‘How to Train Your Dragon: Collector’s Edition’ 4K UHD movie review

Director Dean DeBlois adapted his popular action-packed animated franchise into a live-action blockbuster earlier this year, and it returns to dazzle in the 4K disc format in How to Train Your Dragon: Collector’s Edition (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG, 2.39:1 and 1.90:1 aspect ratio, 117 minutes, $34.98).

Highlighting an ancient time of a Viking war with mythic creatures, the epic tale plays out in and around the town of Berk and through the life of Hiccup (Mason Thames), blacksmith apprentice and son of Chieftain Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, who also voiced the animated character), as he eternally dreams of fighting dragons.

With advice from friend Gobber the Belch (Nick Frost), his father finally agrees to allow Hiccup to sign up for a dragon-fighting class where he meets fellow slayers in the making, including Fishlegs Ingerman (Julian Dennison), Snotlout Jorgenson (Gabriel Howell), the twins Tuffnut and Ruffnut Thorston (Harry Trevaldwyn and Bronwyn James, respectively) and eventual romantic interest Astrid Hofferson (Nico Parker).

Hiccup also finds in the forest and befriends an injured young dragon that he names Toothless and learns how to peacefully interact with the beast.

During his final trial, Hiccup must kill a Monstrous Nightmare dragon but tries to befriend it instead and nearly gets injured when his father angrily intercedes.

Toothless saves him but gets captured for his efforts by Stoick, who uses the shackled dragon to guide the Berk fleet to an elusive dragon’s nest and destroy the creatures forever.

However, the Vikings are sure to be destroyed when the nest reveals a massive Red Death dragon until Hiccup and his pals, riding atop their new friends, save the day.

The movie features breathtaking action scenes, joyful performances, eye-popping dragon flying moments and remains narratively reverential to the first animated film promoting a story of friendship and individuality.

Although that begs the question of whether it was necessary at all, considering the computer-generated brilliance of the original. Well, that depends.

Families being introduced for the first time to the “How to Your Dragon” franchise via this spectacle will embrace the movie while fans already immersed in its mythos will find the live-action conversion absolutely worth a look.

4K in action: Everything about this ultra-high definition experience shines thanks to the translation of an impeccable production design.

The gritty and aged cartoony universe boasts textured Viking garb, metallic weapons, carved painted shields, and ornate wood living structures situated within or around carved mountains, waterways and lush forested terrain.

The many types of dragons will thrill fans of the cartoon. All have a distinct realism due to the fine shading of their leathery skin, serrated teeth, claws, lifelike eyes and diverse wings.

Take the case of the Toothless, a black lizard-skinned, winged dragon with neon-green eyes, pink tongue and horned brow, who sleeps upside-down like a bat and breathes pink fire; or a two-headed dragon that spews green gas; or the glorious Monstrous Nightmare dragon in a perpetual state of flames.

Fans will be thrilled with the battle scenes delivered in that nearly screen-filling IMAX enveloping visual presentation, spotlighted by an opening salvo by dragons dive bombing Berk to reign destruction and spotlighted by the fire-breathing effects that explode in orangish reds on and nearly off the screen.

And, as exciting to appreciate is Hiccup actually riding Toothless in exhilarating flight sequences that may make some viewers seasick or a case of vertigo during the daring, looping trips through the clouds and strafing water and even with a panoramic moment of the neon-green northern lights cementing the deal.

And the views of the lava-loaded dragon nest surrounded by dozens of flying creatures at the end of the film provide multiple gasp moments to really appreciate the 2160p home theater experience.

Best extras: Universal immerses viewers into the creation of the film, starting with a crucial optional commentary track with the very methodical director.

Mr. DeBlois, who also wrote the screenplay, obviously loves the universe he has birthed and touches on almost every facet of the production.

He explains selecting the real Island of Berk; casting; building the town of Berk; the story; comparisons to the animated film; the challenge of creating dragons and retaining their personality; character relationships and motivations; the realism of the dragon-riding sequences; and details down to why Gobber’s prosthetic leg switches sides from the original.

Next, a generous 45-minute dive into the production explained by the director, book author Cressida Cowell and cast (an overtly passionate Mr. Butler for sure) and crew. They explore casting; the chemistry between Hiccup and Astrid; key character breakdowns; cinematography; the director’s vision; production design; and all supplemented with actor auditions, cast read-throughs and some on-set footage.

The disc’s other extras include four more featurettes (about 25 minutes total) that go behind the scenes to look at Hiccup’s first flight with Toothless; Hiccup befriending Toothless (with help from a puppeteer); costuming; the designs of Berk; and a look at the “How to Train Your Dragon” land found in Universal Epic Universe theme park in Orlando, Florida.

The streaming version of the movie, digital code included, also contains a nine-minute featurette on the visual and practical effects used to build dragons. In the footage, puppeteers work with the cast and actors riding on an animatronic dragon chest with a head on a hydraulic gimbal to get the most natural flight sequences possible.