High-flying, bullet-proof animation!
Not since Pixar's 2007 animated masterpiece, "Ratatouille", have I been this emotionally moved and spiritually uplifted by a computer-generated imagery.
"How to Train Your Dragon 2" is so much more than just jolly entertainment for kids. It is a love-letter to life itself, and the wonderful things that we as humans can accomplish, if we are willing to let go of our own narrow world views, pre-conceived notions and lust for power. From the opening frame, the film presents a colorful universe, filled with life and magnificent landscapes that are as beautiful and vast as they are wide and open. There is a sense of freedom and harmony to the immersive visual compositions, that prove to be a gigantic leap of animation from its predecessor, and also the platform for the best 3D-conversion I've seen in an animated film.
Even with a look so gorgeous, and action-sequences so jaw-droppingly spectacular, the characters are still the front and center of attention, and rightfully so. As a moviegoer, you want to identify, empathise and love them as strongly as if they were your own blood and flesh. That is exactly how I felt for Hiccup - a boy with nothing but fiery passion for the sky, and a burning affection for all living beings. He is what every boy strives to be; adventurous, fearless, bold and pure at heart. He has grown wiser and stronger since his last endeavour, and it really is like watching a boy become a man in the best and most sincere way possible. The same goes for Astrid, the love of his life, the always loyal dragon Toothless, and pretty much every other
"How to Train Your Dragon 2" is a cinematic experience for all ages. It is a truthful and heart-tugging tale about family, self-discovery and the compassion that we all have inside of us. It brought me to tears, it made me laugh, and during the final 10 minutes, chills continuously ran down my spine like a river of endorphin, pouring into me a sensational feeling of indescribable awe and realisation. It's amazing how something so simple and innocent as a "children's film" can be so soul-cleansing and re-affirming as this turned out to be. This is the reason why I go to the movies. This is what it is all about. We're talking about a level of artistry and storytelling that reaches the highest branches of Pixar's finest work. But the greatest and most astonishing achievement of all, is that it is not only universally appealing - it also speaks the universal language that we can all understand and relate to. Because if you look beneath the surface, we have something here that is at least as true and meaningful as anything conveyed by real actors on real sets.
Rating: 9.7/10
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