I enjoyed the first Hobbit film. It wasn't quite able to match Lord Of The Rings's massive scope, The Hobbit is not an epic story, but An Unexpected Journey was a well crafted fantasy adventure in its own right. How does The Desolation Of Smaug continue it?
It does alright. It continues the quest of twelve dwarves and a hobbit to kill the evil dragon Smaug and reclaim the Lonely Mountain, while still on the run from Azog and his orcs. Along the way they encounter a shape changing bear, the Elven land of Mirkwood where they encounter Orlando Bloom's returning Legolas, and a human settlement called Laketown.
While this is happening, Gandalf and Ratagast are investigating the returning Sauron to prepare for war. That's all I can say without spoilers, but I can say it builds and builds towards a massive conclusion, and then it just stops.
This is certainly a well made film. Sets, great, costumes, great, effects, iffy towards the end but good for the most part. Let it never be said that Jackson isn't trying.
The actors do well. Martin Freeman as Bilbo and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield work well together. Ian McKellan as Gandalf and Sylvester McCoy as Ratagast interact well, Evangilene Lily is alright as a newly added love interest for Bloom's Legolas, Bennedict Cumberbatch does fantastic voice work and motion capture for Smaug, who is also designed very well, and Manu Bennett is alright as Azog.
There are certainly problems, the love story between the new elf and one of the minor dwarves didn't really do much towards engaging me. The CG on Smaug starts to deteriorate towards the end, almost as if they were running out of money, and the aforementioned halt of an ending.
In conclusion, I don't think the Hobbit needed to be a trilogy*, but they do alright for the middle segment. I'm not sure I would reccomend it, but see for yourself and draw your own conclusion.
Have a nice day.
Greg.B
*It probably needed to be one to get greenlit after Lord Of The Rings.
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