How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, mini movie review

Rating: A

I've seen How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, the third and final installment in the How to Train Your Dragon series, twice now.  Loved it equally both times.  The second time I went with my nieces and nephew, and they loved it.  They sat still the whole movie, watching with great interest!  My toddler niece, who I worried would get scared, didn't, and when we got back to the house she found a dinosaur toy that was suddenly flying everywhere, eating things, so I think she got what was going on.

Our heroes from the first movie are growing up, no longer kids in training.  They're dragon masters, understanding the intricacies of behavior and nuance of personality in these majestic creatures.  Hiccup and his friends are leaders in a society that no longer fears dragons, but embraces, their home remarkably different from what we saw nearly a decade ago.  (The first movie came out in 2010).  But there are still dragon hunters, and Toothless, plus the now dragon haven, are worth destroying.  A new home must be found for the dragons and those who love them.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is such a wonderful way to end a series.  I'm sad to see its closure, but loved the way plots and situations ended, but I'm getting ahead of myself!

The Hidden World is a feast of sight and sound.  The visuals in the movie, especially a moment I don't want to spoil, is simply beautiful.  And the music!  It's been such a long time since I've seen a movie where the music stood out and made me listen, not in a distracting way, but in a way that invited me into the scenes, complimenting the action and movement.  The song "Third Date" is a wonderful track, hearkening to the first movie where Toothless and Hiccup meet, only this time Toothless is going all bird of paradise courtship on us with a potential lady love.  It's a good scene.

At the heart of Hidden World, and the whole trilogy as a whole, is a really beautiful story of friendship.

If you haven't seen How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, then you really need to see it.  Do you need to see the first two movies?  Maybe not, but seeing them, no, you do.  Seeing all the movies is worth it.  These movies have a nice arc, growth, and story.

MPAA: Rated PG for adventure action and some mild rude humor.

Enoshima Island, Iwaya Caves and Tide pools, Japan

 On the far side of Enoshima is the Iwaya Caves and Tide Pools.

From Cathy T on Trip Adviser:

"The caves themselves are interesting if you know the folklore and history of the island. Monks once worshipped here and the whole island of Enoshima was considered a holy site. Shogun and samurai came to pay respects. There is even a legend that the caves go all the way to Mount Fuji. The sound of the waves and air entering the caves can sound like a dragon's roar during storms. The Island was said to have been created by the goddess Benzaiten to protect villagers from a dragon. The dragon fell in love with her and stopped causing havoc. You will see dragons all over the island and in the caves as well."

 There are two connecting caves, both quite small, costing around 500 yen for both.  I got the Eno-pass at the beginning of our Enoshima adventure at the visitors center which cost 1,000 yen for everything on the island, including the caves.

 On the way to the caves.

 As you get deeper in the cave you're handed a paper lantern with tea candle to light your way.  It creates a really nice affect and feel, adding to the ominousness of the caves, adding to the lore.

 As we slowly inched our way towards the dragon, not really knowing what was at the end of this cave, there was the loud thumping of a drum echoing through the caves, like the ticking of a slow clock.

We each took our turn, banging the drum, seeing if there would be two flashes of light, indicating our dreams would come true.

 The tide pools, full of crabs and other curiosities.

On the boat, which cost 400 yen, heading back to the mainland.

Enoshima, it was fun.  We'll definitely come back.

A true highlight of our trip.