How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)

(Psst...the "hidden world" is sex)

Time has passed, Hiccup is now the chieftain of Berg, and Toothless is ready to spread his wings in the third and final entry in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy (not counting 6 short films, 3 TV spin-offs and a live-action remake).

On the brink of war against those who would do away with all dragons, and on the lookout for a new homeland, Hiccup goes on a quest for the long-rumored secret dragon haven. Meanwhile, Toothless has found romance in a Light Fury playing hard to get. It's all about letting go, and this is Toothless's story just as much as it is Hiccup's. While it doesn't quite reach the dizzying heights of the series, it does offer a worthy parting glance for this colorful world of wonder.

3½ awkward mating rituals out of 5

The Quatermass Experiment (2005)

The film was a kind of experiment for the BBC too, being the first live TV broadcast fiction they'd made in over 20 years. The basic story is the same as before — about a rocket ship that crashes back to Earth minus some crew members after having been out of contact for a time while in space — but the production is lifeless and there's some awful dialogue throughout.

Jason Flemyng is miscast as Quatermass, and the BBC 4 budget meant that the threat is spoken about more than actually seen. On paper it's a gutsy attempt to recapture an era when TV was like theatre in the home, but a small number of interesting scenes (e.g., the drama during the press conference) aren't enough to shake the insipid feeling that pervades the majority of it.

1½ compositional changes out of 5

St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009)

It's a new term at St Trinian's, but instead of terrorising the classroom the girls are out hunting for pirate gold. It’s a ludicrous story far removed from the scholastic concerns that you'd expect to see, but somehow slightly more entertaining because of it. You could call it a kind of history lesson, I suppose.
As before, Firth and Everett kept me from slipping into unconsciousness.

2 under studies out of 5

THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS [2012]

Director Peter Lord & Aardman Animation brings Gideon Defoe's The Pirates! books to life in The Pirates! Band Of Misfits.

The colorful characters and gorgeous sets are beautifully animated with the always dazzling stop-motion technique. With a wonderful voice cast and rousing music, The Pirates! manages to entertain leaving a smile on the face from beginning to end.  It's not particularly up to par with Aardman Animation's other feature but it's still pretty darned fun.

3 monocles on monkeys out of 5

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON [2010]

Loosely based on the children's novels by Cressida Cowell, Dreamwork's animated How To Train Your Dragon soars far higher than their previous efforts.

With a fantastic combination of heart and humor Dragon flys high with bright colors, characters and some truly breathtaking flight scenes.  It suffers from a few minor bumps in the road but manages to stick close to the heart of the story.

Highly recommended for anyone who's ever fallen in love with a pet. 

4 "Fish heads. Fish heads. Eat them up. Yum" out of 5