A popular film that I consider wild is the 2010 movie adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon. This film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and starred the likes of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, and others. Hiccup is a 15-year-old Viking who lives in a Viking village on the island, Berk, frequently attacked by dragons. After taking down a Night Fury and leaving it flightless, Hiccup develops a bond with him and names him Toothless. He builds a prosthetic fin and harness to allow the dragon to fly, realizing that dragons are not naturally aggressive creatures. However, once his father, the chieftain, finds out about Toothless and the location of the dragon’s nest, he embarks with an army to take down the nest, disturbing the enormous dragon that resides inside. Toothless and Hiccup swoop in to save the day, taking down the massive dragon. After the battle, Hiccup finds out that his village and dragons found a way to coexist together in peace. This movie presents themes that things are not always what they seem, the importance of community, family, and friendship, and themes of wildness. This movie portrays wildness through both the society of the Vikings and the dragons. The Vikings constantly fend off the wild creatures, leaving them with a wild way of life. The dragons are wild beasts, undomesticated, uncivilized, and reckless.
A specific scene that best reflects my reasoning regarding the wildness of the film is the opening scene. While the audience is being introduced to Berk and its dragon infestation, dragons fly out of every house, buildings engulfed with flames, and angry groups of Vikings fight the dragons. This scene depicts the dragons in their most wild state, as Vikings are attacking them, and displays them acting recklessly and uncontrollably, perfectly representing one of the many definitions of “wild.” Additionally, the Vikings run around in disorganized groups, trying to take down the dragons with anything in sight. Even Hiccup is shown abandoning his post in a wild attempt to take down a Night Fury. This opening scene is pure chaos and reflects multiple definitions of wildness.
-Juliette Chartier
I like how you talked about how the dragons and the Vikings in the movie both represent different parts of wildness. I feel like that similarity helps to show that while they are different, Vikings and dragons are able to bond through each other through mutual wildness. I think it’s interesting to note that while the dragons are wild beasts, they also have some form of organization as seen with their coordinated attacks and hierarchy with the Red Death serving as leader.
I loved this movie and I did not initially think of this movie as a “wild” film. Though there are the traditional elements of wildness in terms of the creature itself and the acts of wildness in fighting scenes, the overarching element of peace made me think that this film was less “wild” than it seemed. However, the way you elaborated your perspective makes it clear that it is a pretty wild film.