HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON comes to life like never before. Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind the acclaimed franchise, turns his beloved animated film into a stunning live-action spectacle. 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.

For in-depth thoughts on How to Train Your Dragon, please see my colleague Lane Mills’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of How to Train Your Dragon offers a sterling presentation that deftly represents this visual spectacle. The utilization of Dolby Vision enriches the colors to incredible heights when it comes to depth and vibrancy. The various environments throughout the film are filled with bold colors within the photography from the master Bill Pope. The home entertainment presentation captures every nuance with pleasing accuracy. One of the great joys of this franchise is exploring the world on screen, and every background is a stunning treat.

The black levels are especially strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. This is especially helpful as characters find themselves in shadowy spaces. You have elements in the film taking place in the cover of darkness which are crisp and finely realized. The highlights are firmly defined with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming observed. Skin tones appear more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores and facial hair. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray presentation really delivers on all fronts including strong outings in clarity and color. Audiences are in for a good time with this release.

Audio Quality

This release comes with a triumphant Dolby Atmos presentation that consistently immerses you in this adventure. The sound design delivers an expansive experience befitting a journey such as this one with unique elements emanating from every direction. Sounds are carefully rendered with pinpoint directionality from the numerous set pieces to humanistic exchanges of dialogue. Every word is presented with the utmost clarity without ever being overwhelmed by any of the parallel sonic elements.

The score from John Powell is stirring as it washes over you. Ambient details are in full effect and are satisfying in the rear and overhead channels. These overhead channels serve to support the other channels which adds a nice sense of space to the mix. Things get especially thrilling when certain characters take flight and conflicts ensue. The narrative provides a dynamic soundscape that kicks in throughout all the speakers. The low-end response is perfectly suited to what this story needs and delivers in all respects. Those with a mighty sound system will have a new title to impress their loved ones. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Dean DeBlois provides a commentary track in which he discusses the film from both a technical and emotional perspective. There are discussions about location scouting for Berk, the casting of live-action counterparts, the visual effects work, and more.

Deleted and Extended Scenes: There are two unused scenes provided with introductions by DeBlois that total five minutes. It makes sense why they were cut to maintain a good pace, but it is great to see them here. Some of these scenes are presented in an unfinished form.

Gag Reel: A three-minute collection of flubbed lines, laughing fits, and goofing off is provided.

Love and Legacy – Making How To Train Your Dragon: A really great 46-minute making-of documentary is provided in which the cast and creative team delve into the creation of the film from the casting to the visual effects, production design, and beyond.

Building Berk: An eight-minute featurette that looks at the creation of the island of Berk including the set design, various contraptions, and more.

Dreaming Up the Dragons: A nearly nine-minute piece that tackles how the dragons were adapted into a live-action presentation.

Fit For A Viking: A five-minute look at the movie’s interpretation of Vikings, the costumes, the makeup and hairstyling, and more.

Forbidden Friendship: A nearly seven-minute look at the early version of a key sequence in the film before the special effects were brought in to bring everything to life.

Test Drive: Another nearly four-minute comparison between the in-progress version of an iconic scene and how it compares to the final form. This clip gives you more side-by-side comparisons.

Final Thoughts

How to Train Your Dragon is the type of movie that gives us a sinking feeling regarding the future of the film industry. The rise in simply translating beloved animated movies into live-action form with little regard for true creativity is bleak. With that said, the core story at play is wonderful, and such a faithful translation means that a lot of that magic shines through – even with some notable pacing issues. Gerard Butler is a standout among the performers, and he brings a necessary energy to the material. This movie did not need to be made, but if it is your first exposure to the story, you will be charmed. The animated version will always win out, though. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released the film on 4K UHD Blu-Ray which features an excellent A/V presentation and a nifty assortment of special features. Recommended

How to Train Your Dragon is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this film free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.