Quote from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
May the Valkyries welcome you and lead you through Odin's great battlefield.
May they sing your name with love and fury so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla,
I know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings.
For a great man has fallen:
A warrior
A chieftain
A father
A friend
I binge watched the How to Train your Dragon Trilogy last weekend and this scene stuck with me. The main character’s dad, Stoik, has died and this speech is given at the viking funeral by his best friend. It’s a very emotional scene and a turning point for the hero.
W. H. Auden said “the best definition of poetry is memorable speech”.
After I’ve seen a good movie I look forward to watching the youtube videos of a couple of movie critics because they always comment on aspects of the films that I missed. Hearing their insights into things like the lighting, camera shots, symbolism in different props, or the clever use of music opens up new layers of appreciation for me. Because really, give me emotional acting with great dialog and I’m sold. “Memorable speech” gets me every time.
I have always been of the opinion that: if it makes you feel something, it’s art. This eulogy in a children’s movie made me feel something so, its art (to me) and that makes it fair game for an appreciation post.
A Penny for Your Thoughts 