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How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), PG, ★★★1/2

They are about to go into battle.
It is mesmerizing that an animated film can make a moviegoer sympathetic towards the characters and the creatures because he or she cares about the story revolving around the characters. When reading the history of the Vikings, kids will care or not care whether the historical figures did place their significance in the encyclopedias or textbooks. But, in the mean time, this sequel has the rarity of becoming a good movie, actually, this sequel is a really terrific ride.

The movie opens five years later when the Viking village of Berk welcomes dragons as companions, workers and racers. Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) goes on adventures with Toothless, his pet dragon, into territories and vast regions. However, his father, Stoick (voiced by Gerard Butler), presses Hiccup to become the new chieftain, which means take on new responsibility and he questions himself and his father that is he is up for the job.

As Hiccup and Astrid (voiced by America Ferrera) investigate a wildfire that ensued in a fort, they both find a dragon trapper named Eret (voiced by Kit Harrington), who blames them for destroying his fort and tries to capture his dragon for a madman conqueror named Drago Bludvist (voiced by Djimon Hounsou). As both Hiccup and Astrid return, they both warn Berk that Drago's army is amassing and Stoick orders the villagers to prepare for battle. Stoick recalls memories between he and Drago and that he, too, agrees that he went completely bezerk.

Later, when Hiccup and Astrid return to surrender themselves and their dragons to negotiate with Drago, they are captured by a dragon rider named Valka (voiced by Cate Blanchett). Valka recognizes Hiccup, but unfortunately, Hiccup does not know who she is. As Valka responds that a mother never forgets, Hiccup is surprised that she reveals that she is his mother. In a very touching scene later in the film, Stoick finds Hiccup and he sees Valka for the first time in a while and fearing that she thinks that Stoick is going to reprimand her, he responds by complimenting her that "she is as beautiful as the day he lost her". But, war is coming, so nobody can linger around.

A family has reunited for the first time in a long time.
What an enchanting sequel to a very surprising first film that delighted me as its predecessor almost made my "best movies of the year" list that year. I was awestruck by all the dazzling animation that captures the historical and/or fictional entertainment in all of us. The filmmakers and writers and animators just let the characters tell the story and at times, I thought it was from a novel. In my opinion, I think that is a compliment to the DreamWorks department.

This latest installment from Dreamworks is better than the recent films from Pixar. It tries to go beyond the limit and when the film gets exciting, it soars. The movie, however, is a little darker for an animated movie, maybe a little more than The Lion King and Bambi because there is one sad event that happens and it impacts the remainder of the film and possibly the series. I have no doubt there will be a third film. The movie is emotionally resonant and sophisticated that kids and even, adults will enjoy this film. Don't miss it!

***1/2

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