JiGerJag Speaks : How to Train Your Dragon

It is the kind of movie that warrants a "first thing in the morning" review.

Churned out by the same studio who brought us Shrek (WIN), Madagascar (too camp) and Kungfu Panda (animated Jack Black was surprisingly bearable, don't mind the pun), this juggernaut of a movie hit the sweet spots in all the right places and brought fresh life to an overused cinematic character: DRAGONS

Me Grimlock

Based on a children's book by Cressida Cowell, where others have failed, what HTTYD has done so well was quite simple: It told a great story with rich characters with a well brewed storyline and a lot of heart.

The acquaintance was a juxtapositional one. Hiccup, given his physical limitations but ingenuity, managed to capture the most fearsome and "deadly" of all dragons, the Night Fury, hence setting in motion perhaps the most endearing of relationships where we see this awesome creature play pet, learn new tricks and of course FLY.

Landings were usually the hard part

The animated movie is a treat to watch in 3D and the training sequences could rival big budget (maybe USD350 million?) films of the same genre. Be prepared for the incredible audio and visual details while you feel your heart soar through the clouds and away from the almost harsh and limiting landscape of Hiccup's world. It is a fitting metaphor for a boy who never really could fit in the world of burly Vikings (with Scottish accents though) but used his intellect as a tipping point to provide the Vikings with a fresh new perspectives of their much dreaded enemies. To quote GI Joe, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.."

I also liked the fact that I was not distracted by the "stars behind the voice". The characters were rich and engaging enough to mask the fact that there was Gerard Butler behind Stoick, Jay Baruchel behind Hiccup and America Ferrera behind Astrid. Bet you didn't even notice Jonah Hill... (wut wut who?)

Teenage angst at its very best

Kudos to Chris Sanders, whose previous work was Lilo & Stitch, for bringing to life Toothless, who has undoubtedly, won the hearts of audiences. Contrast Toothless vs. Eddie Murphy's Mushu in Mulan. Mushu must now mean "DRAGON FAIL" in Chinese.

All in all, a 4.3/5 for me and an epic WIN for Dreamworks for giving us an animated movie which doesn't try to be anything else but a great story. And as far as 3D animation movies go, this definitely set the bar high for 2010. I jump in excitement at next year's Oscar's Animated Feature nominees who would undoubtedly have a tough act to follow.

-This is a JiGerJag approved movie-

Special MobieDick thanks to JiGerJag for her contribution.

It's Oscar Night!

Hello hello boys and girls! Thought it might be fun if we have a little pick on who might be eventual winners or Epic Win for the upcoming 82nd Academy Awards for 2010. We won't take all the categories but just a few to wet your appetite. Let's see how many we can get right!

The Panel

Dahlia - Philosophical movie critic but was once overheard saying G.I Joe was "rather good".

Aprilsky - Self-confessed X-Files fan and still believes the truth might still be somewhere out there.

Shen - Movie reviewing ability has improved supremely since the discovery of spell-checker.

Best Picture

1) An Education

2) Avatar

3) The Blind Side

4) District 9

5) The Hurt Locker

6) Inglorious Basterds

7) Up

8) Serious Man

9) Up in the Air

10) Precious

Dahlia : Hurt Locker... but then again Box Office Juggernaut Avatar may just take this

Aprilsky : Hurt Locker – really want this one to win

Shen : Avatar though we all know it's going to be Hurt Locker

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - HURT LOCKER

Best Director

1) Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"

2) James Cameron for "Avatar"

3) Lee Daniels for "Precious"

4) Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air"

5) Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds"

D :Bigelow/Cameron, depending on who won Best Picture.. don't think they'd split Best Picture and Best Director up like how Bigelow and Cameron split... (score)

A : You're right – don’t see them splitting this one up hahaha

S : I take Bigelow because of the emails he sent

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - Whoever wins Best Picture will win Best Director

Best Actor

1) Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart"

2) George Clooney for "Up in the Air"
3) Colin Firth for "A Single Man"
4) Morgan Freeman for "Invictus"
5) Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker"

D : ??? - No comment/Don't Care

A : JEREMY RENNER !!! (boring la, sure jeff bridges menang)

S : Jeff Bridges for me. Didn't he win a Golden Globe?

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - JEFF BRIDGES because he's a nice guy.

Best Actress

1) Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side"
2) Helen Mirren for "The Last Station"
3) Carey Mulligan for "An Education"
4) Gabourey Sidibe for "Precious"
5) Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia"

D: Meryl Streep.. simply because its time b*tches.. though Sandra might just win.. but it'd leave a sour taste...

A : I haven’t seen a single one of those movies they got nominated for.. don’t really care.

S : Last year it was Kate Winslet and all she did was get naked...

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - Meryl Streep or the first to get naked..

Best Supporting Actor

1) Matt Damon for "Invictus"

2) Woody Harrelson for "The Messenger"
3) Christopher Plummer for "The Last Station"
4) Stanley Tucci for "The Lovely Bones"
5) Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds"

D : HANS LANDA ftw! I'll name my first born HANS LANDA if he doesn't.

A : Looking forward to see you name your first born Hans Lada.. AHAHAHAHa

S : Everyone's favourite baddie!

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - Christoph Waltz

Best Supporting Actress

1) Penelope Cruz for "Nine"
2) Vera Farmiga for "Up in the Air"
3) Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart"
4) Anna Kendrick for "Up in the Air"
5) Mo'Nique for "Precious"

D : ?? No Comment/ Don't Care

A : I'm guessing it's going to be that Mo'Nique chick from "Precious"

S : Think I should watch some of these movies first..

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE - That Mo'Nique chick from Precious

Animated Feature Film

1) "Coraline"
2) "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
3) "The Princess and the Frog"
4) "The Secret of Kells"
5) "Up"

D : Do we even care? "Up" if you must..

A : FANTASTIC MR FOX!!

S : I want Mr Fox to win but they'd probably take "Up"

MOBIEDICK SUPERCHOICE : UP up and away....

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards is live at 9am on Star Movies on 8th March 2010 (repeat at 8pm later at night).