Latest news with #dragons
Khaleej Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Chinese film 'Ne Zha 2' is a lesson in resilience and beautiful animation
There's just something about an underdog story that works. It'll always begin in cringe fashion, of course, seeing someone being bullied by the world. But seeing them rise above the criticism, finding that kernel of truth that steadies them and lets them take on the naysayers and win, that is worth the wait. Like in Ne Zha 2, a sequel to the 2019 movie Ne Zha that has been in the making for many years. In this chapter, demon orb reincarnate Nezha and his best friend, Ao Bing (spirit orb incarnate) are suffering the effects of their previous battle and trying to rebuild their bodies using the power of the sacred lotus. Of course, things go wrong and now Nezha 2.0 (Nezha's body, shared by his and Ao Bing's spirit) must embark on a mission to retrieve a potion that will give the spell a second chance. They have a seven-day deadline in which to win this drink. While they are away – and undergoing their own trials to get this potion – their home, Chengtang Pass, is being held hostage by Ao Bing's father. Who also happens to be the jailor of a purgatory holding three vicious dragons dying (and scheming) to get out. And, of course, there's an ancient evil that no one saw coming who will make its presence known. In true Shonen-style storytelling – think Naruto, Ichigo in Bleach – there's plenty of fighting, comic storytelling, and themes of friendship that overcomes all odds. Oh, and self-improvement; epigenetics always wins in this scenario. Ne Zha has been brought up with love, affection, and parents who believe in being morally right. So, no matter the obstacle he faces and what his knee-jerk reaction is as the demon orb (kill everyone), he will overcome his own baser instincts and be victorious. The movie is based on the ancient Chinese book The Investiture of the Gods, and has been animated in stunning style over a period of five years, according to the Shenzhen Government Online, by more than 4,000 dedicated animators who worked on 1,948 special effects shots. Some 138 Chinese animation companies worked on the project, and it shows. Even during the most terrifying of moments on the big screen, you can't ignore the beauty of the illustrations. There's also a moment of transformation, when Nezha absorbs a tonne of power – leading to a Dragon Ball Guku-like transformation, complete with long, floating hair. Be warned though, while there is some slapstick comedy and some heart-rending moments, there are also some instances of scatological humour – if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to be prepared with a paper bag (you know, just in case). All-in-all though, the tale of grit and the power of family (and logic) is not just entertaining, it also asks you how you want to live your life and pushes the idea that while it may be tough to be true to yourself, it is the only way to be.
Geek Vibes Nation
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Universal Announces 4K UHD Blu-Ray Release Date For Live-Action Reimagining Of 'How To Train Your Dragon'
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that they will be releasing the breathtaking re-imagined live-action epic How to Train Your Dragon on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on August 12, 2025. The film is currently available on Digital platforms. The film comes from director Dean DeBlois, and it stars an all-star cast including Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz with Nick Frost and Gerard Butler. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray release will feature Dolby Atmos audio and more than 75-minutes of bonus content including deleted scenes, a gag reel and making of vignettes that dive deeper into the cutting-edge visual effects, elaborate character transformations, and iconic story that bring the Isle of Berk, the dragons and Vikings to life with jaw-dropping realism. Get more details below! Synopsis: On the Isle of Berk, Vikings and dragons have battled for generations, but that won't stop Hiccup (Mason Thames), the son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), from building an unlikely bond with the feared dragon, Toothless. With an ancient evil threatening their worlds, it's up to Hiccup, Toothless, and their courageous companion Astrid (Nico Parker) to make the realm realize they're stronger together, and only through friendship and bravery can they overcome the challenges of a high-flying adventure. BONUS FEATURES ON DIGITAL, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY AND DVD: Deleted Scenes with Introductions by Writer/Director Dean DeBlois Gag Reel Love and Legacy: Making HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – Go behind the scenes to see how the beloved characters and intricate fantasy world were brought to the live-action medium. – Go behind the scenes to see how the beloved characters and intricate fantasy world were brought to the live-action medium. Building Berk – Walk onto the set of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and take in the scale, detail, and heart that went into building Berk. – Walk onto the set of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and take in the scale, detail, and heart that went into building Berk. Dreaming Up the Dragons – A glimpse at the technology, artistry, and imagination involved in bringing life-like dragons to the screen. – A glimpse at the technology, artistry, and imagination involved in bringing life-like dragons to the screen. Fit for a Viking – Witness the elaborate transformations the cast made to embody the Vikings we see in the film. – Witness the elaborate transformations the cast made to embody the Vikings we see in the film. Forbidden Friendship with Introductions by Writer/Director Dean DeBlois – Watch Mason Thames perform the full Forbidden Friendship sequence with a puppeteer in the early stages of creating one of the film's most iconic scenes. – Watch Mason Thames perform the full Forbidden Friendship sequence with a puppeteer in the early stages of creating one of the film's most iconic scenes. Test Drive with Introduction by Writer/Director Dean DeBlois – Hold on tight as we join Hiccup on his first flight with Toothless, and see the various elements that came together to construct the thrilling scene. – Hold on tight as we join Hiccup on his first flight with Toothless, and see the various elements that came together to construct the thrilling scene. Exploring the Isle of Berk at Epic Universe – Explore HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – Isle of Berk and discover an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist together in harmony. – Explore HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – Isle of Berk and discover an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist together in harmony. Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Dean DeBlois Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
Forbes
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Live-Action ‘How To Train Your Dragon' Gets Streaming Date, Report Says
Mason Thames in "How to Train Your Dragon." How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of the 2010 animated hit starring Mason Gerard Butler, Mason Thames and Nico Parker, is reportedly coming soon to digital streaming. Written and directed by the 2010 animated version's director Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon, opened in theaters on June 13. The summary for the film reads, 'On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Thames) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. 'With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (Parker) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.' How to Train Your Dragon is expected to be released on digital streaming via premium video on Demand on Tuesday, July 15, according to When to Stream. While the streaming tracker is typically accurate with its PVOD reports, When to Stream noted that How to Train Your Dragon's studios DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have not announced or confirmed the release date and it is subject to change. When How to Train Your Dragon arrives on PVOD, it will be available for purchase or rent on a variety of digital platforms, including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube. Prime Video already has How to Train Your Dragon up for preorder for $29.99, which will also be the film's digital purchase price. Since PVOD prices are generally $5 than purchase prices, viewers can expect to rent How to Train Your Dragon for 48 hours for $24.99. How Was 'How to Train Your Dragon' Received By Audiences And Critics? How to Train Your Dragon soared to a monster opening at the domestic box office, earning $84.6 million in its first Friday to Sunday frame. To date the film has earned $224 million domestically and $592.9 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $516.9 million. According to Deadline, How to Train Your Dragon had a $150 million production budget before prints and advertising. How to Train Your Dragon earned a 77% 'fresh' rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 228 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, 'Crafted with loving fidelity to the animated classic by original co-director Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon doesn't best the first iteration but still reaches enchanting heights of its own.' In addition, the film earned a 97% 'fresh' score on RT's Popcornmeter based on 10,000-plus verified user ratings. The RT audience summary for the film reads, 'With a lovable cast of characters sure to spark plenty of laughs and a heartfelt story that pulls at the heartstrings, How to Train Your Dragon may just be the best live-action adaptation yet.' Rated PG, How to Train Your Dragon is expected to be released on PVOD on July 15.
CBC
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
How a run-in with a giant eel influenced Cressida Cowell's bestselling book series
How to Train Your Dragon is one of the most successful children's franchises of all time, spanning books, animated movies and a new live-action remake that just hit the big screen. With its focus on mythical fire-breathing creatures, this fantasy series might seem as far from reality as you can get. But author Cressida Cowell, the creator of the original book series, says a lot of the story was inspired by her real-life childhood experiences. Growing up in the 1970s, Cowell spent every summer holiday roughing it with her family on a remote Scottish island without electricity. Her father, a businessman, was an avid outdoorsman who took every opportunity to live off-the-grid in nature. "His heart was in the wilderness," Cowell tells Q guest host Gill Deacon in an interview. "Every year from when I was a baby, we would be dropped off on this uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland and picked up again two weeks later." When Cowell was nine, her dad built a house on the island so their family could vacation there all summer. She remembers him telling her stories about the Vikings who had once invaded the area. This gigantic six-and-a-half foot conger eel was writhing around in the lobster pot. "This was Viking Scotland, basically, it was the first place the Vikings came to when they invaded Great Britain and it was the last place they left," she says. "Lots of the stories from the islands … were about dragons because Vikings thought that dragons were real." One day, while out fishing with her dad, Cowell had a surprise encounter with a real-life monster. "My dad put this lobster pot over the side and he jumped back on the boat and this gigantic six-and-a-half foot conger eel was writhing around in the lobster pot," she says with a laugh. "He had to tie it to the back of the boat because he couldn't take it on, you know, these things are huge! … You can see why Vikings believed that dragons were real." The author says her relationship with her father, whom she describes as being "fearless," is very much reflected in her books. Cowell has just released a new spin-off novel, How To Train Your Dragon School: Doom of the Darkwing, which is out now.
Asharq Al-Awsat
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Movie Review: ‘How to Train Your Dragon' Might Have Just Redeemed the Live-Action Adaptation
Ever wanted to soar through the skies on the back of a friendly dragon? The new 'How to Train Your Dragon' may be the ticket, from a decidedly safer, though possibly still vertigo-inducing, distance. This live-action adaption of the underdog adventure story sends the audience cascading through the clouds with the teenage Viking boy Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless. It's the kind of immersive sensation and giddy wish fulfillment that might just have you forgetting momentarily to breathe and, maybe more importantly, that you're still in a movie theater. Credit to veteran cinematographer Bill Pope, no stranger to fantasy worlds, whether it's 'The Matrix' or 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.' 'How to Train Your Dragon' doesn't stray far from the original, from shots to story beats. Gerard Butler once again plays Berk's Chief Stoick the Vast. The new Hiccup, actor Mason Thames, even sounds a bit like Jay Baruchel. But unlike so many live-action remakes of animated films, it also doesn't feel superfluous, or, worse, like a poor imitation of its predecessor that trades the magic of animation for photorealism. Perhaps that's because filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who made the three animated films, stayed in the director's chair. Who better to kill their darlings than the one who brought them to the screen in the first place? And, crucially, to know where live-action might actually enhance the fabric of the world created by author Cressida Cowell. It helps that dragon technology has come a long way since, say, 'DragonHeart.' These fire-breathing CG creatures feel disarmingly real. And though it might look like 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Game of Thrones,' the tone stays light enough for younger filmgoers. There are a few intense sequences, but none that takes it any further than the animated film did 15 years ago. 'How to Train Your Dragon' does start a little slow, however, which is odd because it also begins with a fiery battle between the Vikings and the dragons on the Isle of Berk. There's a lot of exposition and introduction that needs to happen before you can just give yourself over to the story. In this more multicultural version, the warriors on Berk have been recruited from tribes around the globe to try to defeat the dragons. Hiccup is a Viking nepo baby. As the chief's son, he sits in a place of privilege, but he's also a general outcast in this world of ruthless warriors — skinny and weak, he just longs to be part of the action, not sharpening the weapons. Killing dragons is currency in this society, and his crush Astrid (Nico Parker) happens to be one of the most promising up-and-comers. His sole champion is Gobber (a delightful Nick Frost), the blacksmith and dragon slayer teacher, who convinces the chief to give the clever Hiccup a shot. The film finds its internal engine when Hiccup finds Toothless, the wide-eyed 'Night Fury' dragon whom he can't bring himself to kill. Instead, he decides to study this discovery, who he finds is not nearly as fearsome as everyone assumes. 'How to Train Your Dragon' teaches empathy and ingenuity without a sermon. Thames, a teenager himself, is the perfect embodiment of adolescent awkwardness and boldness. You can have all the cute dragons you want, but the audience would be lost if the human conduit to the relationship isn't up to the task. Butler seems to be having a good time, resplendent in fur and chest-thumping ideas about ancient duties. And Parker gives Astrid a relatable depth — the best in the bunch who is outshone in an unequal fight. Kids deserve movies that are made on the biggest possible canvas. 'How to Train Your Dragon' is one that's worth the trip to the theater. It might just spark some young imaginations, whether it's to go back and read the books or dream up their own worlds. And, chances are, no one is going to be yelling 'chicken jockey.'
