5 Things I Loved about ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (Sort of a Review) The Lord of The Rings is in my opinion one of the top three best trilogies in the history of cinema. Peter Jackson’s prequel didn’t meet those extremely high standards a year ago and some people started wondering if coming back to the land of Tolkien was a good idea. Well, I am glad to report that ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ (in theaters December 13) is everything a fantasy/action fan can hope for and much more. Here are some of the things that I loved about this cinematic event. Action If you felt that the first Hobbit film was a little too long and lacked some action sequences you will be happy. Peter Jackson is giving you an overdose of high-voltage sequences from beginning to end. There are many spectacular moments, but “the barrel scene” is probably the best action set piece of the year. Wow! Bilbo The Hobbit has found his courage and something to really do in the story. After been rescued by Gandalf, the dwarves and of course those giant eagles in ‘An Unexpected Journey’, Bilbo finally becomes a heroic figure. Thanks to the wider range of emotions he portrays, Martin Freeman is much more relatable this time around. Elves I always found the pointy-eared race kind of boring in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Here we get to explore more sides of this millennial culture with three very different characters: A sinister Thranduil, a noble but strict Legolas, and the impulsive -and badass- Tauriel. By the way, is it too late to get Evangeline Lilly to play Wonder Woman instead of Gal Gadot? Lake-town When you think you know Middle-Earth, you are transported into what it feels like an expansion level in video-game terms. The combination of wooden structures, water and snow give this place a totally unique and mysterious atmosphere. Bard (Luke Evans) is not Aragorn. He is a family man that embodies the hopes and fears of his people. Smaug “My name is …Smaug!” No, Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t say that when voicing the gigantic dragon. but like in Star Trek: Into the Darkness, the British portrays a very complex villain. His scenes with Bilbo (his co-star in the wonderful show ‘Sherlock’) are both funny and full of tension. Smaug is not just the best dragon ever to appear on screen, but one of the best digital creations alongside Weta’s Gollum and King Kong. In other words… Go see this movie! Peter Jackson directs a fantastic cast, including Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott and James Nesbitt. “From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.” ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ is in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX on December 13.
