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THIS WEEK Embassy Cinemas Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 How to Train Your Dragon 2 3D (U) 10:15, 13:45, 16:10, 18:35, 21:00 Transfomers: Age of Extinction 3D (PG) 10:00, 14:00, 17:30, 21:00 22 Jump Street (15) 10:15, 16:05, 18:40, 21:15 Maleficent (PG) 10:30, 14:00, 16:20, 18:45, 21:10 The Fault in Our Stars (12A) 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 20:50 Chef (15) 13:45, 16:05, 18:20, 20:55 Eden Cinemas St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 22 Jump Street (15) 14:05, 16:25, 18:45, 21:00, 23:20, Edge of Tomorrow (12A) 14:00, 16:15, 18:30, 20:50, 23:15, Chef (15) 14:00, 16:15, 18:35, 21:00, 23:25 The Fault in Our Stars (12A) 14:30, 18:10, 20:55, 23:35 3 Days to Kill (12A) 14:00, 16:20, 18:40, 21:05, 23:30 How to Train Your Dragon 2 3D (U) 14:05, 16:20, 18:35, 20:50 Maleficent 3D (PG) 14:00, 23:25 X-Men: Days Of Future Past (12A) 14:30, 18:00, 20:45, 23:30 Bad Neighbours (15) 14:10, 18:40, 23:20 Devil's Knot (15) 16:20, 20:55 Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (18) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:50 Blended (12A) 14:00, 16:20, 18:45, 21:10, 23:40 Transformers: Age of Extinction 3D (12A) 14:15, 16:15, 17:55, 20:00, 21:15, 23:05 Maleficent (PG) 14:15, 16:30, 18:50 Empire Cinemas Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 Transformers: Age of Extinction 3D (12A) 10:30, 13:40, 17:45, 21:10 Maleficent 3D (PG) 11:15, 13:30, 15:45, 18:00, 20:45 Simshar (12A) 11:15, 13:35, 15:55, 18:15, 20:45 How to Train Your Dragon 2 (U) 11:20, 13:35, 15:50, 18:05, 20:45 HITTING a variety of mythologi- cal storytelling sweet spots, the How to Train Your Dragon fran- chise – whose first instalment hit cinemas in 2010 – was a charming proposition from the very start. Undercutting the machismo of historical Vikings by giving us a protagonist, Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) who is a gawky black sheep among their ranks, the Dreamworks animated adaptation of the book series by Cressida Cow- ell also succeeded in endearing us to dragons: no mean feat, consid- ering how the fire-spouting flying lizards served as the embodiment of evil and wanton destruction ever since what seems to be the begin- ning of time. In short, it turned out to be a great way of telling a familiar story, because the rough Viking setting offered a nice contrast to what is otherwise a standard coming-of- age story (read: "just be yourself ") common to the mainstays of con- temporary digital animation. Five years after Hiccup managed to quell the age-old blood feud between Vikings and dragons – scoring himself a formidable (and adorable) dragon steed, Toothless, in the process – our protagonist finds himself at a crossroads, as his father, the Viking chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler) is keen to pass the baton to his physically unim- pressive but otherwise resourceful only son. Though Hiccup is reluctant to ac- cept the honour at first – thinking that his restless nature would make him an unfit leader – he is forced to make a decision when their outpost, Berk, now teeming with friendly dragons, comes under se- rious threat. Drago Bludvist (Djimon Honsou), a dragon-hunter with a link to Sto- ick's past, returns from the annals of urban – or is that animated- fantasy-Viking-epic? – legend and threatens to enslave all of the drag- ons at Berk… which, much to Hic- cup's dismay, includes his beloved Toothless. Though everyone except Hiccup (apparently also a keen diplomat- to-be) appears to be resigned to the fact that there's no way of talking Drago around, help appears from the unlikeliest of quarters… though they're actually closer to home than Hiccup could ever imagine. That this sequel retains the same charm as the original is probably down to the fact that it has some material to draw on: being based on a book series, the franchise is less likely to collapse under the weight of studio interference and committee-written scripts. It also has a secret weapon in its hangar: visual consultant Roger Deakins, whose impressive CV boasts cinematographic work for the likes of the Coen Brothers and Sam Mendes (and that includes work for James Bond outing Skyfall) – which makes him the midwife to some of the most beautifully ren- dered shots in recent mainstream cinema and which probably helped the film sustain an immersive, sumptuous look. Coupled with an inspired take on creature designs, Dean DeBlois's film (he both writes and directs) is both a heartfelt and engaging experience – funny and visually stunning, which is more than you can say about most blockbusters these days. It's also a film where 'stunt cast- ing' is less of a gimmick and more of a treat. Baruchel perhaps works a tad too hard to convince us that Hiccup is a lovably awkward hero – those of us who saw the original certainly did not need convincing – as he affects a squeaking deliv- ery that stops being cute and starts to grate soon enough. But Gerard Butler's warm, heavily accented tones go down well: the erstwhile rugged action hero (King Leonidas from '300' himself) channelling his talents into a more endearing direction. Famed Scottish-born, US-based television host Craig Fer- guson is also great as the bumbling – and probably drunken – comic relief character Gobber, while the ordinarily dignified Djimon Hon- sou is allowed to let rip as Drago. Looking like a Rastafarian – and steroid-enhanced – take on Danny DeVito's Penguin in Batman Re- turns (1992), Drago's presence is a good, menacing foil to the dragon- cuteness and camaraderie that in- fuses the rest of the film. But all attention will doubtlessly be diverted to Cate Blanchett, who voices a character much-advertised to be the feminine core of the film – and her Valka certainly adds a touch of mystery and delicacy amidst all the action. Balancing comedy with action is often a challenge, as an overarching humorous tone can sometimes kill some of the tension that is neces- sary for thrilling action scenes. But boasting a 'big bad dragon' that, in terms of design and sheer scale, could easily be a match for any of the 'kaiju' in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013), the key action set pieces have real urgency, more so because the emotional stakes are also high. Coming in the wake of that other modern fairy tale, the much-hyped but muddled Maleficent, How to Train Your Dragon 2 feels like a brisk and confident take on famil- iar tropes and archetypes: revisit- ing common ground with both clarity and creative zeal. maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 JULY 2014 35 FILM IN CINEMAS TODAY By Teodor Reljic A sequel that soars THIS WEEK ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DRAGON ★ ★ ★ ★ DINOSAUR ★ ★ ★ IGUANA ★ ★ BARNEY ★ DRAGO BLUDVIST This week's picks DRAMA NYMPHOMANIAC VOL. II The continuation of Joe's sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adulthood, obsessions and what led to her being in Seligman's care. Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard. ROMANCE THE FAULT IN OUR STARS Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them – and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. The Fault in Our Stars, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love. Starring: Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. COMEDY CHEF When Chef Carl Casper suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife, his friend and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen—and zest for life and love. Starring: Jon Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo and Sofia Vergara. Friends forever: Toothless and Hiccup face a serious threat in this spirited sequel to 2010's How To Train Your Dragon HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (U) ★ ★ ★ ★