229.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
7/10
How to Train Your Dragon fires back with a third major installment to the surprisingly successful and popular franchise. The first two in the series were the first two movies I watched when I decided to keep tabs on things I was watching. The sub-title for this one is 'The Hidden World' meaning there could be a lot more to come in this story. We are treated to the usual voice actors in this animation as Jay Baruchel and America Ferrara continue their steak and even Kit Harringon is back for another dose. From the trailers alone, we know where this story will lead to Toothless finding love, whilst another dragon hunter comes to wreak havoc.
The movie begins showing our heroes saving other dragons from a ship on which they are entrapped. On returning home, we see how this village has now taken on many many more dragons, sometimes leading to major accidents. One of the old heads at the village suggests that it's about time that Hiccup and Astrid speak of marriage soon, with neither ready to take the next step.
Across the other side of the ocean, we are introduced to a new villain named Grimmel the Grisly. Cracking name for our new killer. Voiced by F. Murray Abraham and looking like a vampire, it's not long until he states his intentions.
He meets with the warlords that have been capturing the dragons and learns of Hiccup and Toothless and finds himself in shock as he believes that he has killed the last night fury. The warlords reveal a dragon that was left behind at the beginning and it is another Night Fury, but white. Grimmel decides to use this one as bait to grab toothless. Grimmel is far from worried about Hiccup as a kid in over his head. From there, we have a flashback fo Hiccup with his father, talking about the fabled hidden world. Hiccup has always sought to find this place in order to stop the war between Vikings and dragons. Toothless heads off alone at night and bumps into the trap. Being called Light Fury, Toothless is quick in the chase and attempts to woo her, too many failings. He's quick to fall in love and constantly tries to catch her gaze, constantly failing and even Hiccup follows to help.
One day, Hiccup comes across one of Grimmel's traps. He takes the trap to Erin, Harrington's character, who recognizes the work of Grimmel. He fears that the trap was left to be found as a means to bring them out of hiding. The night ends with Grimmel finding his way into Hiccup's home, tranqing Toothless and expressing his ideas of how Humans and dragons should not co-exist. As he makes his way to Toothless, it turns out to be some of Hiccup's mates dressed up as a trap but this does not slow him down. Summoning some acid-spitting dragons, but our gang make hast and escape. Knowing that Grimmel will not slow down, it is time to leave their home. Hiccup gives a speech that the place of Berk is where ever their people are. Reminds me of Thor and his home to be honest. Problem is, Grimmel is planning on them heading out, tracking them with the warlords and all the while, making some more venom to tranq the dragons.
They arrive at a new island for now and in the clouds during travel, we once again catch sight of the Light Fury. It knocks Hiccup off Toothless' back, thinking he's an enemy. We enter some more scenes of Toothless trying to woo her and later, Hiccup decides to fix the tail fin for good, meaning that Toothless can head off to find Light Fury. Meanwhile, Hiccup's mother has headed back on themselves in order to make sure they were not followed but they were, she narrowly avoids capture to warn everyone. Back with Toothless and he is learning about his actual abilities with help from Light Fury. He can use lightning to disguise himself and as their 'date' comes to an end, he is lead to a waterfall into the ground.
Hiccup knows of Grimmels intentions and plans on taking the fight to him but once again, Grimmel knows the game and is expecting the move. Narrowingly avoiding capture once again, they manage to make it back to their makeshift home, only to find that they have left Ruffnut behind in the chaos. Hiccup is now being pressured into another way of stopping Grimmel but his mind is elsewhere as he realises that Toothless has not yet returned. Astrid reminds him about Toothless being given his freedom to be with Light Fury, this could mean he won't be seen for a long time.
Grimmel is back in his castle planning his next move, whilst an annoying as shit Ruffnut is on his last nerve. He ends up letting her go but not before she blabs about the village's new location, leading Grimmel to send a scout with her and making his job a bit easier. As for Hiccup, he and Astrid ride to try and find Toothless, coming across the waterfall and heading down into the Hidden World of the dragons. They set sights on Toothless, acting as the alpha male with Light Fury as his mate. Hiccup makes a wrong move and is spotted, being chased by every other dragon until Toothless comes to their aid. On his escape, Hiccup realises that this hidden world needs to remain that way.
With everyone making it back to the island, Grimmel is ready to attack, taking the Night and Light Furies, along with the other dragons as they have captured their alpha. Hiccup once again fall silent, thinking he has failed as a chief but with Astrid at his side, he is ready to round everyone up and go for the throat. As Grimmel presents his prisoners to the warlords, our gang drop in and attack. With Grimmel riding Light Fury and Hiccup on toothless, they take to the sky for the main fight scene. With the acid dragons aiding and surrounding Toothless, he harnesses the lightning and then vanishes. Grimmel and Hiccup once again head towards each other, this time with both tackling each other off their respective dragons as Toothless is tranqed once again. Hiccup orders Light Fury to catch a falling Toothless as himself and Grimmel fall together, tussling in the sky. Grimmel has one hope left of dragging down Hiccup but as Hiccup loosens his own prosthetic leg, Grimmel is left to fall to his death as Light Fury catches Hiccup to save his life.
Hiccup now realises that it is time to let Toothless go and the celebrations do not last long. He bids farewell to his best friend and the two have a tearful embrace. The whole village says goodbye to their dragons as they leave with Toothless to their safe and hidden world below. The scene ends powerfully as Hiccup and Toothless share one last eye contact. A while later, Hiccup and Astrid as finally married and we then move onto several years later, as the two now have a son and daughter. They ride a boat to the waterfall we have seen before and come across Toothless and Light Fury sitting upon a rock with three youngsters of their own. Toothless notices the humans and acts to protect his family, not recognizing Hiccup at first but once the memories flow back with a slow movement of a hand towards the snout as seen in the first movie, the too finally embrace. The families take to the sky as Hiccup narrates the closing scene, explaining that humans now believe that the dragons have all gone but only the Berkians know the truth and they shall protect that truth until the dragons can come back out into peace.
This seemed like it could be the final film in the series of How to Train Your Dragon and if this is the case, it ended in a really strong way. With another strong storyline, this time revolving around friendships and relationships, it is as though the movie is of a coming of age genre. I think whilst watching, you would always know where the movie was heading and how it was going to end. Bad guy defeated and friends separating for the best and to continue their own journeys to start a family. We have come to know the cast over the series of movies and the main new addition being F. Murray Abraham as Grimmel meant we had someone else to focus our hate upon. He brought a wickedly good voice to the table, one that demanded listening to and this would always be a good trait. Kit Harrington, on the other hand, was as boring a voice as normal. I enjoyed his portrayal of Jon Snow but under the same circumstances, he was always made fun of due to his lack of expressions. As for the rest of the cast, it is always great to see side characters play such pivotal role It is always good to see an animation away from the mainstream of Disney because it really takes something to be special and standout. We have been waiting nine years for this finale and I believe the ending that was brought to us was very fitting of the trilogy.