Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

It was a nice enough ending, but the truth is I don't feel like this is a particular franchise that actually NEEDED a definite ending. They could have kept the entire thing open-ended indefinitely and nobody would have objected. A finale seems a little besides the point to me.

I thought F. Murray Abraham did a great performance as Grimmel. This is not a franchise that has overly impressed me with the voice performances. I took note of Grimmel for that reason.

I feel like considering how big the franchise is, this review should probably be a little longer. But I can't think of anything else to say other than it was Good Enough. And as far as a review goes, that's gonna have to be Good Enough. 1/2.

Alternate Opening

This was nice, but I like the actual beginning of the film more, although that's easy for me to say since it's fully animated. .

Deleted Scenes

For many of these scenes I found Dean DeBlois' explanations about why the scenes were deleted far more interesting than the scenes themselves! Overall: 1/2.

Automatic Tail

Nice little scene that made it all the way to pre-vis. *.

Protector Vs Captor

It's an interesting debate, but truthfully, I found Dean DeBlois' introduction insightfully explaining why he deleted the scene even cooler than the scene. .

Spy Mission

Again, DeBlois' explanation of the scene is better than the scene itself. .

Mind Before The Sword

Super cute. *.

Your Responsibility

DeBlois really likes this scene and so do I. *.

The Dragon Sheep Chronicles

A couple of brief promotional cartoons featuring the sheep. Overall: 1/2.

Friend Vs. Food

Oh, that's funny. *.

The Secret Sheep Society

Not as funny as the sheep on Shaun The Sheep's farm, but still pretty humorous. ***1/2.

Astrid's Whole Dragon Trilogy In 60 Seconds

I get the appeal of recaps like this, but truly as far as promotional material goes, they're probably counterproductive. Why see any of the movies now that the entire thing has been spoiled? Lucky I saw the movies first, isn't it? **1/2.

Trailer

The first trailer gives away too much but I like the second. Overall: 1/2.

Trailer 1

They really should NOT have spoiled bearded Hiccup. Bad trailer. Naughty trailer. Glad I saw the movie first. .

Trailer 2

This is a good showcase for the beautiful animation. *1/2.

Those are some super-cute characters.

Bilby is adorable and I actually want a plushie of the Baby Albatross.

The lizard at the beginning reminds me of Joanna from The Rescuers Down Under.

This gives me the snuggles. 1/2.

Ugh. What a nasty and ugly ending.

Before that it was quirky and eccentric, and the 2-D animation was colorful. But it turned dark and vicious for no reason and left us on an incredibly sour note. I am less mad because the cartoon is only five minutes long, but I want those five minutes of my life back too. *.