragon and Hiccup. It's a strange universe to be living in because all the dragons and Vikings do is fight each other to the death. And there's very little other ambition. The dragons would raid the Viking villages. And the Vikings would fend them off for another score of battle.

But the lesson of the story is how Hiccup approaches his situation by using his intellect. This film is another example of using intelligence to solve a situation. Hiccup devises a way to create a friendship by giving it raw fish. He creates a new “wing” for the dragon so it would be able to fly on its own accord. Hiccup finds a way to fly the dragon by making himself a pilot and an extension of the flying creature. He uses his brains. Not his brawn.

The films are going through a phase right now. It is the day of the geeks. Seriously. Have you noticed that many films of today are subscribing to a geek crowd? There are the many comic book movies based on original material of Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and others independent books like “Sin City” by Frank Miller. These are geeky stuff. But it's wonderful stuff. You would also notice that the latest leading actor of the Doctor Who series—Matt Smith—is a perfect geek himself. Tall, slender and not at all the strong type... he approaches his situation using his intellect. There are many shows and movies that are designed for the geek audience.

Same with “How to Train Your Dragon.” This is a movie about a geek for geeks. And it's a pleasure to see a film that delivers the universal message: brains over brawn. Anytime. Hiccup is a character that doesn't fit into the old styled macho character such as the Conan the Barbarian or Rambo types. Instead, he reminded me more of Woody Allen in the old days.

The film itself is a nice balance of comedy and drama. We get to see the growing romance between Hiccup and Astrid which is always very innocent. The voices by the actors themselves are usually comedians. But they work very well with the material. Late, Late Show host Craig Ferguson has a fairly large part in here as the old mentor of Hiccup which gives him a chance to stretch his comedic skills that he loves so much.

Interestingly enough, one would find that David Tennant has a smallish part in the film itself. (Tennant has previously played Doctor Who). He was the narrator for a smaller feature made for the film itself. I'm wondering since Ferguson is such a huge Doctor Who fan that he might have somehow got Tennant on board the project. Not to mention they are both Scottish.

Is it a good enough movie to take the kids to see? Definitely. There aren't any real violence in the film and there are a few sad moments in the film. But it is intended for the general audiences. The story gives a very good lesson in non-violence which sets it apart from other films. You wouldn't have to worry about any swearing or cursing.

For myself, I've enjoyed the film for its moral code. And there could be no argument against using non-violence in today's world that has become so obsessed with guns. It really gives a wider view that using non-violence is a preferred thing. Children would do well to learn using their smarts when it comes to figuring out something. Not bashing or smashing about. Just good old fashioned and reliable intellect.