The Rare Take is a special segment that includes, well, mainly movie reviews. I rarely get to watch movies before they are released publicly, so whenever I do, I write a review, hence "The Rare Take".
It's been four years since Dreamworks' beloved How To Train Your Dragon was released and I want to start off by saying, it's been worth the wait. To me, Dreamworks couldn't equally match Pixar in terms of material and story, but by animation, they are no less. Having watched the first movie, I was really amazed at what this studio pulled off; a feature so grand in animation and thrilling in story, I actually thought Pixar let a great idea get away from them.
Now, How To Train Your Dragon 2, could have been one of those sequels that completely altered everything that made the original mesmerizing, but I'm not sure if it's too exaggerating to say that it is the trilogy's Empire Strikes Back...nevermind, I stand by my case.
The last time we saw the characters, they were young and adventurous. Now, they have grown to become strong and independent, to equally match what the film has in store. If the characters have grown up, so has the audience, for the movie is more heartfelt, exciting, and darker than the original, but of course, the laughs and charm has stayed, especially coming from the film's secondary characters and the dragons.
I wish I could provide a quick synopsis of the film, but I'd rather let it be enjoyed by simply viewing and taking in all the spectacle it contains, especially the battle scenes; so rich in detail and thrills, and a great soundtrack by John Powell to match, to say "breathtaking" is an understatement.
You might not enjoy a better film this early in the summer, for How To Train Your Dragon 2 challenges the other live-action blockbuster hits at their own game. I'm still arguing for this movie to be considered for the Best Picture category at next year's Oscars, but for now, all I can say is this: again, it is this film's trilogy's Empire Strike Back.
It's that great.
9.5/10
