Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (IMAX 3D) (English)

It's been four long years, but the latest instalment of How to Train Your Dragon is truly worth the wait. And to be honest, never before has there been an animated feature film that's made me exercise my lachrymal glands so much at a theatre. If the first part introduced us to a whole new world of endearingly adorable characters, the coming-of-age film's narrative depth and the spell-binding 3D animation blew your socks off, and who can forget the poignant heart-warming friendship between Hiccup and Toothless, the dragon he unsuccessfully tried to shoot down when the Viking village of Berk was attacked by the fearsome creatures to steal its livestock.

Since then five years have passed and the dragons and humans live in happy communion, even taking part in racing sports or somesuch. The Viking chieftain Stoic wants his son Hiccup to succeed him, but Hiccup, being Hiccup, is unsure of whether he wants to take up such a huge responsibility. He would rather explore the world with his beast friend Toothless by his side. One such adventure takes our unflappable protagonist on a hitherto uncharted journey and changes his life forever.

The surprising aspect of HtTYD2 is its four-quadrant appeal, something which will find takers amongst all audiences, kids or otherwise. If the first film was about "training the dragons" and making peace with your enemies, the second film is about freeing them from the clutches of a villainous newcomer who wants to "train the dragons" for his own nefarious machinations. It's this interesting human-animal dynamic that makes the movie an exhilarating fable, imparting lessons on war, family and relationships without being too preachy.

Furthermore, it would be gross injustice on my part to label it as a mere sequel, for director Dean DeBlois's impressive story of a boy becoming a man breaks so much new ground and cleverly avoids getting trapped in its own creation. So much that it is its own standalone picture. The cinematography by Roger Deakins (of Prisoners, Skyfall fame) is gorgeous and the usage of terrific 3D imagery, which has become de rigueur, only augments and embellishes the movie watching affair. The film's strong emotional heart is backed by a fantastic set of characters, although we aren't given a solid backstory for the antagonist's devious motivation.

Hiccup is still the likeable peace-loving hero, but more confident than ever, while Stoic, Gobber, Astrid, Snotlout and the array of returning supporting characters lend pitch-perfect support. All said and done, here's finally a rare sequel that isn't crippled by sequelitis and makes you fraught with anticipation for what's to come next. Charming, witty and intelligently staged, How to Train Your Dragon 2, the second in the trilogy loosely based on Cressida Cowell's children's book series, is the franchise's best yet. How I wish I could have Toothless for a pet!