In a world of remakes and underwhelming films, every once and a while, a movie breaks from that stereotype and rises to the occasion, truly setting it apart. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World did just that, and more, in the latest and final installation of the series.
Ever since the first How to Train Your Dragon movie hit theaters in 2010, I have truly loved the storytelling, complex world, and beautiful animation of these films. Ever a lover of a good, well-written fantasy, how could I not? The endearing story of a forbidden friendship forged in adversity truly warmed my heart. The second movie only continued to carry the mantle of the first, and so, with the knowledge that the third was indeed the final chapter in a film trilogy, I knew that it was most likely going to be very good, a little emotional, and well worth the cost to see it in theaters.
The Hidden world not only met those expectations, but exceeded them. Loaded with jaw-dropping animation that definitely took it up a notch from the last film, an emotionally gut-punching score, and a story of growth and life, the film truly was a treasure trove of topics to explore.
Hiccup is a character who I have truly loved, and seeing his growth over the span of three movies was truly special. I believe a lot of people my age can relate to his hesitation to embrace the unknown, and even his immediate denial of the changes rapidly coming his way. These hesitations are what directs many of his actions in the first half of this film, and bring about consequences that only make things harder for him, as well as every human and dragon who call Berk home.
The following events provide very clear hints of the greater problem at stake: Hiccup's belief that without Toothless, he is nothing, and his inability to let the dragon go. He clings to the belief that the vikings and dragons are meant to live harmoniously no matter what danger their lifestyle attracts, and that letting them go is not even an option. His desperation to hold fast to this belief is obvious, as he suggests wild concepts to keep them all together. However, this isn't just about dragons, not even about toothless. Hiccup truly doubts his ability to lead, and is often seen running away from his more 'boring' responsibilities to be with his dragon. This obviously has caused a rift between him and the others, the most obvious being between him and his love interest, Astrid. Even though she loves him, she is hesitant to marry him when he's so set in his ways.
We all can tend to avoid the things that scare us, even if it estranges us from those who truly care. And life Hiccup soon experiences, life has a way of pushing us into change, whether we like it or not. When Toothless encounters a female of his species, a natural distance begins to grow between dragon and rider. Even though Hiccup fights it at first, hopelessly believing that the wild, untamed "light fury" will somehow be content with the others in their human/dragon utopia, he soon comes to realize that nature is indeed taking its course, and he must stop fighting against it.
Ultimately, the things we love the most are the things that we must one day let go. This truth was beautifully illustrated in a touching flashback, reinforcing that love, even though it hurts, is worth embracing. Hiccup learns this through a series of harrowing encounters, battles, and near-death experiences. As long as the dragons remain with the vikings, they will always be in danger from villains like Grimmel, who was responsible for killing off the rest of Toothless's kind. It is then that Hiccup sees the truth; if he truly loves his friend, he has to be willing to say goodbye.
There is something to be said here about friendships. Life has a way of changing relationships, and as we grow, there are times that we must part ways with people, things, places, or even parts of ourselves. However, that doesn't mean that it is permanent or bad...goodbyes don't always last forever. True friendships never die, and from a Christian perspective, we know that goodbyes, however permanent they seem (such as death) aren't final. Whether in this life or eternity, we know that friendships formed by God, trials, and years of closeness aren't broken, even if life causes natural separation for a time.
The Hidden World truly was a wonderful yet tearful finale to a trilogy that proved that good storytelling still exists, even in Hollywood. Hopefully we will see more original content like this one in the future, because even though I am glad that they ended the series on a glorious note, I wasn't ready to see it end. But that's how all the best stories are, and how they should continue to be.
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