The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch (voice), Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Graham McTavish, William Kircher
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and his dwarf companions continue their trek to reclaim their homeland.

Review:

Tim: As much as I enjoy these Hobbit movies, I can't help but lament how far beneath The Lord of the Rings they are. On the one hand, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a great movie. Make no mistake about that. Peter Jackson is an incredible director and he puts together a rousing, action-packed fantasy epic. This movie is significantly better than the majority of movies out there. It's an achievement, certainly. So, on the one hand, kudos to Jackson and the crew for creating another great movie.

And yet, there is still a persistent nagging that this movie isn't even remotely close to the amazing Lord of the Rings films. I know that is an unfair comparison because those movie comprise perhaps the greatest trilogy of all time. However, you just wish the gap wasn't so big. This was a great movie, but it doesn't have the same heart and spirit as those others. It's great, but not great enough. Now, part of this is just the source material- it's simply not as good. The dwarves all tend to blend together and they don't really stand on their own as interesting, compelling characters. I know Thorin (truth moment- had to look him up) and there's the older dwarf, the one who likes Evangeline Lilly, and none of the others stick out in my mind. That's a real shame.

The story is good, as our unlikely crew continues their quest. It still does feel like the story is being dragged out, as several sequences really weren't all that important to the overall story. That was always going to be an issue, especially when extending this to three films. So, the movie always battles that negative perception. However, there are some really good sequences throughout the film. I loved the scenes with the dwarves floating down the river in the barrels. That was just incredibly shot, exciting, entertaining, and fun. It was one of the highlights of the film. You also have to applaud everyone involved for the depiction of Smaug. He is a fierce and terrible creature, and he stands as the most memorable part of the entire film. Benedict Cumberbatch was the perfect actor to voice Smaug. I loved his creepy voice and how incredible it looked. This character really did continue to push the boundaries of special effects.

The cast is fine. I am continuing to warm up to Martin Freeman as Bilbo. He gives another very good performance here. Richard Armitage is fine as Thorin, but I can't tell if his lack of charisma is due to personal fault, or if it just gets lost under all that dwarf makeup. I really can't tell. He gives a fine performance, but he's one of the least exciting leads I can recall. Ian McKellen is once again terrific as Gandalf. Orlando Bloom was fun to see as Legolas, although his presence really felt forced. He doesn't do anything nearly as exciting as his roles in the first trilogy. I actually did enjoy Evangeline Lilly's character- it added a much-needed female role to the cast and she worked well in it. She was a pleasant surprise. I also enjoyed the addition of Luke Evans. I think Evans has some real potential as an actor and he gave a good performance here.

It is a little strange to be simultaneously so positive and yet disappointed about this movie. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug does so much right and it tells an exciting, engaging story. It represents the top tier of fantasy films coming out of Hollywood these days. In many ways, this film is a great success. And yet, this trilogy will never fully escape the shadow of The Lord of the Rings. Those films were so fantastic and this movie just does not even approach the same level. That's pretty disappointing.

All in all, though, Hollywood doesn't make enough great movies, so consider me mostly pleased with how this one turned out. I do want to make a note that I saw this film in theaters with the 3D High Frame Rate, which was just jaw-dropping. I loved the realistic feel of the film. I know HFR is controversial, but I think audiences will eventually embrace it. It really felt like I was watching something real (the barrel scenes were stunning). So, I do applaud Jackson for that innovation.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey