How to Train Your Dragon 2
Jun. 18th, 2014 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nrgburstLong story short: it was really good and I will definitely pay to see it in theaters again. Visually SPECTACULAR, plus all the adorable Hiccstrid and Hiccup/Toothless BroTP moments were just :DDDDDDD But I have some serious reservations about it too?
Yes, it has a lot of mature themes in it that aren't touched on in the first film which were great to see: differing approaches to man vs. nature; taking on the burden of responsibility/leadership; death as a part of life. Plus the series long throughlines of the power of friendship, staying true to yourself and problem solving through creative solutions. But at the same time, deus ex machina and a lack of emotional honesty make the plot fall a bit flat to me. (And my sister, who came with me and kiddo.)
The thing that bugged me the most was the lack of impact after a major character death. Now I had been thoroughly spoiled for it, but still- I was expecting continued heartbreak for the rest of the film, not the dramatic insta-funeral putting a wrap on grief so one can be a hero plus obligatory poignant moment in the super-cheerful ending. Like I'm sorry: Kids, that is NOT what losing somebody looks like, coming-of-age plot irregardless. Yes, Hiccup was in tears for five solid minutes (unlike typical action dude) but there was no haunted feeling to him for the rest of the film? He just had dramatic change of heart, put on his hero hair and hero-ed. It might be what Hollywood (and little kids) expect, but made me go er...is that it?Plus who puts an understandably reluctant 20 year old in charge when there are actual village elders and other experienced adults around, I mean what is this Viking monarchy BS.
Also: how are there so few repercussions to abandoning a newborn preemie and husband for two decades? (Especially for a woman!) Like wow, talk about a society that forgives and forgets in a way that looks nothing like ours. *insert cynical eyeroll*
The actual deus ex machina will be too spoilery to post about, (although if you look at promo posters it is hinted there) but it was the one thing that was not in keeping with the usual Creative Solution Trumps Hammer approach that Hiccup usually takes in the first film and the series. Like it felt very My Little Pony FRIENDSHIP IS THE MAGIC SOLUTION!!! Unrealistic Sparkly Ending TM. Whereas Hiccup is a disabled scrawny dork who uses his brains, observational skills and others to help him reach solutions? So it just felt like a way to force Top Dog Titles- like are we all that uncomfortable with heroes NOT being awarded leadership positions? Why are the two always linked in our media? I just can't comprehend NOT doing something like deferring leadership until he's ready; mature enough NOT to run from responsibility first, you know?
Plus fandom: LOL way to be predictable and hate on Astrid while romanticizing Hiccup's and even Eret's actions. A+ on internalized misogyny, just WTF
On Astrid in particular: I was disappointed by her lack of character development. She did have an arc and it was: coming to accept Eret. That's it. Otherwise, she was basically Hiccup's LI, his "number one defender and champion". And while that has brought around a lot of the fandom from outright hating her, it just makes me really sad. Because she really had no motivations beyond doing what is best for Hiccup- even if it meant putting herself and the gang in danger. And while it is a realistic motivation to want the best for your boyfriend/fiancé, after two seasons of watching her be a supporting object more than a character with her own motivations (Flightmare ep aside. Like literally one episode.) I was really hoping for an arc like she had in the first movie. Sigh.
Yes, it has a lot of mature themes in it that aren't touched on in the first film which were great to see: differing approaches to man vs. nature; taking on the burden of responsibility/leadership; death as a part of life. Plus the series long throughlines of the power of friendship, staying true to yourself and problem solving through creative solutions. But at the same time, deus ex machina and a lack of emotional honesty make the plot fall a bit flat to me. (And my sister, who came with me and kiddo.)
The thing that bugged me the most was the lack of impact after a major character death. Now I had been thoroughly spoiled for it, but still- I was expecting continued heartbreak for the rest of the film, not the dramatic insta-funeral putting a wrap on grief so one can be a hero plus obligatory poignant moment in the super-cheerful ending. Like I'm sorry: Kids, that is NOT what losing somebody looks like, coming-of-age plot irregardless. Yes, Hiccup was in tears for five solid minutes (unlike typical action dude) but there was no haunted feeling to him for the rest of the film? He just had dramatic change of heart, put on his hero hair and hero-ed. It might be what Hollywood (and little kids) expect, but made me go er...is that it?
Also: how are there so few repercussions to abandoning a newborn preemie and husband for two decades? (Especially for a woman!) Like wow, talk about a society that forgives and forgets in a way that looks nothing like ours. *insert cynical eyeroll*
The actual deus ex machina will be too spoilery to post about, (although if you look at promo posters it is hinted there) but it was the one thing that was not in keeping with the usual Creative Solution Trumps Hammer approach that Hiccup usually takes in the first film and the series. Like it felt very My Little Pony FRIENDSHIP IS THE MAGIC SOLUTION!!! Unrealistic Sparkly Ending TM. Whereas Hiccup is a disabled scrawny dork who uses his brains, observational skills and others to help him reach solutions? So it just felt like a way to force Top Dog Titles- like are we all that uncomfortable with heroes NOT being awarded leadership positions? Why are the two always linked in our media? I just can't comprehend NOT doing something like deferring leadership until he's ready; mature enough NOT to run from responsibility first, you know?
Plus fandom: LOL way to be predictable and hate on Astrid while romanticizing Hiccup's and even Eret's actions. A+ on internalized misogyny, just WTF
On Astrid in particular: I was disappointed by her lack of character development. She did have an arc and it was: coming to accept Eret. That's it. Otherwise, she was basically Hiccup's LI, his "number one defender and champion". And while that has brought around a lot of the fandom from outright hating her, it just makes me really sad. Because she really had no motivations beyond doing what is best for Hiccup- even if it meant putting herself and the gang in danger. And while it is a realistic motivation to want the best for your boyfriend/fiancé, after two seasons of watching her be a supporting object more than a character with her own motivations (Flightmare ep aside. Like literally one episode.) I was really hoping for an arc like she had in the first movie. Sigh.
