The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

r96sk 6/23/2021 3:58:52PM 8.4

Still very good, but I found <em>'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'</em> 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!

Dr Nostromo 5/15/2026 6:02:23PM 8.4

82/100 Our troop of adventurers continues to make their way to the Lonely Mountain. Along the way, they encounter a wearbear, giant spiders, elves, including the introduction of Legalos, and the town folk of Laketown before the fateful confrontation with Smaug. Meanwhile, Gandalf the wizard discovers the return of the evil one and it doesn't go well. The conversations between Bilbo and Smaug are wonderful and the sequences involving the Mirkwood spiders, the dwarves escaping down a river and them trying to destroy Smaug are awesome. Watch the Extended version. So much story is lost in the Theatrical version. -- DrNostromo.com

Andres Gomez 6/23/2021 3:57:24PM 8.4

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.