How to Train Your Dragon

Remember when we were growing up? We were LUCKY if we got a decent animated film once a year in the ’80s and we spent most of our Saturday mornings watching total junk that now passes as nostalgia. We can say that music, film, or even literature was better when we younger. Animation? No way. Just take a look at four recent releases of the animated form that perfectly show the breadth and remarkable quality of the medium (and, yes, animation is a “form,” not a “genre.”)

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 15 free DVDs up for grabs for the highly anticipated home release of “Rise of the Guardians” from the creators of “How to Train Your Dragon”!

CHICAGO – I could (and will) watch “The Illusionist” over and over again. It is a stunning, gorgeous, mesmerizing experience. When the history books are written, I don’t think we will EVER have as strong a group of nominees in the Oscar category for Best Animated Film as we did last year when “Toy Story 3,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and “The Illusionist” stood tall. All three would have won in many other years.

CHICAGO – There are very few animated movies that look as stunning as “Tangled” does on Blu-ray. The grass of the land around Rapunzel’s tower, her infamous hair, even the leaves floating in the background — the film has a third dimension even on a standard television. It’s visually striking.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Presuming the Academy makes the logical choices, the competition for the Oscar for 2010’s Best Animated Film should feature three of the best films of the medium in many years – “Toy Story 3,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” and the least-heralded of the three, the beautiful “The Illusionist.”

CHICAGO – Every critic has a few films in their resume that they were arguably too hard on. Coming on the heels of the beautiful “How to Train Your Dragon” and the masterful “Toy Story 3,” “Despicable Me” felt a bit too thin in theaters but it plays great at home, bolstered by a spectacular Blu-ray release from Universal.

CHICAGO – “How to Train Your Dragon” is one of the best mainstream animated films of the last several years. After years of watching Pixar deservedly take home most of the critical acclaim in the medium, DreamWorks has produced a film that deserves mention in the same breath as the Pixar greats. With gorgeous visuals, strong voice work, and confident storytelling, “How to Train Your Dragon,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, works for all ages and will surely become one of the most highly-desired and purchased titles of the upcoming season.

CHICAGO – DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” is one of the best movies of the year to date; a remarkably enjoyable experience that works for children and adults and deserves to be doing even better at the box office. Don’t miss it while you still have the chance. The game that ties in with it? You can miss that.

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Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) befriends Toothless, an injured Night Fury—the rarest dragon of all. Credit: Dreamworks Animation

CHICAGO – Paramount has released cast and synopsis information along with a slate of images from their entire 2010 schedule of films, including “Shutter Island,” “She’s Out of My League,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Iron Man 2.” “Shrek Forever After,” “The Last Airbender,” “Dinner For Schmucks,” “Megamind,” and “Morning Glory”.

The man means business. On July 12, 2007, I published an interview with IMAX Filmed President Greg Foster in Time Out Chicago where he promised “the vast majority will be in 3D” down the road.