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How to Train Your Dragon (2025) is a live-action remake of DreamWorks' 2010 animated classic. It tells the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who lives in the land of Berk, where humans live in constant conflict with dragons, a war for survival that has shaped their way of life.

I can't write this review without getting personal, I have a funny and surprising connection to this franchise. Back in 2010, I watched the first movie and, honestly? I didn't like it. It just didn't click with me. But in 2016, for some reason, I decided to watch the sequel... and my god, I absolutely loved it. Every second of it. It was perfect.

That changed everything. I went back and watched almost everything this franchise ever produced, including the two animated TV spin-offs. And here's the thing: almost everything in this franchise is genuinely good or at least high quality. So yeah, I became a huge fan. Between 2016 and 2019, I was hyped beyond belief for the third film. And when it finally came out... well, it didn't hit me. Not that it was bad - but after the emotional impact of the second, I had my expectations way too high.

All that to say, when the trailer for the live-action remake came out, I was skeptical. It looked like a frame-by-frame remake, but with awkward CGI and real people. I was honestly expecting something boring.

But damn, I was so wrong.

Yes, the movie follows the original almost shot-for-shot, but it works. In fact, it's better than I expected - maybe even better than the original. The same characters, the same events, even the same lines - but everything is executed so well, from the direction to the performances, that I couldn't stop smiling from beginning to end.

It felt like I was 13 again, back in 2016, rewatching every bit of this world I had fallen in love with.

This is truly the definition of a love letter to fans.

YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT.

Lost Records is the newest title from the beloved (especially by me) Dontnod studio, developed by the original team behind the first two Life is Strange games. The story follows Swan, Nora, Autumn, and Kat, a group of girls who quickly form a bond - but one with a deadline, as Swan is moving away at the end of summer, while they have to deal with some problems this new friendship will bring.

To be honest, I even feel a bit guilty for not liking this game as much as I expected. I've seen people call it "the Life is Strange 3 we never got," but I couldn't fully connect with it.

The biggest issue for me is the structure. The game focuses a lot more on relationship driven choices than true consequence based decisions. And because it jumps between past and present, a lot of the outcomes are already revealed, which makes many choices feel less meaningful. The tension comes more from seeing how things affect the characters than what happens to them.

That means the characters need to be deeply compelling , and they sort of are. Dontnod does a great job building a believable, emotional friendship between them. But there's a clear focus on Kat's which overshadows the other 2 girl. It feels like the game is pushing you in one direction instead of feeling organic.

Another issue is the pacing. Long stretches go by where very little happens, and even as someone who enjoys narrative games, it felt a bit too slow. The dialogue is solid, the chemistry is there, but the lack of momentum hurts. That said, Tape 2 improves a lot, and the final emotional scenes remind us of the brilliance this team is capable of.

I don't want to sound harsh. Lost Records isn't a bad game. Far from it. But I did feel disconnected for a surprising amount of time. Still, when the story finally picks up, it shows that Dontnod hasn't lost their touch with emotional storytelling. Not their best work, but definitely a solid, heartfelt experience.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a classic musical fantasy that tells the story of young Charlie, a poor boy living in the UK who works from an early age to help support his family-at the cost of losing hope in life. Everything changes when Willy Wonka, the legendary candyman, launches a worldwide campaign: he hides five golden tickets inside his chocolate bars, and the lucky winners will get to visit his mysterious factory-and receive a lifetime supply of chocolate. Charlie sees this as a chance to change his life.

Let me be honest right from the start: this wasn't the version I grew up with. For me, the Tim Burton adaptation was the one that truly amazed me as a child-it was my first contact with the story, and naturally, it left a big impression.

That said, the 1971 version brings a much-needed portrayal of Charlie, making his hopelessness and poverty feel real and grounded. This helps the golden ticket feel even more rare and precious. The contrast between his difficult life and the colorful, extravagant chocolate factory is powerful-it does a great job of making us dream about being there (except when things go wrong, of course).

Special praise goes to Willy Wonka himself in this version, portrayed by Gene Wilder, who brings a more human, mysterious charm to the role. He still feels unpredictable and strange, but you get a better sense of what he's trying to do. The other four kids serve their roles well, especially Veruca Salt, who stands out as a wonderfully bratty character.

But it's a musical-so how are the songs? Well, the most iconic song of the franchise, comes from this version, and it's beautiful. However, overall, I personally found the music in the 2005 version more memorable, even though the Oompa Loompas are definitely better here.

To wrap it up: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a timeless classic. It may not hit me as hard because I grew up loving another version, but it still delivers a strong, whimsical experience-especially thanks to Gene Wilder's memorable performance as Wonka.

6,5 / 10.