How To Train Your Dragon

"Thank you for the breast-hat"

Yes, I know How To Train Your Dragon isn't actually on my list seeing as I don't own the DVD. However, after watching it again tonight, I decided I'd make more writing for myself by reviewing a film that I don't actually have to review, 'cause that's how my geekiness rolls. Therefore, however, although, this review will be fairly short.


Amazon Synopsis:
From the creators of Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda comes How To Train Your Dragon, an animated adventure comedy set in a mythical world of burly vikings and wild dragons, based on the book by Cressida Cowell. The story centres around a viking teenager, who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. Initiation is coming, and this is his one chance to prove his worthiness to his tribe and father. But when he encounters, and ultimately befriends, an injured dragon, his world is turned upside down.


Review:
Yes, I know that if you haven't seen this film, the synopsis above is setting off all of your excessive-cheese alerts. However, I'm going to go right out and say it.... I enjoyed How To Train Your Dragon ever-so-slightly more than Toy Story 3. And believe me when I say that I love love love love love Pixar and everything they do.


BUT


I just found How To Train Your Dragon a lot more exciting than the latest Toy Story. This may be because the story was more action-packed, or because it had more 'that was awesome' moments, or the fact that Toy Story 3 had to live up to the films before it, or because the HTTYD soundtrack kicked Randy Newman's effort all the way across town and back to pre-school (if you haven't noticed by now*, I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack).


Sidebar:
One thing I will admit is that Toy Story 3 was funnier, although I think this was primarily due to Mr Potatohead and Spanish Buzz.


SPOILERS (HIGHLIGHT TO READ):
Another possible reason for this is that I felt a bit cheated by the furnace scene in Toy Story, whereby they all get miraculously saved at the last second by the Pizza Planet Aliens, which I thought completely undercut the emotions established just seconds before. In HTTYD however, Dreamworks go so far as to cripple their hero to strengthen the bond between him and his dragon at the end.


Anyhow, feel free to let me know your opinions about the two films in the comments section.


Here are the ratings:


How To Train Your Dragon
Voice-Acting / Animation: 8
Art Direction: 7.5
Script: 8
Soundtrack: 10
Overall: 8.2 (not an average)

Toy Story 3

Voice-Acting / Animation: 10

Art Direction: 8

Script: 7.2

Soundtrack: 2

Overall: 8 (not an average)

What the Toy Story 3 Soundtrack should have been:

*Where have you been?!?!?!