Review of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) by Awesomearnoldk — 13 Mar 2019

The first two “How to Train Your Dragon” films have been one of the greatest sets of films of the last decade and the third one does not disappoint in capping off this amazing series of epic films. Yes, to put it bluntly, “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” is amazing.

The first thing you’ll notice is the leap in animation. The first couple movies are pillars in terms of visuals in the animation world and this one only enhances and improves on that. The backgrounds are vivid and well detailed, the character animations are fluid and weighted, the details in the character’s design are precise and meticulous, and the fire, water, hair, scale, and other visual effects are breathtaking. Yes this film is a visual treat from start to finish. The cinematography like in the other films are just breathtaking. The flying sequences are absorbing that you get lost in the visually detailed world. The camera work along with the stunning visuals create a living breathing world that you almost forget doesn’t exist. The characters are great. The dynamic between Toothless and Hiccup is still the heart of the film. It’s amazing to see the amount of growth these two have had since their previous adventures. One thing that I particularly love about this series is the character progression from film to film, they don’t stop growing and evolving. The side characters are great and I like how they are tested on how well they work together under Hiccups leadership. Music has always been in the forefront of this series and it does not disappoint here either. John Powell’s classic scores still bring that same sense of wonder and mystique, while the new ones enhance the world and character themes, It makes you feel every emotion that the filmmakers want at every venture of the film from beginning to end, whether it’s humor, fear, or tears.

Dean DeBlois has crafted an amazing world with so much heart and wonder. He’s made a modern epic series of films that rival the greatest Hollywood fantasies and epics, such as The Lord of the Rings or “Gladiator.” He knows exactly, when to throw in humor or make you cry. The final 15 mins of the film are some of the best moments in any film, period. It’s filled with moments of real danger, visceral action, and tears that would make even the hardest of souls cry. I’ve praised “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and made it sound like it’s even better than the second film. However, it does fall short, but only by a little. This film is more humor heavy, but that doesn’t take away from the real emotional moments in it. However, the stakes do feel less here and the villain, while solid for the film, wasn’t necessarily needed. He added a nice dimension, but the film could have sufficed and excelled on the drama between Hiccup and Toothless and them learning to grow and be individual characters. These are minor complaints in an otherwise great film.

This is how you end a trilogy. The Dragon series is one of not just modern animation’s, but modern film’s greatest series. And The Hidden World concludes this franchise in a bittersweet, but satisfying end. I give it 4.