[Review] How to Train Your Dragon 3 (The Hidden World)

The Hidden World is the third and probably the last installment in the How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD)  franchise (YouTube.com)

TickNet.Top - (may contain spoilers, but not too much, I guarantee) The Hidden World is the third and probably the last installment in the How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) franchise. It took five years to produce and release since the last prequel in 2014. 

Going by that, a satisfying conclusion is none but to be expected, and oh boy yes, this movie delivers that. From the visual alone, this movie is so gorgeous. There are vibrant colors in some specific scenes that leave you in awe, and the action scenes are well-done with fantastic choreography. 

The music amplifies the visual in a gentle yet glorious way. This movie also explores the emotional aspect in a good way, especially related to the specific relationship between our heroes as they pass through the threat surrounding them and multiple unknown possibilities of their future. 

We can clearly see it in their expressions, and we can feel it developing throughout the movie until its climax when all of the built-up emotions are finally released to hit you a big time. HTTYD movies are always doing best in this aspect and this movie once again doesn't let go of its best feature. It is simple yet mature. 

There are also light heart-warming moments that make you at least chuckle or smile. It never tries really hard to be too comedic, but the comedic moments do deliver. Some of the best light moments can be found during Toothless and Light Fury scenes. Yes, they are adorable. 

The story is fine. We have the basic ingredients of a story of this genre. We have our heroes along with the main villain, and they end up disagreeing on things, which pushes the heroes to get out of their comfort zone. 

You may even predict where the story is going and your prediction may end up being a 100% true, even if you only watched 1 trailer of this movie. However, you won't be disappointed by it, coz you care more about the journey of getting there. 

The villain is... kinda the repetition of what we saw in the previous movie. Just another guy who hates dragons. That may be my biggest issue with this movie. 

That is why the first HTTYD is so unique because it tells a story in which the antagonist is more of a situation than a person, and by the end where that antagonist was defeated, everything changed. However, I understand that this movie needs an exact villain who introduces the main conflict. 

This movie is closed by a certain conclusion, but when you really think about it, it still kinda leaves some questions to be addressed. You will ask more "what if" and "how" questions, but you know what? Probably they won't really matter that much. The conclusion itself is pretty much rewarding, so let's just earn that. 

As a HTTYD fan who followed the story from the very beginning, I can enjoy this movie to the fullest, however for those who are skipping, they may not experience it as much as I do, especially when the release date between the movies is really wide. 

However, I can hardly nominate that as a flaw, because it is a sequel after all. All sequels have this issue, but as an audience, we are the one who decide whether it is an issue or not. In my case, I take the later decision.  

All and all, this movie is a blast from start to finish, and a decent send off to one of the most beloved animation franchises out there. It may not be perfect, but it is satisfying. With the story finally comes to a full circle, we have a solid trilogy that people can remember. 

Final verdict: 8.5 of 10.

Review by Ginanjar Putu Wijaya

Watch Trailer How to Train Your Dragon 3 (The Hidden World)