



This review does contain spoilers!

"I cannot believe what I just read. And I had a problem reading the last part of it through my tears. It's a complete unqualified classic and better than the original. I've never witnessed this kind of transformation from the last two drafts I read to this one. I only wish I had points."

Trailer #2 for "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World:













Fan-made video using David Tennant's narration of "there were dragons" from the HTTYD books:













It has been nearly nine years since "How to Train Your Dragon" flew into cinemas, and it has proven to be a resounding success on both the big and small screen, what What started years ago as the blossoming friendship between Viking teen, Hiccup and the Night Fury, Toothless, has spanned a near seven year in universe account of their lives. Dean DeBlois, co-director and co-writer of the first film, who flew solo for the second, has returned for this one final flight. As was said in the review for "How to Train Your Dragon 2," DeBlois only agreed to make a sequel, if he could make the series into a trilogy. Now, five years after the second film, we have the capper of Hiccup and Toothless' saga, "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World." Thank Odin, it was worth the wait.The story takes place a year after the events of the second film. Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is now the chief of Berk, while his best friend, Toothless, is the alpha of Berk's dragons after besting the Bewilderbeast to protect Hiccup. The film opens a bit differently to the first two films, on a misty ship deck, where Hiccup, clad in armor made from Toothless' shed scales, leads his clumsy group of misfits into rescuing dragons from trappers. When they arrive back on Berk, to which Hiccup exclaims to the new rescues, "this is Berk, your new home away from home!," we see how the quaint village is now overrun with dragons. What Hiccup sees as a successful dragon utopia, Gobber (Craig Ferguson), and Hiccup's fiancee, Astrid (America Ferrera) both think that the dragon population has gotten out of control, leading them to be an even bigger target for trappers, hunters and those who are against their peace loving ideals. When Grimmel the Grisly (F. Murray Abraham), the dragon hunter responsible for the near extinction of Toothless' species of dragon, the Night Furies, catches wind of the one that got away, Hiccup realizes that Berk and its winged friends are no longer safe on their island. Going by memories of tales about a mysterious land of dragons called the Hidden World, a place that fascinated his late father, Stoick (Gerard Butler, in flashback), Hiccup leads his people in a search for the land "from which all dragons come." This is not before Toothless meets a female Fury dragon, whom Astrid refers to as Light Fury due to her white scales, who gets his wings all ruffled. What follows is part introspective journey, part nature documentary, as we see Toothless and Hiccup realize that there is in fact a life outside each other, and what major sacrifices they may need to carry out in order to keep each other, and their people, safe from any further harm.One important thing to note is that "The Hidden World" goes back to the roots of the first film, in which we have a smaller, slice of life tale, told excellently through character moments, animation and pacing. One may judge this threequel against the epic scope of the second film, especially since the commercials flash "experience the epic conclusion." While there is certainly some epic moments in the film, and it is a beautifully told story, this is a much more introspective look at Hiccup and Toothless as characters, both together and apart. If "The Hidden World" were as massive as HTTYD 2, it would have come across as a mere retread. The smaller scale works best here, much like in the first movie. There are several homages to the earlier films scattered throughout, with one scene in particular making a reference to "Forbidden Friendship," where Hiccup helps Toothless woo his new lady love. Indeed, instead of relying on the first film's iconic scene, it shows how much Toothless has learned through his friendship with Hiccup, and in as such it creates a magic all of its own. It takes its time to build, and is easily one of the best scenes in the franchise; to see Toothless' tragic courtship dances, Hiccup's cringing and the dragon eventually realizing he needs to do this alone, is wonderful storytelling. The scene is around three to four minutes long, and has zero dialogue. The emotion and frustration are palpable, and you find yourself both cringing and laughing along the way. The very end of the scene throws into motion one of the major plotlines; the dynamic duo need to spread their own wings, and find their own footing.The themes of tolerance, friendship and our relationship with nature, that have permeated the entire trilogy, are still very much present. While the second film went even darker with the core themes, "The Hidden World," while it has less subplots, presents to us the closing chapter of this vast, coming of age saga, and it still very much holds its heart and soul in its sleeve. It is here we see that the story isn't just about Hiccup, even though we already knew that. Dean gives much of the spotlight to Toothless, who is just as adorable and memorable as he was at the beginning. Here, in fact, we see what six years of hanging around with a socially awkward youngster can do to a wild beast; Toothless has, naturally, become more domesticated. While we have always seen his primal, visceral nature when it comes to protecting Hiccup, he has most certainly become more tame, without losing his wild edge. This can be seen when he begs Hiccup to play fetch with him, or when he copies his friend's exceptionally dorky mating ritual dance, in a way that flummoxes the Light Fury. Even though Toothless' feral side has never truly dissipated, with his strong loyalty to his rider coming to the fore in the most natural manner for any beast, it's when he spots the Light Fury that we see that Hiccup's "big baby boo" has matured into a young animal. He is still, at his very core, a wild beast, and seeing him being completely taken with Light Fury, reverting back to his more wild nature, is exhilarating. All the while, we see how he's torn between his adoration of his best friend, and the call of the wild. He wants to be in both places, but simply cannot. His glances and coos towards Hiccup during the moments where he is most torn, such as when Hiccup makes him an automatic tail so he can fly alone, or his coaxing of his mate to try and see that she can trust his best friend, all scream how much Toothless yearns for both sides of the coin. His interactions with Hiccup when they make the most painful decision of their lives are simply gut wrenching; this is not just a case of a mysterious lady coming to swoop the best friend away. This is the culmination of what nature intends, and how the bonds we make are waxed and waned by the roll of the tide. Toothless is as much a well rounded character as Hiccup. Toothless' attraction towards Light Fury is naturally faster than his slow burning bond built with Hiccup, given his animalistic instincts, but the friendship they have nurtured over their adolescence and young adult lives is still at the very centre of the film.It is, as such, the natural way of things. This is what the film tells us. The timeless friendship between man and beast is incredibly complex and powerful.The last fifteen minutes of the film show us this in the best way possible. The message herein is about learning that the things you love the most, are often the ones you need to set free. The path the film takes to show us this, is like a sucker punch to the stomach. This is why it works. It'sNothing feels forced, or pushed. The sequences of the film, how the character's emotions and plights are presented, are done with such genuineness.Toothless isn't the only character with difficulties in the story. Hiccup is the human face of this interspeicies bond, and he's not handling the change very well. Now 21 years old, and still convinced that he can make the world safe for dragons everywhere, Hiccup's stubborn streak (inherited from Stoick), mixed with his naivety, continues to land him in sticky situations. These scenarios feel warranted, given his tender age as chief, and deep rooted insecurities about who he is as a person. When Toothless is lovelorn over his alabaster crush, Hiccup quips, "am I not enough?" "I'd take that as a no!" retorts Tuffnut (Justin Rupple, replacing T.J. Miller), as the twitterpated Night Fury watches two Nadders courting, hoping to pick up tips for his repitoire. Hiccup seems to be oblivious to Toothless' deep need for his mate, much to the alarm of Astrid, who shows with nary a word how worried she is about her fiance through knowing looks and gestures. Hiccup sees himself and Toothless as part of the one soul, and while that isn't entirely untrue, it's clear that he's unwittingly falling into the dragon as a massive, scaly security blanket. "You are nothing without your dragon!" the villain scoffs. A bit on the nose, perhaps, but it's through Hiccup's interactions with Toothless, and his actions besides that we see how much turmoil he is in about Toothless pulling away from him. When he makes the new tail, we are lead to believe that Hiccup is giving Toothless his full freedom, but he says to Astrid "it's only until he brings Light Fury back," and admonishes half jokingly to Toothless to "bring her back by sundown at the latest!" Hiccup desperately wants what's best for his friend, but is hanging on tenterhooks on how to broach the situation - will Toothless come back with the Light Fury, or stay away for ever? Even the audience is left with bated breath in regards this question. It's not that the friendship is severed, far from it. It is that the appearance of Light Fury has provided a missing link in the Night Fury's life, and it will drive a natural wedge in both the lives of himself and Hiccup. It's Hiccup's own demons, the fear that he is worthless unless Toothless is by his side, that threatens the relationship more than anything. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the entire film is when Hiccup sees Toothless and Light Fury in the titular Hidden World, and he realizes how much he's unknowingly held his best friend back. While the pair have a magnificently symbiotic relationship, the time has come for them to grow as respected adults, and for that, they need to let each other go.The other characters get some moments to shine, with Ruffnut (Kirsten Wiig) and Tuffnut getting plenty of funny moments, with Ruff having a particularly funny scene in the villain's lair. The other characters remain largely the same in many respects, with a few moderate changes; Valka has lost her Rafiki-eqsue movements, and has assimilated into Berk life, giving on the nose advice for both the characters and the young sprogs that may be watching. Snotlout has, in a strange twist, fallen head over heels for the dragon lady. Eret gets much less screen time, but does provide valuable insight into the villain. Poor Gobber has developed some anxiety in regards the safety of Berk, and if Hiccup is chiefly material. He has a running joke about the asexually reproducing Hobgobblers, who are driving him up the proverbial gumtree with increasing paranoia, as they're a bad omen. In a surprisingly welcome twist, Gobber is seen eyeing Eret, which adds a bit more cultural progression in both the franchise as a whole, and in family entertainment. What's more, is that it's hinted that his feelings may be reciprocated. Astrid is the most important tertiary character. Her relationship with Hiccup is one of the most natural and sweet in any mainstream animation; each little interaction and glance feels pure and sweet. Their bond has strengthened since the first film significantly, and while their want for a future together is evident, it's clear that their attachment to their dragons keeps them from tying the knot, even more so on Astrid's side, which is ironic, given Hiccup's immense love for Toothless. It is only Astrid that can get through to Hiccup, other than his dragon, and their playful jabs and meaningful romantic gestures feel earned. Her worry for her fiance is heartwarming and sincere. Between this relationship, and the one between Stoick and Valka, the franchise is a powerhouse for meaningful romances that youngsters (and adults!) can look up to. Speaking of Stoick, he appears in brilliantly executed flashbacks, in order to advise Hiccup, and building both their characters and the world in which they live. One flashback, in which he mourns Valka, is especially excellent, as it goes hand in hand with Hiccup remembering that love is a great gift that often hurts. It is this wisdom that gives him the strength to do right by Toothless at the very end.Of course, Hiccstrid is not the only romance in this film. While the courtship between Toothless and Light Fury is more David Attenborough than romantic, it still harbours some rom-com elements to make it more accessible, and does so in a way that feels beleivable rather than overbearing. Light Fury's character is much more wild and elusive than her goofy counterpart, and as such it helps Toothless break free from his domesticated shell. She is svelte sassy and savage. Her design did spark some raised eyebrows, since Stormfly and Meatlug look very much like their male counterparts, while Light Fury is sleek, petite and has big, beautiful blue eyes. It's important to note, that animation is by nature a stereotypical medium, in regards design. Men look like men, women look like women. For Light Fury to look a bit more ladylike, is simply how it is. It's purely for young viewers to know that she is, in fact, a female. Not that kids are stupid, but animation has been this way for many years. That being said, if I'm to put down my critical spectacles for a moment, I must admit that I didn't like Light Fury's design when I saw the poster last year. However, it did grow on me, and upon seeing her in the film, while I don't like her design as much as Toothless', she is a fierce, spunky little creature that I have grown to appreciate in her own way. She's very likable. Her blossoming relationship with Toothless is very sweet and exceedingly natural. Every minute they are together is mesmerizing. It's so lovely to watch. Again, the first film's pivotal scenes still stay on top, but the date scenes between these two dragons are so sweet and are easily some of the best parts of the franchise.Grimmel makes an entertaining adversary. He's an exact parallel to Hiccup, in the same way that Scar is to Simba in "The Lion King." Skinny, intelligent and cunning, not to mention sarcastic and prefers his own company. Voiced with icy fervour by Abraham, what makes Grimmel different to Hiccup is that he killed a Night Fury in order to be seen as a hero by his village. What Grimmel represents, is what Hiccup could've easily become, if he hadn't shown empathy. This is what makes him deliciously evil; he derives pleasure from toying with his victims, from tearing their lives apart until he finally goes in for the kill. While the relationship between Light Fury and Toothless is completely of their own accord, Grimmel is the one that drugged the former, and stashed her in the woods on the isle of Berk for Toothless to find. He is the catalyst for the fallout that occurs, even though, realistically speaking, it would've probably happened eventually. Grimmel's dialogue is disturbingly Aryan, saying that dragons are vermin that should be eviscerated instead of seen as equals, and he snidely remarks that Hiccup's views are toxic, and will one day fall apart. His manipulation and cold delivery are on level with that of a serial killer. While Drago struck into the hearts of the characters in a savage manner, Grimmel slowly gets underneath the skin, and peels it apart from the flesh. The only real issue with his character, is that he seems to give up the joy of the hunt towards the climax of the film, but this can be seen as the professional killer finally losing logic and reason, so in a sense, it fits - or can also be seen as screenwriter's wont.It feels redundant to say the animation is impeccable. It's even better than the second film, which looks amazing. The scales, the sand, the clouds. Every single, minute detail is perfected. Both the human and dragon characters look like they are there. The character animation is simply divine, with enough use of squash and stretch to add dynamism without becoming overly cartoony, nor doe it stay too static in order to not slip into the uncanny valley. The subtle facial animations on the humans and dragons are jawdropping. There are plenty of silent stretches in the film, much like in the first, where the animation is allowed to tell the story through both subtle movements and bombastic. You see Hiccup and Toothless' torment without them uttering any words. The almost dance like sequence between Toothless and Lught Fury when they are flying is spectacular. Of course, the Hidden World is hypnotically psychedelic, and fully realized. If only we were there longer. Hell, if only we could stay in this world longer. The animation is nothing short of masterful. It sucks you into this world, and allows you to bask in it in all its glory. This, of course, is helped along by John Powell's gorgeous music, and Roger Deakins assistance in making every single shot look like it could be nominated for the Oscar for Best Cinematography.If there's any real flaws to point out, it may be with the pacing. While it is for the most part, fantastic, it does feel a bit rushed at some points, especially with the opening. However, this is a small blip in what is otherwise a magnificent capper. The slow scenes take their time to draw you in, the quick scenes are usually reserved for action. The last half hour of the film, including the epilogue, along with all the moments with Toothless and his mate, are simply astonishing. I didn't want the film to end. As with the second film, some more Toothless and Hiccup moments would've been amazing, but what they do show is fantastic, and the story still stays true to where the core is, on the unlikely pair - albeit in someways, a different manner than before. Those who have touted the ending and epilogue, I must reiterate the praise here - it is done so well that it floors me.I'm going to have to once again take off the critical spectacles, and speak from the heart. I haven't been this moved by a film in quite a while. It was the first time ever I desperately needed to see a film again in theaters, and did so. There is just something about the way the story is told, that I simply adored. It adds to the entire lore and feels breathtakingly authentic. The ending sucker punched me, yet also made me feel elated. This is one franchise where I can honestly say I've adored every single second. While the third film isn't perfect, what film is? It's, in my opinion, a brilliant, fitting end to what is one of the best animated series of all time."How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World" is the finale this franchise deserves. It goes back to the roots of the series, staying on a smaller scale without casting away the meaningful themes. What has been a coming of age fable of tolerance and change, of love and unending friendship, has ended in a hopeful yet heartbreaking lesson on loving enough to let go, and to learn from all the ups and downs of life. That there is no greater gift than love.This is a monumental trilogy from beginning to end. It has been an amazing journey, and I'm sad to see it go, but satisfied that it ended like this.It is a pleasure to say that Toothless and Hiccup's adventures, manages to stick the landing.9.4/10Aileen's Appreciation Corner.* DeBlois went through several drafts of the script before he felt satisfied. The last draft, he sent to Steven Spielberg, who responded with:* Drago was supposed to have a redemption arc in the film, but his story was so massive it would've taken over the entire runtime.* Light Fury was inspired by snow leopards, much like how Toothless was inspired by black panthers. When designing her, they felt she looked too lizard like, so they developed a look called "shimmer."* The film has an unusually scattered release date, first releasing in Australia and New Zealand on January 3rd (with the world premiere in Australia on December 17th, 2018), in the UK and Ireland on the 2nd if February, and will be released in the USA and Canada on the 22nd of February. Belgium won't get the film until June of 2019.* The tie in book, "Meet the New Dragons," had preview pages uploaded onto Amazon a few months before the film's release, that spoiled the ending of the film. The pages were removed by Amazon after complaints were issued.* The story's ending was always tied into the first line of Cressida Cowell's original book in the series, where an older Hiccup states "there were dragons when I was a boy."* DeBlois has confirmed that a lot of the shots in the first trailer were created for the trailer alone, as the animation on the film was not yet finished.* The film was initially planned to come out in 2016, then in March 2018. It was then pushed up to 2019.* The "How to Train Your Dragon" films were all produced by DreamWorks Animation, but were all distributed by different studios. The first was distributed by Paramount, the second by 20th Century Fox and the third by Universal.* This is the definitive ending of the HTTYD trilogy, as DeBlois has not expressed any interest in making more films, saying that this is the end of Hiccup and Toothless' saga.