Director Dean DeBlois adapted his popular action-packed animated franchise into a live-action blockbuster earlier this year, and it returns to dazzle in the 4K disc format in How to Train Your Dragon: Collector’s Edition (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG, 2.39:1 and 1.90:1 aspect ratio, 117 minutes, $34.98).
The film reimagines an ancient time of Viking conflict with dragons, primarily set in the town of Berk. It follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), the son of Chieftain Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), who dreams of battling dragons despite his father’s expectations.
Encouraged by Gobber the Belch (Nick Frost), Hiccup joins a dragon-fighting class, where he encounters fellow trainees Fishlegs Ingerman (Julian Dennison), Snotlout Jorgenson (Gabriel Howell), twins Tuffnut and Ruffnut Thorston (Harry Trevaldwyn and Bronwyn James), and Astrid Hofferson (Nico Parker), who becomes a romantic interest.
Hiccup discovers an injured young dragon in the forest, names him Toothless, and learns to interact peacefully with him.
During his final trial, Hiccup attempts to befriend a Monstrous Nightmare dragon instead of killing it, leading to a near-injury when Stoick intervenes.
Toothless saves Hiccup but is captured by Stoick, who uses the dragon to locate the dragons’ nest, intending to destroy them all.
The Vikings face destruction by a massive Red Death dragon, but Hiccup and his friends, riding their own dragons, save the day.
The movie delivers exciting action, strong performances, and impressive dragon flight sequences, staying true to the original animated film’s themes of friendship and individuality.
The necessity of a live-action remake, given the original’s computer-generated brilliance, is debatable. However, families new to the franchise and existing fans will likely appreciate this version.
4K in action: The ultra-high definition enhances the film’s production design. The gritty Viking world is vividly rendered with textured clothing, metallic weapons, and detailed architecture set against mountains, waterways, and forests.
The dragons are realistic, with detailed skin, teeth, claws, eyes, and wings. Toothless, with his black skin, green eyes, and pink fire, is a standout, as is a two-headed dragon with green gas and the fiery Monstrous Nightmare.
The battle scenes, presented in IMAX format, are thrilling, especially the initial dragon attack on Berk, with fire-breathing effects in vibrant reds.
Hiccup’s flight sequences on Toothless are exhilarating, featuring daring loops through clouds and water, and a panoramic view of the northern lights.
The lava-filled dragon nest at the film’s end offers stunning visuals that showcase the 2160p home theater experience.
Best extras: The release includes a commentary track with the director, who discusses various aspects of the production, including location selection, casting, set design, the story’s themes, comparisons to the animated film, dragon creation, character relationships, and even minor details like Gobber’s prosthetic leg.
A 45-minute featurette includes insights from the director, author Cressida Cowell, and the cast, exploring casting choices, the chemistry between Hiccup and Astrid, character breakdowns, cinematography, production design, and behind-the-scenes footage.
Other featurettes (approximately 25 minutes) cover Hiccup’s first flight with Toothless, their friendship (with puppeteer assistance), costuming, the design of Berk, and the “How to Train Your Dragon” land at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando.
The streaming version includes a nine-minute featurette on the visual and practical effects used to create the dragons, highlighting the use of puppeteers and animatronic dragons for realistic flight sequences.