Journey 2

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet, as I don't think a review for this movie really needs to go  too deep to say what works for this movie and what doesn't...

In Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) receives a distress call from his grandfather (Michael Caine), who is believed to be missing on an island that isn't supposed to exist, and sets out with his step father, Hank (Dwayne Johnson) to help find him with the help of a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzmán) and his daughter (Vanessa Hudgens).

What I like most about the Journey movies is that they aren't direct adaptions of the Jules Verne books they draw inspiration from. In the Journey universe, it turns out that books are really a recollection of true events, and our Vernian family of explorers set out to discover where these lands of adventure and treasure may be. I will admit that I found myself getting caught up in some of the action, like when the characters are being chased by a giant lizard or being chased by a behemoth electric eel underwater. I also enjoyed some of the quick witted banter between step dad and grandpa.  For the most part, the 3D is well done. I think you would be missing out if you didn't see it with the extra dimension.

However, they do rely on a few 3D gags, such as berries "jumping" out at you. I'm not a fan of these cheap 3D thrills. I prefer when films utilize 3D to add perspective and depth to the screen. I also wish the Island was a little less cartoony. The writing also lacked substance. It was very cheesy and the characters were often quick to change opinions, but what can you expect from this kind of movie? Not much, so I can't really complain. All logic and sense of reality seem to be left outside of the theater.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is intended for a child audience, but I think they keep it exciting enough to keep most adults from wishing they were somewhere else. If you end up being dragged to this movie, it isn't the worst thing in the world. It is pretty good for what it is.

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Chronicle

Chronicle is probably the first movie of 2012 that I've been highly anticipating. The first time I saw the trailer last year, I was instantly drawn in and eagerly awaiting the release. I love the genre, and the movie actually looked like it would be good; However, I know better than to let myself be fooled by a good trailer. With the recent success of superhero and "found footage" movies over the last decade, we've seen a rush of movies try to find an audience, some more successful than others. Chronicle takes the two genres and combines them in an interesting way to make it feel real, creating a surprising and refreshing movie experience.

In Chronicle, three teenagers discover they have telekinetic-like superpowers after happening upon a strange crystal in the woods. Instead of following the "with great power, comes great responsibility" mantra most origin movies adopt, Chronicle takes a more realistic approach. Tell me which of you wouldn't play pranks, play catch in the sky, or just have fun if given superpowers. As the teens grow closer through their new found powers, the painful emotions of one get the better of him and things start spinning helplessly out of control. Thankfully, he's been catching it all on his camera.

My favorite part of the movie is when the kids learn how to fly. There is a carefree scene where they soar through the clouds and are throwing a football, only to be interrupted by a 747. It's adrenaline rushing and exciting. It is a low budget movie, so some of the special effects are cheesy, like when they are throwing a baseball at each other, but when the scope of the movie becomes larger, the effects become less distracting and more impressive thanks to the "handheld" camera approach the movie takes. Thankfully, Andrew learns to control the camera with his mind so it's not all shaky camera action like you would expect. The movie also takes some liberty by using other camera's for perspective, like when Matt's video-blogging crush films them, or in the climax where Andrew surrounds himself with the cameras and cellphones of onlookers. The only thing I was disappointed with was the lack of an explanation of where the crystal came from or what happened to them when they found it in the form of an end-credits scene. It would have added some nice backstory to a plot point that felt more like an element of convenience than anything else. Why was the crystal there? Where did it come from? How did the cave collapse? Why were there military police surrounding the area when the kids went back to look at it? 

At the end of the day, I was pleasantly surprised with Chronicle, as I hope you would be too. Chronicle tries to do something different in a genre that is typically overdone, and I feel like it succeeds. Although cliched, it's fresh and emotionally deep. It could have been a disaster, and thankfully, it is far from one. 

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One for the Money

I was invited to go see a midnight screening of One for the Money by a friend for free, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I wanted to see it anyway, but not having to dish out $12 for a ticket was icing on the cake and probably is affecting my opinion on the movie because I actually enjoyed it. 

That said, One for the Money, an adaption of Janet Evanovich's book of the same name, stars Katherine Heigl (Life as We Know It) as an inexperienced bail-bondsman and Jason O'Mara (Terra Nova) as the wanted cop from her romantic past she is chasing. It is a light and enjoyable movie, though often cliche'd at times, that combines a decent amount of comedy and crime-solving. 

The highlights of the movie weren't actually the story or the stars, which for me weren't unbearable, but the wacky side-characters that Heigl interacts with. Debbie Reynolds shines as Plum's eccentric grandmother, especially during a scene at the family dinner table where she plays with her granddaughter's gun. Sherri Shepard and Ryan Michelle Bathe are fantastic as Lula and Jackie, respectively, a pair of criminal informant prostitutes. They definitely stole the show for me. I only wish the movie featured them more. 

One for the Money is definitely not a critic's movie, so if you are looking for a potential award winner, look elsewhere. I know my tastes can be questionable at times, but this movie is definitely a guilty pleasure, and nothing more than that. If you can get past Heigl's weak attempt at a Jersey accent ("Why you messin' with my tasty cakes!"), this movie can be worth checking out -- but only if you know what to expect.

(more like a 2.5/5 but i'm feeling generous.)

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The Devil Inside

Well... I don't have much to say about this movie. I initially had high expectations for the film. For starters, it actually looked creepy. The trailer editors did their job well, evidenced by the fact that the movie brought in $34.5 million dollars opening weekend, becoming the third highest premiere ever for the month. I wasn't entirely disappointed by the movie (despite it's stinker of an ending), but it never lived up to it's potential. We are way overdue for a hit paranormal horror movie. I don't know if The Devil Inside could have ever been it, but it definitely missed an opportunity.

The Devil Inside is the documentary-style telling of a daughter, Isabella Rossi, seeking the truth behind the night her mother, Maria Rossi, murdered three people. Her investigation leads her to Rome where her mother has been institutionalized for the last twenty years. Isabella takes matters into her own hands and recruits two rogue priests to determine whether or not her mother is mentally ill, or demonically possessed. They were never prepared for what they found.

The documentary style of the film unfortunately drags the film. The scares are few and far between, most of which can be found wonderfully edited in the trailer. While some of the clicking noises and screams were chill-inducing, they weren't exactly frightening. Honestly, the only scare I got from the movie was when a large dog unexpectedly jumps up and barks while the characters are walking down the street. The entire theater jolted and we all laughed about it afterwards, and that is the kind of scare I enjoy - the kind you don't expect, the kind that the entire theater bonds over. At least I knew what I was getting into, so I wasn't completely let down.

Bottom-line: Just watch the trailer and save your $10, or catch it at home when it eventually shows up on Netfilx or Redbox. 

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Colombiana

I'm sorry I haven't been around much! I don't have a job right now, so I haven't exactly had the money to pay for tickets or many opportunities to see them for free. Anyway, I went out last night with some friends to see Colombiana for my best friend's birthday, and I actually enjoyed it! I mean, from the trailer, I wasn't expecting to not enjoy it. How can a revenge movie that combines a bad-ass chick (Zoe Soldana) and lots of action not be good? #guyproblems

The film is definitely a guilty pleasure as the acting isn't top-notch and the dialogue and story borders on cheap and cliche. It definitely is a Luc Besson film, as the highly contrasted and stylized filming with non-stop and graceful action might imply. I really enjoyed the opening exploration of young Catelaya and the origin of her motive for killing all of these people, and the subsequent action scene that involves the young Catelaya as the mobsters chase her through the streets of Bogota. Beyond that, the film offers little in the way of character development, but definitely makes up for it in the action and eye-candy department.

If you want a revenge-fueled movie that offers more depth, look elsewhere - like Hanna from earlier this year, which is more of a character study than an explosion-centric film. However, if you want something mindless, sexy, and fun, Colombiana might be the movie for you. If you know what to expect, you won't be disappointed. I sure wasn't.

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Scream 4 [Spoiler Free]

Let's face it: Remakes and sequels rarely, if ever, exceed the quality of the originals, a point I tried making in one of my earlier blogs. This point is also made in Scream 4 by poking fun at the unquantifiable horror sequels and reboots out there. The Scream movies are so fun because of how self-aware of themselves they are. 'Scream' even exists within itself in the form of seven 'Stab' movies. How many of you have sat at home or in a theater and asked yourself why characters in horror movies don't seem at all familiar with horror movie cliches? These films are so enjoyable because they fearlessly self-parody themselves, without compromising the suspense or mystery, by commenting on the rules to which horror films play out, and specifically in Scream 4, how those rules are changing, among other things.

The film does a good job of throwing red herrings your way to throw you off the scent of who the killer is. It was fun trying to guess who it was. I honestly had no idea who it could be until the killer was revealed. It was fun seeing some of the original cast mixed in with new one. I love throwbacks and cameos (even though these appearances are more than just a cameo). My only complaint was the ending act seemed to drag on, especially since I held my bladder for about 20 minutes so I didn't miss anything. The acting was alright, but who actually goes to see a slasher flick for the acting?

Bottom-line? Scream 4 is a fun and entertaining movie far better, in my opinion, than any slasher flick released in recent memory. I think it also stands well on it's own. Without having seen the first two films in the franchise, a crime on its own, I didn't feel like I was left out on anything other than the experience of not having seen them. The movie definitely does have its flaws, but I think that they are forgivable enough to leave you with an overall, enjoyable experience.



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Hanna

Hanna is one of the movies that I have been most looking forward to seeing this year. I love a good conspiracy, action-thriller movie and Hanna looked like a film that would be able to deliver, and it does for the most part.

The movie, in my opinion, begins rather slowly; I'm assuming to convey a sense of isolation and disconnect from the rest of the world which can't be done in a fast-paced and rushed style. After all, Hanna and her father are hiding away from a ruthless CIA operative for reasons that weren't yet clear to me but are sure enough revealed as the story unfolds. The movie also ends rather abruptly, leaving me questioning, "What happens now?" One commenter on Fandango's Fan Review board states that it isn't what happens at the beginning or the end of the film that is important, but the adventure that takes place throughout the film, and I have to agree.

For me, the most enjoyable scenes weren't those where Hanna was fighting for her life, but those where she was discovering the entirely new world around her, especially in Morocco after escaping the underground hold. The family she befriends and spends quite a bit of time with creates a stark, and often humorous contrast between Hanna's isolated upbringing and the family's eccentric lifestyle.

It really is a delight watching Hanna take in everything. Saoirse's portrayal of the title character makes the film, as well the ever-reliable Cate Blanchett's delivery of menacing CIA Agent Marissa Weigler. Along with the enjoyable performances by the entire cast, the excellent editing and great, though forgettable soundtrack, you should be kept drawn into the film, unwary of the nearly two-hour run time, and left with an overall good movie-going experience.

If you have the chance and are into these kinds of films, I would definitely look into watching it. I certainly enjoyed it!

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True Grit

I consider myself (obviously) a fiend for movies. Unfortunately, I've been missing out on many of the Coen brothers' movies. That said, Oscar season is upon us, and the Coen brothers are at it again, releasing another movie into the mix of films that are being tossed around to win a coveted trophy. True Grit is released just in time for consideration by the academy, but does it deserve any nominations or wins at next years ceremony? I think so. At least some nominations.

Rather than being a remake of the John Wayne version of the film of yesteryear, the movie follows the book more closely (neither of which I have watched or read, so I will avoid comparisons). Told from the perspective of Mattie Ross, this is one of the areas where the movie excels. Hailee Steinfeld, the 14 year-old girl responsible for the role of Mattie, gives a performance that is beyond her years. At points, I almost forgot her character was only as old as she was. The character was written extremely well and superbly acted by Steinfeld. From interviews that I've read, it seems like the girl has the maturity and sense to pick her roles wisely. If she does, she will definitely be one to watch out for. While deserving of a nomination, she might miss out on one in an already overcrowded category.

Another strong point of the movie was Jeff Bridges' performance. I'm not a huge fan of his, and before writting this review, I couldn't tell you what else he has been in (other than Tron). In retrospect, I have enjoyed a lot of his movies, so my neutrality towards him is unwarranted. To be frank, I can't think of any other actor who would have played Rooster Cogborn as well as Bridges did. While somewhat of an ass, his character was charming, and you can't help but like him. Steinfeld and Bridges work well together. Watching their friendship develop onscreen was beautiful, in a non-creepy way, even though you can tell Mattie is infatuated with Rooster. If Bridges isn't nominated for Best Actor, you can bet tables will be flipped.

The last place I thought the film really excelled was in the writing. You can't go wrong with a Coen brothers' script (I assume). This is the fourth adaption coming from the Coen brothers. Being favorites of the academy, I won't be surprised if the screenplay is nominated for an award. I was assuming this movie was going to be dramatic, and while it is considered a drama, I found myself laughing throughout. Even though I won't, this is one of those movies that makes me want to read the book.

I forgot Matt Damon was even in this movie before watching it. When he showed up, I said, "Oh, Matt Damon." He plays his role well, and watching the dynamic between his character and the other two was amusing. His performance wasn't anything spectacular though; at least I wasn't impressed by it. And I don't even know how to feel about Josh Brolin. He is capable of giving great performances, but his track record is so ridiculous. Even though his character is the motivator for Mattie's journey, he isn't in the movie for that long. However, he does do well with the screen-time he is given.

True Grit is definitely one of my favorite movies of the year, and I highly recommend going to see it. It has made me a fan of the Coen brothers. If it doesn't get any recognition this year, I will be slightly disappointed.

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The Warrior's Way

I'm baaaaaaaaaack! :)


I found The Warrior's Way to be more than what I was expecting. After watching the trailer (which you can see below), I was slightly intrigued by the combination of samurai and cowboys (similar to how I'm excited for next year's Cowboys & Aliens). I was cautious, because while the concept of the movie was cool, it had all the makings for a disaster. For starters, it was filmed over three years ago, and it is essentially being dumped into a wasteland of a weekend. There are no other films, beside this one, in wide release this weekend.

I went into this movie with extremely low expectations. I kept asking myself, "How can this not be bad?" It is a B movie after all. From the looks of the trailer, it appeared like the movie was going to take itself seriously too. Surprisingly, it doesn't. There was a charm to the movie and it was actually pretty funny. I worked a screening of movie for my internship, and one of the audience members told me afterward that it was "more than a B movie, I'd say B+ movie," and I couldn't agree more.

It was definitely a lot better than I was expecting, and good for what it is. One of the stand out scenes includes the warrior taking down a hallway full of henchmen lit only by the strobe light-like bursts from the guns. Let's just say it's way better than Jonah Hex from earlier this summer. This is a fun choice if you're looking for a new movie to catch this weekend and I'd recommend checking it out if you've seen everything else you wanted to see.

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Iron Man 2

One of the last decade's larger contributions to the cinema was the Superhero genre, popularized by Sam Raimi's Spider-Man in 2002. Since then, we have seen an abundance of hits or misses within the genre. In 2008, moviegoers were treated with arguably two of the best superhero films, Iron Man and The Dark Knight. Expectations for the superhero genre have been increased ten-fold since the release of these two films, especially after the third Spider-Man sequel left a sour taste in the viewers mouth the year before. This year, Marvel released the anticipated follow-up to the popular Iron Man film. Although the sequel doesn't quite live up to the prestige of the first film, Iron Man 2 does find a place among some of the better superhero films.

Iron Man 2 takes our beloved, eccentric Tony Stark into the world shortly after his public revealing as the armored hero. Everybody wants a piece of him: The public, the government, his rival, and even an imprisoned physicist who wants to seek revenge for his father. Stark has been taking all of this in a true rock-star fashion that only he can, until he realizes that his Iron Man technology is harming him. He begins to live his life carelessly which begins to put a strain on all of his relationships. Iron Man 2 does what few superhero sequels does, which is add further development to its characters and deliver on the action that viewers demand. It doesn’t go over the top with tons of action and no character development.

The first film did so well because it was a more subdued superhero film. It perfectly executed the origin story and not going over the top or losing site of the development of the hero. The second film takes that development one step further by giving us a story about how Tony Stark deals with his power. In Iron Man, Tony is a highly intelligent inventor who doesn't care how is inventions are being used. He is kidnapped by terrorists and forced to design a weapon, and in the process he is mortally wounded. He manages to take his weapon and turn it into a weapon/life-supporting device that he uses to escape and vows to use is invention to protect the world. In the sequel, he says he has "successfully privatized world peace." Unfortunately, the technology he is using to keep him alive is killing him at the same time.

This is just an example of one of the internal dilemmas that all of the characters are dealing with in the movie. It’s in the middle of the movie where all of the character development comes into play where you can feel the movie drag on a bit. Unfortunately, this is needed to advance the story and probably could have been executed better to keep up the pace of the movie. Despite this drag, Jon Favreau does an excellent job giving most of his characters enough depth, to be interesting. In addition to Stark's life-threatening issue, he has to deal with some of his daddy issues. Pepper, Stark's girlfriend, has to deal with running Stark's enterprise and Stark's new reckless-turned lifestyle. Rhodes, Stark's best friend, has to deal with whether his loyalties should lie with Stark or with the USAF.

Even Stark’s rival is dealing with the fact that he just can’t compete on the same level as Stark. Sam Rockwell does well with his role as Justin Hammer. You can just sense the desperation that Rockwell injects into the Hammer character. The best scenes with Hammer were when he is interacting the main villain of the film.

Unfortunately, the only place that Favreau falls short in the character department is with the main villain, Ivan Vanko (aka Whiplash). He is so bent on seeking revenge for sins committed against his father my the Stark family, that he seems too one-dimensional. Of all the characters, I would have liked to see a little more depth to the main villain. Mickey Rourke is such an excellent actor that he was unarguably underused in the role. I don’t know much about Iron Man comic and how much of a threat Whiplash truly was, but I just feel that there could have been more done with the character.

The highlight of the sequel is still Robert Downey Jr’s delivery of Tony Stark. The Stark we love is just as arrogant and self-centered as ever. Very few actors can pull of the swagger and confidence injected into the character that makes him so charming and endearing, and RDJ is among those elite. He seems to be able to deliver enough charisma and humor into his role without detracting from the scope of the film. It never feels forced or out of place.

I would be lying if I said I was thrilled with the climactic battle. It could have been so awesome to watch Iron Man and War Machine battle a squadron of androids, but Favreau seemed to copout by utilizing Iron Man’s laser beam to end the battle within seconds. The prior fly-around the expo sequence was exhilarating and was exciting to watch, but the end result was just so disappointing. Even following battle with Whiplash left something to be desired. Whiplash arrived in a suit that appeared indestructible, but Iron Man and War Machine were able to end the battle in no time at all.

I guess part of the reason that the end battle was so anticlimactic was because of the poor soundtrack. Honestly, I can’t even remember how any of the tracks go. The only music I can even remember is the iconic ‘Iron Man’ tune by Black Sabbath that was used in the first one, and I can’t even remember if it was utilized in this film. Superhero movies are supposed to have iconic scores that captivate the audience and enhance the movie going experience. When you have a soundtrack that fails to support the movie, the movie is unable to live up to its true potential. A soundtrack can make or break a movie, and I just wish that the Iron Man movies had a great one because it would make them a million times better than they already are.

On a side note, I love how Marvel is tying all of their movies together for the Avengers movie that will be hitting silver screens across the world in only a couple of years. One of my most favorite things that a movie can do is make references to other movies that take place in the same universe. Marvel has been doing this by making reference to other superheroes in its recent films. Iron Man made a brief cameo in The Incredible Hulk a couple of years ago and Captain America’s shield made a brief appearance in Iron Man 2. The one commonality that is tying all of these films together, of course, is the presence of SHIELD, which is the organization that puts together the Avengers. If you see the film, make sure you stay until the end of the credits because there is a scene that introduces Marvel’s next superhero film.

Overall, there isn’t much wrong with the Iron Man 2 as the positives far outweigh the negatives. Despite the weak soundtrack and the slow middle, the movie is exciting enough to keep your attention and leave you wanting more. The film offers a little bit of everything for everyone and is definitely worth every penny. I would check it out if you haven’t already.

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Kick Ass

It seems every year, a studio tries to release a movie in the pre-summer season (March-April) that builds a ton of hype online. Sometimes that hype is overbuilt and you get a trainwreck, like Watchmen from last year. Other times, you get a film that can deliver on that hype, like 300 from a few years ago. This year, we get Kick Ass, and I can tell you that I was pretty into it.

The story focuses on geeky, High School student Dave asking himself and his friends why nobody has ever become a superhero before. He takes matters into his own hands when he is a part of crime and notices that a witness does nothing to intervene. After a video of one of his first heroic acts as Kick Ass surfaces on the internet, he becomes an icon in the eye of the public. He is eventually drawn into a vendetta between Big Daddy and Hit Girl and the drug empire ran by Frank D'Amico, the father of Kick Ass's arch-nemesis, Red Mist.

The movie is pretty faithful to its source material. I have read in an interview that the film rights for Kick Ass were sold before the first issue of the comic had even been published. Matthew Vaughn (Stardust), the director and co-screenwriter for the film, mentioned that the comic and the script for the film were written at the same time, so their was a lot of collaboration between the author and the screenwriter.

The story combines some of the elements from the popular teen-comedy and Tarantino-esque gore genres. It was an excellent combination of genres that allowed me to have fun for the entire two-hour runtime of the film. Also, I really liked how the superhero element really emphasized the urge all teenagers have to be something more than they are. *SPOILER ALERT (for those who care)* It was especially funny watching Dave play the role of his love-interest's gay bff, just to get closer to her. He eventually reveals his intentions and they get together.

There has been a lot of negative attention for the film concerning its obscene language, especially from the Hit Girl character who was only 11 at the time of filming. I was surprisingly not offended at all. I am open enough to know that most of the bad language in the film was used as a shock-value tool, especially when Hit Girl uses the c-word. It's funny to me that America will clutch her pearls at the drop of a four-letter word, but will hardly wince at the drop of a limb or the spraying of blood.

Overall, Kick Ass is a pretty *PUN ALERT* kick ass movie. I probably won't be adding this to my DVD collection, but I did enjoy it. If you get the chance, go and check it out, but I wouldn't make it one of your top priorities. Read more!

Date Night

I have been waiting a very long time for a movie that combines the talent of Tina Fey and Steve Carell, and I got exactly what I wanted. Date Night is what you would expect from a Carell/Fey combo: awkward conversation and great comedic timing, and nothing more, really. The story is your basic romantic comedy/action combo, and their isn't really much depth to it. This movie is pretty much a vehicle for Fey and Carell to drive their comedic efforts with, and it's light-hearted and funny all the way.

Date Night is a movie about a boring New Jersey couple realizing that they want more out of their marriage after seeing their couplefriend break up. In an attempt to be exciting and spontaneous, Phil (Carell) takes Claire (Fey) out into town to a popular restaurant where they take another couple's reservation. Mistaken identities ensue and Carell and Fey go to work after getting involved in a bribe plot.

This movie is infested with cameos from everybody and their mother: Mark Whalberg, Leighton Meester, Ray Liotta, Taraji P. Henson (!?), will.i.am (!?), James Franco, Mila Kunis, etc. It was exciting to see who would appear next. It was a smart move on the director's part to underplay all the cameos as the movie would have become more about them than it would about Fey and Carell.

I didn't really have any major problem with the movie, other than I wanted more of it. I just wish that the crime story was a little bit more involved and the movie was a little longer. I was, in a sense, a little disappointed and was expecting a lot more from what I saw in the trailer, but I still loved watching Fey and Carell work together, regardless of what I got. If you love either of these stars, then you will be sure to love this movie. However, it is a rom-com at its roots and predictably formulaic, so if you are looking for something a little bit more unpredictable, I would go with something else. But if all you want is Fey and Carell, and some light-hearted material, then go for it! I sure loved it. Read more!

How to Train Your Dragon

Dreamworks is the David to Pixar's Goliath. In recent years, Dreamworks has been producing high quality fare; Although not on par with Pixar's repertoire (I'm a Pixar fanboy), they at least hold their own. Dreamworks usually relies on gags and pure star-power to pull people into the theatre, so it's a breath of fresh air to see the studio step out of their comfort zone. Dreamworks manages to release a film that pulls at the heart strings by showing depth and growth, traits that many of their previous films lacked (*coughbeemovieandoverthehedgecough*).

'How to Train Your Dragon' is a story about a boy, Hiccup, who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of his village of dragon-slaying vikings. All he wants is to fit in and gain his father's approval. His life is forever changed when he meets a dragon, Toothless, that challenges everything he once knew. It sounds like any other underdog story, but it is still a very well-rounded movie. Movies like this, despite their cliches, manage to become timeless because of their universal themes. That is probably why they film's source material is so popular.

One of the only things I had a problem with was the voice-acting. Although well-done for the most part, I struggled to understand why all of the adults in the village had strong, Scottish accents and all of the children had plain, American accents. Maybe it was to show the vast separation between the generations, but all it managed to accomplish was distracting me. Another thing was the voice of the main character. Although I can see why they cast Jay Baruchel as the lead, his voice lacks any emotional range. Baruchel is usually cast as the wimpy underdog, and he matches his character's personality perfectly... It was just difficult to get in sync with the character's emotions unless he was interacting with the dragon.

One of the other problems I had with the movie was the design of most of the dragons. Some of them were beautiful (ie, Toothless) and others seemed amateurish in design. Many of them looked like they were designed by students in a beginner's 3D modeling class. It created a disconnect for me between the humans and the dragons because the art direction for the two of them seem so different. It didn't help that the design of the dragons prevented them from showing as much emotion as the star dragon could. I think that is what angered me the most.

Speaking of anthropomorphic design, my favorite part about the movie was Toothless. I was so glad that they didn't give any of the dragons a voice. One of Dreamworks' trademarks is giving voices to its animal stars. This forced the designers of Toothless to rely on the dragon's facial expressions and body language, creating, in my opinion, one of their most memorable characters to-date.

Overall, the movie is one of the studio's best releases. I would recommend it to just about anybody. The pacing of the movie was exceptional and it never failed to deliver an exciting moment, up until the credits rolled. Catch this flick whenever you get the chance. You won't be disappointed. :) Read more!