How to Train Your Dragon 2 (UK Rating: PG)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier and 22 Jump Street are just two that both equalled, if not exceeded, their respective originals this year, but does DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon 2 follow suit? With the movie set for general release nationwide from Friday, 11th July, Freda Cooper spreads her wings and takes flight in this latest edition of Lights, Camera, Action! to find out.It has been four years since audiences were introduced to the inhabitants of the island of Berk, with its hybrid Scottish/Viking culture. Four years is a long time in the world of cinema, especially when it comes to animation movies. The original was made in 3D, and so is the sequel, yet the difference in standard is staggering, making part two of the saga something of a different beast - or dragon, to be precise.
Set five years after the first story, but still on the island of Berk, the same crew are back - Hiccup, his faithful dragon Toothless, and the wonderfully-named Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Snotlout, and Ruffnut. They are all older, but possibly not wiser. Hiccup now faces the prospect of taking over the leadership of the island from his father, Stoick the Vast, who is also trying to manoeuvre his son into marrying the feisty Astrid. However, an infinitely more dangerous threat is looming in the shape of the evil Drago Bludvist, who threatens to destroy Berk's entire way of life.
The territory is familiar - there's just a different adversary - but what makes How to Train Your Dragon 2 stand out from the crowd is in its actual animation. To watch, it is simply stunning, both creatively and technically. From the myriad of dragons, to the crowds in the early dragon racing scenes, it hits the audience right between the eyes. It is no wonder that the list of credits for visual effects at the end seems to roll on forever.
There is, however, one exception, and that is the scene-stealing Toothless. The young Night Fury dragon is enchanting - funny, loyal, and very appealing. His scenes with other dragons are huge fun, even when they are merely in the background, and he brings a lump to the throat on more than one occasion.