OTF's Blue Publication March 2014
In the second part of Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, you will find two responses from its viewers. Either “I loved it!” or “It’s not like the book at all.” I am of both minds because while I am a true Tolkien fan I respect and admire the vision and hard work it took to bring this story to the big screen. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is, unlike its predecessor, an action movie and little else. It has, as do the other Peter Jackson trilogies, a certain amount of back story, but any slow-moving scenes end there. Chase scenes and battles scenes are woven throughout the movie and take the viewer to only-dreamed-of scenes from the book. The 48 frames per second were so stunningly crisp that it was almost a distraction albeit a pleasant one. Scenes include vistas of Mirkwood and Lake town as well as a lot more of the goings on in Dol Guldur. Gandalf and Radagast are back and we get an up close view of the inner workings of Thranduil’s Woodland Realm. Also of note is the appearance of a new character Tauriel, a female elf, and the hint of romances brewing. Legolas is back and looking a bit umm… fake and there are plenty of orc bad guys for him and the rest of the cast to fight. Lake town has a down to middle-earth gritty feel to it as you see the regular people going about their day-to-day lives in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain. Last but not least, the movie’s namesake, Smaug is revealed in all his splendor and terrible majesty, but you kind of guessed that from the title.
Whether you are a diehard Tolkien fan or an action movie enthusiast you will find plenty to enjoy in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug…It’s the “Hollywood Hobbit” for everyone who hasn’t read the book.