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 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 3:44 PM   
 By:   SBD   (Member)

CD up for pre-order from Mondo.
https://mondoshop.com/collections/all/products/how-to-train-your-dragon-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-2xcd


Well, that’s more like it.

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 4:09 PM   
 By:   Guy   (Member)

Thanks Jason.

I listened in the background, way more choral, was enjoyable. Will do a better listen over the weekend.

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 4:40 PM   
 By:   agentMaestraX   (Member)

A very enjoyable, rousing Score.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 6:16 PM   
 By:   edwzoomom   (Member)

I've listened to the new score album and it is INCREDIBLE. This is not just the 2010 score with occasional new bits added, there is lots of new material, and lots of wonderful re-orchestrations of original material, and it all blends together beautifully.

This is the best score of the year!


I have to agree with Joan on this. I too want to thank you for the positive comments. You listened to the full score and shared your thoughts and opinion. Had you not found the score to your liking, I would have still thanked you for basing your opinion upon listening to the score in it's entirety. That's how it's done.

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 10:26 PM   
 By:   richsto   (Member)

No hi-res download available for purchase?????

Rich

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 14, 2025 - 5:15 AM   
 By:   John Williams   (Member)

I hope John Powell gets an Oscar for this, if he didn’t get it for the original score.

 
 Posted:   Jun 14, 2025 - 5:19 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Okay Ive heard the entire score.

Regarding what I heard on YouTube- "Test Driving Toothless" still sounds thin and almost like a demo to me. "Main Title" doesn't appear to be on the soundtrack, or is it "Test Driving Toothless" just renamed for some reason?


The rest I heard on Spotify. Overall a solid score that sounds more orchestral than processed. After one full listen I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars. There's some great new material. (Thankfully the two cues on YouTube are some of the weaker ones.)


I however was very disappointed in the climatic action music in particular "Meeting the Queen", "Allied Forces" and "The Wings of the Beast". It's loud and bombastic but lacks a driving narrative thematically speaking. Maybe those tracks will grow on me but on first listen they're a dud.

On the other hand new compositions for the score like "You Are My Homeward" and "End Credits Suite" are some of the high-lights of the album and at least end the soundtrack with a bang.

Hard to remember everything since it's an 1hr and 45 min (?) in length. I generally liked the first three quarters of the score. Other than what I mentioned above.

Pleasantly shocked there's no stupid "song" on this release.

I'm still not sure about the quality of the master. Seems loud and muddled and Im not hearing clarity in the sound. But I can't make a final decision on that listening off of the computer or even my television which has better speakers. So I'll have to wait until I get the CD in hand.

Regarding the film the acting looks flat and uninspired. Somehow Toothless in the original film appears more like a living breathing creature than he does in this "live action" version.

 
 Posted:   Jun 14, 2025 - 5:34 PM   
 By:   richsto   (Member)

The score is just…EXCELLENT. Just excellent. Well done Mr. Powell!!!

Trying not to go off on a tirade about why and how it’s not available for purchase or download in any lossless format with the release of the film. Incredibly disappointing. I preordered the stupid expensive CD but having to wait until August makes zero sense.

In the meantime I’m streaming in glorious hi-rez on Tidal through the big boy stereo system. Just a thing of beauty.

Rich

 
 Posted:   Jun 14, 2025 - 9:31 PM   
 By:   Guy   (Member)

Solium, I listened on Apple Music, which was for this release in Atmos = 24 bit/192 kHz (much higher than CD quality), and did not find it muddy. I will check against Spotify, but I think there will be some compression there, as it is only AAC 256 kbit/s (1/4 of CD quality) if Premium, or 128 for free. I do agree its louder, but I find that the case with most modern recordings.

Edit - I played through a Bluesound Nano on one system, and a WiiM Pro Plus on another. Apple for sure sounds better, but Spotify didn't sound terrible.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 15, 2025 - 12:22 AM   
 By:   JeffG   (Member)

The score is just…EXCELLENT. Just excellent. Well done Mr. Powell!!!

Trying not to go off on a tirade about why and how it’s not available for purchase or download in any lossless format with the release of the film. Incredibly disappointing. I preordered the stupid expensive CD but having to wait until August makes zero sense.

In the meantime I’m streaming in glorious hi-rez on Tidal through the big boy stereo system. Just a thing of beauty.

Rich


At least here in the US, Qobuz has it available for sale in hi-res or CD quality lossless.

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/how-to-train-your-dragon-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-john-powell/yc93x5uxjsqka

 
 Posted:   Jun 15, 2025 - 2:37 AM   
 By:   richsto   (Member)

The score is just…EXCELLENT. Just excellent. Well done Mr. Powell!!!

Trying not to go off on a tirade about why and how it’s not available for purchase or download in any lossless format with the release of the film. Incredibly disappointing. I preordered the stupid expensive CD but having to wait until August makes zero sense.

In the meantime I’m streaming in glorious hi-rez on Tidal through the big boy stereo system. Just a thing of beauty.

Rich


At least here in the US, Qobuz has it available for sale in hi-res or CD quality lossless.

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/how-to-train-your-dragon-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-john-powell/yc93x5uxjsqka


Thank you!!! For some reason it wasn’t pulling up on the search, your link directed me right to it. Downloading now. Much appreciated.

Rich

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 15, 2025 - 5:10 AM   
 By:   TerraEpon   (Member)

Not sure what to think about this one.

One the one hand it's got all the components that made the original one of my favorite scores ever.
On the other hand it's got this sort of uncanny valley feeling that there's just something off about a lot of it.

 
 Posted:   Jun 15, 2025 - 7:01 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Solium, I listened on Apple Music, which was for this release in Atmos = 24 bit/192 kHz (much higher than CD quality), and did not find it muddy. I will check against Spotify, but I think there will be some compression there, as it is only AAC 256 kbit/s (1/4 of CD quality) if Premium, or 128 for free. I do agree its louder, but I find that the case with most modern recordings.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm sure its a combination of compression on some of these websites and not being to hear it on a good sound system yet.

 
 Posted:   Jun 15, 2025 - 3:57 PM   
 By:   richsto   (Member)

Regarding sound quality, I have now listened to the Tidal 96/24 hi-rez stream and the Qobuz 96/24 hi-res download (thanks JeffG) in their entirety on my reference stereo system at home. Also listened to some select tracks on my reference headphone system.

To my ears, the sound quality of this recording ranges from average to quite good. I notice no muddled bass, lack of high frequency clarity, or significant compression. If I’m being critical, it’s overall a little dry for my taste (could use a little more air and space around the performers) but that’s an artistic choice and nothing to complain about. The choral work and solo piano are well done in this regard.

Love the woodwinds on “He’s Not That Boy”, wish that track wasn’t so so short. smile

Not reference quality but the best any HTTYD recording has sounded. I am fairly critical, so sure most will find the sound quality from the hi-res versions to be more than pleasing. Will be curious to see how the redbook CD sounds - contemplating canceling my order with Mondo.

Hope that helps a little.

Rich

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 3:09 AM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

Well...it's a HIT!!!!
Bigger than the original cartoons opening...even BIGGER in the Rest of the World...with unheard of positive exit-ratings too!!
Move on Grandad...THIS is what da kids want.
So expect a whole lot more of these live-action remake$$$

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 4:30 AM   
 By:   Ado   (Member)

Well...it's a HIT!!!!
Bigger than the original cartoons opening...even BIGGER in the Rest of the World...with unheard of positive exit-ratings too!!
Move on Grandad...THIS is what da kids want.
So expect a whole lot more of these live-action remake$$$


The thing is, it is not da kids, it is their parents

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 4:34 AM   
 By:   Hurdy Gurdy   (Member)

A live-action sequel is already underway for 2027.

Jason...Justin...On Your Marks...Get Set...G

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 5:22 AM   
 By:   Ado   (Member)

A live-action sequel is already underway for 2027.

Jason...Justin...On Your Marks...Get Set...G


no doubt, nevermind the director of this film and the original derided studios and directors for doing exactly what they just did, and suckers enable this nonsense, well, not always, as Snow White showed. But, yes, the audience that supposedly complains about the lack of original films, well, it is largely just not a genuine belief, because the mass audience repeatedly supports non-original and reboot films and largely does NOT support original films.

But- yesh-
DeBlois said during an online Q&A at the 2020 Annecy International Animation Film Festival that he is not interested in re-dos and thought studios were being "lazy."

 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 6:33 AM   
 By:   Solium   (Member)

Well a sequel was already planned ahead of time. The companies always do that as a PR stunt. So it worked out for them this time. I wasn't one to say it was going to bomb or anything. I'm sure its an okay movie and people want a reason to go back to the theater. Moana 2 was really subpar yet made a billion so there's that. From what I heard Lilo and Stitch is pretty bad too. I think there are more misses than hits though. But all the studios need are one or two billion dollar hits to continue down this course. I have no interest in the film though I have almost zero interesting in what Hollywood is producing nowadays. The positives? At least we will get a few more John Powell scores and he is the soul person keeping classical orchestral scores alive.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 16, 2025 - 6:46 AM   
 By:   Ado   (Member)

Well a sequel was already planned ahead of time. The companies always do that as a PR stunt. So it worked out for them this time. I wasn't one to say it was going to bomb or anything. I'm sure its an okay movie and people want a reason to go back to the theater. Moana 2 was really subpar yet made a billion so there's that. From what I heard Lilo and Stitch is pretty bad too. I think there are more misses than hits though. But all the studios need are one or two billion dollar hits to continue down this course. I have no interest in the film though I have almost zero interesting in what Hollywood is producing nowadays. The positives? At least we will get a few more John Powell scores and he is the soul person keeping classical orchestral scores alive.

Yeah, and the 'success' in just numbers I guess is great for Universal, but it is not great the the movie audience for the future, it just means more reboots with tie-in cross marketing at Burger King. The audience, like the film makers, is like what DeBlois previously said- they are lazy. This stuff is like movie baby food, pre-chewed, pre-digested. They could have as easily spent that $150 million on an original story, but that would have required more work, and more risk, so, baby-food.

 
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