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justendlesslyscrolling · 13 days ago

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My thoughts on the new live action How to Train Your Dragon

Spoilers for below of my thoughts - both good and bad- on the live action! Saw it last night and have had almost 24 hours to digest so hopefully this is somewhat articulate instead of a rant at some points!!

Before I go into anything, I think it's important not to comment too much on the characterisation of those who don't get as much screen-time in the first movie as compared to the shows. I have devoured every aspect of this franchise multiple times, from the movies to the tv shows and the shorts. So I know a shit-ton about these characters, but it's important not to expect the characters and dragons to act the same way as they do in say RTTE. This leads more-so when I discuss some of the characters but just wanted to clear that up first.

Overall I really enjoyed it! I was smiling the majority of the time, thought a lot of the scenes were done fantastically, and one of the major things I loved was how beautiful the scenery and music was. John Powell did it again and absolutely slayed the soundtrack. Scenes like Forbidden Friendship, New Tail, See You Tomorrow and Romantic Flight were very very good, and I did tear up a couple of times.

I really liked Hiccup and Astrid's relationship too; they included a bit more backstory to why Astrid is so ambitious to do well and that scene in the Great Hall was pretty good. Their little 'come what may' moment was super cute and I just love hiccstrid so much that I'm down for anymore of that content.

Stoick and Hiccup's relationship was also pretty good, and relatively accurate. I did really enjoy how the screenwriters put in more about Snotlout and Spitelout, really the only thing from the shows that was added. Loved to see how Snotlout is constantly trying to be the best to get the recognition from his father, and we see Spitelout not really recognising that until Snotlout is literally on the Red Death. He's such a shit dad.

Toothless was adorable. I've seen some people say that he was made to be less intelligent which I can definitely see. He was treated more-so as a dog/pet than a very intelligent dragon but I think overall, I did like him. We obviously didn't see a lot of personality from the other dragons, but that's pretty similar to the first movie (except maybe Stormfly laughing at Snotlout). I did like the design of all the dragons, especially Hookfang who looked super badass.

That's not all I liked about the movie, but I want to get more into my grievances with it.

Firstly, my main source of contention with the film is how Berk came to be about. I don't mind that it was a bunch of different tribes who came together. What I didn't like is why they all came together. Instead of just sailing to Berk 300 years ago, all these tribes came together to purposely fight dragons. This in my mind, completely annihilates part of the first movie. In the original, both the Berkians and the dragons were unwilling participants in a centuries-old war; both were forced to fight and kill each other due to the Red Death. The Berkians didn't plan to move to Berk just because it was near a dragon nest; they probably moved there to establish a new land which just so happened to be right next to the nest, and so was the target of dragon who themselves were being controlled to satisfy the Queen. Making Berk the aggressors took away any sympathy I had for them, as they were the ones who moved in and attacked first it seemed. Bit of a rant but it just really irked me about the movie.

Second, the unexplained question over the chiefdom. In the original, it's not really a question that Hiccup will inherit the chiefdom of Berk, it is a hereditary thing. I think most httyd fans accept that. But, it seems like that isn't the case in the live action. And I say it seems because it's never really explained. Astrid says that she will be the next chief, but I was left wondering why she even thinks that's a possibility. Tuffnut even bloody says it and it's just never explained. I thought maybe that could have meant that whoever wins the Trial of Flame (stupid change imo), then they could become chief. But isn't that something that happens relatively commonly. Or at least every few years with the new generation. Maybe it's a democracy and they get to pick but who tf knows. I would have been more on board if it was just explained more.

Something that really pissed me off was the removal of some scenes and lines. The No So Fireproof scene being completely cut threw me off. That scene is so important, not just because it's when Hiccup really understands that all dragons (or not just Toothless) are not what they've been told all their lives, but it's also where he figures out that dragons aren't fireproof on the inside! I love that scene so much, so getting rid of it hurt me.

Also, they cut both of Hiccup and Stoick's shared lines: 'We're Vikings, it's an occupational hazard' and 'I did this'. Both are so important in their relationship and character arks and it was such a shame that they were cut. With the Viking line, I did notice there was less of an emphasis on the word viking. It was still used but I just noticed that it was used less, like when Stoick says 'You're not a Viking' it was changed to 'You're not one of us' (I think, or something like that). I don't know why it was changed and would like to hear more about that.

I also found some of the characters were changed a lot. I think Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs were good. Astrid was OP sometimes but it wasn't too terrible. The twins were mid. Tuff was fine but Ruff was just so out of character. She kept trying to be all 'girls stick together' to Astrid which I just never got from her character from any of the original franchise. Tuff and Ruff's relationship too was out of whack. It just lacked a lot of their competitiveness, fun and messing around chaos we all love from the twins. So that sucked tbh.

Hiccup was also different. I think Mason Thames did a fantastic job, and it is so hard to measure up to the Hiccup we all know and love because he was written to perfection and Jay Baruchel was the perfect voice actor for him. However, this Hiccup missed a lot of Hiccup's sarcasm, wit, sassiness and all that stuff that I love about him. He was more awkward in a worse way and just lacked that hiccup flare. Overall, he was a very good Hiccup but I'm anxious to see how they approach him in the second one. I didn't love how he so expressly just gave the general like position to Astrid because she's the strongest fighter, and then Astrid was the one who was giving the commands when they first start fighting the Red Death. They could have done it differently and it just takes away from Hiccup's strength.

So those are most of my thoughts! I've probably missed things or forgotten stuff, but I'm going to see it for a second time to try and catch things I didn't beforehand.

#httyd #hiccup haddock #astrid hofferson #hiccstrid #httyd live action #stoick the vast #toothless #how to train your dragon

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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He really went from

To

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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From then on, we stopped being a family, and became a family (in italics.)

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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anyone else remember being like 13 years old and watching that scene in how to train your dragon (2010) where hiccup carefully navigates the maze of lines toothless has drawn between them without breaking or stepping on any of them and with his back to toothless and eyes shut to demonstrate how he’s willing to put total faith in him not to harm him or run away and to show humility and a desire to establish a natural bond of mutual trust instead of the arrogance to try to force toothless to submit to his will and hearing the music crescendo and fade into silence as he finally crosses the last obstacle so that they’re standing mere inches from one another, tension built on years of bad blood between their two races, so immense it’s almost like a physical barrier, separating them, and after what feels like forever toothless presses his nose gently into hiccup’s outstretched palm and it fits perfectly like it was made solely for that specific purpose, and feeling all the hairs on your neck stand up and a stifling sensation that brought actual tears to your eyes rise in your throat as it touched something profound and full of unspeakable yearning inside you

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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Me and my sibling can go from

to

in like three seconds

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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queer as in gay but also queer as in unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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me watching literally anything: hm not as good as How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

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justendlesslyscrolling · 3 years ago

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List of newsies resources masterpost:

Hi! So I made out a list of general resources and information I usually use while researching newsies that I thought I would share. If anyone would like to send me any more videos, essays or information of importance to add to this list, do!! Please note, this list is constantly updating.

Newsies scripts

Newsies 1992 script

Newsies stage script & sheet music

Newsies jr. edition script

Newsies 1991 revised script

The original "Hard Promises" script (the original when newsies wasn't going to be a musical. A LOT was changed in the rewrites)

Newsies books, merch and info

Newsies production handbook

Newsies 1992 novelization by Jonathan Fast

Newsies promotional paper (1992) collected and posted by @queenofbrooklyn

The original North American VHS cover of Newsies

Newsies press kit booklet collected and posted by @queenofbrooklyn

2011 Papermill Playhouse Program by @letter-from-the-refuge

2011 Papermill Playhouse audience guide by @letter-from-the-refuge

The Big Bad Book of Newsies by the Bryan Denton Worshipers

A UK version of one of the Newsies theatrical posters, where it was originally released as “The Newsboys” posted by @queenofbrooklyn

Listing of characters

List of Newsies characters (both movie and stage) by @newsiepedia

A list of "who's whosies" from the film made by @letter-from-the-refuge

A guide to the stage characters

A guide to the film characters

Trading cards photos and their bios

Newsies historical research

"Kids on strike!" novel by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Some things we know about the real Kid Blink, part one by @newsieshistory

"Mapping out newsies" essay made by @letter-from-the-refuge

Notes on the Refuge made by @newsiesquare

Newsboys information Google drive made by @newsboys-of-1899

How the Newsboy’s Strike of 1899 Was Reported on in Cities Other Than New York by @musicalhistory

The women of the newsboy strike by @newsboys-of-1899 and The Girlsies by @pioneergirlsie

Jewish Immigration and the Jacobs Family in Turn of the Century New York by @newsiesquare

Names/list of real life newsies found on @newsieshistory blog

"Kid Blink beats The World" picture book by Don Brown

Information about Jack's dime novel by @letter-from-the-refuge

Some great blogs to look at if you want a historical point of view! @newsboys-of-1899 @newsieshistory @newsiesquare @newsiesandhistory-blog

This is just a list of historical essays I find important however if anyone would like me to add anything, please add it/link it!

Interviews with the casts

Masterpost of newsies videos, particularly of the stage cast and tour interviews made by @lizzy88musicalsblog

Newsies Minute (Podcast) Interview with Michael Goorjan (Skittery) which focuses on the behind the scenes spoof horror movie they made, BDHONS

Newsies Minute (Podcast) Interview with Kevin Smets (Ten Pin)

Newsies, The Ultimate Broadway Fan Film on YouTube.

Newsies 1992 interview with Aaron Lohr (Mush), Max Casella (Racetrack), and David Moscow (David Jacobs)

D23's from the vaults: Newsies at Walt Disney studio

Max Casella - "Betting on Racetrack"

Deleted scenes and songs

List of deleted scenes (1992)

Cut songs from Newsies Paper Mill Playhouse production (2011)

"The Truth About The Moon" a cut song for Sarah sang by Dan DeLuca & Joey Barreiro

Carrying the banner deleted scene

Bloopers and observations 1992 Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

Jack's cut rope trick (1992)

Newsies gag reel

Newsies gag reel (without the age restriction) PT. 1. from @lousy-old-shrimp

David being kicked while selling - deleted scene

Behind the scenes videos

Blood Drips Heavily on Newsies Square on YouTube Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 which is a spoof horror movie made behind the scenes by the cast of newsies 1992

Newsies The Ultimate Broadway Fan Film again, I really recommend this!!

Behind the scenes (1992) videos here and here

Newsies backstage Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 on Kevin Stea's Youtube Channel (Swifty the Rake)