We have waited years to see a live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie, and it does not disappoint. Of course, you’ll still want to make sure the movie is suitable for your children.
One of the issues with live action is that the injuries in fight scenes can end up looking more realistic. This can put a lot of parents off, especially when it’s fight scenes that involve dragons. Sure, they’re CGI’d in, but graphics are getting extremely realistic now.
How to Train Your Dragon doesn’t change too much from the original animated movie. The great thing about this is that you know what to expect in terms of language, nudity, and more.
How to Train Your Dragon age rating: Explaining the PG rating
There’s great news for those who loved the animated movie and want to see the live-action. It’s rated PG, which means that it is suitable for the kids. Of course, you want to know the breakdown of what makes up that age rating, especially when it comes to the violence and gore shown on screen.
Sex & nudity: There is none of this throughout the movie. Like with the animated version, there are a couple of cute kisses between Astrid and Hiccup, but the focus is on the bond formed between Hiccup and Toothless.
Violence & gore: There are some battle scenes, with the dragons coming to the village and setting fire to things. We also see the teens in the arena, facing off against dragons. However, there is no gore shown, as the focus is on surviving and learning more about the dragons.
There is a little more to one scene from the animated movie, in particular, when we see the group of Vikings go into the foggy area. In the animated movie, we only see the fire from the outside, but in the live-action movie, we get to see what’s under the water and how the Vikings are attacked.
Yes, Hiccup loses his foot just like in the original movie, but it’s not shown on screen. We see him with the metal foot at the very end, but there are no gruesome injuries. The most that is shown are the holes to the wings of a dragon in the end battle scene.
Language: As a PG movie, the language is tame throughout. There are a few comments of “Oh Gods,” or “Devil show us the way to Hell,” but these are mild uses of swearing throughout, and they connect to the Norse gods rather than a Christian one.
Alcohol & drugs: There is no use of either throughout the movie.
Overall verdict: Who is How to Train Your Dragon live action appropriate for?
If you’re looking for a movie to take the kids to, this is the one for you. It’s a great adaptation of the animated movie, not changing too much and continuing to immerse us into the world of dragons and Vikings.
There are a couple of frightening scenes, but for the most part, kids are going to be entertained. After all, they know the story already!
How to Train Your Dragon is out in theaters now.