The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Watch: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

PG-13

12/13/20132h 41m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Beyond darkness... beyond desolation... lies the greatest danger of all. ~

Overview:

The Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the Misty Mountains, and Bilbo has gained the One Ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back from the Dragon, Smaug.

Director:

Peter Jackson

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$250,000,000.00

Revenue:

$958,400,000.00

Key words:

gold
lake
based on novel or book
orcs
elves
dwarf
shapeshifting
mountain
giant spider
sequel
bear
dragon
turns into animal
barrel
fantasy world
wizard
journey
ring
invisibility
captured
live action and animation
high fantasy
sword and sorcery
trekking
good versus evil
grand
creatures
defiant
dwarves
epic quest
trolls
hobbit

Cast

Ian McKellen

~ as ~

Gandalf the Grey

Martin Freeman

~ as ~

Bilbo Baggins

Richard Armitage

~ as ~

Thorin Oakenshield

Benedict Cumberbatch

~ as ~

Smaug / Sauron

Orlando Bloom

~ as ~

Legolas

Evangeline Lilly

~ as ~

Tauriel

Lee Pace

~ as ~

King Thranduil

Luke Evans

~ as ~

Bard / Girion

Stephen Fry

~ as ~

The Master of Laketown

Ken Stott

~ as ~

Balin

View full cast & crew

Reviews (6)

AG
Andres Gomez
Written 11 year(s) ago
7
The second part amends the fiasco of the first one.

Spectacular and, again, with several moments of the already classic "platform-like" fights on the run from these series of movies that could be enhanced if some sense would be given to them. Still, the staging of every location and, remarkably, Smaug, is worth seeing.
PG
Per Gunnar Jonsson
Written 11 year(s) ago
7
7 out of 10 stars would normally be considered quite okay and I guess you could say that this movie is quite okay. However, it has a reputation to live up to. As a movie in the Tolkien universe and with LOTR and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey this movie have a lot to live up to and, as far as I am concerned, it does not.

As an action/adventure/fantasy movie it is a quite okay movie. It has a lot of action of course, a lot of adventure and a lot of special effects. Of course everything plays out with the Tolkien universe as a back-drop. I guess it is rather superfluous to mention that the movie is based on the book The Hobbit by Tolkien. However it is here the problems start.

In my review of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey the first thing that I mentioned was that you should be aware of the fact that the movie did not follow the book in any great detail and that this was quite okay since the extensions were well made. Well, it should be no surprise that the first part of this statement is valid for this movie as well. Unfortunately, whereas the first movie felt like a fluid extension of the book this one feels like it is just full of fillers.

There are a lot of cool scenes and a lot of action but it really feels like it was just put in there as fillers to showcase the special effects. Speaking of special effects, quite a few of them where rather unimpressive I have to say. The scenes where the dwarfs went down the rapids in barrels frequently looked plastic and artificial. The scenes with Smaug was not too bad even though he was quite overused but the parts around the forges was just plain ridiculous. I know it is fantasy but come one, getting them started and producing tons and tons of molten gold in a few minutes not to mention riding on molten metal without getting burned was just silly.

On the whole I found it an enjoyable movie but I was expecting more.
TG
Tom Goetz
Written 7 year(s) ago
4
Jackson turned a great story into just another Prates of the Caribbean. Jumping, sliding, gags, etc. All the thinking parts are gone.
Gimly
Written 6 year(s) ago
6
I'm happy to be back in this world, but Empire this ain't.

Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.
r96sk
Written 4 year(s) ago
8
Still very good, but I found 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' to be a step below the preceding 2012 release.

The conclusion is what affects it the most, in my opinion. It isn't anything bad, but it goes on for too long - yet the ending itself comes out of nowhere a little. It's iffily crafted, with the entertainment value not enough to cover it up. Again, nothing anywhere near terrible... just not as great as I wanted/expected.

I also kinda wanted more scenes with Martin Freeman (Bilbo) across the midway point. I like the focus on Richard Armitage (Thorin) & Co. but I felt there needed to be more with the lead - and with Ian McKellen (Gandalf), for that matter.

I've led with my negatives first, but I have many positives too. I enjoyed the scenes in Esgaroth with Luke Evans (Bard), all of the stuff there looks awesome. The character of Tauriel, played by Evangeline Lilly, is cool. Orlando Bloom (Legolas) remains fun to watch. Everything else, including the score, is very nicely done - as anticipated.

Love the end credits song ("I See Fire") by Ed Sheeran, by the way. Not quite as grand and great as "May It Be" from LOTR, but it's pretty close!

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