How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a well done conclusion to the nearly decade-long franchise featuring a well told, if not basic, story to go along with some beautiful animation and nice voice work by the ensemble cast.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
(2019)
Genre(s): Animation, Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Universal Pictures | PG – 104 min. – $49.98 | May 21, 2019
Date Published: 05/23/2019 | Author: The Movieman
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Universal Pictures Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
THE MOVIE — 4.0/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid (AMERICA FERRERA), Hiccup (JAY BARUCHEL) has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.
Quick Hit Review: Admittedly I’ve never been in ‘love’ with this franchise, although certainly enjoyed the previous two entries as adorably entertaining movies that the entire family can sit down and watch. This third movie,. The Hidden World, is a fitting conclusion to a franchise that never quite was a juggernaut at the box office, though still managed to take in $1.6 billion worldwide between the three. In any case, although the story wasn’t the most complex and the villain, as voiced by legendary actor F. Murray Abraham, was also weak, but effective enough. For those who have watched the How to Train Your Dragon franchise from the beginning way back in 2010, The Hidden World is probably a great finale and you probably will get a more emotional fulfillment than I did, but again, still found it to be a fun and all around enjoyable animated flick.
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SPECIAL FEATURES – 3.25/5 |
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This release comes with a glossy and embossed slip cover. Inside contains a redemption code for the Digital Copy code. All of the features are on both the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs. Audio Commentary – Writer/Director/Executive Producer Dean DeBlois, Producer Bradford Lewis and Head of Character Animation Simon Otto give a lively commentary on the making of the final film in the Dragon Trilogy breaking down the character development, story and more. DreamWorks Shorts: Bilby (8:01) and Bird Karma (4:48). Alternate Opening (3:19) – This is a different opening sequence with new introductions to the characters but ultimately not used for whatever reason. Includes an optional introduction by Dean DeBlois. Deleted Scenes (9:15) – Five scenes failed to make the cut and as with any animation, is shown in rough form. Also comes with optional intros by DeBlois. How to Voice Your Viking (1:33) – This just some footage with the cast in the recording booth. Creating an Epic Dragon Tale (4:25) – The filmmakers discuss the concept and story by the finale to the trilogy. How I Learned from Dragons (3:42) – Interviews with the ensemble cast, including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Gerald Butler, as they talk about their experience voicing the roles throughout the decade since the first film. Brave Wilderness Presents: Nature + Dragons = Awesome (7:52) are two episodes from this YouTube series looking at the realism behind some of the designs. The Dragon Sheep Chronicles (2:35) are two shorts about the sheep featured in the film. A Deck of Dragons (3:29) – This featurette is for kids with a D&D-like cards breaking down the various dragons featured in the film. Growing up with Dragons (3:34) looks at the development of the series and characters. The Evolving Character Design of Dragons (3:18) breaks down the character designs and how they changed from film to film. Drawing Dragons (3:09) – This featurette into the designs behind the dragons. Epic Villain (1:44) is a profile on the villain as voiced by F. Murray Abraham. Astrid’s Whole Dragon Trilogy in 60 Seconds (1:09) – Astrid, voiced by America Ferrera tells the story of all three movies in a minute. Welcome to New Berk (2:13) – Short featurette on the new homeland island of the Viking people. |
4K VIDEO – 5.0/5, BD VIDEO – 5.0/5 |
| Universal this go around releases How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World onto 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray presented with a 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given 2160p and 1080p high-definition transfers. No real surprise here, but animated movies generally benefit from HD transfers and while the Blu-ray does look great, the 4K is excellent, especially benefiting from the HDR where colors have incredible pops to them, especially when we get the titled “Hidden World” where there is a wide array that really comes off the screen so well. |
AUDIO – 4.75/5 |
| Both discs comes equipped with a Dolby Atmos track which sounds great. With this fantasy world which soars high in the skies, there is a good depth with every channel getting some amazing usage. Dialogue meanwhile comes through the center speaker with brilliant clarity. |
OVERALL – 4.5/5 |
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Overall, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a well done conclusion to the nearly decade-long franchise featuring a well told, if not basic, story to go along with some beautiful animation and nice voice work by the ensemble cast. The 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo pack has amazing video/audio transfers while the bonus material, while not great, was decent enough. |
The screen captures came from the Blu-ray copy and are here to add visuals to the review and do not represent the 4K video.