Christine Rhose Consul

2008-41265

PE Social Recreation

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Desolation of Smaug is the second part of the trilogy which was directed by Peter Jackson. It was adapted from the book of J. R. R. Tolkein which is entitled The Hobbit. This film continues the adventures of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Gandalf the Grey and the thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield who has the mission to go on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor which taken by the dragon, Smaug.

Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), and the company of dwarves press on towards Erebor in their quest to reclaim the dwarvish homeland. They must first make their way through Mirkwood, encountering shape shifting bear Beorn (Mikael Persbrandt) and the Elven king Thranduil (Lee Pace) before emerging at Laketown, home of Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans). Meanwhile, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) deals with an emerging threat at the fortress of Dol Guldur. The film is so often brilliant that it tends to make the flaws more glaring. Its faster in pace and more dextrous with its action scenes, and it transforms some of the more curious moments such as the barrel sequence into a hugely entertaining set piece. The easily bored who complained about the last one should have no such qualms here, and with the exception of a hugely overblown final half hour the film never feels bloated or messy.

A love triangle was inserted in the middle of the movie which was a bit annoying and entertaining at the same time. From the first movie installation of the trilogy of The Hobbit, I still have a problem memorizing the dwarves and really get to know them unlike in the book where they are carefully and intricately described and discussed. Also, characters not in the books which were part of the Lord of the Rings were inserted in the movie which is not really essential. Characters in the book of Tolkein were not emphasized in the movie of Jackson but this is the movie we are talking about which was supposedly adapted from the book.

However, the key character for this film was always going to be Smaug. A well-etched antagonist is vital in any narrative, but when your villain is a talking dragon extra care must be

taken. Benedict Cumberbatch would be the first to tell you that he did a lot more than simply voice this creature he helped create him for screen, and the results are spectacular. Smaug is a vast, hulking presence, as loquacious as he is sinister, at once destructive and majestic. When he loses his temper he dominates the piece, breathing searing conviction into every word of dread used to describe him. It is perhaps a slight misfortune that the decidedly overwrought ending doesnt show us more of him, but its telling that breathtakingly climactic final scene evinced near-riotous gasps of anticipation in my screening.

My overall review of the movie is it is epic. It is packed with action because there are a lot of fighting scenes that are sometimes breath taking and will lift you up your chair. It is a delight of detail and design to the most critical eyes; and, as a movie, it is too long. I rate the movie 8/10.