Review: 'How To Train Your Dragon 2'

Dreamworks and Pixar seem to be the two leading studios in computer animation these days. And both have very different, albeit unique, styles as well. When you look at a Pixar movie, you can almost tell that there is a Disney-like quality to the characters. With Dreamworks, they've basically started from scratch. So I guess, in some ways, that makes them significant.

With Dreamwork Animation's latest film, 'How To Train Your Dragon 2', they've proved themselves to be one of the best there is when it comes to family entertainment today. Not only is their animation at the highest peak it's ever been, with some of the most realistic looking earthly elements (ice, water, fire, smoke), they've managed to not lose track of the characters we grew to love from the first movie, which are why we're here in the first place. Of course, there are fun sweeping action and adventure sequences, but occasionally there are some fairly tender moments as well, bringing a deeply human element to these cartoon creations.

Once again on the animation, it is so good that there moments that made me think if really was looking at either animation or something real. Just one example, very simple yet effective; When characters walk out from shadows into light, and vice versa, it feels like they're really there. Their motions are similar to that of a real flesh and blood being, with only the occasional cartoonish fluctuations and movement. 

I also would like to just take this moment and express how much I love the character of Toothless, the dragon. I don't believe I've ever wanted a pet dragon more in my life than I did while watching this dragon in both this film and its predecessor. He's the perfect dragon pet, if ever there was such a thing. He's loyal, gentle, and extremely playful. But also, when he needs to be, fierce and greatly protective of his owner. Toothless is both charming and cool, all in one.

How good is the movie, in comparison to the first one? I would honestly have to say that it's just as good, not better. But hey, not all sequels are better than their original. In fact, most tend to be worse. So in the case of 'How To Train Your Dragon 2', it's riding a fine line.

My rating: 3 / 4

Review: 'Chef'

Jon Favreau appears to be another one of those artists who goes with his gut and makes whatever it is he wants to make, much like his character in this movie. And if that means going from Iron Man defeating terrorists and cowboys fighting aliens, to a small movie about a struggling chef starting off fresh; then by all means, have at it. I enjoyed what I was served.

Carl Casper, played by Jon Favreau, is a chef who cooks both for the love of cooking, and for something to pay the bills. But mostly for the love of cooking. If you don't find any hint of passion in what you are doing, then what's the point of even doing it. That's what Carl comes to realize for himself. With that, he quits his job at a fine-dining restaurant, buys a food truck and starts off from scratch, cooking what he loves to cook.

The screenplay for 'Chef' feels very fresh and new in many circumstances. The characters are lovable, without being too heavy-handed. There's very few cliches involving circumstantial changes of the plot, there are no villains or so-called 'bad guys' (aside from a certain food critic). It's just a very simple yet really affective story, with some really good looking food.

I myself have worked in the restaurant business for a number of years, and a fair amount of what you see in the first half of this movie is pretty accurate, especially when it comes to the behavior of the chefs and cooks in the kitchen, when the night is hot. Jon Favreau himself said in an interview about the movie how many other movies about restaurants and chefs always look and feel all so happy-go-lucky. And he said (his words, not mine) that that was a bunch of bull$#!+. Now, I don't know if I would go so far as to say that about other movies trying to do some good. But I will agree that it's (the restaurant business) never always fun and games. It has it's down times aplenty. The best you can do is to make the most of it, and hope for something good in the end. You really could say that for just about anything in life. 

My rating: 3.5 / 4