FILM REVIEW: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (PG) ESP RATING: 3.5/5

Though the pacing may test younger viewers – this Dragon still soars!

This live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon probably lends itself more to older kids – maybe aged eight or above – as it stays very close to the inaugural source material.

The film takes us back to the island of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have long been at war. Our unlikely hero, Hiccup (played with warmth by Mason Thames), doesn’t quite fit the mould of a traditional Viking. But when he encounters Toothless, a rare and feared Night Fury dragon, he does the unthinkable – he listens.

What follows is a bond that challenges everything his village has been taught to believe. It's a familiar story to those who loved the highly-acclaimed 2010 animated movie, and it’s great to see Gerard Butler reprise his role as Stoick the Vast, lending a sense of continuity to the remake. Nico Parker brings a grounded, confident energy to Astrid, and Nick Frost fits comfortably into the role of Gobber.

Notably, Dean DeBlois – the director of the three previous animations – returns to helm this version, marking a rare instance where the same filmmaker guides both the animated and live-action takes. His touch is definitely felt in the emotional ‘beats’.

Visually, the film is stunning. The dragons look fantastic, the flight scenes are thrilling, and Berk is beautifully realised in real life. There’s a lot of craftsmanship on display, and the world feels rich and immersive.

But the pacing is where the film starts to wobble a bit. At around thirty minutes longer than the original, it can drag in parts (particularly during the second act). My six-year-old son, who’s usually completely locked in for this kind of story, actually turned to me halfway through and said he wanted to leave.

To the film’s credit though, it quickly won him back, and the third act left him genuinely mesmerised. Seeing other younger viewers getting restless as well, it’s fair to say this version is definitely better suited for the more mature child.

Overall, the heart of the story is very much intact, and while it doesn’t quite capture the same magic as the original, it still holds up well enough on its own merits. If you can look past some pacing issues, it’s well worth your time.

Whether it was ultimately ‘necessary’ – with Dreamworks pulling off a Disney-style live-action ‘cash-in’ – will still be open to debate.

ESP Rating: 3.5/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn & Peter Serafinowicz

Running Time: 2 Hrs 5 Mins

Director: Dean Deblois

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk