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How to Train Your Dragon is set to release this weekend, marking the first time Universal Studios has done a live-action remake of one of their animated films. The original was released in 2010 and quickly became one of the most popular franchises for the studio. However, audiences are very used to live-action remakes thanks to Universal’s competitor, Disney. The Walt Disney Company has released over 20 live-action remakes over the years with varying success. Universal may have struck gold by waiting. The movie is already beating many of the live-action Disney remakes in one key metric.
How to Train Your Dragon Critic Score
On Rotten Tomatoes, How to Train Your Dragon currently sits at 80% based on 80 reviews. While this number may fluctuate a little after the release this weekend, this is likely the range it will be in. That score puts it as one of the best live-action remakes ever made, trouncing many of Disney’s offerings. Only two Disney live-action remakes have a higher score on Rotten Tomatoes: Cinderella (84%) and Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book (94%). How to Train Your Dragon doesn’t just beat the rest. It is far and away a better-reviewed movie than many of Disney’s offerings. Here is a sampling of some of their Rotten Tomatoes scores.
- Alice in Wonderland – 50%
- Maleficent – 54%
- Alice Through The Looking Glass – 29%
- Beauty and the Beast – 71%
- Christopher Robin – 73%
- Dumbo – 46%
- Aladdin – 57%
- Lion King – 51%
- Lady and the Tramp – 67%
- Mulan – 71%
- Pinocchio – 27%
- The Little Mermaid – 67%
- Mufasa – 57%
- Snow White – 39%
- Lilo And Stitch – 69%
Disney has rushed to remake their animated classics while Universal has hung back until now. How to Train Your Dragon looks to be carefully crafted to be true to the story, while updating the look and the story slightly. Even Disney’s successes have come with criticism. Lilo and Stitch has been a box office success, but many of the fans of the original have criticized the filmmakers for changing the ending.
What Are People Loving?
How to Train Your Dragon has been billed as an almost shot-for-shot remake. While this has been a criticism for some, in this case, it seems like a strength. The newness comes from the fleshing out of some of the characters and the stunning visuals that make the Islands of Berk feel even more real. The filmmakers also know what made the original so popular. Toothless and Hiccup share a unique bond that audiences fell in love with 15 years ago. That relationship isn’t changing in the 2025 version.
Final Thoughts
It will be interesting to see what How to Train Your Dragon does at the box office this weekend. The success of Lilo and Stitch means the appetite for movies, especially ones that trigger a feeling of nostalgia, is there. If it continues to get good reviews, it could climb the Rotten Tomatoes rankings for best live-action film ever.
More must-reads:
- These 25 horror films were based on true stories
- 'Fantastic Four' star Michael Chiklis shares his thoughts on the cast and crew of 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'
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Maple Leafs get unfortunate news about acquiring Flames veteran
The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to explore ways to upgrade the roster following Mitch Marner's departure in free agency. The Leafs front office has been trying to fill in the gaps along the roster, and they have been searching on the trade front. One name that has been heavily connected to the Maple Leafs in recent weeks is Calgary Flames star Nazem Kadri. Kadri could replace Marner very well in the lineup, but it seems that a deal could be complicated to complete. According to NHL insider Nick Kypreos of SportsNet, Toronto has tried to land Kadri multiple times this summer, only to be rebuffed each time. Kypreos believes that a deal involving Kadri returning to the Maple Leafs could be unlikely at this point in the summer. Last season, Kadri posted 35 goals and 32 assists for the Flames. His presence has been steady on the ice for years, and Calgary could probably get a lot on the trade market for him. The Maple Leafs will likely continue to explore ways to pry Kadri from the Flames. But Calgary likely won't trade him unless it receives an offer that it deems too good to be true. But Kadri is the leader of this team, and he was the best player for them last season. Toronto doesn't have a lot of tradable assets to work with, which could be what is holding things up between the two sides. The veteran could give Toronto a nice boost, but unless the Maple Leafs up the offer, he isn't returning to town.
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Could this young forward answer multiple questions for the Rangers?
Through much of his time with the New York Rangers, Mika Zibanejad has been too good to be a second-line center, yet not quite a top liner for a contender. Now aging out of his prime, his play has dropped off the past two seasons, only rebounding when moved to the wing next to midseason acquisition J.T. Miller. That presents a problem for New York. The Rangers are not deep down the middle. Moving Zibanejad back to center provides that depth, putting Vincent Trochek back in his appropriate 3C role. But does Zibanejad again suffer without Miller? It also leaves the Blueshirts thin on the right side. Zibanejad can’t play two positions at once and the Rangers cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. There is a solution, however: Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Anaheim and New York already have strong front office ties, with a pair of trades in the past eight months. The cross-continental line should be open. McTavish is precisely the player archetype that Rangers general manager Chris Drury has sought in this past year. The 22-year-old possesses good size (6-foot-1, 219 pounds) and plays with a grit that Drury adores. An old-fashioned power forward in the making, McTavish hunts bodies, making life miserable for defenders on the forecheck and finds pockets of space when off the puck, where he unloads a cannon of a shot. An all-situations player, McTavish digs in the corners and is developing nicely as an offensive driver. McTavish is a hard worker who shows leadership traits. New Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan loves to play with speed and relentless pressure, a mantra that suits McTavish down to the ground. For a second-line center, McTavish’s numbers don’t exactly pop off the page, but 52 points (22 goals) in 76 games for a bad Ducks team is nothing to sneeze at. In New York, he would also presumably get to play with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Given the playmaking ability of those wingers and McTavish’s heavy shot, 30-plus goals could be on the cards. Bleacher Report has stated that the Ducks are unlikely to extend McTavish an offer sheet, instead willing to match whatever offer comes his way. Does that mean he is on the trade block? At the very least it means that Anaheim will likely be willing to listen to offers. That said, it would take an almighty package to pry the former No. 3 pick out of Orange County. The Ducks would rightly command a first-round pick — if not two — and a highly-rated prospect. New York has its own first-rounders in store, as well as a, likely, late first-rounder next year, with second-round picks each year except 2027. Would New York part with a first, a second and a pair of its top prospects? The Rangers are loaded with left wing prospects. Whilst Gabe Perrault is likely off the table, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora and Brett Berard should be discussed, as should defenseman E.J. Emery. Would picks and a pair of prospects be enough for Anaheim, though? Here’s a thought experiment: a deal centered around Will Cuylle. As mentioned, the Rangers have a raft of left wingers coming through and Lafreniere is also a natural left winger. Would trading Cuylle for McTavish solve the Rangers' issues at the pivot, allowing Zibanejad to help fix the right-hand side and give the team room to develop more youngsters on the left? Could this solve three issues in one swoop? It would be a, potentially, seismic move, but it might just make sense for both teams, especially if the Ducks are not looking to keep McTavish around long-term. It would complete a remarkable offseason for Drury.
Former GM Names Yankees Prospects Likely to Be Dealt by Deadline
The Yankees aren’t hiding what they need at the deadline, especially after the weekend series in Atlanta. They need pitching, and more pitching. They need a frontline starter if they can get one. A back-end arm and high-leverage reliever if they can’t. According to former MLB GM Jim Bowden of The Athletic, that help is expected to come via trade and will cost prospects. But which ones? For now, Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. look like keepers, Bowden reports. The Yankees have been careful not to dangle either in serious talks. That leaves a deep and evolving tier just beneath them of talented, but more expendable prospects in the right deal. Right-hander Chase Hampton is out this year after Tommy John surgery but still has value in the industry. Cam Schlittler or Brendan Beck could be part of a multi-arm package. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez Cruz offer upside in A-ball, but they’re likely a year or two away. It’s also possible the Yankees dangle recent draftee Griffin Herring, a high-floor lefty from LSU, or infielder Roc Riggio, who’s quickly becoming a fan favorite but is blocked long-term. If they’re shopping for bullpen help, a one-for-one swap involving someone like Rafael Flores, a promising catcher at Double-A, could get it done. One name to watch is Everson Pereira. Once seen as a potential long-term outfielder in the Bronx, Pereira’s injuries and inconsistent bat have pushed him to the edge of the 40-man roster. He still has tools and could be the centerpiece in a deal for a reliever or platoon bat. The Yankees have built up enough prospect depth to move from it. And with the market light on sellers, creativity and control years could matter more than pure prospect rankings. If a trade comes, it’s likely someone from this group gets the call, but not to the Bronx. it.
Kelsey Plum takes shot at Caitlin Clark after WNBA All-Star Game
On Saturday night, Kelsey Plum was part of Team Collier's 151-131 win over Team Clark in the WNBA All-Star Game, scoring 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Following the game, the Los Angeles Sparks star was asked about WNBA All-Stars wearing shirts before the game that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." Specifically, Plum was asked about how that idea came together. "The T-shirt — just a united front," she said. "That was determined this morning, that we had a meeting for. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that." Plum said it with a chuckle. However, she was sitting next to New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu, who rolled her eyes and said, "Didn't really need to be mentioned" before laughing. It was awkward, especially because Caitlin Clark, as well as all of the members of Team Clark, wore the shirts. If Clark didn't wear the shirt, you could understand some backlash. But she did. It should also be noted that Team Collier featured the president of the WNBA Players Association, Nneka Ogwumike, as well as the first vice president, Plum, and two vice presidents, Napheesa Collier and Brenna Stewart. It makes sense if they took on greater leadership roles in a statement like this against the league. Whether Plum likes it or not, the reason the WNBA has any sort of leverage heading into these negotiations with the league is Clark. She would do well to remember that the next time she wants to take an unnecessary shot at Clark, who is responsible for the greatest surge in fan attention the WNBA has ever seen.
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