PodBill Just what I expected

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Logan Dodd There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Sjoerd Jonker What these two films have in common is that they are both DreamWorks Animation Sequels and both of them have darker content compared to the first installments and both have two plots, in which one is about family related and the other one is about stopping a central villain. The difference between those films however is that one of them managed to tell these plots right and that would be, Kung Fu Panda 2. This film starts with a short intro about the past of a character that becomes the main villain of the story, followed by a fight in a local village. From there Po gets a short vision about his past, with a vague image of his mother, by seeing a symbol carried by the evil leader, he asked his "father" about his past, but in the end Po learned nothing other that he is adopted. After that we see how Shen uses his secret weapon that can outmatch Kung Fu and both plots are settled in only 20 minutes of the film! Now in HTTYD 2 we have to wait 30 minutes before one of the plots comes in light(Hiccup's missing mother) and we have to wait another 15 minutes before they finally introduced the main villain. The only things we know before that is that Eret works for him and that this villain went once to Berk and killed plenty of Vikings there, because they didn't want to obey him, but why not intimidate those Berkians with his dragons like the way he intimidates them? Oh and apparently he also managed to control an alpha dragon. How he did this is beyond me, but most of all his motive to conquer other people. After one hour Drago explains why he needs to intimidate all these dragons by literally showing his lose, caused by dragons and his motive is therefore to force dragons to work for him? He does not kill them though(except for that alpha), he just uses them in his advantage to conquer other lands for no good reason actually, because his past is barely related to this. In short we got a villain with an illogical match between motive and past and that simply gives no satisfaction to Drago's character whatsoever.Now in KFP 2 the main villain is 'Shen' who is heir to the throne of Gongmen City. This makes it believable that this position makes him hungry for more power and his reason to destroy the Panda homelands(where also Po's parents lived), is that they were a thread to his plans to take over China, at least he heard this by a soothsayer. He also got banned. This is something I am willing to buy, I even have to say that this concept is pretty damn good! Not only we got a villain that is in every way understandable, they also managed to connect two plots in order to create a story that reaches far more deeper and more complex than HTTYD 2. Because yes, HTTYD 2 kept the two plots rather separate than connected, which is barely intriguing to watch. After 30 minutes Hiccup coincidentally found his mother Valka(really do love the voice of Cate Blanchett) and after they got to her hideout. She said that she only left in order to protect Hiccup, but against what? This is not even tied to Drago! Besides if she truly wanted to protect them then she would've taken every dragon away from Berk. She will safe therefore more villagers and more dragons, but that did not happen. The only reason why she left is because she disagrees about killing dragons, but that is nearly not good enough to disappear for good without even visiting the place. And another thing: Why is everyone okay with that Valka left for 20 years, if that is the only reason? Hiccup did not care at all, he was just surprised, Stoick sang together with Valka like nothing of that ever happened and the rest did not bother. Also why does Valka continuously act that she knows who Hiccup is after knowing him in about 2 days. Saying that being Chief is who Hiccup is, while the one thing that we know for sure in HTTYD is that Hiccup is an explorer rather than a leader. So why does Hiccup not name Astrid as Chief? She could've been a great leader, but in this film she is rather a tag-along than an independent character and that is not Astrid I knew from HTTYD. Speaking of characters, Stoick died during the battle and surprisingly Drago just left Hiccup and the rest unharmed after defeating them! Remember what Shen did after that battle scene on the boats when he defeated his foes? He would've finished the job, if it wasn't for 'inner peace'. Anyway after Stoick's funeral scene no one either speaks of him nor mentioned him again, they just got over it? Really emotional gripping, but it does not work. This is incredibly rushed and forced writing. In KFP 2 the story started very early with emotional investment with Po and his dad(Goose), that last through the entire film. So why didn't they start with a emotional gripping conversation between father and son that also last through the whole film? Ugh, so many questions, so few answers...In conclusion: What they did here in HTTYD 2 is telling both plots by a mysterious approach rather than a swift, dynamic approach which is typical in the KFP franchise. But therefore KFP 2 tells their both plots exactly right with a clear direction in where they are heading, along with improvement of certain characters especially Po, his father and Tigress. As for HTTYD 2 the beginning is far too slow in order to tell all there is with this approach and as a result we got a very rushed middle and end. Therefore both plots, which are barely connected, are told very poorly. A forgettable Sequel(5/10)

elenaphysics The reason I put 3 stars at first place it is because it had nice graphics. Other than that the movie was terrible. Spoiler alert!! Hiccup's mother left them and never came back because she was looking after dragons?? Stupid His father and mother find each other after so many years and they want to start over (WHY? she abandoned them) anw and then he dies?? He dies because of toothless who was under mind control? Sad The good alpha dragon just died?? Toothless and Hiccups remain best friends even after toothless killed Hiccups' dad? All these do not make sense The movie had no plot It was terrible Plus the person who makes Hiccups' voice has a deeply annoying voice. It is not a cartoon movie for kids. It is very dark. And the first one was dark but this one is worse. I think it should be a pg13 movie. The feeling after watching the film was sadness and disappointment. I like cartoons, I liked the first one too. But this it was a big failure

Alexander Petrov I hardly have any words to describe this piece of art.I fell in love from the very first time i have watched it.The story is very amazing and satisfying and the animation art is so beautiful.The characters are very well chosen for this type of story.The film gives an introduction to the people and especially the young generation that the only beings that do harm and evil to anyone, even to themselves were the people and teaches us to be more kind to others and to respect the surrounding around us world that for me was quite enlightening to today's harsh world. Hardly recommend this to people who are dragon fans and not only.All i can say is great job Dream Works. Once again you bring happiness to the people around the world with your wonderful movies.My personal score 10/10 ! Can't wait for the next movie ! <3

Eddie Cantillo How to Train Your Dragon 2(2014) Staring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harington, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J Miller, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Kieron Elliott, Philip McGrade, Andrew Ableson, Gideon Emery, Simon Kassianides, and Randy Thom Directed By: Dean Deblois Review THE TRAINING IS OVER. You know when the first film came around I did not want to see it, but after I saw how many good reviews it's sequel was getting I decided to watch the first part just to catch up to speed. It was actually pretty good. But holy crap was this more fun. This film now has Hiccup traveling to new worlds with his Knight- rider dragon Toothless to find more dragons to keep safe. He is meant to be the new chief but doesn't want the position that badly because he doesn't know what kind of person he is. Among his travels he upsets a Dragon snatcher who is capturing as many as he can for Jargo Bloodfist. Hiccup meets his mother and brings his family back together to stop Jargo from controlling all the dragons. These films in particular are interesting kids films that I'm pretty sure any kid would like to see, if and when the third film does come which I'm pretty sure it will, it will probably be the best of the trilogy because this is actually based on a series of books the first book of the same name. The movie is more engaging and fun then the first, it exceeded my expectations, I wasn't looking forward to this either like I said word of mouth made me change my mind so I had to see what all the fuss was about. Jay Baruchel is voicing Hiccup once again and delightfully so, I don't any other voice would fit the character. Gerard Butler voices his father and he was the best actor in the first film and he steals the show yet again in this sequel. I can't tell who voiced who when it comes to the rest of the cast but i still found them all to be good as well. The direction is every bit as good as the first film if not even better. I really liked the 3-D animation this film everything is moving so fast that at times the film feels so energized during the flying and fight sequences it's like a jolt. All the elements of a good animated motion picture are present it has good pacing, fun sequences, and a nice cast to top it all off. I give How to Train Your Dragon 2 a four out of five.