Review: 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

When How to Train Your Dragon went on to be a smash and rival Pixar's Toy Story 3 at the Oscars, it must have shocked Dreamworks Animation as much as it did everyone else. The studio had been around probably a lot longer than many thought, and for every creative and box office success like Shrek or Kung Fu Panda, there were numerous other retreads and copycats. Anybody remember MegaMind? Didn't think so. But sequels have proven especially difficult, with few ever coming close to matching the original. Does the string of bad luck continue with How to Train Your Dragon 2?

The answer is a resounding "No" as How to Train Your Dragon 2 is bigger and soars higher than the first and will undoubtedly be one of the year's best animated features. Dean DeBlois takes the directing reins solo this time, and rather than coasting along with what worked before he's expanded and evolved the 'Dragon' universe into someplace unpredictable and dangerous.

Five years have passed and Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is on a different sort of journey, one where he is literally charting a new world astride his dragon pal, Toothless. The rough-housing Viking village of Berk has changed more than Hiccup's slick new armor, with the townspeople living in peace with the dragons they once hated. Astrid (America Ferrera) is now firmly his woman, the people respect him (mostly), and now his father Stoic wants him to take over the role of Chief. Is he ready to handle that kind of responsibility? Does he even want to be Chief? Hiccup must again decide whether to be his own viking or follow in his father's footsteps.

The emotional throughline may be familiar, but honestly it's probably going to be a theme throughout the entire franchise, and it resonates due to a screenplay that throws many unexpected twists into the mix. On one of Hiccup's outings he encounters a group of dragon trappers led by the brash Eret (Kit Harington), who is ensnaring the creatures for Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou), a man building up an army. But while Drago's plans are for evil, Hiccup also encounters the mysterious Valka (Cate Blanchett), a hermit hidden away in an icy cave where she has created a dragon sanctuary of sorts. This isn't about changing the hearts and minds of the Berk people anymore, Hiccup must try and prevent full-scale war while also finding out the secrets to his past.

In some ways the film follows the typical path set by most follow-ups in that there are deeper questions, more characters, and bigger action in the 'Empire Strikes Back' mold. And that also means some of the humor slips into the background, or at least it seems to be relegated to Hiccup's pals (voiced by TJ Miller, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and more) who seem to be around only to appease younger viewers. That's not to say there aren't plenty of laughs, but this is definitely the dark middle chapter of a larger story, one where Hiccup again endures terrible and shocking loss that may be tough for younger audiences. We don't get to see nearly enough of Hiccup and Astrid as a couple, which would have made for a nice parallel with another romantic relationship rekindled in the film. More interesting and explored in greater detail is the bond between Hiccup and Toothless which is stronger than ever but still somewhat tenuous and easily manipulated. Drago, a villain of uncertain ethnic origin, is impressive only in his physical and mental dominion over pretty much everybody, but giving him a stronger motivation would have made an already-great film even better.

And of course the film is a visual stunner with aerial sequences that will take your breath away, and many of the dogfights (dragonfights?) have that Star Wars sizzle; you'd think they were piloting X-wing fighters. Even during the slower moments it's worth taking time to just soak up the surroundings and take in the lush colors and unique creature design. Roger Deakins (Skyfall, No Country for Old Men) had a hand in crafting the film's look and the result stands apart from anything we've seen from Dreamworks before. With heart and action to spare, How to Train Your Dragon 2 reaches incredible heights.

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Opening 5-Minutes, Clip, and Photos from 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

Dreamworks is pulling out all of the stops for this summer's How to Train Your Dragon 2, as well they should. The sequel to the surprising $490M, Oscar-nominated hit comes with a ton of anticipation and a growing franchise that includes a TV series. The studio is banking a lot on this second chapter in Hiccup's story, and so they've revealed the first 5-minutes from the film, plus a new clip and a handful of photos.

Taking place about five years after the first film, and finds Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) still inseparable from his loyal dragon, Toothless. That is until they discover a new land and a cave inhabited by dozens of never-before-seen dragons led by the mysterious Dragon Rider. The opening minutes basically catch us up on what's been going on, while the clip shows many of the characters engaging in a Quidditch-style game atop their dragons.

Featuring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, TJ Miller, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harington,  How to Train Your Dragon 2 takes off on June 13th.

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Review: 'Cesar Chavez' Starring Michael Pena, Rosario Dawson, and John Malkovich

Michael Pena has spent years as one of Hollywood's most reliable character actors, always playing second fiddle to bigger-named stars who don't always have his ability. In the rare times he's been thrust in leading roles, such as in military drama The Lucky One and the cop thriller End of Watch, Pena has proven himself an actor capable of incredible sensitivity and reserves of strength. Both of those qualities come into play in the biggest role of his career, playing activist Cesar Chavez in Diego Luna's sophomore directorial effort.

Pena's performance as the charismatic union leader towers over the film itself, which sadly is too small in scope and formulaic to properly portray Chavez's influence. It's an oddly constructed biopic, one that begins well into Chavez's activism, but without giving us the proper context for it. What drove him to be the man he is when we first meet him? Picking up just as he and his wife Helen (America Ferrera) have gathered up their army of kids and moved to Delano, California, it jumps right into Chavez's fight to secure better working conditions for grape-picking migrant workers.

And so the film takes a fairly linear, undramatic approach to Chavez's battle against the powerful employers, local racists, and corrupt cops looking to squash his little rebellion. Things start off small, with Chavez and his loyal lieutenant Dolores Huerta (Rosario Dawson) merging their small Mexican outfit with the Filipino workers who are in a similarly tough situation. They want better wages and safer working conditions, going on a 5-year strike using a path of non-violent resistance. It's an approach not all within Chavez's group would support, and he battled aggressive internal forces as much as external. To further champion his peaceful cause, Chavez would go on a 25-day hunger strike, putting his life at risk. It's a powerful act of self-sacrifice, and Pena perfectly embodies Chavez's commitment, but we never get a proper sense of how big the stakes are. We see the small victories against local and national wineries, most notably against the scheming Bogdanovich (John Malkovich), but where is the point where Chavez faces a genuine set back? Where is the point where the movement seems devastated beyond repair? Chavez's story is filled with moments such as these but they are barely addressed here, and it seems as if success is preordained. Also in need of a more thorough examination are his strained familial relationships. His wife worries about his safety while also throwing herself in harm's way, and Chavez struggles to connect with a son who has grown resentful.

Pena's understated performance is perfectly in sync with Luna's subtle direction, echoing the minimalist political dramas of Pablo Larrain. It's a competent step in this phase of Luna's career, but the film's low aspirations and unwillingness to show any flawed aspects of Chavez's character doom it to the realm of so-so biopics. Even so, Pena deserves any and all accolades that come his way. Hopefully this will lead to him getting more opportunities to shine.

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Michael Peña Gets Serious in New Trailer for 'Cesar Chavez'

The long-awaited trailed for Cesar Chavez is finally here and looks to be a role that star Michael Peña will leave a powerful impression on. Peña plays the title character, based on the true story of the Mexican-American activist who led the Delano grape strike in the 1960s that lasted five years and he helped fight for the rights of farms workers. Chavez earned the support of Robert Kennedy when he went on a 25-day hunger strike in 1968. 

You can check out the first trailer for the movie below! The film also stars America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson, John Malkovich, Gabriel Mann, and Jacob Vargas and is directed by Diego Luna. It's set to hit theaters March 28. 

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New Trailer for 'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

Hard to believe by the time Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon 2 takes to the skies it will have been four years since the $500M hit took Hollywood by surprise, posing one of the first real challenges to Pixar's dominance.  No time was wasted in taking advantage, growing the franchise with video games, a Cartoon Network series, ice shows, and of course plans for a pair of big screen sequels to make a complete trilogy. Whether or not the magic can be recaptured is unclear, but the latest trailer suggests the film will be much bigger than before.

Jay Baruchel is back to voice the Hiccup, who is older and maybe not so much wiser, still riding high with his dragon buddy, Toothless. The discovery of an undiscovered land with new and exotic dragons sets off a battle to restore peace, with Cate Blanchett coming aboard to voice a mysterious dragon tamer, who sort of resembles Diane Fossey of Gorillas in the Mist. Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig and Christopher Mintz-Plasse are back, along with other new additions Djimon Hounsou and Kit Harington.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 opens June 20th 2014.


How To Train your Dragon 2 by itsartmag

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Mimosas and dirty bombs in the hilarious trailer for 'It's a Disaster'

Sometimes a nuclear disaster is the least of your concerns. It looks like two of the most promising comedies of the year both have to do with people having to put up with one another's quirks while a potential apocalypse goes on right outside the door. The first is obviously the star-studded This is The End with Seth Rogen and his pals. The other is Todd Berger's ensemble comedy, It's a Disaster.

It always sucks to be the new guy in a room full of old friends, and that's where David Cross finds himself in this film. He plays the new boyfriend to Julia Stiles, who invites him to a regular couples' brunch with her friends, only for him to feel terribly out of place, as one might expect. It's clear each couple have a mountain of uncomfortable issues to deal with, which manifests in increasingly awkward ways, only for them to learn that there's a real life-threatening disaster taking place outside. So basically they're stuck with one another for awhile.

The cast is terrific, and the buzz on this one from the festival circuit has been strong. I can't wait for this one. It's a Disaster hits VOD on March 5th, then theaters on April 12th. Grab a mimosa and enjoy the trailer....


It's A Disaster Trailer 1 (VO HD) by Rabusu

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Diego Luna taps Michael Pena to play Cesar E. Chavez in his directorial debut

Although Michael Pena has had a very busy year, appearing in Battle: Los Angeles, 30 Minutes or Less, Tower Heist, The Lincoln Lawyer, and the upcoming Gangster Squad, none of those roles I think adequately convey how great he truly is.  For a better example of what he can do, one would have to look back at 2008's The Lucky Ones, in which he plays a returning soldier facing an uncertain reunion with his love. It's an amazing performance which unfortunately has gone mostly unseen. but hopefully Pena is about to get the recognition he has so long deserved.

Variety reports he'll play civil rights and labor activist Cesar E. Chavez in the directorial debut from Diego Luna(Y tu Mama Tambien). Titled simply Chavez, the film will chronicle his work in the 60s and 70s, which included organizing the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history. His birthday on March 31st is celebrated in California as a state holiday.  America Ferrera(Ugly Betty) will play Chavez's wife, with Rosario Dawson as his top aide, Dolores Huerta.  If you're wondering where to find Luna's frequent on-screen partner, Gael Garcia Bernal, he's listed as one of the film's producers.

The script comes from Hotel Rwanda scribe, Keir Pearson, even more reason to believe this may be Pena's first real shot at some awards love. Filming begins in Mexico next month, so it may even be ready by the end of the year.

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