Boy V. Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon
Review by Ross Anthony

Wow, what a great film for kids and adults of any age! Fun characters, great motion, a sweet endearing story, and that extra pizzazz a third dimension adds. From the rich aerial intro the picture opens with a clipping pace and good humor. Listen carefully, hidden in that tough Viking brogue lay many a cute one-liner for grownups.

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Our humble intellectual adolescent narrates the film with an entertaining, Christian Slater Style, mixture of modesty and cockiness. He's resigned to never living up, but still, he perseveres with an endearing modest confidence. He's very likeable. Likewisely likeable, the wordless dragon named "Toothless." He says mouthfuls with his green eyes and crooked smile, but, mostly with his carefully created motion. Kudos to his artists. This is a magnificent character in design and animation.

Also of artistic pleasure, the contrast between the seemingly always night skied town to the brilliant blue day above the waves when the Vikings take to the seas. Actually, there's a wonderfully subtle line, easily lost, so I'll echo it here. As the fleet sails out, full of zest and vigor to conquer their enemies, they come upon a tattered, battle-broken ship from one of their earlier raids. Whispered in the fog, "Oh, that's not encouraging."

Absolutely loved it from beginning to end save for the very last complication which confuses an otherwise rare Viking non-violent theme. Personally, I thought the film should have climaxed boy v. dragon in the training pit. Probably, it did in earlier drafts of the script. Anyway, this is still the best film I've seen in weeks. I highly recommend it.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --


  • How to Train Your Dragon. Copyright © 2010.
  • Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig. Directed by Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders. Screenplay by Dean DeBlois. DreamWorks Distribution LLC

Grade..........................A (3.5/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Jan-2011 14:06:36 PST