Tag Archives: fantasy

06.21.25
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How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Out of all the live-action remakes of animated films to be released in the last few years, How to Train Your Dragon is the one that sounded too soon, and too perfect to touch more than any of the others. However, it winds up standing out among many of the other remakes that come to mind. Director Dean DeBlois sets out to retell the story of Berk and its vikings and dragons in realistic glory, but also sticks so closely to his original film’s visual palette that there almost isn’t anything new here. Large amounts of dialogue, if not the entire script, are also beat for beat exactly the same, so if you remember the original film quite well, it’s like watching a film you’ve already seen be enhanced and remastered. Though the first film is so wonderful that it doesn’t leave much need for improvements, making a new film should be justified by making some changes and additions to the story, not to mention much from the source material that the film was based on that we haven’t yet seen.

Mason Thames manages to make the role of Hiccup his own, while Gerard Butler is a standout reprising his role as Stoick from the animated trilogy. His hard exterior and brutal attitude towards dragons that develops from his fear and desire to protect his son and tribe are prominent. The production design and CGI effects work very well to form engaging action scenes — even if it takes a lot of getting used to that Toothless looks the exact same as he did in the animated version but is now interacting with live-action settings. Nico Parker is wonderful as Astrid, and her bond with Hiccup also stands out, particularly his earning of her trust. The supporting teen characters unfortunately feel like they’re doing imitations of their previous version, though Nick Frost entertains as Gobber.

Some scenes manage to carry the beauty over into this version, including Hiccup and Toothless’ initial bonding, and the former’s romantic flight with Astrid. Still, you’re sometimes left to wonder why it wouldn’t have hurt to change some more lines or backdrops, or even some add in some new story beats when you’re making a new film, after all. The real magic here that holds it all together is John Powell’s score. His themes enrich the world and the tone when they could’ve lacked in this new iteration otherwise. The movie’s insistence on staying so close that numerous scenes are a shot-for-shot copy and paste can frustrate, but its lack of originality doesn’t fully take away from the heart and vibrance that’s still here, even if in a lower capacity. For those discovering the story for the first time, though, it will certainly deliver with its themes of empathy and teamwork.

04.04.23
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

With the medieval action/fantasy epic genre being worn out to death in recent years, and a franchise with a less than notable track record, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the year’s most pleasant surprise so far. Sure, the conflict and world-building tread the line of “just enough” and the exposition isn’t that engaging, but Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley imbue the film with a well-meaning, heartfelt energy that provides unexpected laughs and charm. Unlike a lot of bland fantasy action films from recent years like King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Warcraft or the countless Hercules reboots, the characters in this movie feel like they have actual souls and empathetic reasons for the audience to root for them, not just in the quest but in their personal journeys. Chris Pine reminds the audience why his charisma works so naturally for a leading man, even though his character is occasionally greedy and a misfit. Michelle Rodriguez also delivers a more hardcore but lovable character than Letty from the Fast and Furious saga, and Justice Smith also delivers a sorcerer learning to gain his confidence well. Rege-Jean Page and Sophia Lillis both play standouts as very well-realized characters that may one day deserve a cool spinoff. Hugh Grant is also a silly yet fun villain, though his character’s presence and writing do the bare minimum for an antagonist to face off against the main team, and with an actor less capable than Grant, the role would’ve needed much more to sustain the audience’s attention.

Though some of the visual effects and green-screen are obvious, the movie isn’t trying to remind too much of the Lord of the Rings films, but rather create a jolly and comedic journey that perfectly fits the imagination, playfulness and vast possibilities of the Dungeons & Dragons brand. The action and excitement are enough to make up for conflict and rules that seem cliche, not to mention editing, direction and humor that make this not a must-watch, but better than it had any right to be, and will make the audience have a smile on their face and want to spend even more time with these characters than they ever thought they would.

12.15.13
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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

My rating: ratings5

The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. On their way, they meet Legolas and Tauriel, two elf archers who help battle the orc invasions from Dol Guldur. They also meet Bard, a bowman who is determined to kill the dragon after his ancestor failed to when Smaug took over Erebor and Dale. Meanwhile, Gandalf and Radagast battle the Necromancer and discover his true identity. Eventually, Bilbo and the dwarves reach the mountain, and finally battle Smaug. The film’s cast includes Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lily, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, and Sylvester McCoy.

I saw this movie on Friday (Dec. 13) with my friend, my dad, and my brother. We all really enjoyed the movie. I thought it was way better than the original Hobbit movie. The visual effects and soundtrack are just amazing! I enjoyed every moment of the movie! My favorite characters were Legolas and Tauriel. You can tell that they both have that bad-ass spirit that other movie characters have, such as Richard B. Riddick (played by Vin Diesel) from the Riddick movies, and Hit-Girl from the Kick-Ass movies. The film’s ending (don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything) is such a cliff-hanger that I absolutely cannot wait another year to watch the trilogy’s finale (which hits theaters next December). I think any fans of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies should watch this movie, since it’s a prequel to them. But you should only see it after you have seen the first Hobbit movie. I would recommend this movie for kids 12 and up, since there is a lot of violence, including slicing off heads (no blood shown).

Here is the film’s site and trailer.

Below is a picture of my friend, my brother (they both saw the movie with me), and I standing near a poster of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

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